Brands
Marriott Bonvoy members get closer to the action with Mumbai Indians
MUMBAI: For the second year in a row, Marriott International’s loyalty program, Marriott Bonvoy, has unveiled an exclusive series of experiences in store for its members during the upcoming cricket season. As part of its multi-year partnership with IPL franchise Mumbai Indians, Marriott Bonvoy will launch a once-in-a-lifetime exclusive Marriott Bonvoy Moments, the program’s experiential platform, with players and legends – including the opportunity to travel with members of the team for a holiday getaway.
Members will be able to use their points to bid for fun and exciting experiences for their families including coaching clinics for their kids. In addition, participants also have the opportunity to go live on a social media channel with the Mumbai Indians and bid for signed memorabilia. One of the top highlights is the chance to bid on a once-in-a-lifetime holiday experience with the Mumbai Indians’ players at a Marriott property in India.
As part of this partnership, the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio of hotels across the country will roll out the blue carpet in anticipation of the upcoming cricket festivities with themed décor and gastronomic delights inspired by the Mumbai Indians. The special F&B menu themed around the game will be available to order and relish across hotels, or guests also have the option of home deliveries through Marriott on Wheels. The hotels will also introduce staycation packages allowing guests to cheer for their favourite teams with friends and family amidst the comfort of good food and assured hospitality.
Marriott International Inc senior vice president operations – APEC Neeraj Govil said, “The previous year saw members join in the celebration of cricket with much fervour and we are delighted to continue connecting guests with more of what they love. This year, we have further elevated the personalised engagement opportunities for Marriott Bonvoy members with the Mumbai Indians players.”
Members will be able to directly redeem their points through the Marriott Bonvoy Moments platform to closely feel the euphoria of engaging with their sporting idols and relish the distinctive hospitality across hotels participating in the program. Enrolment is complimentary (a mere three-click process to follow) via Marriott.com. For free membership, visit: MarriottBonvoy.com/India
As a loyalty partner for the Mumbai Indians, the Marriott Bonvoy logo will feature on the upper right side-chest of the Mumbai Indians jersey. Marriott Bonvoy branding will also appear prominently on ground-level perimeter boards, giant screen, and LED walls for home matches.
Brands
MS Dhoni joins Cars24’s Crashfree India as Goodwill Ambassador
Cricketing legend lends his voice to the fight against road fatalities in India.
MUMBAI: MS Dhoni has traded his cricket whites for a new kind of captaincy, one that aims to save lives on India’s roads. The former India captain has been appointed Goodwill Ambassador for Crashfree India, Cars24’s national road safety initiative. The move brings one of the country’s most trusted and disciplined public figures to a cause that desperately needs both credibility and urgency.
India continues to record the highest number of traffic fatalities globally. In 2024 alone, 1,80,000 people lost their lives on Indian roads, one every three minutes. The country has roughly 1% of the world’s vehicles but accounts for 11 per cent of global road deaths. Shockingly, 66 per cent of those killed were between 18 and 34 years old, the most productive age group, and nearly 10,000 were school students. Seven in ten fatalities were linked to overspeeding.
Dhoni, known for his calm judgment under pressure, did not mince words when speaking about the issue. “A vehicle gives you freedom, but it also gives you responsibility,” he said. “On our roads, too many people still see safety as a rule to follow only when someone is watching. That mindset has cost us far too much.”
He added: “We already know what is going wrong. We know how many lives are being lost. What we need now is not more excuses. We need more responsibility, more discipline, and more respect for life.”
For Cars24, the association goes beyond a celebrity endorsement. Founder and CEO Vikram Chopra described Dhoni’s involvement as a game-changer: “His understanding of Indian roads is grounded in lived experience. He holds us to a higher standard and his involvement challenges us to push this mission further.”
Crashfree India aims to shift the national conversation on road safety from reaction to prevention, from accepting deaths as routine to treating them as the urgent failure they are. With Dhoni on board, the initiative gains a powerful, trusted voice that transcends statistics and connects directly with millions of Indians.
In a country where dangerous driving is too often mistaken for confidence, Dhoni’s message is refreshingly clear: true strength lies in control, discipline, and respect for life. When one of India’s most respected captains decides to lead this fight, the conversation suddenly becomes much harder to ignore.
The roads just got a new captain. And this time, the goal is not to win a trophy but to save lives.
