MAM
First Partners bags PR Mandate for Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality (FAITH)
First Partners, an award-winning premier communications firm, has been accorded the PR mandate and annexed the Agency on Record (AOR) for FAITH (Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality), the National Federation of the ten National Tourism, Travel and Hospitality associations of India.
These member associations of FAITH in alphabetical order are ADTOI (Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India), ATOAI (Adventure Tour Operators of India), FHRAI (Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Association of India), HAI (Hotels Association of India), IATO (Indian Association of Tour Operators), ICPB (India Convention Promotion Bureau), IHHA (Indian Heritage Hotels Association), ITTA (Indian Tourist Transporters Association), TAAI (Travel Agents Association of India) and TAFI (Travel Agents Federation of India) and cost partner AIRDA(All India Resort Development Associations).
FAITH, on behalf of the whole tourism industry engages in key policy and strategy ideation with Central and State Governments of India for growth of the Indian tourism industry.
First Partners would be responsible for providing public relations and media relations support to FAITH and its efforts to recover the Indian Tourism, Travel and Hospitality industry from its worst ever crisis brought out by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Brands
Abhinav Rastogi named global marketing director for YouTube Shopping
Google veteran to scale creator commerce and expand shopping across global markets
SINGAPORE: Abhinav Rastogi has stepped into a new role as global marketing director for YouTube Shopping, marking the latest chapter in a more than decade-long career at Google.
Rastogi, who took on the position in February and is based in Singapore, will lead global marketing for YouTube Shopping, a platform designed to connect creators, viewers and merchants in a single ecosystem. His remit includes expanding the service into new markets and strengthening its positioning as a growth channel for both creators and brands.
In a reflective note on the transition, Rastogi pointed to a simple but powerful idea driving the role. For years, creators have quietly built trust with audiences through consistent and authentic content, and that trust often shapes purchasing decisions. What is changing now, he said, is the infrastructure around that behaviour. YouTube Shopping aims to make it easier for viewers to discover and buy products recommended by creators they already follow.
The scale is already significant. More than half a million creators have joined the programme, with recent expansion into Japan through a partnership with Rakuten signalling further global ambitions.
Rastogi believes the future of shopping on YouTube will be driven by a blend of creators, content and communities. In his view, it is the human voice behind the screen, not just the product, that ultimately builds trust and drives discovery.
Prior to this role, he served as director of marketing, YouTube Asia Pacific, where he led regional marketing across creator engagement, brand building and reputation. During that time, he played a key role in launching and scaling YouTube Shopping across eight markets in the region.
Earlier stints at Google include group product marketing manager, consumer apps, overseeing growth for products such as Search, Maps and Assistant across India and Southeast Asia, and product marketing manager roles spanning consumer apps and YouTube, where he contributed to launches including YouTube Music, YouTube Originals and YouTube Shorts.
Rastogi began his career in consulting with Boston Consulting Group and A.T. Kearney, before moving into the technology sector. He is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
Alongside his corporate role, he is also an active angel investor, backing early-stage startups in consumer technology and electric mobility across India and Southeast Asia.
As he settles into the new role, Rastogi is betting on a future where every video can double up as a storefront, and where commerce feels less like a transaction and more like a recommendation from a trusted voice.
