In the next two years, luxury hospitality brand Fairmont will introduce four new properties in India, including locations such as Mumbai, Udaipur, Agra, and Shimla Fagu, while another Raffles hotel will launch in Goa by 2030, Omer Acar, CEO for Raffles and Fairmont, told ET in an exclusive interview. Acar said the decision to launch more luxury hotels in India stems from a growing demand for bespoke, high-end travel experiences across India, among both domestic and international travellers. "As India increasingly establishes itself as a highly sought-after destination for luxury travellers, we recognised a unique opportunity to expand the presence of Raffles and Fairmont in the market," said Acar. "Travelers today desire high-end, culturally rich, and inspirational experiences, and we are perfectly positioned to meet this demand through Raffles and Fairmont, two centennial brands that are rooted in unique and distinct histories but are committed to providing a contemporary guest experience," he added. The brands are a part of hospitality chain Accor's portfolio. On Thursday, Accor announced a partnership with Dangayach Group to develop two new Raffles and Fairmont hotels in Goa. While Raffles Goa Shiroda will feature 120 luxury villas set across over 27 acres, Fairmont Goa will be spread across over 56 acres and will have 400 rooms. Accor said both properties will be operational by 2030. 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He said the three open Fairmont and Raffles hotels in India-Raffles Jaipur, Raffles Udaipur, and Fairmont Jaipur-have met with 'exceptional success.' "Each property has been incredibly well received by local, regional, and international guests, thanks to the unique and immersive experiences they offer, which are deeply rooted in the essence of each brand and their respective locations," he added. Fairmont boasts a portfolio of 88 hotels worldwide, while Raffles Jaipur marked the 23rd property for Raffles. In the year ahead, Raffles will make its debut in Sentosa, Singapore, and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. New openings are planned for Fairmont in cities such as Prague, Tokyo, Bangkok, and Hanoi. "2025 is particularly exciting for Fairmont in India, as we prepare to introduce the brand to both Mumbai and Udaipur," said Acar. "The contribution of Accor's luxury and lifestyle brands, such as Fairmont and Raffles, is highly significant to the group's overall success. These prestigious brands are not only key drivers of financial performance, but also play an essential role in raising the global profile of the Group," he added. Acar said both China and India remain 'incredibly important' markets for Raffles and Fairmont and in the coming years, these countries will be critical for both inbound and outbound travel markets. "Due to the success of our existing properties in India, we know that the experiences offered by both Raffles and Fairmont resonate deeply with Indian travellers, who prioritise personalised service, vibrant atmospheres, quality craftsmanship, and exceptional culinary offerings," he said. "We hope that travellers who have discovered Raffles or Fairmont throughout their exploration of India will continue to stay with us when traveling abroad," he added. Nominations for ET MSME Awards are now open. The last day to apply is December 15, 2024. Click here to submit your entry for any one or more of the 22 categories and stand a chance to win a prestigious award. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Mich. Grant Funds Using AI to Extract Minerals from BatteriesCanon U.S.A. Earns BenchmarkPortal’s Prestigious Center of Excellence Certification for 16th Consecutive Year Canon U.S.A. has received BenchmarkPortal’s esteemed certification as a Center of Excellence for Customer Solutions for the 16th consecutive year. BenchmarkPortal, renowned for its rigorous evaluation criteria, again awarded this honor to Canon, citing the company’s consistent dedication to efficiency and effectiveness in its Customer Solutions Center. The certification is granted to contact centers ranking in the top 10 percent, following meticulous audits and comparisons of performance indicators among peer organizations. The evaluation prioritizes Canon’s Customer Solutions Center’s outstanding performance across cost and quality-related parameters, surpassing industry benchmarks. “Maintaining high levels of excellence in the center over a period of years is a wonderful testimony to the contact center management team, the frontline agents – as well as senior managers, who support and encourage this excellence,” says . “Canon U.S.A., Inc.’s contact center professionals have shown exceptional dedication and results, for which I commend them.” Canon joins an elite group of only 10 companies worldwide to achieve the Center of Excellence certification for 16 consecutive years. “We are pleased to once again earn this prestigious certification and are proud to be recognized by BenchmarkPortal for a 16th consecutive year,” says . “This honor is a testament to Canon’s tireless pursuit of providing strong service and support to our customers. We appreciate the collective efforts and commitment of our Customer Solutions Center team, who embody Canon’s commitment to providing outstanding service delivery.”
I'M A Celeb fans have predicted a popular celeb will leave tonight - as she boasted about buying a Porsche after becoming rich overnight. Viewers have two of the show's stars form an unlikely friendship as they open up to one another. However, they think GK Barry will be next to go after boasting about her success. It came Reverend Richard Coles asked the social media star about her overnight fame - which included buying a flashy Porsche. Taking to X, one wrote: "I reckon GK is going tonight. Lots of envious people won’t have bought into that Porsche chat. #ImACeleb." Another added: "did GK earn a Porsche just through influencing?" In camp, Richard quizzed GK on her overnight fame and social media success. He asked: " So Grace did you go from working in Costa to all of a sudden being able to buy a house?” The podcaster replied: "Yeah." Continuing, Richard queried: “So you didn’t go from poor, poor, poor, a little less poor, a bit more money , you went from poor to rich?” To which GK answered: “Yeah, pretty quick. "And I remember being like, ‘I’m making enough money to buy a new car now’ and I remember a Porsche drove past me as I had that thought. "I remember thinking, ‘I could buy a Porsche and it would not be an issue.’ "I went to the centre, I was looking at an old one that was cheaper, but the one that I wanted was next to it and it was so nice . "I rang my accountant and I was like, ‘Can I do it?’ "And he was like, ‘Yeah’, so I bought it. i'm A Celebrity is back for its 24th series, with a batch of famous faces living in the Aussie jungle. The Sun's Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars on the show this year.. Coleen Rooney - Arguably the most famous name in the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney , has made a grand return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four had bagged an eye-watering deal worth over £1.5million to be on the show this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever. Tulisa - The popstar and former X Factor judge has made her triumphant TV comeback by signing up to this year's I'm A Celeb after shunning TV shows for many years. Known for being a member of the trio, N-Dubz, Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV show The X Factor in a multi-million pound deal. Alan Halsall - The actor, known for playing the long-running role of Tyrone Dobbs on ITV soap opera Coronation Street, was originally signed up to head Down Under last year but an operation threw his scheduled appearance off-course. Now he has become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities. Melvin Odoom - The Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after rising to fame with presenting roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. Melvin has already been for a spin on the Strictly dancefloor and co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015 but now he is facing up to his biggest challenge yet - the Aussie jungle . GK Barry - The UK's biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has transformed her TikTok stardom into a lucrative career. Aside from her popular social media channels, she hosts the weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and regularly appears on ITV talk show, Loose Women. She has even gone on to endorse popular brands such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers. Dean McCullough - A rising star amongst this year's bunch of celebs , Dean first achieved notability through his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was chosen to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has featured prominently ever since. He has enjoyed a crossover to ITV over the past year thanks to his guest slots on Big Brother spin-off show, Late & Live. Oti Mabuse - The pro dancer has signed up to her latest TV show after making her way through the biggest programmes on the box. She originally found fame on Strictly Come Dancing but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer as well as her current role on ITV's Dancing On Ice . Danny Jones - The McFly star was drafted into the programme last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle , after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he's now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice , along with bandmate Tom Fletcher. Jane Moore - The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist is braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge - having recently split from her husband . It will be Jane's first foray into reality TV with the telly favourite having always said no to reality shows in the past. Barry McGuigan - Former pro boxer Barry is the latest fighting champ to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan. It comes after a tough few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danika to bowel cancer . He told The Late Late Show in 2021: "She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache." Maura Higgins - The Irish TV beauty first found fame on Love Island where she found a brief connection with dancer Curtis Pritchard . Since then, she has competed on Dancing On Ice as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty contest, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been working on building up her career in the US by being the social media correspondent and host of Aftersun to accompany Love Island USA. She even guest hosted an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, in place of Maya Jama last year. Rev. Richard Coles - Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is a late arrival on I’m A Celebrity , and he's ready to spill the beans on his former employer. The former Communards and Strictly star , said the BBC did not know its a**e from its elbow last year. An insider said: "Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth." "I picked it up two days later.” GK added that it was: “Black, with a red interior.” Who will be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle? I'm A Celebrity continues on ITV1 and ITVX.LOS ANGELES — It wasn’t going to last forever. It had to end sometime, and in the grand scheme of the season, two embers glowed in the aftermath of the inferno South Carolina traveled into on Nov. 24. One: Better now while there are still games to play. Two: Teams don’t have to be undefeated to win the national championship. The Gamecocks just made that a thing last year. All goals are still in mind and very reachable, despite USC losing for the first time in 605 days on Sunday. Fifth-ranked UCLA on its home floor was far too much to overcome, 77-62, especially when the Bruins (5-0) gave the Gamecocks (5-1) a taste of what they’ve dished out to the rest of the country over the past 10 years. Whether it was Alaina Coates or A’ja Wilson or Aliyah Boston or Kamilla Cardoso, the Gamecocks almost always had a dominant center to score, rebound, intimidate. This year, they do not. UCLA had plenty of height and used every bit of it. The Gamecocks became tentative to try to get the ball in the lane due to so many shots being sent back or never getting out of their hands against the Bruins’ land of giants, and starting 0 for 9 from the floor was a continuation of the same poor offense that’s been evident through USC’s first five games. The Gamecocks could not hit a shot in the first quarter and would not move the ball when they were down big. It forced Dawn Staley to call a timeout instead of waiting for a stoppage in play, an event that happens nearly as often as a politician keeps a campaign promise. Once the Bruins began sniping 3-pointers (they made 10), it was over. The Bruins shot well over 50 percent from the field for most of the game. No. 1 Gamecocks hammer Clemson for series-record 14th straight time Only Tessa Johnson showed signs of offensive life for the Gamecocks, draining her first four shots and finishing with 14 points. Te-Hina Paopao, playing in front of 100 family and friends from her nearby Oceanside, Calif., home, had a team-high 18. It was the first time USC had lost since the 2023 Final Four. It was the first regular-season loss in 1,060 days. USC on Monday will begin just its second week of not being the country’s No. 1 team over the past four seasons when the new Associated Press Top 25 is released. The Gamecocks’ school-record 43-game winning streak was snapped as well as a 33-game road winning streak, the third-longest stretch in Division I history. The Gamecocks begin the Fort Myers Tip-Off against No. 8 Iowa State at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.The Las Vegas Raiders had the element of surprise on their side on Sunday. During the second quarter of their divisional game against the Denver Broncos , the Raiders decided to bust out an extremely gutsy fake punt. Facing a 4th-and-4 from their own 36-yard line, Raiders punter AJ Cole faked the kick and then threw it downfield to receiver Tre Tucker. The gimmick worked as the Broncos were caught completely off-guard, enabling Tucker to get all the way down to the Denver 30-yard line. Take a look at the video of the play. RAIDERS FAKE PUNT pic.twitter.com/sJ2KQOyLfw — SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) November 24, 2024 The Raiders were able to get a field goal out of the continued drive and took a 13-9 lead into the half as a result. That was a really bold call there by Las Vegas, especially from inside their own territory and while going up against an elite defense in the Broncos. While they are just 2-8 this year, the Raiders still have plenty in their bag ( apparently including fakes straight out of Dan Campbell’s playbook ). This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.
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Wilson 2-5 2-2 6, Cherisier 5-11 2-4 12, Cousins 4-11 1-1 11, Demeke 2-6 0-0 6, Wanzer 1-4 0-0 3, Ojo 1-3 2-2 4, Bartholomew 3-7 4-4 11, Perry 0-2 0-0 0, Totals 18-49 11-13 53 Archibald 0-1 0-0 0, Olsen 3-7 1-2 7, Efosa 6-9 2-2 14, Farrell 3-8 1-2 7, Gormley 2-4 1-1 5, Bandoma 0-0 0-0 0, Morales Romero 3-5 0-0 9, Sirtautaite 1-1 0-0 2, Scarlett 4-10 0-0 11, Scott 0-1 0-0 0, Sheppard 2-7 1-2 5, Totals 24-53 6-9 60 3-Point Goals_Delaware 6-17 (Cousins 2-5, Demeke 2-6, Wanzer 1-3, Bartholomew 1-3), Providence 6-17 (Farrell 0-3, Morales Romero 3-4, Scarlett 3-7, Scott 0-1, Sheppard 0-2). Assists_Delaware 5 (Cousins 2), Providence 11 (Efosa 3, Sheppard 3). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_Delaware 33 (Wilson 8), Providence 29 (Olsen 9). Total Fouls_Delaware 17, Providence 13. Technical Fouls_None. A_825.
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The Denver Broncos (6-5) head to Las Vegas on Sunday to battle AFC West rival the Raiders (2-8). Kickoff is set for 2:05 p.m. and will be televised by CBS. Fourth quarter - Raiders are able to get into field goal range. Carlson is good from 53 yards - Two negative plays stalls the drive for Denver. Lutz hits from 45 yards - Broncos driving to begin the final frame Third quarter End of third quarter: Broncos 16, Raiders 13 -- 22-yard punt return by Marvin Mims has Denver in good shape - Another three and out forced by the Broncos defense - Broncos get a couple first downs but will be forced to punt. Good chance to fill field position - Riley Moss had been ruled out with a knee injury - Denver will start the next drive from their own 2-yard line - Broncos defense gives up a big run but then holds. Jones with good coverage of Bowers The @SuttonCourtland special. 📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/jIkTu4m0rm - Bo Nix hts Courtland Sutton on a TD pass. Broncos lead 16-13 We'll take that. 📺: CBS | @BlessedJones33 pic.twitter.com/Cxozg3wXVQ - Brandon Jones with the interception and the Broncos are back in business - Riley Moss is questionable to return with a knee injury - A three and out for the Broncos to start. A negative play on first down slows down Denver - Broncos start the second half with the ball Halftime: Raiders 13, Broncos 9 Second quarter - Raiders are able to get into FG range before the half. Carlson hits from 34 - Moss walks off on his own and heads to the blue tent Riley Moss down on field for #Broncos . - Broncos struggle again on the Raiders side of the field. Lutz hits a 54-yarder - Broncos defense holds and Carlson hits a field goal to extend the Vegas lead - Raiders pull off a fake punt and the drive will continue for Las Vegas - Broncos defense forces a three-and-out. Couple of good plays by Riley Moss - Broncos are moving the ball but fall apart on the cusp of the red zone. Lutz with a 53-yarder. - Raiders hit a 6-yard TD pass to Ameer Abdullah. Big kickoff return set up the drive. - Raiders driving to start the second quarter First quarter End of first quarter: Broncos 3, Raiders 0 - Couple flags derail the Broncos' drive. Wil Lutz hits from 38 to make it 3-0 - Broncos defense allows nothing and the Raiders will punt again - Broncos' drive stalls at midfield. Raiders defense bringing a lot pressure. - Patrick Surtain all over Brock Bowers on third down. Raiders ready to punt - Broncos win the coin toss. They defer. Raiders ball to start Pregame Locker room's set for #DENvsLV . 🤩 pic.twitter.com/ZJN6KSe3Qj Broncos defensive end Zach Allen inactive vs. Raiders due to heel injury but safety Brandon Jones active The Denver Gazette predictions for Broncos-Raiders How to watch: Denver Broncos at Las Vegas RaidersNigerian govt debunks fake ambassadorial nominees list, clarifies no appointments yet
HOUSTON , Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sterling Group, a Houston -based, operationally focused middle market private equity firm, is pleased to announce that John Griffin and Claudine Lussier have been promoted to Partner. "We are excited to recognize the extraordinary contributions of John and Claudine," said Brad Staller , Partner at The Sterling Group. "Each has played a critical part in Sterling's success to date. We are thrilled to celebrate their accomplishments and welcome them as Partners." John Griffin , Partner, joined Sterling in 2018 from McKinsey & Company's Houston office where he focused on strategic and operational initiatives for industrial and energy companies. John has been a leader on the PrimeFlight Aviation, West Star Aviation, Fencing Supply Group, Tangent Technologies, and Lynx FBO Network investment teams. John has also been a key member of the firm's Operations Committee, which drives continuous improvement in Sterling's own value creation capabilities. Claudine Lussier , Partner, Human Capital, joined Sterling in 2017 to lead Human Capital at Sterling and its portfolio companies. During Claudine's time at Sterling, she has contributed to a significant build-out of the team and has driven a dramatic improvement in Sterling's ability to drive value creation through the Human Capital lever. Claudine is a critical business partner to investment teams and management teams alike. To learn more about a career at The Sterling Group, please visit www.sterling-group.com/careers/ About The Sterling Group Founded in 1982, The Sterling Group is a private equity and private credit investment firm that targets investments in basic manufacturing, distribution, and industrial services companies. Typical enterprise values of these companies at initial formation range from $100 million to $750 million . Sterling has sponsored the buyout of 73 platform companies and numerous add-on acquisitions for a total transaction value of over $24 billion . Sterling currently has $9.4 billion of assets under management. For further information, please visit www.sterling-group.com . Past performance is no guarantee of future results and all investments are subject to loss. SOURCE The Sterling Group, L.P.Let your little ones glide with the best kids’ ski boots
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Chevron to trim Permian spending by up to 10% in 2025Lucknow: A day after by-election results for nine Uttar Pradesh Assembly constituencies were declared, political accusations flared on Sunday as opposition leaders from the BSP and SP alleged electoral malpractice, a charge vehemently denied by the ruling BJP. The BJP and its ally RLD secured seven of the nine seats and the SP grabbed the other two. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) failed to make any mark. Both BSP chief Mayawati and SP president Akhilesh Yadav have now raised concerns over the integrity of the electoral process, accusing the ruling party of irregularities. Yadav accused the BJP of “electronic booth capturing”. Calling for a forensic examination of the EVMs used, Yadav claimed that discrepancies in voting patterns would reveal widespread fraud. “Voters were prevented from casting their votes, yet the booths recorded high turnout. This indicates that someone else voted on their behalf,” he alleged. Yadav also accused the administration and police of removing SP booth agents and intimidating voters. Referring specifically to the Kundarki const- ituency, where BJP candidate Ramveer Singh won by around 1.45 lakh votes, Yadav alleged that his party’s candidate Haji Rizwan faced severe electoral malpractices. “This is the new-age electronic booth capturing,” Yadav said, demanding that the Election Commission review booth records and voter turnout data. Addressing a press conference on Sunday, BSP president Mayawati alleged that “fake voting” marred the bypolls. She claimed that malpractices, once prevalent during the ballot-paper era, are now being conducted through the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). She added that such irregularities are more prevalent during by-elections than the general election. Citing this issue, Mayawati announced her party’s decision to abstain from contesting by-elections across the country, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, unless the EC implements strict measures to prevent fraudulent voting. However, she said that the BSP would continue to contest general elections with full preparation. Responding to the opposition’s accusations, Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak launched a sharp counterattack. Maurya said Yadav was claiming that the SP would win all nine seats, but they were confined to just two. “They had demanded the cancellation of elections on three seats — Kundarki, Shishamau, and Mirapur. Out of these, the Shishamau seat has been won by the Samajwadi Party,” he added. “I have received information that the BJP candidate from Kundarki won by a margin of approximately 1.5 lakh votes, which has clearly frustrated Akhilesh Yadav,” Maurya said. “In the future, everyone will puncture the Samajwadi Party’s cycle, and Akhilesh Yadav, who dreams of coming to power in 2027, will not be seen anywhere near power not just in 2027 but even in 2047,” he added. Pathak too accused Yadav of being unable to accept defeat and dismissed his allegations as baseless. “The SP has lost its ground, and Akhilesh Yadav cannot come to terms with this defeat. Their allegations of rigging are a mere attempt to cover up their failure,” he said during a press conference. Pathak accused the SP of fostering hooliganism and lawlessness. Referring to incidents in Kannauj, Ayodhya, and Karhal, he said SP leaders have been involved in atrocities against Dalits and OBC women, yet Akhilesh Yadav remains silent. He further alleged that SP leaders focus on mafia, illegal property acquisitions and endangering the dignity and safety of women. He also slammed the Samajwadi Party (SP) for allegedly misleading voters with false promises and pointed out that even in postal ballots, the BJP maintained a significant lead over SP candidates. Pathak added that the SP’s biggest anguish is not just losing elections but also losing their core voter base. “Backward classes, Dalits, and even Muslims have distanced themselves from the SP. For the SP, Muslims are merely voters, not partners,” he said.
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