Welcome back to Taj & Trident

"We can be hurt but we will never fall," Ratan Tata, chairman of the Taj owner Tata Group, told reporters shortly before his hotel was to start checking in new guests.(AP)

Less than a month later after terror attacks,the Taj & Trident opened today.Heavy security is present complete with armed personnel, barricades,scanners etc.

"There is no fear. We see the courage of the people and the staff," said Kritika Srinivasan, 28, a regular guest at the hotel who went inside to congratulate the staff. "We have to show them (the attackers) that they can't break our courage and solidarity."

That seems to be the united opinion among the elite community as the top businessman,VIP's are keen to get a reservation for its opening day and also continue  their early commitments.

From Hindu : Both Taj and Oberoi have set up funds to help those affected by the attacks – Taj Public Service Welfare Trust and Oberoi Care Fund.

Those wishing to contribute to the Taj fund can do so at: The Taj Public Service Welfare Trust, Mandlik House, 2nd Floor, Mandlik Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400 001, Tel: +91-22-66395515, Fax: +91-22-22027442, e-mail: tpswtrust@tajhotels.com

Contributions to the Oberoi fund in the form of cheque or demand draft will be accepted till March 31, 2009. More information is available on www.oberoigroup/oberoicarefund. For questions and further information, you may contact on +91 011 2389 0555 or write to the hotel at support@oberoigroup.com.

Principles Of Web 2.0 Marketing

Professors, SALVATORE PARISE , PATRICIA J. GUINAN and  BRUCE D. WEINBERG have given  new insights of marketing in the WEB 2.0 era. After interviewing more than 30 executives and managers in both large and small organizations that are at the forefront of experimenting with Web 2.0 tools, they have  identified a set of emerging principles for web marketing .

• Don't just talk at consumers -- work with them  throughout the marketing process.

• Give consumers a reason to participate.

• Listen to -- and join -- the conversation outside your site.

• Resist the temptation to sell, sell, sell.

• Don't control, let it go.

• Find a 'marketing technopologist.'

• Embrace experimentation.         

                                              Read Full article here

Paul brings Pride

    Lord SwAraj Paul sitting on traditional woolsack while presiding over the House of Lords in London on Thursday.

If  someone went back to the past and told our freedom fighters,that one day a Indian will preside the House Of Lords, I am sure there would be no takers.  Last Thursday is one of the historic moments when Lord Swaraj Paul did that. Incidentally,there was a 150 minute debate on Mumbai terror attacks and Little Master's Century.

RE-Branding -(Recession Branding)

When Reccession Jolts Brands.................

IPOD- Instils Innovation in Taxes Too

TIMESONLINE reports "The New York governor is asking for a   so-called “iPod tax” on downloaded music as one of 137 revenue-raising proposals to close the largest budget deficit in the state’s history. The proposed “iPod tax,” would tax the sale of downloaded music and other “digitally delivered entertainment services” by 4 percent, adding four cents to the cost of a 99-cent song for users whose iPod is registered to a New York address.

Haircuts, beer, cinema tickets, cigars, taxi rides, massages, and sugary soft drinks would also be targeted under the austerity budget aimed at closing the $15.4 billion shortfall caused by a collapse of tax revenues from Wall Street. Among them is an unprecedented 18% “obesity tax” on sugary soft drinks. The tax would cover fruit drinks with less than 70% fruit juice, as well as “-ades, punches and certain fruit nectars.” Diet soft drinks would be exempt. With one in four New York teenagers considered obese, the “obesity tax” aims to cut consumption of sugary drinks by five percent while raising $404 million in the next fiscal year. Also hit by new taxes under the package would be “personal services” such as massages, pedicures and health-club memberships."

I certainly agree that  IPOD is considered as one of most innovative product of recent times.I mean if it can inspire the government to introduce  "innovative taxes".... what else to say?

Google Rolls Windows For Chrome

I having exams so I wont be blogging regularly,meanwhile U can check out my archives for something interesting... :)

Parvathy Cries Foul or Did she?

Media reports say that Parvathy Omanakuttan told India Vision channel "I have performed better than others in the personality and question-answer round. This is not just that. All those who watched it yesterday felt like that. I feel the jury's decision was unfair".

Speaking to NDTVMovies.com on phone from Johannesburg, the first runner up of Miss World 2008 said, "I never questioned jury's decision. The contest was fair, and free from all biases. They were just and reasonable to each and every contestant. I have been totally misquoted on that point. I never said to anybody that I was not rightly judged. I have a lot of respect for judges in the contest."

Celebrities are often misquoted or caught off guard for saying seemingly simple statements but may lead to a major PR disaster.

It is also said the beauty with brains is eyeing bollywood and other movie offers.My advice get a PR manager if she wants to get a place in the  industry.