Etihad Airways Innovates Upgrade Programme to a Dynamic Live Auction

Wazzup Pilipinas!
Etihad Airways has enhanced its upgrade offering to a dynamic live auction which will make it easier for customers to secure a premium seat in a higher cabin class.

Customers will be able to take part in a bidding system where real-time notifications of their bid will be displayed on their screen, allowing two or more individual bids at the same time. Regular email and SMS updates will also be sent to notify them if they have been outbid.

Jamal Al Awadhi, Etihad Airways Head of Guest Experience Commercial, said: “A first in the region, this dynamic live auction will give guests the chance to select a premium offering at a price they are willing to pay by putting them in control of the experience.

“This new gamification layer will also add a fun element to travel before the journey begins, as passengers compete with each other. Our mobile responsive website makes it even easier for guests to bid on the go.”

Customers will receive an email invitation to bid for a one-cabin upgrade seven days prior to their flight or they can visit etihad.com to join directly.

The auction will take place from 24 to six hours before their flight’s departure. Once the auction closes, the successful winner will be notified immediately.

Bidding guests are encouraged to still check-in online up to 48 hours prior to departure as the optimised system will still process their upgrade. If an upgrade offer is accepted, a new boarding pass will automatically be available on the Etihad Airways Mobile App or one will be provided at check-in.

Future enhancements will enable Etihad Guest members to use their miles to bid for an upgrade.

Etihad Airways has been offering guests bidding upgrades since 2012. It is particularly popular on routes operated by the airline’s Airbus A380s from Abu Dhabi to New York, London, Paris and Sydney.

ONE Championship Event in Manila a Treat for Fans of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a sport that has grown in popularity over the past decade, made so by the rise of mixed martial arts in which BJJ is a major component. Filipino fans of the grappling sport are in for a treat this July 27th, when ONE Championship hosts ONE: REIGN OF KINGS at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, featuring three legendary figures in the sport of BJJ.

The biggest name on the card is 51-year-old legend Renzo Gracie (13-7-1) of the famed Gracie fighting family. The Brazilian is a former 2-time ADCC World Champion and a pioneer of mixed martial arts, having faced legends of equal stature since the early 90’s.

Gracie will face Japanese veteran, 43-year-old Yuki “Sora” Kondo (60-34-9) in what is being billed as the final farewell fight for both fighters.

Being from the first family of martial arts, it should come as no surprise that the sixth-degree BJJ black belt is considered a living legend.

Gracie faced an impressive list of fellow legends and mixed martial arts pioneers throughout his time, experiencing great success. Along the way, he has also produced and trained many world champions in both BJJ and mixed martial arts, to leave an immortal legacy.

Also on the card is former ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki (40-8, 1NC) who takes on rising Thai superstar Shannon “OneShin” Wiratchai (9-2).

Aoki is widely considered one of the greatest pure grapplers in all of mixed martial arts. He sports a sensational number of 25 submissions out of 40 total victories. An iconic figure, Aoki is best known for his ground game, which had already won him titles at WAMMA, DREAM, and Shooto before his ONE career exploded.

He has defeated some of the biggest names in the world, including Tatsuya Kawajiri, Caol Uno, and Eddie Alvarez. Needless to say, once Aoki has opponents on the mat or grabs a hold of an opponent’s limbs, it is extremely difficult to escape and survival is highly unlikely.

In addition, submission grappling superstar Garry “The Lion Killer” Tonon (1-0) is set to make his return to the ONE Championship cage, following a successful mixed martial arts debut last March. Tonon will be taking on Singapore’s Rahul “The Kerala Krusher” Raju (4-2) in a lightweight contest.

Tonon is a multiple-time No Gi BJJ World Champion known for his unparalleled technical expertise of the grappling arts. He began wrestling when he was just 14 years old, and eventually took up BJJ shortly after under world-renowned trainer Tom DeBlass. He won his first BJJ world title in 2008 at the age of 16.

Throughout his grappling career, Tonon was recognized as one of the top competitors in the world at every belt level. He earned his black belt in 2013, and continues to participate in the biggest grappling competitions today most notably the Eddie Bravo Invitational, among others.

The three BJJ superstars will all see action at ONE: REIGN OF KINGS, so fans can expect a very high-level and very technical feast for the senses in Manila when ONE Championship hits town.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship. ​

Isentia Wins 4th Straight Company of the Year at AMEC Awards in Barcelona

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Isentia has again been recognized for its leadership in research, measurement and insights at the 2018 AMEC International Communication Effectiveness Awards. Taking home the prestigious Research & Measurement Company of the Year for a fourth consecutive year, Isentia also received five other awards for its work with clients including Harbour City Estates and a large FMCG brand.
Khali Sakkas, Chief Executive of Insights for Isentia, said the awards were a fantastic result for all involved, demonstrating the exceptional work being done in partnership with clients across the business. 

“The AMEC Awards recognize the best measurement and evaluation on a global playing field. We are thrilled to achieve strong recognition for our groundbreaking projects. Our integrated approach and our ability to innovate for our clients is something we are passionate about” she said.
The 2018 results build on Isentia’s impressive AMEC record, with almost 50 wins since 2010. Isentia CEO John Croll also received the Don Bartholomew Award for services to the industry.

Isentia’s 2018 AMEC Awards wins include:

Winner – AMEC Communications, Research & Measurement Company of the Year
Winner – Grand Prix for the most effective media intelligence, research & insights company campaign
Winner – Most innovative use of measurement in a digital campaign: Isentia for Harbour City Estates: Unleashing the New Retail Experience
Winner – Most impactful client recommendations arising from a measurement study: Isentia for an FMCG brand: Impacting product development
Silver – Best use of social media measurement for a pharmaceutical company: Understanding Vaccinations
Silver – Best measurement of a business to business campaign for Commonwealth Bank of Australia: Gender equality in the banking sector
Bronze – Best use of social media measurement for Harbour City Estates: Unleashing the NewRetail Experience
Special recognition – John Croll has received the Don Bartholomew Award for services to the industry 

See the full list of 2018 award winners here: http://amecawards.com/2018-winners/