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HSBC instant rewards relaunched

Once again HSBC promises to delight credit cardholders with the re-launch of its popular Rewards programme.

The Instant HSBC Rewards programme allows all HSBC credit cardholders the unmatched benefit of redeeming rewards points earned instantly, at selected rewards partner outlets from 1 March 2008 onwards.

Customers can earn up to 1 point for every Rs. 100 spent, while HSBC Premier customers will earn 3 points for every Rs. 100 spent.

The unique instant rewards programme offers customers the flexibility to check rewards points earned, and make instant redemptions at over 200 HSBC rewards partner outlets.

It also allows customers to select from a choice of over 100,000 products and services.

A minimum requirement of 500 points will need to be maintained by all credit cardholders in order to redeem instants rewards.

Head of Cards & Consumer Assets Nilantha Bastian said’ “We have devised the instant Rewards programme based on consumer spending trends and insights.

Through this we have identified the places customers most often shop, using HSBC credit cards and hence for more convenience and choice we have added new rewards partner outlets this year.

In the last rewards programme our customers enjoyed over 65 million rupees worth of rewards. This year we hope that customers will use their credit card, earn more rewards points, and en-cash them for greater benefits”.

Marketing Manager, Credit Cards Dishani Yatawara said, “We have introduced a number of new merchants to offer more choices and privileges to our customers, rewarding their loyalty to HSBC.

The newest merchants to partner us include all Cargills supermarkets, Aitken Spence Hotels, Sri Lankan Holidays, George Steuart Travels, KFC, Softlogic and Mango Tree.

She also added that, “HSBC Premier credit cardholders will have the advantage of redeeming their points towards one of the five major charities in Sri Lanka namely, SOS Children’s Village.

‘Ada Derana’ introduces ‘Rapid News Reporting’ for the first time in Sri Lanka

Derana, the young yet revolutionary television channel has once again brought to the Sri Lankan viewer an all new media experience. Launched recently, Derana’s ‘Rapid News Reporting’ (RNR) service is a first for Sri Lanka.

‘Rapid News Reporting’ will ensure that Derana’s viewers are privy to the latest and most up-to-date information and visual imagery.

Deployed through a team of ten mobile correspondents who will scour the streets of Colombo and suburbs, the ‘Rapid News Reporting’ team will be at the scene of an incident almost instanteously and will report and broadcast directly from the location.

Therefore, by reporting as and when it happens, Derana specifically through its ground-breaking new programme - Ada Derana - will disseminate news that it is not only partial to delivering the truth first, but will also keep the viewers fully informed with the most current updates.

The team will utilise 3G technology to transmit live feeds whilst also resorting to the use of satellite technology when necessary. By reporting instantly from the location, Derana will cut down on the time lag that is usually associated with unavoidable delays in transferring recorded material for transmission.

Derana’s ‘Rapid News Reporting’ service augments its already superior news broadcasts and positions it as a front-runner in the media scene in Sri Lanka.

Speaking at the occasion, Director, News and Current Affairs, Derana, Shehan Baranage noted that “the RNR service will not only heighten the level of service offered by the channel but that it will go a long away in creating a new approach to news reporting in Sri Lanka.”

Derana’s ‘Rapid News Reporting’ is powered by Dialog Telekom, the main technology providers to the service, is captured on Panasonic cameras courtesy of Softlogic, whilst the team is mobilised by Kinetic bikes courtesy Singer Sri Lanka.

Hameedia launches FH

Hameedia launched their latest brand, FH (Fouzul Hameed) at the HSBC fashion week on Tuesday at Taj Samudra.

Managing Director Hameedia and Menswear Consultant Fouzul Hameed said that they still feel that there is a big market within Sri Lanka.

“I am sorry to note the attitude of some local manufacturers who think that to come up with a local brand they have to fix the product ‘cheap’ at a lower rate and this is a misconcept.

My message to them is to copy the design first before the production. Then produce them this match the original. Brandix, MAS, Hirdramani all started on a small-scale and today they are famous,” he said.

Hameed said that he will keep on developing new brands for the local market in the future as well.

Aitken Spence bags Presidential Tourism Awards

Aitken Spence Travels bagged the two main travel awards at the inaugural Presidential Awards for Travel and Tourism Excellence for 2007 held at the Presidential Secretariat.

The company won the awards for the Best Destination Management Company and the best Professional Conference Organisation (PCO) competing with all other major industry operators.
 

Aitken Spence Travels is the largest tour operator in the country representing over 200 international tour operators and is the only Sri Lankan Destination Management company equipped with the ISO 9001:2000 certification.

Its subsidiary Ace Travels and Conventions is the leading Professional Conference and Exhibition Management Company in Sri Lanka having coordinated many of the international events to be held in the country such as the International Congress on Aids in Asia Pacific (ICAAP), the South Asia Broadband Conference and the launch of Microsoft Vista.

Aitken Spence Travels, a joint venture between conglomerate Aitken Spence Plc and the world’s largest integrated tourism company TUI Travel Plc has in its existence of over three decades actively contributed towards uplifting the industry.

It has participated in the establishment of the new Tourism Law which enables private sector participation in promoting Sri Lanka effectively.

The company has also shared its proprietary IT system iTOS which manages tour operations in a professional manner by linking customers with suppliers and services.

Managing Director of Aitken Spence Travels and Ace Travels and Conventions, Gehan M. Perera, upon receiving the awards said, “This is a great honour and tribute to our dedicated staff who work round the clock to make holidays very special for our guests and meticulously organize Conferences and Exhibitions.

Our investment in technology, training and development of staff is a testament to this award.

Our team has been innovative and has confidently handled the past years when tourism took a down turn; rising above the situation opening new markets and stimulating different channels in existing markets to keep the Sri Lanka Tourism flag flying high.

“I must also emphasise the award won by Ravindra Palagolla for the Best Chauffer Guide.

He is part of our excellent team and in fact one of the frontline ambassadors for tourism in Sri Lanka working with us 24x7 to make this all possible. Credit must also go to our international principals and local partners who have been an integral part of our success,” he said.

The Presidential Awards for Travel and Tourism Excellence was inaugurated by the Ministry of Tourism to foster competitiveness and uplift the standards of the local tourism and travel industry.

The winners were selected by an eminent panel of judges based on a comprehensive evaluation criterion covering aspects such as revenue generation, customer profile, international promotional initiatives, branding and communication strategies, innovation in service delivery, CSR projects and contribution towards industry development.

Emirates SkyCargo teams up with Dubai customs for ‘Paperless Freight’

Emirates Sky Cargo has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dubai Customs as part of a global initiative to reduce paperwork and expedite the movement of goods in the air cargo supply chain.

The MoU will lead to a greater use of electronic correspondence in transactions between Emirates SkyCargo, Dubai Customs and several other supply chain partners who signed the MoU.

It will also facilitate the exchange of information about shipments into and out of Dubai, in order to perform the clearance electronically.

In addition, the initiative will allow importers and exporters to perform 51 customs transactions electronically without having to physically visit the customs centres.

The new electronic environment uses sophisticated systems which enable monitoring and tracking of shipments from the departure from the country of origin through all the destinations en route to Dubai.

Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President Cargo, Ram Menen, who signed the MoU on behalf of Emirates SkyCargo, said: “Emirates Sky Cargo is honoured to have been chosen as a partner for this pilot programme.

We have long been an advocate of the e-freight movement and are delighted that such a progressive programme has been initiated in Dubai.

“Such an initiative, when fully implemented, will allow a more fluid flow of legitimate goods through the air and sea borders, thus eliminating potential bottlenecks. Given the current and projected year-on-year growth in Dubai, we are sure to realise the benefits quickly.”

Aside from the environmental benefits of reducing the masses of paperwork and, in turn the additional fees, historically involved in air freight, e-freight has been praised for reducing costs and thereby improving the competitiveness of the mode.

Emirates SkyCargo, the award-winning freight division of Emirates Airline, has a route network of 99 destinations in 62 countries across six continents. One of the youngest in the skies, Emirates SkyCargo’s fleet comprises 12 freighters which includes three A310-300Fs, five Boeing 747-400Fs, one 747-200F and two 747-400ERFs.

Last year, Emirates SkyCargo commenced dedicated freighter services to Djibouti, Hahn, Zaragoza, Toledo and Prague, taking the number of scheduled freighter destinations to more than 35.