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Category: Technology

  • Korea’s billion-dollar travel group Yanolja doubles down on ZEN Rooms to create future of hospitality in Southeast Asia

    Korea’s billion-dollar travel group Yanolja doubles down on ZEN Rooms to create future of hospitality in Southeast Asia

    ZEN Rooms (“ZEN”, “Company”), one of the leading economy and mid-range hotel franchises in Southeast Asia, today announced it had signed a definitive agreement with travel group Yanolja regarding additional investment, acquisition of early investors’ stakes and the signing of a wide strategic alliance. Yanolja is the leading travel group in South Korea, backed by Booking Holdings and GIC, among others. Yanolja was the lead strategic investor in the company’s US$15M funding round in 2018, with rights to invest further. Early investor Asia Internet Holdings (Joint Venture of Rocket Internet and Ooredoo Telecom) has agreed to exit its stake to Yanolja. RedBadge Pacific and SBI Korea remain investors, and Access Ventures join as co-investors.

    The alliance of ZEN and Yanolja creates the leading economy & mid-range hospitality group in Southeast Asia. It combines ZEN’s top-rated budget hotel franchise business with Yanolja’s scale, hospitality technologies and the backing by the global leader in Online Travel, Booking Holdings (behind Booking.com, Agoda, Priceline.com, Kayak etc), thus granting ZEN unique competitive advantages in both hotel technology and sales distribution. The groups will work to heavily deploy automation technology to enhance customer experience, further reduce budget hotels’ operating costs and reinvent budget hospitality across Southeast Asia.

    ZEN Rooms is today one of the largest hotel franchises in Southeast Asia, with 13,000 rooms under franchise. Since Yanolja’s investment in mid 2018, ZEN has grown revenues 400% and has become in Q2 2019 the largest hotel chain in fast-emerging Philippines, with 5,500 rooms under franchise.

    Southeast Asia is today the world’s fastest growing travel market, fueled by exponential domestic and regional demand of young travelers and millennials (e.g. the number of Chinese visitors has quadrupled in the past decade[1]). Yet, the value-for-money proposition of its budget hotel sector has historically been defective, plagued by several issues: fragmentation, poor hygiene & safety standards, lack of training and low technology use.

    ZEN was founded in 2015 to improve the state of budget hospitality and bring much needed operational and technological efficiency to the estimated 2 million independent economy rooms in the region. Thousands of hotel owners have since joined ZEN’s franchises to improve their revenue, optimize their cost base and increase the long-term value of their property. These efficiency gains ultimately benefit travelers who can enjoy safer and better value-for-money stays.

    With a deep emphasis on customer satisfaction, ZEN franchisees have enjoyed the best average guest ratings on Booking.com for two years in a row.

    Nathan Boublil, co-founder & CEO of ZEN, comments: “We started ZEN exactly 4 years ago to make budget accommodation in Southeast Asia more affordable and safer. We have proudly built ZEN into the top-rated budget hotel franchise in the region and were honored to be Yanolja’s 1st international investment. With this strategic alliance, we are joining forces with one of the most technologically innovative travel groups and its unique backers Booking Holdings to create the first full service budget & mid-range hospitality group in SEA, able to deploy world-class technology infrastructure in IoT R&D, automation, hardware and software to all hotels in Southeast Asia. This alliance will greatly benefit our ability to serve our hotel clients and ultimately the travelers of the entire region”. 

    Jongyoon Kim, CEO of Online Business at Yanolja, adds: “Since first investing in ZEN, we have shared the same vision of operational excellence and customer centricity to radically improve the SE Asian hospitality market. In the last 12 months, the ZEN team has taken major steps to fulfill this vision and has grown exponentially while displaying top inventory quality. With this exciting agreement, Yanolja plans to fully support ZEN to solidify its status as the market leading full-stack hospitality company in the region”.   

    Reference:

    For enquiries, contact: Nathan Boublil, co-Founder & CEO – nathan@zenrooms.com ; Nika Plana, PR – nika.plana@zenrooms.com

  • Shopee breaks all records with over 80 million visits and 80 million items sold for its Shopee 12.12 Big Christmas Sale

    Shopee breaks all records with over 80 million visits and 80 million items sold for its Shopee 12.12 Big Christmas Sale

    Over 180,000 hours recorded on Shopee Live throughout the entire event period.

    Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, achieves another record-breaking performance with 80 million items sold at its Shopee 12.12 Big Christmas Sale. Over 80 million visits were recorded in 24 hours as users from across the region shopped from millions of deals on December 12.

    Martin Yu, Associate Director at Shopee Philippines said, “The strong results from our 12.12 Big Christmas Sale shows that people from all walks of life trust Shopee to deliver the best online shopping experience. Year after year, we continue to see more users from both big and small cities buying and selling a wide variety of items. Shopee has become the go-to, everyday shopping app for everyone in the region, and we are committed to making e-commerce simple and accessible for all.”

    E-commerce is fast becoming a daily norm in users’ lives

    Shopee is fast becoming the go-to online shopping platform for users in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. According to iPrice’s Q3 2019 e-commerce report, Shopee is the most visited e-commerce website on desktop and mobile web across the region. It is also the top-ranking app in the Shopping category by average monthly active users across Southeast Asia.

    Users are also increasingly relying on Shopee to purchase their everyday products. Daily essentials such as power banks, wet wipes, and makeup foundation emerged as some of the top-selling products in the Philippines on December 12.

    In addition, users are becoming more resourceful in obtaining information before making a purchase. A total of 180,000 hours were clocked across Shopee Live streams over the entire event period, as users engaged with their favorite brands and sellers in real-time to get information on the latest hot-selling products.

    Across the region on December 12:

    • The total number of diapers sold on December 12 can last a baby for 12,002 years
    • The total number of smartphones sold can cover 3 football fields

    Success of Shopee 12.12 Big Christmas Sale signals growing trust and participation in online shopping

    The success of the Shopee 12.12 Big Christmas Sale also showcases increasing confidence in online shopping in the region. Users outside capital cities are also increasingly going online to sell or buy products they previously never had access to. In the Philippines, areas such as South Luzon and North Luzon experienced the highest shopping activity. Some of the top-selling local products include makeup pouches, iPhone cases, and stainless metal straw sets.

    Yu closed, “The Shopee 12.12 Big Christmas Sale marks the end of an outstanding 2019. We have achieved so much in the past year but what stands out the most is the unwavering support we’ve received from our users, sellers, brands, and partners. As we look ahead to 2020, we will continuously elevate the Shopee experience and unlock the full potential of e-commerce for all.”

    Reference:

    Catherine Llanes

    Media Relations Manager

    T. +63 2-332-10-31 loc. 103

    M.+63 919 005 2173

    M2COMMS | M2SOCIAL | M2LIVE | PROI

  • How to Enjoy Secure and Convenient Shopping This Holiday Season

    How to Enjoy Secure and Convenient Shopping This Holiday Season

    PayPal gives 5 practical tips for safe online shopping 

    Christmas is officially in the air. The parols are out, Jose Mari Chan is dominating the airwaves, and Filipinos are checking off items on their holiday shopping lists. The festive season also brings with it the stress of navigating heavy traffic and long lines at retail stores. That’s why many opt for online shopping instead. 

    Ecommerce continues to gain popularity in the Philippines,1 with convenience and security being the key drivers for this trend.2 And why not shop online? The bargains are there, the selection is vast, and payment is convenient. 

    With online shopping expected to increase in the weeks leading up to December, opportunistic cyber criminals will be looking to prey on vulnerable online shoppers. According to cybersecurity firm Kaspersky, the Philippines was the fifth-most targeted country after Algeria, Nepal, Albania and Djibouti. This was attributed to the general carelessness and lack of online security awareness among Filipino Internet users, leading to a large number of drive-by download attacks.3 

    But being aware of these threats can ensure that your time spent after Boxing Dayis with loved ones and not customer service representatives. PayPal, one of the world’s leading commerce enablers, offers practical tips on staying safe while shopping online this season. 

    1. Only shop on secure websites.Start at a trusted site. Search results can sometimes lead you astray, and sales on other sites might look enticing, but make a few checks before giving up your info to any website.  

    Look out for the padlock icon on sites and ensure that they start with “https” before entering your account information and password. This means that the site is secure and any financial or personal details that you provide are encrypted. 

    To be extra careful, a quick check to see if this website has a social media presence can uncover reviews to see if there are concerns raised by other customers. 

    Also, beware of misspellings or sites using a different top-level domain (.net instead of .com, for example)—those are some of the oldest tricks in the book. 

    1. Use a strong password.A secure, unique password for each of your online accounts is never more important than when banking and shopping online. A strong password should be: more than 8 characters long; use upper case, lower case, a number, and a special character; not a word or date associated with you; a combination of words with unusual capitalization, numbers, or a special character; and most importantly, something you can remember. 

    But even a perfect password isn’t perfect. Another option is to use a password manager to create virtually uncrackable passwords for you. It’ll also keep track of them and enter them, so you don’t have to think about it. 

    1. Opt for 2-factor authentication.Having 2-factor authentication can prevent loss of confidential information & can prevent data from being hacked. This security measure has been used to control access to sensitive data and systems, and online services are increasingly introducing 2-factor authentication to prevent their users’ data from being hacked. It also prevents fraudulent transactions when someone tries to transact using your data. 
    1. Use Trusted Online Payment Systems.Link your credit card to your PayPal account to not just shop securely, but to also enjoy rewards such as cashbacks and rebates as well. Aside from being able to link multiple credit cards to your account, using PayPal to complete your online purchases keeps your financial details more secure while still enabling you to enjoy the rewards associated with each card (contact your card issuer for details). 

    PayPal’s Buyer Protection policy also covers eligible purchases, should anything go wrong with your purchase. 

    1. Beware of Phishing Emails.During key shopping periods like the Christmas season, you are likely to be swamped with festive e-mailers from your favorite online stores telling you about their fabulous promotions. While it may be tempting to click through, keep a lookout for tell-tale signs that it could be a phishing email. 

    PayPal’s world-class cyber defence centre provides coverage 24/7, 365 days a year. Through coordinated efforts, the company has successfully shut down 500,000 fraudulant websites annually. Lookout for potential red flags, such as poor grammar or spelling, and URLs and domains that don’t match the sender before clicking through the links. 

    About PayPal 

    PayPal has remained at the forefront of the digital payment revolution for more than 20 years. By leveraging technology to make financial services and commerce more convenient, affordable, and secure, the PayPal platform is empowering 300 million consumers and merchants in more than 200 markets to join and thrive in the global economy. For more information, visit paypal.com. 

    Reference:

    Catherine Llanes

    Media Relations Manager

    T. +63 2-332-10-31 loc. 103

    M.+63 919 005 2173

    M2COMMS | M2SOCIAL | M2LIVE | PROI

  • RCBC, Multisys to bring an all-in-one virtual banking app

    RCBC, Multisys to bring an all-in-one virtual banking app

    Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) has partnered with software and IT solutions provider, Multisys Technologies Corporation, to power the country’s first financial inclusion accelerator virtual bank, DiskarTech. PLDT invested P2.15 billion in Multisys for a 45.73% interest last year.

    Through DiskarTech: Kasosyo sa Asenso, RCBC will soon bring banking services and products closer to unbanked Filipinos and grassroots communities. This is in line with the commercial bank’s efforts to further promote financial inclusion in the country.

    With Multisys, DiskarTech will become an all-in-one app where users can easily make payments to more than 20 government services and over 2,000 billers, transfer funds via InstaPay, and avail of social services. It will also enable banking consumers to take out loans, buy airtime load and gaming ePINS, as well as apply for insurance and cash in and cash out via respective agent partners.

    “We are confident that with our collaboration with Multisys, we would be able to bring inclusive digital banking services to more Filipinos and uplift their lives,” said Lito Villanueva, RCBC Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer.

    RCBC EVP and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer Lito Villanueva (right) and Multisys President and CEO David Almirol, Jr., seal a partnership that will make the DiskarTech: Kasosyo sa Asenso into an all-in-one app to bring banking products and services closer to unbanked Filipinos. Looking on are PLDT Chairman and CEO Manny Pangilinan, RCBC Chairperson Helen Yuchengco-Dee and RCBC President and CEO Eugene Acevedo.

    “This is a strategic engagement as it covers the most extensive features and services that RCBC developed and championed, truly the first and the best in the industry,” said David Almirol, Jr. Multisys President and CEO.

    RCBC has been building a robust digital ecosystem with over 30 partnerships and collaboration across government agencies and private organizations to push DiskarTech in local communities.

    Reference:

    Abbey Malvar

    Public Relations Department

    Strategic works, Inc.

    +639. 17.708.8346

    abbey.malvar@stratworks.ph

    2nd Floor Zaragoza Building, 102 Gamboa Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City PH

  • Catch the Shopee 12.12 Grand Christmas Show with Jose Mari Chan and win over ₱1 Million Worth of Giveaways on Shopee Live

    Catch the Shopee 12.12 Grand Christmas Show with Jose Mari Chan and win over ₱1 Million Worth of Giveaways on Shopee Live

    Users can look forward to all-day sitewide free shipping with ₱0 minimum spend for the Shopee 12.12 Big Christmas Sale on Dec 12 .

    Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, invites everyone to catch its 12.12 Grand Christmas Show starring Jose Mari Chan on December 12. Viewers can tune in to the 15-hour stream on Shopee Live starting at 9AM for a chance to win over ₱1 million worth of giveaways including an iPhone 11, JBL Bar 2.1, Xiaomi Electric Scooter, and more.

    Ruoshan Tao, Head of Marketing, Shopee Philippines, said, “As Christmas draws closer, we are excited to enhance the Shopee Live experience to engage and entertain our Flipino users. Shoppers can look forward to another fun and interactive show where they can win Shopee coins, vouchers, and product giveaways. We invite everyone to make the most of our deals and promotions as we close 2019 with our final sale of the year.”

    Consumers can look forward to special appearance by Shopee brand ambassador, Jose Mari Chan at the 12.12 Grand Christmas Show. Viewers will be treated to a live performance by Jose Mari Chan in real-time as he performs his iconic Christmas songs. He will also be unboxing a special Shopee Balikbayan Box with over ₱100,000 worth of products. One lucky viewer will stand a chance to win the entire box of giveaways.

    Key highlights of Shopee 12.12 Big Christmas Sale on December 12

    On December 12, Shopee 12.12 Big Christmas Sale promises a full day of exciting promotions. Key highlights include:

    All-day sitewide free shipping with ₱0 minimum spend

    50% off deals: Score amazing deals across categories where consumers can get an iPhone 11, Nintendo Switch, and Avision 50” TV at 50% off.

    Hourly Flash Deals: Users can look forward to an upsized session of flash deals to score their favorite products for as low as ₱9.

    Shopee Shake: There will be 8 sessions of Shopee Shake with exciting prizes including an iPhone 11, McDonald’s Shake Shake Fries, and Shopee coins from a pool of 2 million.

    Shopee Catch: Shopee Catch players can win from a pool of over ₱1 million worth of coins and vouchers.

    ₱1 Game: Users can look forward to amazing prizes in Shopee’s ₱1 Game including an iPhone 11 Pro Max, Xiaomi Mi 9T, and Samsung Galaxy A70.

    Up to 90% off from leading brands and more: Pampers, Pantene, Safeguard, Olay, Enfagrow, Unilever, Maybelline, Nestle, INSPI, and more will be giving exclusive discounts up to 90% off. Electronic brands including Vivo, Tigernu, Globe, and Huawei, as well as lifestyle brands like SM Store and Bosch will also be offering special discounts to Shopee users.

    Find out more about Shopee 12.12 Big Christmas Sale at https://www.shopee.ph/12-12.

    Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

    Catherine Llanes

    Media Relations Manager

    M2_EmailSig2

    T. +63 2-332-10-31 loc. 103

    M.+63 919 005 2173

    M2COMMS | M2SOCIAL | M2LIVE | PROI

  • Define your style with the trendy Vivo S1 Pro

    Define your style with the trendy Vivo S1 Pro

    Gone are the days when styles were black and white—when choosing a style equated to a long-term commitment to live and breathe that chosen lifestyle. Today, finding one’s style is a constant flux. Monday could be business-fashionday, Tuesday can be chill-joggers-shirt day, while Wednesday could be a throwback-90s-style day. However you decide to go about with your style, you need a phone that can match any get-up in your state of “style exploration”.

    With its sleek and unique design, the Vivo S1 Pro is the perfect phone for you to define your style. Its bold and lavish Knight Black and Fancy White colorways matches any “OOTD” you wear wherever you choose to wear it.

    As smooth as your “getup”, ease-of-access has never been easier with the S1 Pro’s 8GB RAM and in-display fingerprint scanner. The phone, conceived by leading global technology company Vivo, also showcases a 6.38-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display perfect for viewing photos or watching your favorite flick.

    Finally, to help capture memories and aid you in cementing your style, the S1 Pro boasts of state-of-the-art front and back cameras. Its unparalleled front-cam enclosed in a water-drop style notch captures ultra-clear photos with its 32 mega-pixel camera. On the other side, the very stylish and one-of-a-kind diamond-shaped rear camera of the Vivo S1 Pro consists of a 48MP main, 8MP secondary, 2MPwide-angle, and 2MP macro camera—a camera quartet unmatched in the mobile phone market.

    Retailing for P15,999, the smartphone can be pre-ordered online and in-store from November 21 to 29. It will be available at all authorized Vivo outlets nationwide starting November 30.

    About Vivo

    Vivo is a leading global technology company that is committed to creating trendsetting smart mobile innovations and services. Devoted to forming a vibrant mobile internet ecosystem, Vivo currently owns and operates an extensive network of research operations, with R&D centers focusing on the development of cutting-edge consumer technologies, including 5G, AI, mobile photography, and next-generation smartphone design.

    Currently, Vivo has over two hundred million users enjoying its mobile products and services around the world. It is present in 18 markets globally and features offline retail stores in over 1,000 cities worldwide. In the Philippines, Vivo is among the top 3 smartphone brands in terms of market share with 1.5 million users nationwide.

    For inquiries, visit vivoglobal.ph or check www.facebook.com/vivoPhilippines, www.instagram.com/vivo_philippines/, and https://twitter.com/vivo_phil.

    Abbey Malvar

    Public Relations Department

    Strategic works, Inc.

    +639. 17.708.8346

    abbey.malvar@stratworks.ph

    2nd Floor Zaragoza Building, 102 Gamboa Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City PH

  • Vivo launches fashionable S1 Pro that suits every style

    Vivo launches fashionable S1 Pro that suits every style

    “Preppy”, “Hipster”, “Gamer”, “Laid Back”—today’s generation have continuously been embracing a plethora of styles. People from all ages and different walks of life can frequently be seen breaking barriers and deviating tradition to express themselves in their own unique ways.

    Catering to this inception of numerous styles fashioned by different people under the same atmosphere, Vivo, the leading global technology company, recently launched the stylish S1 Pro at the Conrad Hotel, Manila.

    The event, graced by Vivo Philippines executives, product distributors, and media partners, featured a lavish and colourful venue with two interactive zones that called for guests to explore their style.

    “The Styling Suite”, a fancy-looking open-air dressing room with several hair and make-up artists, allowed guests to get the best look and end up with a stunning makeover. To complete the look, there was also a “Styling booth” where guests tried out different outfits from Forever 21.

    Of course, the main highlight of the night was the unveiling of the newest line in the Vivo S series. Through product talks and TVC premieres, guests learned that the Vivo S1 Pro was truly a phone fit for any and every style the user chooses to explore.

    Its unparalleled 32MP front camera is perfect for selfie-lovers. For those more comfortable with shots taken with the rear camera, the Vivo S1 Pro sports a magnificent diamond-shaped rear quad camera set-up consisting of a 48MP main, 8MP secondary, 2MPwide-angle, and 2MP macro camera that perfectly capture “OOTD” shots.

    For gamers, the S1 Pro also boasts of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 processor and 8GBRAM/128ROM—a medley of specs synonymous to average game-ready laptops. The phone also has a gaming mode where users will be stripped off of notifications which may hinder the full-on phone-gaming experience. Meanwhile, for minimalists who simply use the phone for communicating, watching, and browsing, the S1 Pro’s 6.38-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display, along with the same RAM/ROM specs, brings smooth and seamless use for a hassle-free experience.

    Part of the launch was a fashion show which proved that the phone’s sleek, but unique design, whether in Knight Black and Fancy Sky colorways, is perfect for every style and every occasion. Models in different collections from Forever 21 paraded a beautiful runway, each flaunting the newest Vivo S1 Pro—cementing the fact, that the S1 Pro is the ultimate phone which encourages users to “explore your style”. Retailing for P15,999, the smartphone can be pre-ordered online and in-store from November 21 to 29. It will be available at all authorized Vivo outlets nationwide starting November 30.

    Erika Garcia / 0956 523 1018 / Strategic works, Inc.

  • Jollibee’s first-ever Level Up Joy Store transports us to the future

    Jollibee’s first-ever Level Up Joy Store transports us to the future

    For Pinoys, nothing brings a more joyful dining experience much like Jollibee. From the feeling of being home, to the familiar taste of our classic langhap-sarap favorites, it’s no doubt that every visit is as jolly and memorable as it can be.

    Katipunan gets a funkier touch with Jollibee’s first-ever Level Up Joy Store.

    Now, the country’s number one fast-food chain is about to level up the joy—with a newly-designed concept store featuring modern innovations set out to give customers a hip and funky dining experience.

    It’s the same Jollibee we all know and love, made better.

    Standing along the stretch of Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City, the Jollibee Level Up Joy Store is the first of its kind. From the outside, one can easily spot the state-of-the-art facade of this new and improved Jollibee branch.

    The Jollibee Level Up Joy Store is a themed space that brims of art, good food, and joyful experiences, perfect for hanging out with the barkada and the family.

    Inside, the young and the young-at-hearts are certainly up for a visual thrill as vibrant and artistic murals welcome them as they enter Jollibee’s Level Up Joy Store. It also houses geometric floor tiles and mirrorlike lighting, as well as contemporary seating and industrial fixtures. Surely, every angle would be a perfect spot to snap an Instagram photo or two!

    On the second floor, the new home of Jollibee in Katipunan brims with two functionally-themed party rooms. The walls feature eclectic artworks of Jollibee and Friends, giving every birthday celebrant an elevated Jollibee Kids Party experience.

    Jollibee Kids Party celebrations are about to get more joyful as colorful murals paint the walls of the Jollibee Level Up Joy Store.

    Adding to the store’s youthful feel are the new-fashioned service platforms designed to guarantee customer joy in every step. Three digital self-service kiosks stand in front of the Jollibee Level Up Joy Store counter, where guests can find a quick and efficient way to place their food orders without having to go through long queues. These kiosks also allow cashless transactions, so one can conveniently secure their payments with just a tap of their debit or credit cards.

    Low battery? No problem! Wireless charging pads are built-in to the tables of the Jollibee’s first-ever Level Up Joy Store. With this new and exciting feature, people can definitely stay connected with their family and friends while savoring their most-loved langhap-sarap meals.

    Joan Aquino, Jollibee PH Metro North RBU Head shares that, “Our customers have always been the priority of Jollibee, and with that, we are not just introducing numerous innovations, but we’re also ramping up our branded customer service—Alagang Jollibee—to ensure that warm and welcoming feeling every time you enter a Jollibee store.”

    With wireless charging pads, customers can stay connected as they enjoy their best-tasting Jollibee meals.

    Surely, the Jollibee Katipunan branch is first of the many Level Up Joy Stores that the company will be rolling out. To know more about exciting updates, ‘like’ and visit Jollibee’s official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/JollibeePhilippines/.

    Abbey Malvar

    Public Relations Department

    Strategic works, Inc.

    +639. 17.708.8346

    abbey.malvar@stratworks.ph

    2nd Floor Zaragoza Building, 102 Gamboa Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City PH