Brands
Agoda checks in with star power to sell ‘amazing hotel prices’
MUMBAI: If travel deals had a fan club, Sunil Grover, Ekta Kapoor, Chunky Panday and Varun Sharma just signed up as founding members. Digital travel platform Agoda has rolled out a high-spirited, multi-film campaign titled “Amazing Hotel Prices”, tapping four of India’s biggest entertainment personalities to bring its surprisingly low domestic hotel rates to life. The films, bursting with comedic timing and chaotic charm, spotlight Agoda’s discounts of up to 50 per cent on select stays launched just in time for India’s busiest travel season.
Each ad leans into a simple but sharply observed insight: Indians love a good bargain, especially when it comes wrapped in comfort, convenience and a little drama. True to Agoda’s playful persona, the films place the stars in exaggerated situations where their spontaneous reactions mirror every traveller’s delight at stumbling upon a deal they didn’t expect.
The campaign conceptualised and produced with Collective Artists Network has been released across digital and social platforms, with each film headlined by a familiar face:
• Sunil Grover: https://www.instagram.com/p/DRJ7yxgjNTZ/
• Ekta Kapoor: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRWblS9in8k/
• Chunky Panday: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRJ8MUqARVn/
• Varun Sharma: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRHYWPTitUU/
“With travel’s high season upon us in India, we know great hotel prices play a huge role in trip-planning decisions,” said Agoda country director for the Indian Subcontinent and Indian Ocean Islands Gaurav Malik. “Sunil, Ekta, Chunky and Varun each bring their own distinct humour, helping us speak to audiences in a language they love.”
Adding to that, Big Bang Social co-founder & CRO and Collective Artists Network CEO Sudeep Subash noted, “A great campaign is more than marketing; it’s about telling real stories people remember. This one captures the joy and spontaneity of finding great hotel deals, as showcased beautifully by the artists.”
And audiences seem to agree. Within just the first few weeks of launch, the campaign has already clocked nearly 100 million impressions across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and the talents’ personal handles underscoring Agoda’s growing momentum in India’s swelling travel market.
With the “Amazing Hotel Prices” push, Agoda doubles down on its promise of value, choice and ease for Indian travellers booking domestic stays. Because as these films cheekily suggest, nothing beats the thrill of a great hotel deal especially when celebrities are losing their minds over it too.
Brands
Hyundai launches updated Ioniq 5 with 84 kWh battery, 690 km range
Priced at Rs 55.7 lakh, adds design, tech and safety upgrades.
MUMBAI: Charge it up, stretch it out, Hyundai’s latest electric upgrade is going the distance, quite literally. Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has introduced an updated version of its Ioniq 5, packing in a larger 84.0 kWh battery that delivers a claimed range of up to 690 km (ARAI-certified), marking a significant leap in everyday usability for its flagship electric SUV.
Built on Hyundai’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the refreshed IONIQ 5 aims to balance performance with practicality, reducing range anxiety while making long-distance electric travel more viable. The upgrade builds on a model that has already secured global recognition, including the World Car of the Year title.
The changes aren’t just under the skin. On the outside, the SUV gets a sharper, more futuristic look with redesigned front and rear bumpers, new skid plates, sporty alloy wheels, a revised rear spoiler and updated V-garnish lighting, all while retaining its signature Parametric Pixel design.
Inside, Hyundai has focused on making the experience more intuitive. The cabin now features a redesigned three-spoke steering wheel with illuminated pixel elements, dual 12.3-inch displays, and a reworked wireless charging pad integrated with physical controls for seat functions small tweaks that aim to improve day-to-day usability.
On the tech front, the IONIQ 5 gets Hyundai’s Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC), Controller Over-the-Air (C-OTA) updates, and now supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. New additions such as Active Sound Design and in-car payment integration for EV charging reflect a push towards a more seamless, connected ownership experience. Remote immobilisation via Bluelink has also been introduced as an added security layer.
Safety sees incremental upgrades too, with features like Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist (Rear) and side parking distance warnings enhancing manoeuvrability in tight urban spaces.
The updated IONIQ 5 is available in four colour options Gravity Gold Matte, Midnight Black Pearl, Titan Grey and Optic White with an Obsidian Black interior theme.
Priced at Rs 55.7 lakh (ex-showroom), the new IONIQ 5 positions itself as a more rounded offering, less about futuristic promise, and more about making electric mobility fit seamlessly into everyday life.
