MAM
HolidayIQ.com ropes in Orchard as creative partner
MUMBAI: Leo Burnett‘s agency Orchard Advertising has been awarded the creative mandate for holiday information portal HolidayIQ.com.
The agency will be in charge of the ATL and BTL activities for the brand.
Orchard VP and head of office Anish Daryani said, “HolidayIQ.com is a phenomenal business idea, where the power of user-generated reviews is leveraged to make holiday planning easier for the Indian traveller. This involves a massive change in human behaviour, where people need to overcome the inertia that keeps them from sharing their reviews in a public forum. This is a fantastic opportunity for us to use our proprietary HumanKind model to influence consumer behaviour, giving HolidayIQ.com a larger purpose – that of harnessing the power of user reviews to create a smarter Indian traveller.”
Orchard recently kicked off the first campaign – Goa to the Power of HolidayIQ -an anthem for the holidayer in Goa – called “hiq!it”, composed and sung by Remo Fernandes and co-written by Thomas Xavier. Additionally, there is an activation exercise through a specially designed tablet device called the “hiq!PAD”, where hoteliers can get their guests to digitally collect reviews and take it live in real time. An activation team has also been stationed across popular tourist destinations in Goa, collecting reviews through the “hiq!PAD”.
Orchard NCD and chairman Thomas Xavier said, “We want to unleash the power of guest reviews for HolidayIQ. We‘ve devised the term ‘hiq!‘ which isn‘t a mere abbreviation of HolidayIQ, but stands for ‘Holiday Inspired Quote‘. Going forward, we intend to make ‘hiq!‘ part of common parlance which means ‘a review‘. From a HumanKind perspective, a ‘hiq!‘ is a gift from one traveler to another.”
HolidayIQ.com founder and CEO Hari Nair said, “Orchard was able to envisage our brand in a larger-than-life manner, and their team has displayed tremendous passion and interest towards our cause. We feel we‘ve found the right partner in Orchard and look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.”
MAM
Ameya Velankar steps down as Uber’s head of marketing for India & South Asia
Veteran marketer exits after more than seven years with the ride-hailing giant.
MUMBAI: After more than seven years of steering Uber through the bumpy roads of India’s mobility market, Ameya Velankar has decided to change lanes. Ameya Velankar has stepped down as Head of Marketing for India and South Asia, marking the end of a significant chapter at the ride-hailing company. He had been with Uber since 2019, taking on multiple roles in product and category marketing before rising to lead the marketing function for the region in 2021.
During his tenure, Velankar played a key role in strengthening Uber’s positioning in one of its most competitive and dynamic markets. He helped drive localised marketing strategies and scale adoption across key offerings such as Auto, Moto, Rentals and Intercity, tailoring global platforms to Indian consumer needs.
Prior to joining Uber, Velankar built his marketing expertise at leading consumer companies including SC Johnson and Marico, where he handled category and product leadership roles. His career began at RPG Enterprises.
Details of his next professional move have not been disclosed.
In a fast-evolving mobility landscape where brands constantly battle for attention, Ameya Velankar helped Uber stay relevant and resonant with millions of Indian users. As he moves on from the driver’s seat of marketing, the company will now look for fresh ideas to keep its wheels turning smoothly.
