MAM
Agoda ropes in Rashmika Mandanna to launch first ad film in India
Mumbai: Agoda has launched its first-ever digital ad in India, featuring popular actress Rashmika Mandanna. The campaign film was launched on Facebook and YouTube on 7 November.
The campaign is designed by McCann Worldgroup. The agency leveraged their deep cultural understanding of evolving India to create a concept that resonates with families throughout the country.
The ad film addresses pain points faced by many when trying to plan a family holiday. It features a lighthearted reenactment of classic Bollywood scenes while highlighting the difficulties in incorporating everyone’s needs into the final destination decision process.
The ad messaging seeks to focus on the ease of planning and booking travel on Agoda’s hassle-free platform and app. This campaign has the theme, “Holiday Bookings? No more drama” encourages travellers to try Agoda, and is part of its growing focus on the India market, following successful influencer campaigns across the country over the last year.
In a nod to real life’s obsession with capturing everything on camera, the ad opens with Mandanna in a home setting surrounded by her “reel” family, trying hard to book a vacation that satisfies everyone’s needs.
Her family is seen debating over different aspects of the vacation and their personal preferences, including affordability, activities, spacious rooms, and free breakfast, among others. Over the top and quirky personalities that mimic relatable characters Indians have grown up watching—a mother with a thali in her hand, brothers dressed like bickering warriors, and a father “balancing the books” or “holding the purse strings”—are saved with the help of Mandanna using the Agoda app to find solutions to their woes.
Agoda senior vice president of marketing Matteo Frigerio explained, “India is a dynamic market and one where we have seen real growth for our accommodation and flight products. We want to connect more with Indian travellers and partners alike, and we hope this collaboration with Mandanna will reflect the fun side of our brand, endearing us to Indian customers in a memorable and relatable way. The ad strikes a chord because it weaves in the real-life dilemmas faced by many people booking a family getaway, while working with Mandanna gives Agoda added authenticity and profile to reach new audiences in India.”
Speaking on the partnership, Mandanna said, “I love to set off on new adventures whenever my filming schedule permits, and I need a travel app that lets me plan those trips easily. When travelling with family or friends, as I’m sure many people can relate, you want to make sure everyone is happy and their needs are met, but it can take a lot of back and forth to make that happen perfectly! I loved Agoda’s approach to this ad, which played on those real-life dilemmas in a fun and engaging way. We had fun filming in a Bollywood-esque style with me as the heroine who manages to use the Agoda app to find a holiday spot that suits my macho ‘brothers’ need for a gym, my ‘mother’s’ request for free breakfasts and of course my ‘dad’s’ desire for great value deals. I am thrilled to have partnered with Agoda for their first-ever digital ad in India, and hope you #TryAgoda while planning your next trip.”
Brands
Origen Realty names Preeti Rai as president- sales & strategy
Veteran hire signals push into Gurugram market with growth ambitions
GURUGRAM: Origen Realty has appointed Preeti Rai as president for sales and strategy, as the company gears up to enter the competitive Gurugram property market.
The move brings in a seasoned industry hand with over two decades of experience across residential and commercial real estate. In her new role, she will lead the company’s sales operations and go-to-market strategy, with a focus on building a strong foothold in Gurugram and driving early momentum.
Origen Realty management said the appointment marks a key milestone in its expansion plans. Origen Realty management said the hire will help sharpen execution and strengthen the company’s sales-led growth strategy as it steps into a new market.
Preeti Rai said, “I look forward to being part of Origen Realty at a pivotal stage in its journey and contributing to building a strong presence in the Gurugram market.”
Before joining Origen Realty, she served as senior vice president for sales and marketing at Elan Group. Her career also includes stints at major developers such as DLF Universal Ltd, Today Homes and Infrastructure, Paras Buildtech Pvt Ltd and Ambience Infrastructure Ltd, where she built expertise across channel sales, leasing, and end-to-end deal execution.
Known for her focus on strategy and team leadership, Rai is expected to play a central role in shaping Origen Realty’s market positioning and sales ecosystem in the region.
As Gurugram’s real estate market continues to attract fresh investments and new entrants, Origen Realty’s latest leadership hire signals its intent to compete with a clear, sales-driven playbook.
