Business
Ogilvy Group wins big at Campaign Asia’s Agency of the Year Awards 2021
Ogilvy Digital wins Gold for ‘Rest of South Asia Digital Agency of the Year’
Phoenix Ogilvy wins Bronze for ‘Rest of South Asia Creative Agency of the Year’
The Phoenix Ogilvy Group returned to international fame yet again, bagging two highly coveted awards at Campaign Asia’s Agency of the Year Awards 2021 South Asia.
Campaign Asia-Pacific’s Agency of the Year Awards celebrate the people, the work and the businesses achieving outstanding success in media, marketing and advertising. The awards highlight strong leadership, creativity and innovation, stellar new business performance, the development of talent, and contribution to the industry; and is open to agencies from across the South Asia region.
Ogilvy Digital seized the top spot among digital agencies, continuing its consistent streak in the category, winning Gold for the ‘Rest of South Asia Digital Agency of the Year’ Award. The agency has bagged the Silver and Bronze Awards in this category in previous years.
Meanwhile Phoenix Ogilvy brought home the Bronze for ‘Rest of South Asia Creative Agency of the Year’.
Speaking on the wins Irvin Weerackody, Chairman, Phoenix Ogilvy Group said, “2021 has been a year of trials and tribulations for businesses in Sri Lanka and the rest of the world, with both the Company and our Clients working together to overcome the challenges of the pandemic. These awards underpin our strength and capability to rise above difficult circumstances and to craft unique messages and winning campaigns for our clients”.
Ogilvy Digital retained pole position this year, building on the achievements of the past year, to cap the year off with an astounding 98% growth in billing and 57% growth in revenue. The company’s unique combination of technical prowess and creative output enabled its superior performance, maintaining the happiness of all existing clients by providing premium services and winning multiple new businesses during this time.
“Ogilvy Digital has distinguished itself from the outset as the digital agency that was about people. This focus helped us almost double our growth from Oct 2020-Sep 2021, amidst an economic crunch and the global impact of COVID-19,” commented Lalith Sumanasiri, Managing Director of Ogilvy Digital. “We recruited 57 new employees in that time. While the rest of the industry was cutting salaries and laying off people, we were able to offer the biggest ever salary increase in our history. It is heartening that our strategy paid off with off-the-charts growth, and happy clients.” He added.
Phoenix Ogilvy’s Bronze for ‘Rest of South Asia Creative Agency of the Year’ was awarded for achieving new business and revenue despite the headwinds of an economic downturn caused by the global pandemic. The Award is recognition to the fearless creativity that shapes the company’s DNA, making it one of Sri Lanka’s leading creative agencies for over two decades.
Overall, the Ogilvy network in Asia concluded the Awards show with a Gold for South Asia Creative Agency of the Year.
The Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) proudly facilitated the first-ever Sri Lankan delegation’s participation at Drupa 2024, the world’s largest trade fair for the printing industry and technology. Held after an eight-year hiatus, Drupa 2024 was a landmark event, marking significant advancements and opportunities in the global printing industry.
AHK Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in organising and supporting the delegation, which comprised 17 members from the Sri Lanka Association for Printers (SLAP), representing eight companies from the commercial, newspaper, stationery printing, and packaging industries. This pioneering effort by AHK Sri Lanka not only showcased the diverse capabilities of Sri Lanka’s printing sector but also facilitated vital bilateral discussions with key stakeholders from the German printing industry.
Business
Unveiling Ayugiri: Browns Hotels & Resorts sets the stage for a new era in luxury Ayurveda Wellness
In a captivating reimagining of luxury wellness tourism, Browns Hotels & Resorts proudly unveiled the exquisite Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya. This momentous occasion, celebrated amidst a vibrant and serene grand opening on the 6th of June, heralds a new chapter in the Ayurveda wellness tourism landscape in Sri Lanka. Nestled amidst 54 acres of unspoiled natural splendour, Ayugiri features 22 exclusive suites and stands out as the only luxury Ayurveda wellness resort in the country offering plunge pools in every room, rendering it truly one-of-a-kind.
The grand opening of Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort was an enchanting event, where guests were captivated by the melodies of flutists and violinists resonating through Sigiriya’s lush landscapes. As traditional drummers and dancers infused the air with vibrant energy, Browns Hotels & Resorts’ CEO, Eksath Wijeratne, Kotaro Katsuki, Acting Ambassador for the Embassy of Japan and General Manager, Buwaneka Bandara, unveiled the resort’s new logo, marking a significant moment witnessed by distinguished guests from the French Embassy, Ayurveda and wellness enthusiasts along with officials from the Sigiriya area, LOLC Holdings and Browns Group.
“Our strategic expansion into wellness tourism with Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya symbolises a significant milestone for Browns Hotels & Resorts. Wellness tourism has consistently outperformed the overall tourism industry for over a decade, reflecting a growing global interest in travel that goes beyond leisure to offer rejuvenation and holistic well-being. By integrating the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda with modern luxury, we aim to set a new standard in luxury wellness tourism in Sri Lanka. Whether your goal is prevention, healing, or a deeper connection to inner harmony, Ayugiri offers a sanctuary for holistic well-being” stated Eksath Wijeratne.
Ayugiri encapsulates the essence of life, inspired by the lotus flower held by the graceful queens of the infamous Sigiriya frescoes. Just as the lotus emerges from the murky depths, untainted and serene,
Ayugiri invites guests on a journey of purity and rejuvenation, harmonised with a balance of mind, body and spirit, the essence of nature, echoes of culture and the wisdom of ancient Ayurvedic healing.
HNB General Insurance, one of Sri Lanka’s leading general insurance providers, has been honored as the Best General Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka 2024 by the prestigious Global Banking and Finance Review – UK.
The esteemed accolade underscores HNB General Insurance’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its outstanding performance in the field of bancassurance. Through dedication and hard work, the HNB General Insurance team has continuously endeavored to deliver innovative insurance solutions, cultivate strong relationships with banking partners, and provide unparalleled service to customers nationwide. This recognition is a testament to the team’s dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence in the bancassurance business.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which reflects our team’s tireless efforts and dedication to delivering value-added insurance solutions and exceptional service through our bancassurance partnerships,” said Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNB General Insurance. “This recognition reaffirms our position as a trusted insurance provider in Sri Lanka and motivates us to continue striving for excellence in serving our customers and communities.”
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