Dusit International appoints Makoto Yamashita to spearhead hotel openings in Kyoto, Japan

BANGKOK, Feb 2, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Dusit International, one of Thailand's leading hotel and property development companies, has appointed Mr Makoto Yamashita as pre-opening General Manager of ASAI Kyoto Shijo and Area GM – Kyoto, Japan.

Makoto Yamashita

Dusit Thani Kyoto

ASAI Shijo Kyoto

Marking an important milestone in Dusit's ongoing global expansion, the 114-key ASAI Kyoto Shijo is one of two Dusit-branded properties set to debut in Japan this year. It is scheduled to soft open in June 2023, followed by Dusit Thani Kyoto, Japan, in September 2023.

With more than three decades of marketing and operational experience behind him, Mr Yamashita has worked in corporate and property roles for renowned brands in his native Japan. This includes more than 10 years working as Assistant Manager – Marketing at the Corporate Headquarters of JAL Hotels (now Okura Nikko Hotels Japan), followed by stints leading well-known properties under Starwood Hotels & Resorts (now Marriott International) and Mori Trust Hotels & Resorts.

Among the positions he held with Starwood in Japan are Director – Global Sales (2006-2010); Director of Sales & Marketing at Sheraton Hiroshima Hotel (2010-2012); Director of Sales & Marketing at The St. Regis Osaka (2012-2016); Executive Assistant Manager at The St. Regis Osaka (2016-2017); and Cluster General Manager of Tokyo Marriott Hotel and Courtyard by Marriott Tokyo Station (2018-2020).

Prior to joining Dusit, Mr Yamashita was Area General Manager of Mori Trust Hotels & Resorts in Tokyo and Nagano. Here, he oversaw the introduction of new digital systems and operational processes that helped enhance the properties' efficiency and profitability.

As General Manager of ASAI Kyoto Shijo and Area GM – Kyoto, Mr Yamashita is responsible for spearheading the opening of ASAI Kyoto Shijo and Dusit Thani Kyoto and ensuring both properties meet their financial and operational objectives.

"I am delighted and honoured to introduce Dusit's unique brand of Thai-inspired gracious hospitality to Japan for the first time at these unique and exciting properties," said Mr Yamashita. "I look forward to leveraging my own experience, and the expertise of my team, to deliver meaningful and memorable experiences that delight our guests and customers, position each hotel for sustainable success, and set a strong foundation for Dusit's further expansion in Japan."

About Dusit International

Established in 1948, Dusit International or Dusit Thani Public Company Limited (DUSIT) is a leading hospitality group listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Its operations comprise five distinct yet complementary business units: hotels and resorts, hospitality education, food, property development, and hospitality-related services.

The group's portfolio of hotels, resorts and luxury villas includes more than 300 properties operating under a total of six brands (Dusit Thani, Dusit Devarana, dusitD2, Dusit Princess, ASAI Hotels, and Elite Havens) across 16 countries worldwide. The group also operates culinary schools and hospitality colleges in Thailand, plus catering companies for the education sector in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Dusit International's diversified investments in real estate development, hospitality-related services, and the food sector are part of its long-term strategy for sustainable growth, which focuses on three key areas: balance, expansion and diversification. For more information, please visit dusit-international.com

For more information, please contact:
Sureerat Sudpairak | Corporate Director of Public Relations | Dusit International
Tel: +66 (0) 2200 9999 ext. 3321 | Mobile +66 (0) 89 006 8697 | Email: sureerat.sp@dusit.com

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Job Market in Malaysia Thrives with 65% Increase in Retail Hiring: foundit Insights Tracker

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 1, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Malaysia recorded a robust 21% year-on-year growth in e-recruitment activity in December '22 compared to the same month a year ago, according to the foundit Insights Tracker (fit), formerly published as Monster Employment Index (MEI). The growth is attributed to the country easing travel restrictions and opening its borders. The company Monster APAC & Middle East was rebranded as foundit in 'December 2022.

The Index stands at 76 with 3% month-on-month growth, driving a spree in hiring activity in December '22. According to fit, the job market has shown noteworthy growth month over month, projecting a continuous demand in the job market. Moreover, over the last three months, there has been a robust 10% growth in hiring across sectors, indicating a persistent demand in the labour market.

The retail industry experienced an impressive 65% increase in hiring activity year-over-year, primarily due to robust retail sales and an upward trend in consumer sentiment. The easing of Covid rules and regulations, fast-growing retail business, along with borders reopening to boost import/export and resume travel have aided the boost in retail jobs. Similar trends were observed in the hospitality sector, where job demand increased significantly by 55%. With a 34% increase in hiring activity, the BFSI sector also maintained its upward trend.

Commenting on job trends for December 2022, Sekhar Garisa, CEO, foundit APAC & ME, said, "The job market in Malaysia is showing strong and sustained demand, as reflected in the impressive growth numbers reported by the foundit Insights Tracker. This is a testament to the country's success in easing travel restrictions and reopening its borders, which has led to a surge in demand across various sectors, particularly in retail, hospitality, and BFSI. The overall picture is of resilience and growth, even though some sectors have experienced difficulties due to global economic uncertainty. We believe that this trend will persist in the upcoming months."

Other sectors that showed encouraging growth in December '22 are Logistic, Courier/ Freight/ Transportation, Shipping/ Marine (+32%), Oil and Gas (+1%), Production/Manufacturing, Automotive and Ancillary (+2%) and Engineering, Construction and Real Estate (+2%) sector from the year-ago level. The advertising, Market Research, Public Relations, Media and Entertainment industry also saw tremendous growth (+15%) in December 22, led by a surge in digital marketing initiatives and artificial intelligence (AI) deployment.

While the Index reflects a year-on-year hiring dip in IT, Telecom/ISP, and BPO/ITES by 13%, the monthly hiring demand in the sector has seen a notable increase. However, hiring in this sector has slowed in recent months, primarily due to ongoing global economic uncertainties.

Online recruitment surpassed the year-ago level in 8 of the 9 occupation groups monitored by the tracker, with Hospitality & Travel leading the charge at (+212%). This is due to the opening of land and air borders as the country has completely eased out of the Covid-19 pandemic and opened its land borders with Singapore. This factor has also contributed to the positive growth in Sales & Business Development job roles (+28%). The increased penetration of digitization across all sectors, followed by a pickup in Finance & Accounts (+29%) roles, registered an increased demand and has maintained resolute growth rates since April '21. However, among all monitored functions, customer service is the only one to have registered a de-growth of 17% in December '22.

The foundit Insights Tracker is a comprehensive monthly analysis of online job posting activity conducted by foundit. Based on a real-time review of millions of employer job opportunities culled from a large, representative selection of online career outlets, the foundit Insights Tracker (FIT) presents a snapshot of employer online recruitment activity nationwide.

Period for the report
The period considered for the foundit Insights Tracker (fit) data is 1st to 31st December, 2022.

About foundit – APAC & Middle East

foundit, formerly Monster (APAC & ME), is a leading talent platform offering comprehensive employment solutions to recruiters and job seekers across APAC & ME. Since its inception, the company has assisted over 75 million registered users to find jobs, upskill, and connect with the right opportunities across 18 countries. Over the last two decades, the company has been a catalyst in the world of recruitment solutions with advanced technology, seeking to efficiently bridge the talent gap across industry verticals, experience levels, and geographies. Today, foundit is committed to enabling and connecting the right talent with the right opportunities by harnessing the power of deep tech to sharpen hyper-personalized job searches, and precision hiring. foundit strongly believes that a job title doesn't define one's potential and leverages technology to dig deeper to curate opportunities central to the needs and aspirations of each user.

To learn more, about foundit in APAC & Gulf,

Visit: www.foundit.my | https://www.foundit.in| https://www.founditgulf.com | https://www.foundit.sg | www.foundit.com.ph | www.foundit.com.hk | https://www.foundit.id

Contact:
Namrata Sharma
Namrata.sharma@adfactorspr.com
+6581383034

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Connexus Travel Appoints Eric Lau as General Manager

HONG KONG, Jan 18, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Connexus Travel Limited ("Connexus Travel" or "Connexus") is pleased to announce the appointment of Eric Lau as its new General Manager, effective immediately, to drive digital transformation and the growth of its corporate travel business in the region, as well as global expansion. In his role as General Manager, Eric will lead Connexus team to take advantage of the growing corporate travel opportunities in the post-COVID era to drive the business forward and further strengthen the company's strategic development to achieve long-term, sustainable success.

Connexus Travel's new General Manager, Mr. Eric Lau

Eric has more than 18 years of experience in the travel and aviation industry, focusing on people management and strategic partnership. He joins Connexus from Travelport, where he held various senior positions for over a decade and served as General Manager, Agency Commerce for its Greater China operation since 2018. During his time at Travelport, he oversaw. and managed strategic commercial partnership with travel agencies including OTA, TMC and Leisure Travel agencies as well as off-shore partners including airlines in North Asia region. Prior to this, Eric also worked for Cathay Holidays and Cathay Pacific Airways.

Eric holds a Master of Science degree in International Shipping and Transport Logistics from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems from the University of London.

Founded more than 70 years ago as the first travel agent registered in Hong Kong, Connexus Travel, (formerly Swire Travel) now also operates in Beijing and Shanghai, specialising in corporate, leisure and MICE travel, offering a full range of travel services and digital booking applications for corporate travellers.

About Connexus Travel Limited
Established in 1948, Connexus Travel Limited, formerly known as Swire Travel, was the first travel agent registered in Hong Kong. Connexus Travel has offices in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai, with a local licence in Beijing since 2009, serving corporate customers who demand excellence and high levels of travel services. The company provides a full range of travel services for domestic and foreign tourists, including flight and other travel ticket bookings, hotel reservations, travel tours and packages, and visa applications. After 70 years of excellent service, Connexus Travel has evolved into a leading regional travel management company, with a focus on customer service and technology for corporate, leisure and MICE travel. Connexus Travel has also met the highest international security standards in relation to securing personal data processing and storage.

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Society Pass, Inc. (SOPA) / NusaTrip Expands Services to Philippines

SINGAPORE, Jan 17, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – NusaTrip, Indonesia's first IATA-certified online travel agency (OTA) and the travel vertical of Society Pass Incorporated (Nasdaq:SOPA), today formally announces the opening of its second Southeast Asia (SEA) regional office in Philippines.

The market for Filipino tourists and foreign workers is sizable. According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration's (POEA) data, approximately 2.3 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were deployed in 2019. In 2021, OFW was estimated to be 1.83 million, up from 1.77 million in 2020. Based on the Department of Tourism's November 2022 report, 73% of the 2.025 million visitors to the Philippines are foreign tourists, whereas 27% are OFWs. In 2023, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) aims to increase the number of overseas Filipino workers. The majority of OFWs work in the service sector, such as domestic help, healthcare, engineering, and construction. By 2020, Asia employed 83.6% of OFWs, followed by Europe, America, and Australia.

NusaTrip CEO Johanes (Joe) Chang elaborates, "Considering the market's size and potential, the Philippines is an essential market for our ecosystem. NusaTrip aims to be the promotion partners for the Philippines tourism boards and become the travel hub that helps to connect overseas Filipinos with their home country. We are excited to collaborate with the local businesses. It will accelerate and improve the quality of our synergies and customer growth rate in Southeast Asia. In addition, given Philippines' countless scenic spots and picturesque beaches, NusaTrip will focus on promoting thousands of hotels into our platform and provide leisure alternatives for international travelers".

Leveraging the momentum of the travel and tourism industry recovery post-COVID-19 pandemic, NusaTrip is expanding its offering beyond air travel. NusaTrip aims to extend its flight content with more travel inspirations and relevant options, so everyone will always find something to explore and somewhere to fly to. On the business side, NusaTrip connects worldwide flight content through streamlined integration with low-cost and full-service airlines from multiple points of sale and enables global distribution at ease via its proprietary technology, the NusaXchange platform.

Nusatrip regional offices will focus on creating more variety of marketing initiatives and managing existing business relationships with airlines, hotels, and tourism promotion board partners.

"We are very excited to welcome NusaTrip and look forward to the collaboration with our local businesses. I believe it will benefit our business partners and customers," said Arbie Christie Pagdangan, Country Manager for Society Pass in the Philippines.

About NusaTrip

Founded in 2013, NusaTrip is an IATA-licensed online travel agency that serves both local and global customers and partners by optimizing cutting-edge technology and providing 24/7 customer-centric support team-as-a-service. NusaTrip is now a member of Society Pass (Nasdaq: SoPa) ecosystem. For more information, please visit: https://www.nusatrip.com.

About Society Pass Inc.

Founded in 2018 as a data-driven loyalty, fintech and e-commerce ecosystem in the fast-growing markets of Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, which account for more than 80% of the SEA population, and with offices located in Angeles, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Manila, and Singapore, Society Pass Incorporated (Nasdaq: SOPA) is an acquisition-focused holding company operating 6 interconnected verticals (loyalty, digital media, travel, telecoms, lifestyle, and F&B), which seamlessly connects millions of registered consumers and hundreds of thousands of registered merchants/brands across multiple product and service categories throughout SEA.

Society Pass completed an initial public offering and began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker SOPA in November 2021. SOPA shares were added to the Russell 2000 index in December 2021.

SoPa acquires fast growing e-commerce companies and expands its user base across a robust product and service ecosystem. SoPa integrates these complementary businesses through its signature Society Pass fintech platform and circulation of its universal loyalty points or Society Points, which has entered beta testing and is expected to launch broadly at the beginning of 2023. Society Pass loyalty program members earn and redeem Society Points and receive personalised promotions based on SoPa's data capabilities and understanding of consumer shopping behaviour. SoPa has amassed more than 3.3 million registered consumers and over 205,000 registered merchants and brands. It has invested 2+ years building proprietary IT architecture to effectively scale and support its consumers, merchants, and acquisitions.

Society Pass leverages technology to tailor a more personalised experience for customers in the purchase journey and to transform the entire retail value chain in SEA. SoPa operates Thoughtful Media Group, a Thailand-based, a social commerce-focused, premium digital video multi-platform network; NusaTrip, a leading Indonesia-based Online Travel Agency; Gorilla Networks, a Singapore-based, web3-enabled mobile blockchain network operator; Leflair.com, Vietnam's leading lifestyle e-commerce platform; Pushkart.ph, a popular grocery delivery company in Philippines; Handycart.vn, a leading online restaurant delivery service based in Vietnam; and Mangan.ph, a leading local restaurant delivery service in Philippines.

For more information on Society Pass, please visit:
Website at https://www.thesocietypass.com or
LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/societypass or
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thesocietypass or
Twitter at https://twitter.com/society_pass or
Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/societypass/.

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may include "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management team, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company's management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors detailed in the Company's filings with the SEC. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are qualified in their entirety by this paragraph. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company's registration statement and prospectus relating to the Company's initial public offering filed with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Media Contacts:
Rosa Milyarna – NusaTrip Indonesia
Rosa@nusatrip.com

NusaTrip / Society Pass ID PR Representatives
Elisabeth ( elisabeth.winiartati@gmail.com | +62813375150220)
Angga ( anggahadi@gmail.com | +6281213858388)

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Society Pass (Nasdaq: SOPA)’s NusaTrip Opens Regional Office in Singapore to Service Booming Rebound in Southeast Asia Travel Market

SINGAPORE, Jan 4, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – NusaTrip, Indonesia's first IATA-certified online travel agency (OTA) and the travel vertical of Society Pass Incorporated (Nasdaq: SOPA), today announces the opening of its first regional office in Singapore and first office outside of Indonesia. The office opening positions NusaTrip as the travel platform of choice for travelers desiring access to the booming recovery of Southeast Asia's (SEA) tourism industry and reflects NusaTrip's commitment to developing a wider range of marketing and commercial partnerships with airlines, hotels, and tourism boards. Customers in Singapore can now directly book flights and hotel rooms and pay in local currency on NusaTrip.com's dedicated website for Singapore travelers.

"Singapore's strategic location at the center of Southeast Asia (SEA) make it a preferred destination for travelers from around the globe. Ranked the third busiest airport in the world by Skytrax, Singapore's Changi Airport (IATA: SIN, ICAO: WSSS) plays an important and strategic role in SEA's travel, tourism, and hospitality industry. The presence of NusaTrip in Singapore is only the beginning of many significant advancements to come. It is an important step toward increasing our accessibility and credibility among our key stakeholders in SEA", said NusaTrip's CEO, Johanes (Joe) Chang.

Leveraging SEA's soaring momentum of the travel and tourism industry recovery post-COVID-19 pandemic, NusaTrip is expanding its offering beyond air travel. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council's "Travel & Tourism Economic Impact 2022" report, the Travel & Tourism GDP in Asia-Pacific is forecasted to grow at an average annual rate of 8.5% or twice the 4% growth rate for the regional economy. Against this backdrop, NusaTrip expects to significantly add to its supply of hotels beyond the current 200,000 registered hotels on its platform. NusaTrip connects worldwide flight content through streamlined integration with low-cost and full-service airlines from multiple points of sale and enables global distribution at ease via its proprietary technology, the NusaXchange platform.

About NusaTrip

Founded in 2013, NusaTrip is an IATA-licensed, Indonesia-based online travel agency serving both local and global customers and partners by optimising cutting-edge technology and providing 24/7 customer-centric support team-as-a-service. NusaTrip is a member of Society Pass (Nasdaq: SoPa) ecosystem. For more information, please review: https://www.nusatrip.com.

About Society Pass Inc.

Founded in 2018 as a next generation, data-driven, loyalty, fintech and e-commerce ecosystem in the fast-growing markets of Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, which account for more than 80% of the SEA population, and with offices located in Angeles, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Manila, and Singapore, Society Pass Incorporated (Nasdaq: SOPA) is an acquisition-focused holding company operating 6 interconnected verticals (loyalty, digital media, travel, telecoms, lifestyle, and F&B), which seamlessly connects millions of registered consumers and hundreds of thousands of registered merchants/brands across multiple product and service categories throughout SEA.

Society Pass completed an initial public offering and began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker SOPA in November 2021. SOPA shares were added to the Russell 2000 index in December 2021.

SoPa acquires fast growing e-commerce companies and expands its user base across a robust product and service ecosystem. SoPa integrates these complementary businesses through its signature Society Pass fintech platform and circulation of its universal loyalty points or Society Points, which has entered beta testing and is expected to launch broadly at the beginning of 2023. Society Pass loyalty program members earn and redeem Society Points and receive personalised promotions based on SoPa's data capabilities and understanding of consumer shopping behaviour. SoPa has amassed more than 3.3 million registered consumers and over 205,000 registered merchants and brands. It has invested 2+ years building proprietary IT architecture to effectively scale and support its consumers, merchants, and acquisitions.

Society Pass leverages technology to tailor a more personalised experience for customers in the purchase journey and to transform the entire retail value chain in SEA. SoPa operates Thoughtful Media Group, a Thailand-based, a social commerce-focused, premium digital advertising network; NusaTrip, a leading Indonesia-based Online Travel Agency; Gorilla Networks, a Singapore-based, web3-enabled mobile blockchain network operator; Leflair.com, Vietnam's leading lifestyle e-commerce platform; Pushkart.ph, a popular grocery delivery company in Philippines; Handycart.vn, a premier online restaurant delivery service based in Vietnam; and Mangan.ph, a leading local restaurant delivery service in Philippines.

For more information on Society Pass, please review the following online information which is not part of this press release:
Website at https://www.thesocietypass.com or
LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/societypass or
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thesocietypass or
Twitter at https://twitter.com/society_pass or
Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/societypass/.

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may include "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management team, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company's management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors detailed in the Company's filings with the SEC. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are qualified in their entirety by this paragraph. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company's registration statement and prospectus relating to the Company's initial public offering filed with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Media Contacts:
Rosa Milyarna – NusaTrip Indonesia
Rosa@nusatrip.com

NusaTrip/Society Pass ID PR Representatives
Elisabeth (elisabeth.winiartati@gmail.com | +62813375150220)
Angga (anggahadi@gmail.com | +6281213858388)

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Yoga’s Kashmir Connection: Time for Revitalisation

SINGAPORE, Dec 29, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – The social tapestry of the valley of Kashmir is vibrant, diverse and layered. From the relics of its Buddhist past to its long history of association with Vedic practices, Kashmir is truly as multifaceted as it can get. Apart from its resplendent beauty, Kashmir has also been at the forefront of leading the mantle as a site of spirituality. Its connection to Yoga, in particular, traces its history back to the time of Adi Shankara, who is believed to have visited the valley in the 8th century CE. A proponent of Advaita philosophy, Adi Shankara advocated ideas related to spiritual oneness, attained as it was to be through meditative practices and consciousness about the Self. It is no surprise then that the Valley of Kashmir is full of places, monuments and sites named after the founder of Advaitism.

Speaking of Adi Shankara's cultural import, the Jyeshteshwara Temple, which is the oldest temple in the Kashmir Valley, is more commonly known as Shankaracharya Temple. Dedicated to the Hindu God, Lord Shiva, this temple and its adjacent land have been declared sites of national importance. They are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. Also, it is interesting to note that despite its inclusion within the folds of Hinduism, the temple and the hill on which it is located have been relevant to Buddhist and Persianate cultures alike. Accordingly, where the architecture of this temple is essentially Buddhist, the hill, which otherwise goes by the name of Gopadiri, is also known as Koh-e-Suleman and Takht-i-Sulaiman.

In addition to being a known seat of spirituality, the Shankaracharya Temple has a historic connection to Yogic practices. Connecting yoga to meditation, it was Adi Shakara who came to establish a tradition of meditative contemplation that could help in attaining a sense of spiritual oneness of the Self, i.e. Atman with the Universal reality, i.e. Brahman. For Shankaracharya, yoga was essentially a tool that could help in steadying one's mind and which, when combined with the study of the Upanishads, could help in attaining moksha, or salvation. Rejecting the need for an absolute suppression of desire in favour of the conscious withdrawal of the mind from sense objects, Adi Shankara approached yoga, particularly Jnana Yoga (yoga of knowledge), as the most optimal means to achieving higher knowledge about oneself. Indeed, the goal self-realisation is not simply attained through the renunciation of the material world. Instead, spiritual awakening often comes about as a result of a disciplined training of the mind and body, in which yogic meditation can be of immense help.

Latching on to this potential of yogic practices, the members of Yoga Library Singapore made their way to the Kashmir Valley last month. Having conducted yoga retreats in South East Asia, including Bali, Bangkok and Vietnam, their recently organised retreat in Kashmir marked their maiden foray into the Indian yoga market. In fact, in a way, choosing Kashmir as their first port of entry, so to speak, allowed the Library to give Kashmir its due by highlighting the contribution of the Valley to the larger yogic landscape.

According to Anand Goyal, co-founder of the Library, Kashmir Shaivism Yoga is at least 1200 years old. In fact, Goyal went on to observe that unlike what may have ordinarily been thought of, "yoga is not frowned upon in the Kashmir Valley (which is predominantly Muslim)". Apart from building on the vast historical capital that yoga has in the Valley, the Library maintains that the place itself, courtesy of its pitcuresque environs, is a "good place to do yoga ". For that matter, Goyal believes that the Library came to Kashmir at an appropriate juncture just when the Valley is recovering from the after-effects of COVID and lockdowns.

Kashmir's growing interest in yoga and other meditative practices was recently demonstrated as the union territory came to host a "Yogasana" competition. Organised in Srinagar by the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council and Jammu and Kashmir Yogasana Association, more than 300 more people competed in different age categories in the event. According to reports, the competition was not only meant to give the youth of the Valley an opportunity to participate and compete at national and international events on yoga. But, at the same time, use such collective events as occasions to create further awareness about social evils, such as drug abuse, with the objective of combating them.

The newfound momentum around yoga in Kashmir comes as an exciting and encouraging new development. Apart from helping the Valley promote itself as a spiritual retreat for the domestic audience, the international traction it is gaining on these grounds will certainly help Kashmir project itself in a new and different light.

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

HKTDC welcomes plans for border re-opening between Mainland China and Hong Kong

HONG KONG, Dec 28, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) welcomes the upcoming plans to re-open borders between Mainland China and Hong Kong. Resumption of travel will rejuvenate the convention and exhibition sector, boosting economic activity and helping to accelerate Hong Kong's economic recovery.

A spokesperson from the HKTDC said: "Given the importance of economic and social connectivity between the Mainland and Hong Kong, the resumption of quarantine-free travel between Mainland China and Hong Kong will certainly be welcomed by many international and Mainland business people who have been waiting for this good news. The unimpeded flow of international and Mainland travellers will also benefit the convention and exhibition sector."

"In the past three years, the HKTDC has been organising physical and online fairs and conferences as well as support programmes to help companies continue doing business during the pandemic. With the lifting of international travel restrictions in Hong Kong in recent months, we have also seen a gradual return of overseas participants to our events. We believe more international and Mainland companies will come to Hong Kong to do business when quarantine-free travel resumes between the Mainland-Hong Kong borders. To help companies capture even more opportunities, we have lined up a full programme of business events from January onwards."

Flagship conferences and fairs in January to kick off the new year

The HKTDC will kick off 2023 with the Asian Financial Forum (AFF) and Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair, Hong Kong International Stationery and School Products Fair, Hong Kong Baby Products Fair, and Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair (Special Exhibition) in January, with missions to overseas cities in February, and the Jewellery show and Filmart in March. The Spring trade show season will see several large-scale events including the inaugural InnoEX, Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) , Lighting Fair (Spring Edition), Houseware Fair, Gifts & Premium Fair in April and International Healthcare Week in May.

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

Media enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC's Communications and Public Affairs Department:
Sunny Ng, Tel: +852 2584 4357, Email: sunny.sl.ng@hktdc.org
Sam Ho, Tel: +852 2584 4569, Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Indonesian new criminal code respects privacy, human rights

JAKARTA, Dec 19, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Indonesia clarifies that the New Criminal Code was drafted carefully and obeys Human Rights aspects, following the emergence of reactions related to the ratification of the code.

Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej on Friday stated the criminal code was drafted carefully by paying attention to the balance of the interests of individuals, the state, and the public and by taking into account Indonesia's multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and multi-cultural condition.

Some of the articles criticized by the public include those related to privacy, freedoms of the press, and human rights. One of the issues is regarding the adultery and cohabitation articles in the code.

Hiariej clarified that the adultery and cohabitation articles are complaint-based. Thus, the perpetrator should only be prosecuted on the basis of a complaint, which can only be made by their spouse (for those who are married) or parents or children (for those who are not married).

The articles, he says, are aimed at protecting people from acts of arbitrariness. "When these articles are regulated in the criminal code, there would definitely be no raids," he added.

Additionally, the Spokesman of the Dissemination Team of the New Criminal Code, Albert Aries, clarified the criminal code has never given additional administrative requirements for tourism players to question people about their marital status. Aries affirmed that people's privacy is still guaranteed by law in Indonesia, of course, without reducing respect for the values that the country holds.

A criminologist from the University of Indonesia, Adrianus Meliala, expressed optimism that the implementation of the cohabitation article will not violate human rights since it is complaint-based. He said that law enforcement officers must face the discourse with real actions.

Apart from adultery and cohabitation, freedom of expression and freedom of the press are among the issues that have been addressed.

Regarding freedom of expression, deputy minister Hiariej stated that the new criminal code made a clear distinction between critics and defamation. He explained that critics should not be criminalized as they are in the interest of the public in a democratic society, while defamation is deemed a criminal act in any country.

He further said that the freedom of the press is also ensured as the criminal code adopted one of the provisions of the Law on the Press, which states that critics are a form of supervision or public scrutiny.

The spokesman Aries affirmed that the criminal code is in accordance with human rights. "It is not true to say that the Indonesian Criminal Code is inconsistent with human rights," he stated. The criminal code, says Aries, regulates everything by paying attention to the balance between human rights and human obligations.

In order to pay respect to the general law principles that apply universally, the criminal code adopts the substance of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (Treaty of Rome 1950). The code also adopts the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (the New York Convention, 1966), and the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, December 10, 1984.

Written by: Raka Adji, Editor: Rahmad Nasution (c) ANTARA 2022

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

ESG reporting: Hang Seng companies have transparency shortcomings

HONG KONG, Dec 15, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Companies in the Hang Seng Index rank in the midrange internationally in terms of the quality of their ESG reporting. This is the finding of the Global ESG Monitor 2022 (GEM), Regional Report Hong Kong/China (https://globalesgmonitor.com/download-report/), published today. The GEM is considered an international leader in analysing the non-financial reporting of leading companies in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. According to the latest GEM study, the companies listed in the Hang Seng Index score an average of 57 points out of a maximum possible 100 points for the transparency of their non-financial reports. This result places the Hang Seng Index at the lower end of the midrange among the total of ten international indices from North America, Europe, Asia and Australia that were examined as part of the GEM, and ranks just above the level of S&P Asia (56 points) and Australia's ASX50 (53 points).

At the top of the index league are three companies – sports equipment supplier Anta Sports Products (02020.HK), financial services provider Hang Seng Bank (00011.HK) and Internet services provider and software developer Tencent Holdings (00700.HK) – on a score of 77. Sands China (01928.HK) and HSBC Holdings (00005.HK) rank the 4th and 5th among the blue chips with 75 and 74 points respectively. Other companies among the top ten include Lenovo Group (00992.HK), Power Assets (00006.HK), Henderson Land Development (00012.HK), China Mobile (Hong Kong) (00941.HK) and Hang Lung Properties (00101.HK).

With a rate of 97 percent, a generally high level of willingness exists among Hang Seng Index companies to base their non-financial reporting on a standard international framework. In a global comparison, however, they tend to be more focused with an average of 6.7 referenced frameworks and standards. This is also reflected, among other things, in the length of the reports, which rank among the most concise of the ten indices examined. "As you go through the Hang Seng data, you then notice that this focus is not always an advantage," comments Ariane Hofstetter, co-founder and Head of Research and Data Science at GEM. "In many cases, there's a lack of important details that would lead to better comprehensibility, reliability and comparability of the data."

Contextual information such as company size, number of employees and product and service portfolio is comparatively well established in non-financial reporting. Four out of five companies surveyed (81 percent) also describe the environmental parameters in which they operate. However, Hang Seng companies are less likely to address socioeconomic or political conditions (75 percent and 54 percent respectively). And only one-third (32 percent) from this group report on their value chains. "Greater sustainability nevertheless also requires close collaboration along the entire supply chain. How well Hang Seng companies achieve this undertaking remains in part an open question. Because here, too, there's a lack of information that enables the information to be classified," notes Michael Diegelmann, co-founder of GEM. "Although 83 percent of the reports contain descriptions of supply chains, once again there's a lack of detail to help rank the risks associated with the supply chain." For example, slightly less than a third of the companies provide information on the type of suppliers they do business with, and just under half state the estimated number of suppliers along the supply chain.

The relevant topics of Environment, Social and Governance are covered by a majority of Hang Seng companies in their non-financial reports. Around a third, for example, say they are already climate-neutral. A further 44 percent aim to achieve this objective in the future. In contrast to this statement, however, only three-quarters of companies identify their main sources of emissions in their reports and outline the biggest challenges they face in terms of climate-related emissions.

In the area of social issues, the topic of employee and human rights is not one of the most present in Hang Seng reporting. For example, 82 percent fail to state the extent to which specific incidents of discrimination and harassment have occurred. In contrast, the reports reflect more transparency on the subject of health and safety, where 89 percent of companies state their position – even though only seven out of ten companies report more specifically on "the number and rate of fatalities due to work-related injuries" and only a quarter provide information on "the number and rate of work-related injuries with serious consequences".

When it comes to governance, reporting by Hang Seng companies tends to focus more on structures and less on the functioning of the supervisory board. Around seven out of ten companies report how they ensure or promote their supervisory boards' collective knowledge about financial and non-financial issues and decisions. Only just under two-thirds of the companies (64 percent) report on the supervisory board's role when it comes to assessing environmental and social risk management. The scores are particularly low in connection with critical concerns and issues reported to the supervisory board. Here, only a quarter of the companies provide information, with only four percent then being specific and outlining the total number of critical concerns that were communicated to the supervisory board.

"One reason many reports lack detail and transparency is that they are prepared according to the HKEX ESG reporting guidelines," is Diegelmann's assessment. "This is where it then becomes noticeable that these guidelines have lower minimum requirements and don't go into much depth, especially compared to the Global Reporting Initiative requirements."

Among Hang Seng Index companies, it is also striking that there is little willingness to submit the non-financial report to an auditor. Only just under one-third of issuers (32 percent) issue a corresponding audit engagement. It is striking that in 70 percent of the cases no information was provided on the depth of the audit and only 16 percent of the reports were audited with "reasonable assurance".

"Hang Seng companies are generally convinced that their development towards greater sustainability must be accompanied by appropriate reporting," is the conclusion of Joanne Chan, Regional Partner Hong Kong and Managing Director at LBS Communications Consulting Limited. "However, an enormous amount of work will be required for Hang Seng companies to ensure that their reports can contribute to sustainable change through transparency."

Full report : https://globalesgmonitor.com/download-report-form/

For more information on the rating criteria and details of the report, please visit https://lbs-comm.com/global-esg-monitor-2022-report-scorings-is-out-now-two-hong-kong-companies-were-ranked-top-ten/

About the Global ESG Monitor (GEM)
The Global ESG Monitor (GEM) is a unique research initiative to examine transparency in non-financial reporting of the largest companies in the world. The GEM monitors, analyzes and reports on the transparency of non-financial ESG reporting using the GEM ASSAYTM, a proprietary research tool adapted annually in response to evolving conditions and developments. The operationalization of transparency underlying the GEM ASSAYTM is based on the relevant guidelines of Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), ISO Standard 26000, World Economic Forum (WEF) and Accountability.

If you have any media enquiries, please contact LBS Communications Consultants Limited.
www.lbs-forum.com
Joanne Chan Tel : (852)3679 3671 Email : jchan@lbs-comm.com

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Club Med appoints Olivier Monceau as its new General Manager of Singapore and Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Club Med, the leader in premium all-inclusive holidays, has announced the appointment of Olivier Monceau as the new General Manager of Singapore and Malaysia effective from October 2022.

Olivier Monceau appointed General Manager, Singapore and Malaysia

With his strong business acumen and deep brand knowledge, Olivier is poised to deliver success while demonstrating an inspiring, creative and fresh approach to leadership. Under his leadership, Olivier's priorities will be to guide the team through the next phase of strategic brand growth within the region, drive a purposeful brand building through exceptional travel destinations, and to solidify the brand as the leader for all-inclusive ski and mountain holidays. Olivier will also lead his team to deliver effective and targeted end-to-end omni-channel experience to clients that synchronises consideration and conversion to grow top line and client acquisition. Club Med will continue its journey to being the #1 brand choice for vacations and business trips preferred by families, active couples and business-leisure clients.

"Olivier brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his new role and I am delighted to have him on the team as he leads the execution of our aggressive plans to grow the Club Med brand within the region," says Rachael Harding, Chief Executive Officer of East, South Asia and Pacific (ESAP). "Moreover, Olivier has produced exceptional results in his previous appointment within Club Med, and I am confident that he will accelerate the strategic growth in both Singapore and Malaysia markets. His appointment is also perfectly timed to succeed our new capacity in Kiroro, Hokkaido in 2023 and Borneo, Kota Kinabalu in 2024."

Originally from Paris, France, Olivier embarked on his Club Med journey in 2016, where he was appointed General Manager of Russia. Olivier was responsible for building brand awareness and positioning Club Med as a premium holiday brand in the market. Together with his team, Olivier turned unprecedented challenges into opportunities during the global pandemic as he tapped on an unrealised potential for long-haul and upscale travel within the region and delivered an effective marketing campaign that led to +400% market growth in 2021 compared to 2019 in an exceedingly challenging time, through the successful recruitment of a new Premium clientele and achieved more than 45% of the total sales for the Exclusive Collection resorts. The market has also been a key contributor to the reopening of Club Med in Seychelles and Maldives, both of which became crucial resorts in the group's rebound once travel bans were lifted.

"I am excited to be joining such a dynamic team and even happier to lead the brand through its next phase of growth," shares Olivier. "I look forward to cementing Club Med as the preferred holiday brand for families while building on our shared vision to further enhance the value of our brand towards achieving a long-term strategic growth within the region."

Now in the heart of a city pulsating with boundless energy, Olivier together with his wife and lovely daughters are embracing their new home in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with open arms and heart. Since his arrival, Olivier can be found busy exploring the city's neighbourhoods, discovering new cultures and the vibrant street hawker culinary scene.

About Club Med

Club Med, founded in 1950 by Gerard Blitz, invented the all-inclusive holiday club concept, adding in activities especially for children with the creation of the Mini Club in 1967. Led by its pioneering spirit, Club Med seeks out exceptional destinations and sites. Today, Club Med is the world's leading provider of upscale, all-inclusive holiday packages with a French touch for families and working couples. Club Med operates nearly 70 resorts, of which 85% are rated Premium & Exclusive Collection. Present in 30 countries around the world, the Group employs more than 23,000 Gentils Organisateurs (GOs) and Gentils Employes (GEs), representing 110 nationalities. http://www.clubmed.asia/

Press Contacts for Club Med
PRecious Communications for Club Med
clubmed@preciouscomms.com
+65 6303 0567

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