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PARIS, Nov. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting today, Vestiaire Collective, the leading global second-hand luxury fashion platform, announces it is banning a second wave of fast fashion brands from its platform. This marks the second year in a three-year rollout to ban all fast fashion from Vestiaire Collective's website. Following last year's initial announcement, Vestiaire Collective saw 70% of members impacted by the ban come back to the platform to shop for better quality items and invest in second-hand. Furthering their commitment to create a more circular economy, Vestiaire Collective worked with a committee of nine fashion and sustainability experts to create a clear definition of fast fashion and leverage this framework to ban industry giants from its website.

BANNED BRANDS AND DEFINING FAST FASHION

Banning more fast fashion from Vestiaire Collective's website will spark debate, however, with the climate crisis accelerating and ninety-two million tons of textile waste thrown away every year¹, it is a necessary step to reduce fashion's environmental and social impact. As part of the company's mission to change the way people consume, Vestiaire Collective will utilize the platform to bring awareness to issues of textile waste and fashion overconsumption, as well as encourage other key fashion players to join the mission to change the industry. After a year of research and planning, starting today, Vestiaire Collective proudly bans a list of 30 brands including: Abercrombie & Fitch, Gap, H&M, Mango, Uniqlo, Urban Outfitters, and Zara among others.

Vestiaire Collective gathered key industry experts to help build a framework defining fast fashion based on the five criteria fueling overproduction and overconsumption:

• Low price point: estimated average price point, also considering the repairability component
• Intense renewal rate: the estimated number of collections or number of new items drops per year
• Wide product range size: the number of items available at a given moment
• Speed to market: the production cycle time, from designing phase to finished goods in store
• Strong promotion intensity: the frequency and intensity of sale promotions

Vestiaire Collective's nine industry and sustainability committee members were selected based on their expertise and strong understanding of fast fashion's negative environmental and social impact. The experts gave their in-depth opinion and analysis of the fast fashion market. The members include:

¹ (Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation)

• Orsola de Castro, Co-founder of Fashion Revolution and author
• Rachel Cernansky, Senior Sustainability Editor at Vogue Business
• Christina Dean, Founder and Board Chair of NGO Redress and Founder and Chief Operating Officer of The R Collective
• Eva Kruse, Chief Global Engagement Officer Pangaia, Founder of the Global Fashion Agenda
• Liz Ricketts, Co-founder and Director of The Or Foundation
• Lauren Singer,  Managing Partner, Overview Capital
• François Souchet, Global Head of Sustainability and Impact Consulting at BPCM, Former lead "Make Fashion Circular" at Ellen MacArthur Foundation
• Lucianne Tonti, Fashion journalist and author
• Matteo Ward, Co-founder of Wrad living, activist, UN/CEFACT advisor

"The decision to ban fast fashion was made to support Vestiaire Collective's long time work to promote alternatives to the dominant model of fashion. Fast fashion brands contribute to excessive production and consumption, resulting in devastating social and environmental consequences in the Global South. It is our duty to act and lead the way for other industry players to join us in this movement, and together we can have an impact." noted Dounia Wone, Chief Impact Officer, Vestiaire Collective.

EDUCATION AND AMPLIFICATION

Vestiaire Collective knows that banning fast fashion only works if consumers shop more consciously, and the company encourages buyers to think critically about their purchasing habits and the true impact of their choices. Vestiaire Collective created an educational journey for buyers and sellers who will see informational messages at every step of their shopping or listing experience. They will also receive practical alternatives for their existing fast fashion items via an online guide with resources for donation strategies and sustainability insights. Vestiaire Collective also commits to educating companies on the benefits of sustainable operations as well as evaluating existing relationships with partners and influencers based on their current practices.

To create awareness, Vestiaire Collective is launching a global campaign "Think First, Buy Second" across its digital channels. The campaign leveraging AI technology, will include a video and visuals of piles of clothes located in some of the most recognizable locations of the Global North, such as Times Square, or The Eiffel Tour to replicate what textile waste and landfills would look like in consumers' own countries. The campaign will encourage social media users to take the pledge in an effort to turn Black Friday into a Better Friday. Participants can choose between pledging to only buy second-hand this Better Friday, until the end of the year, in 2024 or to stick to second-hand forever.

ADVOCACY AND LOBBYING

As part of the creation of an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework for textiles currently under discussion at the European Parliament, Vestiaire Collective has drawn up a position paper advocating greater transparency in the regulation of end-of-life and textile waste exports. The Company has called on the European Parliament and all industry stakeholders to address the urgency of textile waste.

Today, France is the only European country to benefit from an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system that the European Commission proposes to expand to all European countries. Vestiaire Collective and Paris Good Fashion have conducted research and examined the shortcomings of the French system, which still relies heavily on the mass export of textiles, in order to propose a responsible and circular management of used garments, on a sound and solid basis, within the European Union and worldwide.

About Vestiaire Collective

Vestiaire Collective is the leading global platform for pre-loved luxury fashion. The company's mission is to transform the fashion industry for a more sustainable future, promoting the circular fashion movement as an alternative to overproduction, overconsumption and the wasteful practices of the industry. Driven by the philosophy "Long Live Fashion," Vestiaire Collective offers a trusted space for its community to prolong the life of its most-loved fashion pieces. The platform's innovative features simplify the selling and buying process and give its members access to one-of-a-kind wardrobes around the world. The company boasts a curated catalog of five million rare and highly desirable items. Founded in Paris in 2009, Vestiaire Collective is a Certified B Corporation® and is active in 80 countries worldwide. To learn more, download the app, visit vestiairecollective.com and follow @vestiaireco o n Instagram.

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NEW DELHI and PARIS, Nov. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ARKANCE, a leading global provider of architecture, engineering, construction, and manufacturing technology solutions, premiered on November 13 as Autodesk's First Global Platinum Partner at Autodesk University 2023, The Design & Make Conference. During the three day gathering in Las Vegas, November 13-15, attendees explored the purpose and vision that ARKANCE holds for revolutionizing the way Design and Make organizations achieve digital transformation and foster enhanced sustainability in the global Built Environment.

"We are honored to be a Platinum Sponsor of Autodesk University this year in celebration of our new global services portfolio. We now offer the largest professional services team dedicated to supporting digitalization for the Design and Make industries, equipped with an evolving portfolio of in-house, purpose-built software, designed to integrate with and optimize Autodesk solutions," Greg Arranz, CEO, ARKANCE.

Attendees received a first look at new ARKANCE innovations, groundbreaking products, and unique initiatives focused on digitalization at booth #234, including the following :

• Unveiling of the Be.Smart product portfolio, purpose-built solutions for essential Autodesk software, developed and provided exclusively by ARKANCE to help with new jobs to be done that have emerged in the Design and Make industries, ensuring that the ever-growing demands of the Built Environment are met.
• Introduction of the ARKANCE Partner to Build Smarter strategy: a network of best-in-class technology partners, including Autodesk, to lead organizations through long-term digital transformation to revolutionize projects and operations by harnessing innovative solutions and workflows.
• Expansion of Sustainability and Digital Advisory Services helping customers more quickly connect the dots between the latest technology and sustainable outcomes that hold the key to shaping a better world.
• Broadening of the Think.Future strategic framework, a visionary approach that champions digitalization, central data environments, and the use of technologies to reduce waste and rework.
• Unparalleled momentum and expertise in Autodesk solutions to drive unprecedented value for the Design and Make industries, unleashing the full potential of technology for growth and success.

"I am thrilled to have led Capricot Technologies through this momentous transition, marking our entry into a dynamic global network within our industry. With shared objectives and a collective vision, we are poised to spearhead transformative initiatives, shaping the future of our industry. Our journey forward holds immense promise, and together, we are committed to guiding organizations worldwide toward successful transformation and growth," said Chakresh Jain, Chairman, Capricot Technologies. "As a key participant in Autodesk University 2023, both as a Platinum Sponsor and Exhibitor, we reaffirm our dedication to supporting organizations globally in their journey toward transformation and prosperity. Our team of technology and industry experts, spanning the globe, were present at the booth, delivering insightful demonstrations, sharing valuable product information, fostering collaborations, and engaging in meaningful networking opportunities."

Attendees at Autodesk University, could join the ARKANCE Think Community, a resource comprised of a growing network of global experts sharing sustainability and technology knowledge, demonstrating ARKANCE's deep commitment to customers and care for the planet.

To celebrate ARKANCE's premiere at the conference and the debut of the Be.Smart product portfolio, attendees enjoyed engaging activities at the ARKANCE booth, including spinning The Wheel of Prizes game for a chance to win.

ABOUT ARKANCE

With over 1300 professionals across 18 countries, ARKANCE is a trusted and future-focused digitalization and sustainability partner with over a century of experience in construction, manufacturing, energy, and agriculture through its parent company, Monnoyeur, and decades of technology leadership in the AECO and manufacturing industries. In June 2023, AKRANCE acquired U.S. CAD, Cadline, A2K Technologies, and Capricot to expand its global reach and strengthen expertise, becoming the world's largest Autodesk Platinum Partner. 

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This campaign spotlights true game-changers in their fields who challenged the status quo, shattered conventions, and redefined the very essence of success at every step. The line-up includes actor Akhil Akkineni, celebrity wellness expert Anshuka Parwani, Editor-in-Chief Nandini Bhalla, celebrity wedding photographer Joseph Radhik, and start-up founder Vedant Lamba

Link to Akhil's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TahQmNaD7Jk&t=18s

MUMBAI, India, Nov. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- UK based footwear brand FitFlop, known for creating the most comfortable footwear in the world launches a brand-new campaign titled 'For People Who Move'. The campaign showcases compelling stories of individuals who challenged the status quo, shattered boundaries, and etched their legacy with determination. In their relentless pursuit of excellence, the campaign showcases that FitFlop is the ideal footwear of choice for those who are constantly on the move –a companion that seamlessly combines style and comfort.

The new campaign series features five icons who have carved a niche for themselves: Akhil Akkineni, a popular actor who has been committed to carrying forward the legacy of his craft, Nandini Bhalla, editor-in-chief at one of India's renowned fashion magazine known for her avant-garde ideas, editorials and conversations that propelled the fashion industry in progressive directions, Anshuka Parwani, a wellness expert who rebuilt her life and has created a unique space for herself in holistic wellness, Joseph Radhik, a celebrity wedding photographer with a knack for turning ordinary moments into the most extraordinary memories; and Vedant Lamba, a startup founder who has established a business in the sneaker space. All of them sport versatile styles from the brand's latest collection, ergonomically crafted to keep them on the move.

"With the narrative of 'For People Who Move', we want to narrate stories of icons who move the world forward in their extraordinary ways and broke through boundaries. We hope this campaign inspires people to be on the move, challenge limits and forge new paths. Whether you move behind the scenes with courage, defy all odds, steer important conversations, or preserve a legacy, FitFlop provides you with footwear that blends comfort and style seamlessly. FitFlop's footwear range is not only fashion forward but also engineered with technology to provide exceptional comfort for those who are constantly on the move," said Deepika Deepti, Senior VP Marketing at Metro Brands Ltd.

The campaign traces inspiring stories through candid camera movements, immersing viewers in their lives. FitFlop stands as a pillar of support for these dynamic go-getters. With its unique technology and comfort, it aids them in carving a legacy. Each of these five personalities breathe life into the brand's fundamental ethos, spotlighting diverse dimensions of motion and transformation within their respective domains.

Fitflop offers a diverse collection of footwear, loved by global icons. From statement sandals to classic white trainers, ballet flats and beach flip-flops, easy sliders, and everyday shoes, each Fitflop style features ultra-comfortable underfoot technology with three levels of targeted cushioning to make the user feel energetic and perform their best every day and everywhere. Fitflop's product offering is enhanced with the brand's signature All Day Comfort Technologies- MICROWOBBLEBOARD™, SUPERCOMFF™, ANATOMICUSH™, ANATOMIFLEX™, iQUSHION™, DUOCOMFF™, DYNAMICUSH™, NEODYNAMIC™, WONDERWELLY™ and CUSHX™.

Other than the 8 exclusive brand outlets, FitFlop in India is also available to shop across 200+ multi brand outlets, online marketplaces, and at www.fitflop.in 

About Metro Brands Limited (BSE: 543426; NSE: METROBRAND)

www.metrobrands.com

Metro Brands is one of the largest Indian footwear specialty retailers and is amongst the aspirational Indian brands in the footwear category. The Company opened its first store under the Metro Brand in Mumbai in 1955 and has since evolved into a one‐stop shop for all footwear needs, by retailing a wide range of branded products for the entire family including men, women, unisex and kids, and for every occasion including casual and formal events. In addition to men's, women's, and kid's footwear, it also has a wide range of handbags, belts, wallets, etc.

Metro Brands retails footwear under its own brands of Metro, Mochi, Walkway, Da Vinchi and J. Fontini, as well as certain third‐party brands such as Crocs, Fitflop, Fila, Skechers, Clarks, Puma, and Adidas which complement its in‐house brands. The Metro footwear range is specially curated based on the regional sensitivity to cater to the needs of different regions.

As of 30^th September, 2023, the Company operated 795 Stores across 182 cities spread across 31 states and union territories in India.

About FITFLOP:

About FITFLOP Founded in 2007, FitFlop is a global lifestyle brand renowned for its innovation and technology in footwear. With wellness at heart, FitFlop creates footwear with an uncompromising mission to empower you to move better and feel great. Biomechanically engineered and powered by science, FitFlop is about living without limits.

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AMSTERDAM, Nov. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Midea Kitchen and Water Heater Appliances Business Division (Midea KWHA) has unveiled its innovative Whole House Water Solutions at Aquatech Amsterdam 2023, held from November 6-9 in the Netherlands. Midea KWHA's presence at the leading global water trade show highlights the business division's commitment to providing comprehensive water treatment for residential water filtration and heating.

The Midea Whole House Water Solutions is an all-encompassing suite designed to meet the diverse water needs covering the entire household. This system includes pre-filter, water softener, water dispenser, water purifiers, beverage solutions, and water heater solutions. The flexibility of Midea KWHA's offerings ensures that each home can enjoy tailored solutions, from the kitchen to the living room, bathrooms, workspaces, and even the equipment room.

The solutions Midea KWHA presented are not just about variety but also about integration and ease of use. They have been thoughtfully designed to cater to almost every domestic scenario. For instance, in the kitchen, Midea KWHA's products support culinary practices by ensuring purified water is always on tap, while the living room benefits from the sleek design and convenience of Midea's water dispensers. Workspaces remain hydrated with Midea KWHA's efficient solutions, and bathrooms are transformed into spaces of comfort with on-demand water heating.

Moreover, the brand takes pride in its multi-functional beverage solutions, featuring innovative ice and sparkling water machines, which add a touch of sophistication to more home settings. Furthermore, Midea KWHA offers a diverse range of Reverse Osmosis Water Purifier products. These products are designed to purify water effectively and cater to varying temperature requirements. Additionally, they come equipped with a sparkling water feature, enhancing their functionality and appeal.

Aquatech Amsterdam 2023 as the world's leading water process, drinking, and wastewater exhibition, reaffirms its commitment to safe, in-person business engagements. Midea KWHA aligns with this innovative, safety-conscious platform, demonstrating their dedication to excellence and customer well-being.

Midea KWHA's showcase at Aquatech Amsterdam 2023 signifies a monumental advancement in its evolution of home water treatment solutions. The Midea Whole House Water Solutions herald a new era in which quality, safety, and convenience are the cornerstones of every household's water system. With Midea KWHA, homeowners are not just installing a product; they are embracing a lifestyle of purity, efficiency, and innovation for their entire home.

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AMSTERDAM, Nov. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Built by Nature, a network and grant-making fund, has announced a global prize totalling €500,000 to recognise innovation and stimulate scalability in the use of biobased materials such as timber, bamboo, hemp, straw, algae, and fungi in construction.

The built environment generates up to 40% of the world's greenhouse gases, and the increased use of sustainably sourced timber and renewable biobased materials offers a tangible, realistic solution to address climate change through decarbonisation of our cities and buildings.

The Built by Nature Prize aims to identify and attract biobased construction material manufacturers and their market-ready innovations from all regions and help those producers overcome barriers to mainstream market entry.

"Given the scale of urban development that is inevitable around the world over the coming decades, we simply cannot afford to build in the way we have in most of Europe for the last few hundred years. We urgently need to find innovative, renewable, low-carbon construction materials to radically reduce the embodied carbon footprint of new buildings and cities." according to Paul King, Built by Nature CEO. "Since our launch in October of 2021, Built by Nature has seen a rapid expansion of our European network to over 1,300 individuals and organisations committed to a building industry transformation and now this Prize enables us to broaden our scope and deepen our impact on a global level."

Built by Nature has awarded €3.3 million in grants to date with additional co-funding of €2.2 million toward 28 projects across Europe focused on developing solutions to overcome barriers and stimulate increased uptake of biobased materials, with a focus on mass timber.

To reflect the global scope of the Prize, the judging panel is comprised of leading experts from the built environment, architecture, finance, social value, and biomaterials from around the world. Dr Yasmeen Lari, Pakistan's first female architect and renowned for her leadership at the intersection of architecture and social justice, will serve as Honorary Advisor to the Built by Nature Prize. The Prize jury members are:

• Arief Rabik – Chair and Founder of Bamboo Village Trust, and founder and CEO of PT Indobamboo Lestari in Indonesia.
• Ariel Shtarkman – Managing Partner of Undivided Ventures, Founder of Orca Capital, co-Founder and Managing Director of Atom Assets.
• Mae-ling Lokko, from Ghana and the Philippines, is Assistant Professor at Yale University's School of Architecture, specialising in agrowaste and biobased materials. 
• Stig Hessellund -- Architect and project manager with Realdania, with a primary focus on sustainable development in the construction industry.
• Ana Belizario is head of business development at Brazilian mass timber producer Urbem.

The prize's overall winner will receive an award of €250,000 with the criteria focusing on the demonstrated potential for significant carbon emissions reduction and benefits to nature and local communities.

Three runners-up prizes of €50,000 each will also be awarded based on the same criteria, with €100,000 in discretionary funds reserved for promising projects judged to be worthy of support.

To qualify, proposed solutions must be composed primarily of biomaterials with primary use intended for the built environment; indicate that the product can be successfully manufactured and implemented using currently available technology, and the product/service must already be in market, whether through an early-stage pilot project or openly available.

In addition to the prize money, valuable exposure and storytelling opportunities, benefits to award recipients will include introductions across Built by Nature's extensive frontrunner and partner networks for mentoring support, access to potential investors and new markets, and facilitated connections to peers facing similar challenges and opportunities around the world. By promoting public and industry awareness and education around the potential benefits and applications of the materials solutions, the winners will directly contribute to Built by Nature's vision and mission.

The deadline for applications is January 25, 2024, with final winners to be announced on June 4. Interested applicants are encouraged to visit the Built by Nature Prize website for full details: https://builtbn.org/prize. 

About Built by Nature

Built by Nature is a network and grant-making fund – backed by philanthropic funding - with a mission to accelerate the timber building transformation and a vision for a built environment that works in unison with nature. BbN supports the built environment sector's pioneering developers, architects and engineers, asset owners and managers, investors and insurers, city leaders, academics, researchers, non-profits, and policymakers in their journey to decarbonise our built environment and protect nature. The Built by Nature Fund makes grants to the teams and solutions that can increase the uptake of biobased materials and sustainable timber and improve their climate impact, overcoming the most challenging barriers. https://builtbn.org/

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GENEVA, Nov. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Fondation Haute Horlogerie successfully hosted the 11^th edition of the FHH Forum at the Maison de la Paix yesterday in Geneva. Under the evocative theme "Horology Futurology", the event saw the participation of around 200 people. The day echoed the mission of the FHH Forum: to ensure the sustainability and adaptability of the watch industry by fostering dialogue and debate. Delphine Bachmann - State Councilor of the Canton of Geneva, Sami Kanaan - Member of the Executive Council of the City of Geneva, and Pascal Ravessoud - Vice-President of the FHH, laid the groundwork for this day of reflection.

Then, Ian Goldin, Professor at the University of Oxford and world expert in futurology, and Virginie Raisson, President of the IPCC Pays-de-la-Loire, captivated the audience with their keynotes on "The World of Tomorrow: Macro Trends and Perspectives". They highlighted the significant impact of exogenous factors on the watch sector. Continuing with these reflections, Stephen Dunbar-Johnson, President, International for the New York Times, brilliantly moderated a Q&A session dedicated to managing the tensions between individual freedoms and the common good, drawing on historical and current data.

The transition was then made towards the theme of "Humans and Nature", where Bruno David, former director of the French National Museum of Natural History, made the case for an educational revolution and strengthening our link with biodiversity. In a continuation, Inès Léonarduzzi brought another dimension on "How to Manage Short and Long Time for Business Efficiency", encouraging long-term vision in entrepreneurial strategies.

Focus shifted to the watch industry and the revelations of the Deloitte study presented by Karine Szegedi, Managing Partner. The results notably highlighted key trends such as the growing importance of India as an emerging horological market, or the greater price awareness and curiosity of new generations. Diana Derval, chief researcher at DervalResearch; Austen Chu, founder and CEO of Wristcheck; Scott Wempe, Limited Partner and Co-Head of Business Development at Wempe; and Guido Terreni, CEO of Parmigiani Fleurier, then joined Ms. Szegedi around a fascinating panel, entitled "The behaviors of the watch customer: expectations and aspirations".

In closing, the panel on "A Prospective Evolution of Watchmaking Customer Engagement" was moderated by Stéphane JG Girod, with speakers Anne-Sophie Scharff, head of strategic planning at Digital Luxury Group; Matthias Fuchs, assistant professor of marketing at EHL; and Clara de Pirey, global luxury director at Nelly Rodi, focusing on new trends and the emerging concept of "Retailternainment".

The 2023 FHH Forum has proven that complex periods have highlighted the watch industry's ability to adapt and innovate. Stay tuned for what future editions have in store!

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Media Contact:
Meera Anand
Senior Communications Consultant – Fondation Haute Horlogerie
E: meera.anand@hautehorlogerie.org
M: +41 79 420 7789

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India, Indonesia, Mexico, and Japan Experiencing Most Significant Proficiency Declines Among Youth  

The Netherlands, Singapore, and Austria Retain Top Spots in EF's Global English Proficiency Ranking

ZURICH, Nov. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- EF Education First (EF) today released the 2023 edition of its EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI), the largest international survey of adult English skills.  The index, calculated from the test results of 2.2 million non-native English speakers in 113 countries and regions, reveals a concerning decline in youth English proficiency over the past five years and a growing gender gap.

"This year's index portrays an illusion of global stability – where everyone's English stays about the same, but the truth is that gains in certain countries and regions are being offset by losses in others," said EF EPI author Kate Bell.  "Language is essential to sharing perspectives and sparking understanding; and as a bridge language, English has been uniquely positioned to connect people across borders.  We look forward to continuing our examination of English proficiency trends over time, as we did for the first time this year."    

The EF EPI is based on test scores from the EF Standard English Test (EF SET), used worldwide by schools, companies, and governments for large-scale testing as well as individual test takers. 

Key findings include:

• Youth English proficiency continues to drop (-89 points in 18 – 20-year-olds since 2015), driven by a few large countries including India and Indonesia. Many more countries experienced pandemic-related declines in this cohort, accelerating the worldwide trend.
• Workforce proficiency is rising.  Worldwide these gains were made during the pandemic period (+20 points for adults over 30 between 2020 and 2021), however, many national trends indicate steady improvement since 2015.
• The gender gap is widening, with men's English improving (+14 points) and women's declining (-19 points since 2014). The gender gap is not uniform, however, with 63 countries at or near gender parity.
• Regionally:  Proficiency in East Asia has declined four years running, accelerated this year by Japan and China.  Proficiency in the Middle East is stagnant.  English is steadily improving in Latin America, but the region's progress is hampered by declining proficiency in Mexico and a slower pace in Brazil.  Despite dominating the top of the index, Europe plateaued this year.  Finally, English proficiency in Africa is largely stable except for Tunisia and Algeria, both improving quickly.    

The EF EPI trend report is available for download. 

EF Education First provides culturally immersive education through language, travel, cultural exchange, and academic programs in over 100 countries.  Founded in Sweden in 1965, EF's mission is opening the world through education. 

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Indian fans experience epic World Cup moments with best-in-breed augmented reality technology

DHARAMSHALA, India, Nov. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A cross-border collaboration between a US-based global management consulting firm and a British sports technology company, significantly supported by the HPCA, offers a cutting-edge cricket fan experience at the Dharamshala stadium during the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India. The mission of this partnership is to leverage technology to enhance global sports participation.

The cricket simulator enables cricket enthusiasts of all ages to step into the shoes of Indian cricket legends like Kohli, Dhoni, Tendulkar, and Gavaskar, facing some of the greatest deliveries in World Cup history within an immersive and engaging environment.

Anurag Thakur, Union Minister for Sports, Youth Affairs and Minister of Information and Broadcasting, tried the historic deliveries at the simulator and appreciated the experience during his HPCA visit.  

Arun Singh Dhumal, IPL Chairman, expressed his excitement about this venture. "We brought the cricket simulator to Dharamshala before the World Cup. The enthusiastic response of fans encouraged us to keep it going for the elimination round games."

The simulator was featured at the iconic Dharamshala cricket stadium for five matches of this year's Cricket World Cup, providing a free interactive experience for cricket fans, and offering a unique opportunity to experience the challenges faced by their cricketing heroes on the field.

David Page, the Chairman of the British company, noted their enthusiasm for introducing this fan experience in India, and participating in the world's premier cricket celebration.

Steve Denison, former Chair of the Yorkshire County Cricket Club, and key to this partnership, emphasized the opportunity to enhance customer experience with significant support from HPCA.

BatFast is a global sports technology company based in the UK that aims to drive an increase in global sports participation using their technology. Altius Strategic Consulting, based in the US, aims to elevate customer experience to the next level using innovation and technology, and have partnered with BatFast for this exciting venture in India.

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The airline to work with IBM Consulting to create and build mission-critical technology and business capabilities to support the path to their first flight

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia and ARMONK, N.Y., Nov. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Riyadh Air and IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced the signing of a strategic agreement in which IBM Consulting will be the lead systems integrator to support creating, building and orchestrating the technology foundation that can help the digitally native airline offer exceptional and seamless travel experiences.

Together, Riyadh Air and IBM Consulting have already created the airline's digital and technology strategy. Now, Riyadh Air has selected IBM Consulting to support building the key business and technology capabilities that underpin the strategy. That includes implementing and integrating more than 50 airline industry solutions and core technology capabilities, including security, infrastructure, integration and data platforms, using a hybrid cloud approach. IBM will also orchestrate the work of over 40 partners by providing program and technical governance, project management, quality assurance, change and communications management and training.

The collaboration is expected to help position Riyadh Air strategically within the broader ecosystem to offer digital innovations and exceptional experiences for travelers and guests. Riyadh Air aims to create a world class airline with personalized and seamless guest experiences powered by AI and state of the art digital technology, taking obsessive care for details that create memorable micro-moments across the traveler journey. It also includes empowering employees with data-driven insights and new ways of working to help Riyadh Air better serve their guests.

"Our ambition is to launch our first flight in 2025 and put Riyadh Air at the cutting edge of digital technology and innovation within the aviation industry, adopting the best international sustainability and safety practices to deliver an exceptional travel experience, for our guests locally and internationally," said Adam Boukadida, Chief Financial Officer, Riyadh Air. "IBM Consulting will be our principal partner driving us towards our vision with their deep expertise in managing large complex systems and integration programs as well as their expertise in the travel industry."

"We're proud to be Riyadh Air's partner and help them bring this new era of the Kingdom's aviation industry to life," said John Granger, Senior Vice President, IBM Consulting. "A technology foundation built with an open, hybrid cloud approach and AI can help them achieve the flexibility and agility needed to support their goal of delivering an exceptional travel experience for their guests."

IBM Consulting will also establish and maintain Riyadh Air's hybrid cloud integration platform. With IBM CloudPak for Integration and Red Hat OpenShift, this platform will provide integration tools to connect applications and data within a unified and simple user experience.

Riyadh Air's digital and technology strategy supports its mission and is aligned to the Kingdom's Vision 2030 to lead the aviation industry by transforming Saudi Arabia, given its unique strategic location, into a global aviation and trade hub.

IBM Consulting helps accelerate business transformation for our clients through hybrid cloud and AI technologies, leveraging our open ecosystem of partners. With deep industry and business expertise spanning strategy, experience design, technology, and operations, we have become a trusted partner to the world's most innovative and valuable companies, helping them modernize and secure their most complex systems. Our 160,000 consultants embrace an open way of working and apply our proven co-creation method, IBM Garage, to scale ideas into outcomes. As the only major global systems integrator inside a technology company, we don't just advise -- we invent and build what's next together with our clients. Find out more at IBM.com/consulting.

About Riyadh Air
Riyadh Air is a world-class airline owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF). Launched in March 2023, the airline will be a digitally-led, full service airline that adopts the best global sustainability and safety practices across its advanced fleet of aircraft. Riyadh Air will equip its aircrafts with the most advanced, state-of-the-art features with innovative, best-in-class cabin interiors and experiences, including next generation digital in-flight entertainment systems and connectivity solutions. Riyadh Air will connect guests to over 100 destinations around the world by 2030 through offering an exceptional guest experience with an authentic, warm Saudi hospitality at its heart. 

For more information please visit our website: www.riyadhair.com - and for any media inquiries please contact us at: media@riyadhair.com

About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. More than 4,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications, airline, and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to effect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service.

Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

IBM media contact:
Aymen Alfaraj
IBM Communciations
Aymen.Alfaraj@ibm.com

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