Charlize Theron to headline PH Digicon 2021

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The Philippine Digital Convention (PH Digicon) 2021 will feature Oscar-winning actress, producer, and entrepreneur Charlize Theron. As the celebrity headline speaker, Ms. Theron will speak about her personal experiences in different facets of life, including relevant issues in the business industry such as women’s empowerment.

This October, PLDT—through its B2B arm PLDT Enterprise—will hold the most prestigious thought leadership event in the country. With the theme “REVOLUTION,” the event seeks to encourage businesses to embrace revolutionary change and explore possibilities to stay ahead in the dynamic business landscape.

In its seventh iteration, the annual convention will feature Ms. Theron, her thoughts on empowering women entrepreneurs and executives in male-dominated industries, and fostering gender equality and economic empowerment, among others.

The award-winning actress founded Denver and Delilah Productions in 2003, a film/tv production company that co-produced films including The Addams Family, Atomic Blonde, and Monster; and hit Netflix crime drama Mindhunter and reality television series Hyperdrive.

Likewise, she is known as one of the most celebrated actresses of her generation, captivating audiences with her portrayal of a range of characters. She has been recognized by various award-giving bodies, receiving several awards and nominations for her exemplary performances.

Theron received an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Critics Choice Award, and an Independent Spirit Award for her role as real-life serial killer Eileen Wuornos in the critically acclaimed movie Monster.

Moreover, she portrayed Megyn Kelly in Lionsgate’s Bombshell, for which she received nominations for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA Film Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Critics Choice Award, among others, for her remarkable performance.

The actress-producer also appeared in numerous films including North Country, The Devil’s Advocate, The Cider House Rules, Hancock, The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, Snow White and the Huntsman, and A Million Ways to Die in the West.

In 2020, Theron was seen in the Netflix adaptation of the comic book series The Old Guard, by Greg Rucka and illustrator Leandro Fernández, which was also produced by Denver and Delilah Productions.

Most recently, the actress reprised her role as “Cipher” in the 9th installment of the Fast and Furious franchise that hit theaters this year.

In addition to Theron’s acting success and principal involvement with her production company, she also serves as a United Nations Messenger of Peace and founder of the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP).

CTAOP’s mission is “to invest in African youth and their ability to keep themselves and their peers safe from HIV/AIDS” through its support of community-based, African organizations that “use community-specific programming to effectively engage young people and provide critical tools that support adolescents and address their unique challenges.”

In 2020, Theron and CTAOP launched ‘Together for Her,’ a campaign to help fight gender-based violence during COVID-19, together with CARE and Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF).

The Philippine Digital Convention: REVOLUTION is set to be a fully virtual event, wherein global industry mavens, thought leaders, and pioneers in technology and business will come together to help drive technological enablement among local and global enterprises especially in this ever-changing landscape.

PH Digicon 2021 will happen on October 6 to 8. Join the revolution and register now for free at: phdigicon2021.com

For more information, visit pldtenterprise.com/phdigicon2021.

For Second Year Running, Regent Seven Seas Cruises Sets Record for Largest Booking Day in Company’s History

Wazzup Pilipinas!?


Luxury Cruise Line Enjoys Fourth Record-Breaking Launch Day Within a Year


Regent Seven Seas Cruises, the world’s leading luxury cruise line, achieved the largest booking day in the company’s 29-year history with the launch of its 2023-2024 Voyage Collection when sales opened at 8:30pm HKT on 18 August, 2021.

Reservations surpassed Regent’s previous largest booking day – which was set on 21 October, 2020 with the launch of its 2022-2023 Voyage Collection – by 15%. Travel trends identified from the booking day include a desire for longer, more exclusive experiences in bucket-list destinations, as illustrated by a significant rise in bookings of the US$11,000-a-night Regent Suite and more unfamiliar and exotic regions being reserved.

The latest record-breaking launch day is the line’s fourth in just under a year having broken their world cruise launch day twice, and now also their largest ever booking day twice. The phenomenal achievements began with the launch day for its 2023 World Cruise in September 2020, closely followed with the launch day for its 2022-2023 Voyage Collection in October 2020. Most recently, in July 2021, the cruise line celebrated selling out its 2024 World Cruise in under 3 hours.

“The outstanding result of our 2023-2024 Voyage Collection launch is the perfect spring-board as we welcome our first ship back to the ocean next month with the inaugural season of Seven Seas Splendor®,” said Jason Montague, president and chief executive officer, Regent Seven Seas Cruises. “I’m proud to say that this is our fourth record-breaking launch day within a year, reinforcing the fact that luxury travellers continue to have a burning passion to explore the world and that Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ unrivalled experiences are extremely important to them. It also shows how our loyal guests have throughout this challenging period continued to give us their unwavering support, and we are delighted to be able to offer them the luxury vacations they so richly deserve.”


Uncompromised Luxury Travel with Bookings of up to US$600,000

Demonstrating that luxury travellers are still unwilling to compromise when they vacation, the largest price tag on a single suite booking was close to US$600,000. The booking was for the palatial, 412 square metre Regent Suite which comes with an in-suite spa with unlimited spa treatments, original Picassos, a private car and chauffeur in every port, and dedicated butler service among a host of other amenities. Overall, demand for this one-of-a-kind luxury experience - only found on board Seven Seas Explorer®, Seven Seas Splendor® and the soon to be launched Seven Seas Grandeur® - grows higher still, with bookings for the Regent Suite up by 64% when compared to the 2022-2023 Voyage Collection launch day.

While all itineraries were popular, notable destinations were Africa and Asia, with 3 of the top 6 itineraries booked focusing on the regions. In addition, Northern Europe, particularly the Baltics attracted high levels of interest. The voyage which attracted the most bookings was a 21-night Istanbul, Turkey to Dubai, UAE sailing on board Seven Seas Navigator® which tours the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. Starting at US$10,299 per guest and set to depart on 10 November, 2023 the cruise’s popularity illustrates not only that luxury travellers are keen to explore exotic lands once again, but that they also want to make up for lost time with longer adventures at sea. With overnights in both Israel and Egypt, as well as a transit of the Suez Canal, this port-intensive sailing epitomises the unparallelled destination immersion provided by the 2023-2024 Voyage Collection which, when combined with The World’s Most Luxurious Fleet™, takes the travel experience to new levels.


2023-2024 Voyage Collection

As part of the 2023-2024 Voyage Collection, Regent’s five ships will sail an incredible 139 new voyages of 7 up to 132 nights, with itineraries across Africa and Arabia, Alaska, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the South Pacific, Canada and New England, the Caribbean and Panama Canal, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and South America, as well as transoceanic crossings, and four mesmerising Grand Voyages. Enjoying exquisite comfort and care onboard, with every imaginable luxury included, guests sailing with Regent on one of its exclusive Voyage Collection journeys will enjoy a truly unrivalled experience.

Unforgettable destinations such as St. Petersburg, Russia; Kyoto, Japan; Singapore; Lisbon, Portugal; and Bordeaux, France are featured, and the 2023-2024 Voyage Collection also boasts 15 new ports of call, including Vanuatu’s Mystery Island, the majestic island of Syros in Greece, the captivating and untamed Lofoten Islands in Norway, and the charmingly colourful Puerto Banus in Spain.

Montague continued, “With a rich and varied selection of luxury cruises on offer, combined with personalised service from a warm and friendly crew, plus the peace of mind of our multi-layered SailSAFE™ health and safety program, it’s little wonder that guests continue to return to Regent time and again.”

A brochure and video showcasing Regent’s new 2023-2024 Voyage Collection have been created. For more information, please visit RSSC.com/new-season-launch, call Singapore 800-616-7097 / Hong Kong and Rest of Asia +852 2165 6020 or contact a professional travel advisor.

Radisson Resort & Spa Lonavala, a blend of nature and heritage opens its doors to guests

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Radisson Hotel Group announced its first hotel in the scenic hills of Lonavala today with the opening of Radisson Resort & Spa Lonavala. A drivable getaway with convenient air, rail and road connectivity from Mumbai and Pune, the destination is a travelers’ paradise offering many tourist attractions such as Rajmachi Point, Lonavala Lake, Duke's Nose, Karla Caves etc. The resort is spread over 14,100 sqm, offering sweeping views of the majestic Sahyadri range and one of the largest venues for hosting off-site meetings and large weddings. The resort’s commitment to sustainable design practices and extraordinary local character makes it a perfect getaway for modern travelers seeking a purpose-driven travel experience.

Zubin Saxena, Managing Director and Vice President, Operations, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group, said, “Radisson Resort & Spa Lonavala is a key opening for us in 2021. The resort’s perfect location and MICE facilities make it an attractive venue for guests looking to host destination weddings, large corporate or social functions. The opening provides further momentum to our strategic expansion plans in West India where we are already present in cities like Mumbai, Pune, Alibaug, Karjat, Nagpur and will add Nashik to the list by the end of the year.”

Located at just 15 minutes’ drive from both Lonavala and Khandala railway stations, Radisson Resort & Spa Lonavala is easily accessible for guests traveling from Mumbai, Pune and Khandala. The resort offers easy accessibility to tourist attractions such as Bushi Dam, Narayani Dham Temple, Lonavala Lake and the celebrity wax museum.

Designed by well-known Indian architect, Kamal S Malik, the resort has been envisioned as the perfect amalgamation of sustainable design and local art and culture. The resort has seamlessly adapted eco-friendly design practices and incorporated reused natural elements such as stones from the site for stone-cladding of the entire building. It features areas such an open atrium, that has been designed to reduce the need for air-conditioning. The resort’s atypical entrance lobby has a grand cylindrical space which recreates the effect of the echoes of Shivaji’s forts, giving the sense of a conservatory surrounded by hills. Radisson Resort & Spa Lonavala is home to the country’s largest Gabion wall which is approximately 21 m in length and is a visual spectacle for guests.

The resort features 103 uniquely designed modern rooms across four categories - Superior room with balcony view, Deluxe room featuring a lush green view, Suite which offers generous space, and Presidential Suite which comes with a five-seater open deck whirlpool.

“Radisson Resort & Spa Lonavala is perfect for vacationers who want to enjoy hospitality in the lap of nature. The resort’s modern yet earthy architecture, unrivalled views, and easy accessibility to key tourist destinations, makes it a preferred choice for guests. We are proud to partner with Radisson Hotel Group and are confident that this hotel will set a new benchmark for purpose-driven hospitality,” said Mr Parth Bihani, Partner, Monarch Hospitality.

With over 4,500 sqm of indoor and outdoor event space, the resort offers seven venues: Raj Sabha Wedding Lawn, Raj Bhawan Grand Ballroom, Royal Bastion, Surya Bhawan Indoor Banquet, Torna Banquet Terrace, Pool Deck and Board Room, that can host up to 1,500 pax. All meeting and event spaces come equipped with modern audio-visual technology making them ideal for hosting destination weddings, social and corporate getaways. Raj Sabha Wedding Lawns and Torna Banquet Terrace, offer a spectacular view of the hills surrounding the resort, making every event memorable.

The resort houses three exquisite dining options; Hirkani, an eclectic cuisine restaurant with emphasis on Oriental, Coastal, Indian and local cuisine; Malhari, a niche and trendy lifestyle bar serving contemporary grills, signature cocktails with a special emphasis on local flavors and produce from chef’s garden; Torna, a roof-top lounge with breathtaking views of the hills, offering a wide range of options such as classic Indian dishes, seafood, barbecue and Italian pastas. Guests who want to taste delectable biryanis and kebabs can opt for an authentic experience in the resort’s Pop-up restaurant, with innovative menu that changes every season.

A key attraction of the resort, The Spa at Radisson, a full-service wellness center, is perfect for guests looking forward to an immersive and rejuvenating experience amidst the calmness of Lonavala. Personalizing each session, the spa has a distinctive approach towards wellness by optimally integrating the use of local products and vital aspects of local culture. Built on a unique philosophy, the spa is centered around mental and physical wellbeing where guests are encouraged to interact with one another and feel part of a community.

The resort is well equipped with modern amenities like a 24-hour fitness center and houses an interactive kids’ play area. A distinctive feature of the resort is its outdoor swimming pool – Kund, designed in the shape and color of an actual Kund (traditional water reservoir), overlooking lush greenery surrounding the resort.

Alok Kaul, General Manager, Radisson Resort & Spa Lonavala said, “The resort is uniquely positioned in terms of its location, sustainable design and modern comforts. We are confident that our unmatched offerings paired with Yes I Can! hospitality will prove to be a compelling option for guests looking for an enhanced experience.”

With the health and safety of guests and team members as its top priority, Radisson Resort & Spa Lonavala is implementing the Radisson Hotels Safety Protocol program. The in-depth cleanliness and disinfection protocols were developed in partnership with SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, and are designed to ensure guest safety and peace of mind from check-in to check-out.

Photo caption: Façade and entrance of Radisson Resort & Spa Lonavala