Life style
A dynamic duo
by Zanita Careem
Advertising is something that creates a certain illusion and image, and public relation is something that manages crowd control of different categories of people. In this interview Chris Wijekoon and Azad Hassan share thier professional insight into advertising and public relations .
Leadership by definition lies in the action of leading to reach a goal. For both of us what define a great leader is someone who leads by example and successful leaders are known by the influence and impact they have on many not on one said Chris and Azad, the two veterans in the field of advertising and event management.
We learnt by experience that communication isn’t merely a supporting component for business to succeed; it is the key factor for success for every leader, for every business and even in our personal life competition is what make us to excel in our career. Both of them are extremely passionate about thier role and responsibilities.
Well organised, articulate, positive and full. of positive energy. Chris and Azad . are the running thread that keeps the bond between all PR players and firms alive We are both directors of this organisation ‘Planning Paradise’ Both of us have an understanding of dynamics of industry and business. We work relentlessly to built the agency, through hard work and commitment to give a professional dimension to PR campaigns organised by the ‘The Planning Paradise’.
What made you to start an event management agency?
We both are professional with many years of experience and come from two very different professions. Azad holds a Masters in Business Administration and Chris comes from a professional background holding an ACIS (UK) qualifications. Over a period of time, we observed how events were organised and observed how many were successful.
Tell us about the campaigns and events you have worked on.
When ” Planning Paradise” ventured out in a post-COVID arena, the norms were strictly adhered. We , our team has covered milestone birthday parties, exclusive private dinners and cocktails, the ABBA Ladies Night as well as karaoke and sing-along gatherings. However, during pre-covid our team handled corporate events in collaboration with some of the leading corporates in the country. We always strictly adhered to safety measures and followed government regulations.
We always created a memorable impression and left an indelible mark on the minds of our clients. This is especially important in many events, attendees were first time visitors . We always looked into minor details and created a unique ambience. Even when outdoor events, are organised we are always ready with tents and canopies on standby. The venue is a reflection of the event as a whole. We always make a grand statement and get people talking.
How do you integrate social media with event management?
The aim of incorporating social media into our event management was to create an awareness among clients across the country At present our team is running a Facebook page and also an Instagram account, and we do update our followers with what we have done and what we plan to do. We also plan to open a linkedin page in the near future,
Earning trust and establishing valuable relationships and building branding awareness are necessary to run our business smoothly. A PR event is all about building publicity.
How does ‘Planning Paradise’ is different from other event management companies?
Our team endeavours to go above and beyond in our request for client satisfaction and happiness, making our company stand out from others.. Our team gives priority to our customers’ ideas . Our aim is to make customers happy and give them the edge to decide what they want.
The promotion of events doesn’t begin and end at an event. For example recently we organised an Abba night . Those attended had a great experience. gets everybody in good spirit . Most people who attends our events uploads images on instagram using our event hashtag.
What are the trends in
event management?
With reference to the American Express 2021 Global Meetings and Event Forecast, hybrid events take precedence over others in the future globally.
In the new normal we are slowly adapting to organise open-air events which will be COVID- friendly. . We have to keep in mind that life goes on within the parameters of health guidelines.
What are your key factors of success?
At “The Planning Paradise”, we follow the axiom customer is King! and work as a flexible team. We always work within the personalized budgets of our individual clients. The world as we know has been changed by the epidemic that has reached every corner of the globe. The way we think, live and work will now have to be modified to the new normal.
We have varied professional backgrounds, so we in our events have genuinely brought joy or value so far.
Attention, activity, are some of our key words. The ‘Planning Paradise’ is flexible young and creative Our secret is consistency on all events we organised . We work as a team. We stand behind each other and supports one another.
planningparadisesl@gmail.com
Institute of Hospitality Sri Lanka
The 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the UK-based Institute of Hospitality’s Sri Lanka Chapter was held recently at the Ramada Hotel Colombo,.The event provided an evening of camaraderie , reflection of the past and present achievements,setting new benchmarks for the future
The AGM had the presence of two distinguished guests, the Chief Guest Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, and the Guest of Honour British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Andrew Patrick. Their inspiring speeches were lauded by all hoteliers who were present at the occasion
A special thanks was extended to Robert Richardson, CEO of the Institute of Hospitality UK, along with his team, sponsors, committee members, and all attendees for making the event memorable.
Dr. Harsha Jayasingh, Past President of the Institute of Hospitality (UK) Sri Lanka Chapter, emphasised the Institute’s longstanding history and the strength of its Sri Lankan branch. “The Institute of Hospitality (IH) UK has a history of 86 years, and we are proud to be the Sri Lanka Branch. IH Sri Lanka is much stronger now with many members from all areas of the hospitality industry,” he stated.
Dr. Jayasingh highlighted the significant role of tourism in Sri Lanka’s economy,. He said tourism it is the third-largest source of revenue for the country. “Tourism accounts for about 13.3% of total foreign exchange earnings and employs 450,000 people directly and indirectly. The hospitality industry in this island of pearl holds tremendous potential for economic growth, job creations, and cultural exchange,” he added.
He also pointed out more women should be attracted to the industry and advocated for the use of technology in hospitality sector to attract the younger generation.
The newly appointed Chairman Ramesh Dassanayake spoke about the challenges faced by the industry, including the reluctance of youth to join the sector. . Dassanayake expressed concerns over the migration of staff between hotels and the overall ‘brain drain’ in the sector. ” We must maintain high standards in the hotel We must try to attract tourists to Sri Lanka, we must have with many facilities Hence, hotel schools and other professional institutions involved in skills development mustincrease their intakes,” he pointed out.
Chief Guest Sajith Premadasa emphasised the importance of eco tourism and said “We need to have an environmental policy related to tourism in place,” . .
The 32nd AGM of the Institute of Hospitality UK, Sri Lanka Chapter, was a testament to the strength and potential of Sri Lanka’s hospitality industry. The insights and commitments shared during the event set a new benchmark for the future.(ZC)
Pix by Thushara Attapathu
Life style
He recognizes human identity beyond boundaries of gender, race, nationality and religion.
Visit of Sri Gurudev to Sri Lanka
Humanitarian, spiritual leader and Global Ambassador of Peace Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Sri Gurudev) was in Sri Lanka on a three day tour on the invitation of the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dinesh Gunewardene. Gurudev who inspired a wave of volunteerism and service to moot one of the largest volunteer-based organisations in the world – The Art of Living – visited the various projects under the aegis of the foundation and launched twelve vocational and technical centers around the island. He was accompanied by thousands of followers from Sri Lanka and around the world.
Gurudev who visited Sri Lanka for the sixth time also had a first day cover launched in honour of his visit. He is a strong proponent of spreading happiness, using the unique Sudarshan Kriya, yoga, meditation and practical wisdom to unite people, empower individuals and transform communities. His programmes provide techniques and tools to live a deeper, more joyous life, while his non-profit organisations recognize the human identity beyond the boundaries of gender, race, nationality and religion.
The Art of Living which has more than 30,000 teachers and over one million volunteers across 180 countries has touched in excess of five hundred million people around the world. CNN called it “Life Changing” and The Washington Post headlined it, “Fresh air to millions”.
In Trincomalee, Gurudev met with war victims and had a heartwarming engagement with the children from the children’s homes run by the Foundation. He also visited the Koneswara Temple in Trincomalee and graced the Kumbhabhishekam at Seetha ecogPnize the human identity beyond the boundaries of gender, race, nationality and religion. Amman temple at Nuwara Eliya. He held discussions with the trustees on the progress of the foundation’s social service projects, while also holding a special event – Ekamuthuwa – attended by a large number of dignitaries and his devotees from around the world.
His time with the Prime Minister was spent discussing the prospects of unity in diversity and uniting Sri Lanka by adding happiness into the formula of living. In addition he had discussions with the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, prominent business stewards and civil society leaders.
by Zanita Careem
Envison your dream wedding day come to life at the Epitome Hotel, a prestigious city hotel in Kurunegala offering an unrivalled luxury rendors experience for weddings.
The venue is designed to embody opulence and luxury from all quarters for a spectacular wedding in kurunegala,Thier ballroom is the largest banquet facility in Sri Lanka It can be divided into six luxurious pillarless wedding halls on the ground floor and 25pax smaller banquet halls.
It can be easily named as a five star heaven in the heart of the city contributing to a myriad of immense experiences tailored to inspire and delight wedding experiences.
From opulent décor set up to exquisite table decor, lavish food, every detail is meticulously curated to spark your imagination and ignite creativity for a perfect wedding. The previous prestigious wedding shows season one and season two attracted large crowds
were unique events which gave the wedding vendors and potential clients had an opportunity to connect and interact with each other. Beyond being a showcase it was a chance for the wedding vendors to unite and contribute to the vibrancy of the wedding industry. The wedding show covered all area of the bridal industry providing a comprehensive variety of bridal supplies from Sri lanka and became the most popular bridal exhibitions in Kurunegala.This bridal exhibitions allowed brides and grooms to experience first hand the products and services available from suppliers in Sri Lanka
These wedding shows held at The Epitome created a benchmark and gave an opportunity for vendors to create connections to the utmost satisfaction said Harshan Lakshita Executive Director. of the magnificent Hotel
Our wedding shows featured experts and professionals in every field‘ It covered all areas of the bridal industry provided a comprehensive variety of bridal supplies from Sri lanka and became most popular bridal exhibition in this region.We are always open to everyone to join us at our wedding shows in the future. It is an opportunity to discover the incredible talent within our local wedding and bridal vendors to make meaningful relationships and plan thier special day at our breathtaking hotel The Epitome said General Manager Kavinda Caldera
The Epitome Hotel’s bridal show which will be held end of June will buzz with great ideas,advice and inspiration for all those who plan thier dream wedding
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The Hotel Epitome’s Wedding Season 3 will marked excellence, celebration and inspiration for those in the wedding industry. The exhibition halls will resonate with ideas on exquisite bridal wear to decor, florists , photography etc and showshowcase the rich tapestry of talent within the local wedding industry. .
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