Tag: Singapore

Singapore – Whether navigating a hybrid, virtual, or purely physical work set-up, attaining work-life balance will always be a challenge for employees. This is why beer brand Heineken, which can be considered a mainstay in workers’ happy hours, has launched a simple but true-to-point ad about the struggle of employees to be ‘present’ in their social lives. 

In collaboration with advertising agency Le Pub APAC, the beer brand’s 48-second clip titled ‘The Ghosted Bar’ shows a group of friends having a fun time at a bar. Shortly after, paranormal activities take place where glasses of beer move on their own as well as a chair – with no person on it – sliding from one place to another. Towards the end, it is revealed that the movements are indeed manoeuvres of their friend who is currently stuck at the office but is still present in spirit – as a ghost – amongst them. 

And as if the brief narrative couldn’t get more exciting, it is graced by Heineken ambassador, Korean actor Park Hyung Sik. In the end, the beer brand reminds to don’t ghost your friends and to work responsibly.

Prior to releasing the ad, Park Hyung Sik shared an Instagram video of the said spooky encounters which served as a teaser for the said campaign. It seemed to have piqued fans’ curiosity with it garnering more than 4 million views in 24 hours.

Bram Westenbrink, global head at Heineken Brand, said that Heineken has always encouraged socialisation and healthy human connections where workers have a balanced social and leisure time.

“We’re thrilled to bring this platform to Singapore and Malaysia as a reminder to leave your duties on time and not let your social life fall behind,” Westenbrink added.

Bruno Bertelli, global CEO of Le Pub, added, “Heineken’s Ghosted Bar campaign reminds us to leave the office after an honest day at work to live your social life at its fullest. This is what #WorkResponsibly is all about.”

Park Hyung Sik also expressed his thoughts, saying that employees must enjoy social life and not let work impede their leisure time.

“Through this meaningful project by Heineken, we want to encourage employees to start working responsibly,” said the Korean actor.

‘The Ghosted Bar’ is, in fact, partially attributed to findings by a YouGov study which revealed that almost half of the employees in Singapore and Malaysia are guilty of ‘ghosting’ their friends. 

This latest campaign by the brand is the third ad released under its #WorkResponsibly campaign. It follows the launch of The Closer and The Office Cleaners which were both unveiled in 2022.

Singapore – Changi Airport Group has made its debut to the metaverse by showcasing ‘ChangiVerse’, a metaverse experience created to help audiences connect with Singapore Changi Airport and explore its notable sights through the digital space.

Created with global professional services Accenture, ChangiVerse is the first virtual experience created by an airport that has debuted in Roblox, a global shared experience platform with millions of daily users.

Changi Airport’s debut in the metaverse is also an effort to reach a wider group of digital users and fans who are interested to explore more travel destinations differently.

Moreover, the said platform digitally represents Changi’s physical airport where visitors can access fun activities, social experiences, and interactable spaces such as bustling café or festive glamping tent and minigames whilst earning unique collectibles to give their digital avatar some extra flair.

Hung Jean, group senior vice president of Changi Airport Group’s enterprise digital ecosystem & business division, said that the creation of ChangiVerse aims to strengthen the idea that the airport is more than just a transport node, but it’s also a fun and magical destination to create memories.

“ChangiVerse is also about engaging our customers and serving them better through innovation and experimentation, in line with our belief of customers being at the heart of everything we do,” Jean added.

Wee Wei Ng, Southeast Asia market unit lead for Accenture, added, “We are privileged to collaborate with CAG to drive digital-physical convergence through ChangiVerse. By combining digital and physical worlds, ChangiVerse can simulate the airport environment, creating immersive experiences that elevate human interactivity to new dimensions, enhance customer experiences, and drive innovation.”

In 2022, Changi Airport Group has dealt with Accenture to extend its partnership for the enhancement of travellers’ experience when visiting Changi Airport in Singapore.

Singapore – Mandai Wildlife Group, an organisation that advocates for wildlife conservation, and travel and experiences platform Klook has sealed a three-year strategic partnership to attract more international visitors to the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, the integrated wildlife and nature precinct home to Singapore’s wildlife parks.

With Klook’s digital marketing and social content capabilities and strength in Asia-Pacific, this deal will target the growing millennial and gen Z from the markets of Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and South Korea. 

Mandai and Klook will co-develop regional marketing campaigns and curate bundles and activities for discerning international visitors. These efforts will help in making Mandai Wildlife Reserve as a top-of-mind destination in Singapore.

Moreover, the collaboration will focus on raising awareness of wildlife conservation efforts and take actions for sustainable living to benefit the people, wildlife, nature and the entire planet.

Jean Choi, chief sales and marketing officer at Mandai Wildlife Group, said that the group is looking for new ways to engage travellers in the region especially from their top markets. Choi added that they aim to be culturally relevant to working adults and youth who seeks for new experiences.

Meanwhile, Eric Gnock Fah, chief operating officer & co-founder at Klook, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Mandai Wildlife Group, furthering their ambitions of establishing the Mandai Wildlife Reserve as the region’s go-to destination. Our collaboration reflects our shared values and commitment to responsible tourism and protecting the planet and its wildlife.”

The first marquee campaign for the partnership will kick off with the soft opening of Singapore’s new bird park at the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, Bird Paradise on 8 May, Singapore Zoo’s 50th anniversary or Golden ZOObilee, and a series of mini-events to encourage young couples to go on memorable dates at the Mandai Wildlife Reserve.

Singapore – Singaporean telecommunications company Singtel has been named the world’s sixth strongest telecoms brand in Brand Finance’s Telecoms 150 list, which ranks the most valuable and strongest telecoms brands globally. 

The placing crowns a year of significant achievements for Singtel, seeing it move up three spots globally from the ninth position last year with an improved score of 88.3 out of 100 while retaining its Triple-A rating from last year. 

Brand Finance attributes Singtel’s stronger brand equity to its fast and robust 5G network, consistent customer experience via its website and apps, and value-for-money products and services for both consumers and enterprises. Singtel also scored well for the familiarity of its brand and brand recall. 

According to the Infocomm Media Development Authority’s latest report on customer handling, Singtel also had the lowest complaint rate for its mobile services among network operators, as well as the lowest complaint rate for fixed broadband services in December 2022.

In terms of brand value, Singtel also grew, climbing up three spots from 40th in 2022 to becoming the world’s 37th most valuable telecoms brand. Brand Finance said this is due to resilient mobile service revenue, the brand’s improved brand strength index and favourable economic factors, such as the lower cost of capital in Singapore.

“Singtel has strengthened its brand leadership significantly in the past year. Its commitment to 5G, consistent customer service and coverage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, has seen it climb the ranks within the global top ten telecoms brands,” said Alex Haigh, Brand Finance’s managing director for Asia Pacific.

Haigh also said that the improved perceptions of Singtel’s 5G capabilities and coverage, good digital offerings, and greater recall of its branding and promotional activities are particularly noteworthy.

Lian Pek, Singtel’s vice president of strategic communications and brand, also said, “It’s very encouraging to be roundly recognised for values that really matter to us as a brand – the quality of our 5G leadership, value for money products and services, strong brand and ad recall and high familiarity scores.”

Pek added, “The goal has always been to empower our customers with the best-in-class technology and services. As the digital landscape and customer expectations keep changing, we will continue to invest and innovate to deliver on our value proposition of creating the best digital experiences that our network and services are capable of.”

Last year, Singtel has also been named Singapore’s strongest brand by Brand Finance’s 2022 ranking of the country’s top 100 brands.

Singapore – As part of its April Fools Day campaign, condom brand Durex in Singapore has unveiled its ‘Happiest Meal’, encouraging its consumers to ‘dig in’.

Known for their April Fools antics, Durex continues to be revered by social media users following their April Fools prank from 2018 where they rolled out different flavours such as Durex Smoked Sausage and Durex Mala HotPot in 2019. This year, the brand took a step further by introducing real food in a box.

The said meal included nuggets, fries and an ‘Invisible’ drink — which incorporated the brand’s products, ‘Invisible Extra Sensitive’, ‘Fetherlite’, and ‘Real Feel’, amongst others. 

‘Happiest Meal’ was also made available for one day only on April 1 at the Guardian Marina Bay Sands and Watsons Bugis Junction in Singapore.

Singapore – Called the Knowledge Studio by APRW (KnowS), Singapore-based integrated communications agency APRW has launched a new training arm that aims to bring organisations’ ears to the ground with regard to how well they perform in managing their presence in the media. 

APRW says, “Your brand is not just about your services, your media presence matters too.” 

Ultimately, the training arm will offer customised media training programs to organisations. APRW’s existing integrated communications services, which include public relations, digital marketing, branding, and media relations, are all supplemented by KnowS. 

The agency will be making each engagement expertly designed to meet the needs of individual organisations and will be drawing on its intimate knowledge of the dynamic media landscape and effective strategies to help organisations establish a favourable media presence. 

At the centre of the training program is its proprietary A-PLUS approach which stands for Assessment, Panorama, Low-Down, Understanding and Scenarios. Such framework will help in providing a holistic perspective of the media industry and will equip participants with the essential knowledge and skills required in media relations, branding, and training. 

“The result? Media spokespersons who are able to manage diverse media and public situations, handling questions and delivering information with confidence and poise, never veering from their role of delivering core messages for the organisation,” said APRW. 

Further, the agency emphasised that skills gained can transfer to a diversity of roles such as to speakers, panellists, or content creators on corporate social media platforms.

Knowledge Studio by APRW will be led by Principal Trainer, Ginny-Ann Oh, one of APRW’s directors. An accomplished communications professional with over 20 years of experience in the public relations, branding and marketing industry under her belt, Oh’s expertise will be directed to integrating the organisation’s messaging strategy and intent into the tailored media training offering. 

“The significance of media training cannot be overstated, as it enables organisations to navigate the increasingly complex media landscape and present their brand in the best possible light,” commented Oh. “Knowledge Studio by APRW was established as it recognises the importance of a poised and articulate media presence. Our workshops provide businesses with the tools to amplify their message, cultivate a commanding voice, and narrate their story with conviction – the cornerstone of a thriving brand perception.”

Singapore – Global automobile brand Audi has unveiled its immersive ‘House of Progress’ showcase in Singapore, which presented Audi’s unique perspectives on the future of sustainable and premium mobility.

The Audi grandsphere concept was showcased for the first time in Singapore, alongside an immersive instalment centred around Audi’s electric vehicle line-up including the new Audi Q8 e-tron and Q4 e-tron. 

The ‘House of Progress’ will also host a series of thought leadership panel discussions featuring industry leaders across STEM, business, and sustainability areas. These sessions will facilitate conversations and uncover insights around effective leadership, breaking corporate barriers, and mainstreaming Greentech, amongst others.

Additionally, in partnership with the ‘House of Progress’, Semi Permanent Festival of Creativity & Design will also host a series of events starting with City Utopia, a capsule edition of its flagship creativity and design festival. The event is expected to bring together leading innovators including designer, director, and BAFTA-nominated producer Liam Young.

“Advancements in electric vehicle and autonomous technology have been transformative for designers, who are no longer limited by traditional constraints. Inspired by a first-class flight, the Audi grandsphere concept combines luxury air travel with Level 4 autonomous driving. It realises a vision where form and function integrate beautifully, presenting an uncompromised ideal for future D-segment vehicles.” said Jason Battersby, exterior designer at Audi AG. 

Marc-Andreas Brinkmann, director of experiential marketing at Audi AG, also commented, “Audi is poised for one of the biggest transformations in recent history around electric vehicles, autonomous driving and shared mobility.”

He also mentioned that the showcase delivers Audi’s unique roadmap for the future of electromobility through a multi-layered and engaging experience.

Markus Schuster, managing director at Audi Singapore also said, “House of Progress demonstrates Audi’s overarching commitment to electrification and premium mobility, and this will cascade across the coming months as we expand our electric vehicle offering in Singapore.” 

Spanning from March 31 to April 6, the showcase will host an extensive series of events in partnership with luxury consumer brands The Hour Glass, Bang & Olufsen, and Bolia. This includes workshops, exclusive customer engagement sessions, panel discussions, product showcases, and VIP networking sessions.

This follows Audi Singapore’s video series called ‘Igniting Conversations with Futurists of Singapore’, a six-part series that celebrated the inspiring stories and aspirations of six local changemakers through conversations.

Singapore – Immersive media company Vividthree Holdings has announced that it has entered into a definitive conditional sale and purchase agreement (SPA) with one of the leading PR agencies in Singapore and Malaysia, Elliot Communications 

The group will invest S$775,393 in cash for new and vendor shares, acquiring a 30% stake in Elliot & Co. The SPA is expected to be completed by 30 April this year. 

The SPA also details a call option agreement with Elliot & Co., allowing the group to acquire another 21% stake for at least S$1.98m should Elliot & Co. achieve a net profit of not less than S$0.90mbetween FY2023 and FY2025, bringing the latter’s share to 51%.

With the acquisition, Elliot & Co. will help broaden Vividthree’s service portfolio and bolster value for customers. It will likewise complement Vividthree’s core business of digital content production and is in line with its ambition to expand its footprint in the communications industry. 

Moreover, the partnership will enable Vividthree to leverage Elliot Communications’ network and expertise to enter new markets and capitalise on emerging opportunities in Southeast Asia.

“Our partnership with Elliot & Co. will broaden our portfolio of services and reinforce our presence in the APAC region. With this acquisition, we are well positioned to enhance our reputation and build stronger relationships with stakeholders, which will drive value for our shareholders and enable us to better serve our clients,” said Jonathan Zhang, chief executive officer of Vividthree.

Zhang also added that the decision to partner with Elliot & Co. was based on the latter’s commitment to customer satisfaction, remarkable growth trajectory, and shared values.

Meanwhile, Jeremy Foo, founder of Elliot & Co., shared his excitement over further integrating the firm’s services and offering their clients new ways to thrive in the digital era through the acquisition.

“By combining our expertise in media engagement with Vividthree’s proven leadership in content production, we are now able to offer our customers with a comprehensive suite of content management and communications services, providing us with a competitive edge as we move into 2023 and beyond,” he concluded.

Singapore – Australian large-scale marketing events specialist and brand experience creator The Company We Keep (The CWK) has announced its expansion to the Southeast Asian market, marking its presence with a new office in Singapore. It has also appointed Victor Darmawan to be its director of business, and will run the new local office.

Through the new expansion, The CWK will establish with its foundation clients Salesforce, Amazon Web Services, and Docusign, and will ensure the company to be able to service the whole Asia-Pacific region with a local team of producers supported by the wider advanced capabilities of the Australian team, composed of more than 50 people.

With 16 years of experience working in agencies across Singapore and Indonesia, Darnawan will initially be supported by two producers and coordinators locally, with other project aspects such as digital, creative, and design being serviced from Australia.

Speaking on his appointment, he said, “I’m so excited to be part of the launch team for The CWK – Singapore. The business already has a globally recognised list of clients, being able to now provide on-the-ground local event support, while leveraging the skill set and expertise of the existing Australian team members, means we can expand those partnerships, and in time, further build our international portfolio.”

Meanwhile, Nigel Ruffell, CEO at The CWK, commented, “Local knowledge is imperative for what we do for our clients. We have always partnered with trusted local preferred suppliers and contractors in these regions, and they have always guided and advised us on local nuances and differences.” 

He added, “Having an office in Singapore solidifies this, giving us a community hub and a competitive edge in the area. We are incredibly fortunate to have already built so much expertise in the region via our Australian team, and see the Singapore office as an evolution of this.”

The expansion of The CWK into SEA is part of the company’s planned expansion this 2023. Since its establishment in 2019, the company has grown to 50 employees and spans two continents, with expansion into the US slated as the next step for the business.

Singapore – Bumble, the women-first dating app, has launched a suite of new product features in Singapore designed to make dating ‘kinder and more fun’ for Singaporean singles in 2023.

The first new Bumble feature, Speed Dating, brings retro speed dating events to the online dating experience, allowing members to go in ‘blind’ and prioritise personality over physical attraction. This feature requires people to start conversations without seeing any pictures of the other person, with profile photos hidden for the first three minutes of messaging. 

The experience is available in Bumble’s Date Mode and people on Bumble can RSVP directly within the app each week. Speed Dating pairings are based on location, age and gender preferences.

“Bumble’s new Speed Dating experience in the app brings the fun back to dating in 2023! This feature creates intrigue and anticipation in a low-pressure environment, and allows the Bumble community to build connections based on personality and shared interests, which are much truer indicators of compatibility than looks,” said Lucille McCart, Bumble’s APAC communications director.

Bumble’s new features also include Compliments, which gives Bumble members the opportunity to be even more intentional about starting the conversation in a positive way. Compliments is a message before match feature that allows members to stand out by sending a note before connecting. 

To this, McCart commented, “At Bumble we believe in the power of positivity and kindness, and that when a compliment is the foundation of a conversation, you are setting the stage for the connection to begin in the best possible way. Sending a compliment on Bumble can be as simple as sending a kind message when you come across someone’s profile whom you share a common interest with, such as music taste or favourite movie.”

The final feature in the newly announced product bundle is Recommend to a Friend, which allows the Bumble community to play cupid and help find their friends new connections. If you come across a profile on Bumble that’s not right for you but might be for someone you know, you can now directly share a link to their Bumble profile.

“We all know that feeling when you come across a profile that ticks all the boxes of your bestie. Now you can help your friends find dates by sharing the profile of their perfect match with them,” said McCart.

Bumble has also recently released its ‘Breaking Barriers: Getting Real About Dating During CNY With Mum’ campaign which features a heart-to-heart conversation between mother and daughter, tackling their thoughts on dating.