RedDoorz Launches HygienePass: An Industry-Wide Certification Programme to Promote Good Sanitation and Hygiene Practices in the Age of COVID-19

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• RedDoorz’s “HygienePass” will be in collaboration with a public health expert and targets all of RedDoorz Philippines’ 250 hotels across the country to be certified. 

• This certification programme aims to establish an industry-wide standard of cleanliness to tackle the realities of COVID-19 at a hotel level.   

Philippines, 9 June 2020 – RedDoorz, Southeast Asia’s largest and fastest-growing online hotel management and booking platform, today announced the launch of “HygienePass”, an industry-wide cleanliness & sanitation certification programme that follows the new set of health and safety guidelines for the hospitality industry.  

The programme aims to standardise the hygiene and sanitation measures hotel players need to implement as precautionary measures during COVID-19 in order to manage ongoing health risks. The “HygienePass” also builds the Filipino travellers’ confidence in RedDoorz hotels by enabling them to easily identify ‘safe’ hotels, and reassure them that they are staying in establishments which implement and maintain a set of robust hygiene and cleanliness measures independently supported by a medical professional. 

Starting with the Luzon region, RedDoorz Philippines will ensure all its 250 properties will undergo a comprehensive audit which is required to obtain the certification programme. This process will be in close coordination with one of the prominent public health physicians today who will also be RedDoorz’s trainer and consultant for the programme, Dr. Renzo Guinto, M.D., DrPH. 

“I’m very keen on supporting RedDoorz on this initiative for there’s now a great need to recognise public health and safety measures and I'm pleased to learn how committed RedDoorz is in implementing the programme for hotels given the ‘new normal’ requirements of the consumers. In fact, HygienePass is very much in line with current international and national guidelines on infection prevention and control for the accommodations sector. RedDoorz will initiate the development and implementation of the said tech-driven programme and we will both discern COVID19 response efforts, monitor quarantine and public health safety guidelines, and help these hotels prepare for the reopening of the economy. I'm thrilled to join forces with RedDoorz and combine our expertise to ensure the betterment of health and safety of our traveling Filipinos,” says Dr. Guinto. 

RedDoorz has developed a proprietary digital technology solution to help counter the virus spread and to enable key elements of the audit and certification process. It is to be implemented digitally in light of the recent people mobility restrictions enforced by governments across the Philippines. 

RedDoorz hotels will have to apply and maintain several rigorous sanitation and hygiene measures on a daily basis covering temperature checks of hotel staff employees & incoming guests, adoption of specific cleaning methodology, and anti-bacterial products and equipment used to disinfect rooms and public areas, and heightened general hygiene practices. A comprehensive audit process will be carried out and independently assessed by the expert before the certification is awarded and must be measured day-to-day for the certification to remain valid. 

Amit Saberwal, Founder & CEO RedDoorz, commented: “As one of the leading hotel brands in the Philippines, it is very important for us to plan ahead and ensure that we are implementing the appropriate cleanliness, hygiene, and sanitary measures across all our properties that travellers are confident we are committed to their health and safety. We are confident that with the seal of ‘HygienePass’, we will be able to quickly establish the new industry standards of  sanitation and hygiene, and these in turn will help bolster consumer confidence once recovery starts to happen.” 

RedDoorz has also launched the “HygienePass” certification programme in Indonesia, Singapore, and Vietnam by partnering with the relevant local medical health authorities. The certification will eventually be open for adoption by any hotel business that wants to meet the new industry standards for cleanliness and sanitation, ensuring to be the solution for a wide range of independent hotels who currently lack digitisation and sanitary validation processes. 

Shopee partners with CJ ENM to bring KCON online, featuring Kpop icons GFRIEND, (G)I-DLE, ITZY, MONSTA X, Stray Kids, and more

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Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, partners Asia’s leading entertainment and lifestyle company CJ ENM to bring KCON, the world’s largest Korean culture festival, online for the first time. KCON is a highly-anticipated annual event for Kpop fans across the globe, entering its ninth year of bringing the ultimate Korean culture fan experience worldwide including the US, Japan, and Thailand. It will go online for the first time in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, with Shopee as the official live stream partner for the KCON:TACT 2020 Summer concert. This partnership will see Shopee air live performances, concerts, and more from KCON:TACT 2020 Summer for free to users on Shopee Live.

KCON:TACT 2020 Summer will be the highlight of Shopee Live Kpop Fest, which will kick off on June 10. 

Launched in collaboration with CJ ENM, the festival aims to meet the growing demand for online entertainment amid social distancing measures in the region. Popular Kpop groups including GFRIEND, (G)I-DLE, ITZY, MONSTA X, and Stray Kids will also make special appearances on Shopee Live, while Shopee users can enjoy daily Kpop themed streams and challenges.

Agatha Soh, Head of Regional Marketing at Shopee said, “Shopee is proud to be the exclusive partner of CJ ENM to stream KCON:TACT 2020 Summer to fans in Southeast Asia and Taiwan for the first time, as part of Shopee Live Kpop Fest. This partnership builds on our efforts to connect people through entertainment and shared experiences, and comes after a series of successful collaborations with Kpop stars. Shopee Live Kpop Fest and KCON:TACT 2020 Summer reflect our commitment to meet evolving needs, as people around the world stay home and turn to online entertainment. We look forward to more exciting collaborations with CJ ENM in the future.”

Don Kim, General Manager of Global Festival at CJ ENM said, “KCON is the largest festival of Korean culture in the world. Bringing the festival online, we have lined up an amazing experience for KCON:TACT 2020 Summer including interactive events with state-of-the-art technology, a star-studded concert lineup, and more. We are excited to go above and beyond what fans have experienced so far, and we are excited to partner with Shopee for fans in Southeast Asia and Taiwan to join the festival.”

From June 10 to 26, avid Kpop fans can look forward to a wide range of live streams and challenges daily at Shopee Live Kpop Fest, including:

● Exclusive appearances by popular Kpop idols, WJSN and Weki Meki on Shopee Live at 8PM (GMT +8) on June 10 and 15 respectively. Users can enjoy first-hand access to the groups with exciting performances, interviews, games, and more in each stream.

● Daily Kpop themed challenges for fans to show off their knowledge, recreate iconic Kpop looks, and more. The best fans stand to win attractive prizes such as vouchers and signed merchandise from their favorite idols.

Shopee will mark the finale of Shopee Live Kpop Fest by screening KCON:TACT 2020 Summer on Shopee Live from 20 to 26 June. Shopee users and Kpop fans can look forward to seven consecutive days of non-stop entertainment, including live concerts and interviews by some of the biggest Kpop stars in the world, including GFRIEND, (G)I-DLE, ITZY, MONSTA X, and Stray Kids. 

Stay tuned for more updates on KCON:TACT 2020 Summer and Shopee Live Kpop Fest at http://shopee.ph/m/live-kpop-fest 

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

FOOD ON-THE-GO! Enjoy Century Park Hotel’s Gustatory Delights in the Comfort of Your Home.

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Still in a quarantine life. More than two months have passed and we are still at home, keeping ourselves safe and seeking solace in the midst of this tough time. Everyone has become a chef in their own right, trying to nourish the family with food that would lift up their spirits and make things feel lighter. 

As everyone misses the great outdoors, it cannot be helped that eating out is one of the pleasures we seek nowadays. It takes the burden off preparing the food yourself and admit it or not, food in restaurants prepared by chefs can be really delicious and considered such a treat. 

Century Park Hotel Manila, whose doors have been temporarily closed off for the past weeks, has opened its kitchens and been busy preparing to ensure that your culinary favorites are well on their way in the comfort of your home to enjoy.

Gone are those days when all you can do is drool over those #foodporn posts on social media. Bring out your phone and choose from the lavish selection of gustatory delights only from Century Park Hotel. We offer everything you crave for such as our classic mouthwatering seafood recipes from our daily fresh catch. Featured in this roster of luscious dishes are Grilled Prawns, Pan-fried Salmon Fillet and Blue Marlin Supreme which will surely remind your taste buds of the flavors you have missed.

Also on the menu are the savory platters of meat such as Grilled Lamb Chops, Sirloin Steak Café de Paris, Country Crispy Chicken, among others. All these could boost your mood with its lush flavor that lingers on the palate. Be sure not to miss your all-time favorite Filipino cuisines and Asian-inspired delicacies giving you a variety of tastes best shared with the family at home.

Did you say pasta? We are back with your favorite pasta dishes for you to enjoy. You can also choose from our succulent salad selections and burgers that will leave you full and contented.

Century Park Hotel will also satisfy your love for breads and pastries! Our delectable lineup includes French bread, Raisin bread, Cinnamon rolls, Danish pastries, and empanadas. The kids will not say no to our delightful cookies and brownies, just right for their sweet tooth. 

Spark small celebrations at home and make it even brighter with our fancy cakes. Once more, we will bake your favorite Black Forest cake, Choco Cheese cake, Blueberry Cheese cake, and Apple Tart among others. Ideal both for breakfast and lunch, healthy and sumptuous cold cuts, hams and sausages are also included in the wide selection. Make sure to check out and save the menu below to see all other options.

Ordering the food of your choice from Century Park Hotel is as easy as 1-2-3. First, give us a call at 8528-5855 or send us a message at 0917-633-2497, either via SMS or Viber. Do not forget to mention your full name, contact number, complete address, order description and quantity. Secondly, proceed to payment. Your convenience is our priority so you can pay either with cash or credit card through PayPal at payments@centurypark.com.ph. Finally, send a proof of payment to the given Viber number and once done, your orders will already be taken for processing.

Because we always want it served fresh and crisp, give us ample lead time as we only prepare the food upon your arrival at the hotel. Orders will be accepted daily from 9:00AM to 5:00PM.

To claim, you can either opt for home delivery or personal pickup. To have it delivered to your doorstep, you can book through any shipping service provider such as Grab Express, Lalamove, Happy Move and the like. Note that the prices on our food menu are exclusive of delivery fees. If you wish to pick it up yourself you may claim your orders at the Deli Snack, the hotel’s bakeshop. 

Century Park Hotel Manila keenly practices proper sanitary and disinfecting measures recommended by the WHO to ensure that its facilities and premises are safe from the dreaded virus and other diseases. Furthermore, these classic dishes are prepared only by the hotel’s culinary professionals who are second to none when it comes to following proper food protocols. This is our commitment to secure your health and safety amidst this uncertain situation.

Brush off the quarantine blues with food that would comfort the mind and the heart. Spice up your days at home with the family with a new taste on the table.

Order your culinary favorites from Century Park Hotel now!

VIVO encourage people to explore “Take Back the Night” campaign for V19 and V19 Neo

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The COVID-19 situation which resulted in more people doing their jobs at home brought a lot of changes and adjustments especially with work schedules. Some people feel more tired since apart from the anxiety due to the pandemic, the work from home setup led employees to still be at work-related tasks even beyond office hours. This means they eventually lost their time for relaxation and other recreational activities at home.

For those who seem to have temporarily lost the motivation to pursue their passions due to the current situation, vivo encourages you to take back the night, and take back your prime, passionate self.

Bringing in a new gear for people to explore their craft and hobbies, vivo is set to launch the new models under the V series: the V19 and the V19 Neo, packed with advanced features to ignite creativity and individuality.

Towards the launch date, vivo will host a series of online events and activities that will accompany the reveal of the V19 and the V19 Neo, which will introduce specs and highlights on how these new devices will be the best companions as people take back the night.

Don’t miss the latest updates about the V19 and the V19 Neo by visiting www.facebook.com/vivo.philippines.

GCash provides Filipinos access to savings amid COVID-19

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The coronavirus pandemic highlighted the importance of keeping an emergency fund, studies show.

A recent consumer expectations survey by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) revealed that more Filipinos are now building their own savings accounts, with 73.9-percent of respondents setting aside money in their banks for unforeseen situations.

Aside from its impact on public health, COVID-19 is also proving to be a financial emergency. The BSP is bracing for a downturn for the national economy, as well as a 2.2-percent increase in the price of basic goods. Businesses are also taking a big hit from the lockdown, as massive layoffs are still expected to come, leaving Filipinos financially handicapped in the middle of a public health crisis.

Having reached more than two months of quarantine which last until May 31, the Philippines is one of the countries with the longest lockdowns in the world. In an effort to flatten the curve general community quarantine has been imposed in most parts of the country until June 15, while seriously affected areas remained under tighter quarantine protocols.

This has forced a lot of Filipinos to grow more mindful of their personal finances. According to a white paper released by AdSpark, Inc., a portfolio company under Globe Telecom’s 917Ventures, consumption of Personal Finances as a topic grew by 800 percent from January 2020 to end of March 2020 when most Filipinos were required to stay at home.

Mindful of these, GCash, the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines, is empowering Filipinos to efficiently manage their finance and save up for their futures.

GCash Save Money, a collaboration between GCash and CIMB Bank PH, provides an easier way for Filipinos to set up their own savings account or emergency fund. It is the first ever bank account that can be opened and maintained straight from the GCash app.

This spares verified GCash users the trouble of filling up multiple forms and lining up at the bank just to open up a bank account. GCash Save Money allows depositors to earn 3.1 percent per annum on balances, paid out monthly. This interest rate is the best in the industry, beating traditional banks that only offer up to 0.25 percent per year.

As an added bonus, GCash Save Money users who have average daily balances of P100,000 and above in the months of June or July 2020 are entitled to a 4-percent interest rate p.a. prorated for those months.

Users would also not have to worry about fees as well as there is no initial deposit and maintaining balance.

“Now more than ever, it’s important for us to practice financial literacy and make wise spending decisions in the middle of a pandemic. GCash Save Money shows us that it’s possible for all walks of life to set up their own emergency fund. Financial inclusivity is at the heart of this collaboration,” GCash Head of Data and Financial Services JF Darre said.

Any Filipino citizen above 18 years of age who owns a fully verified GCash account and a valid government ID can deposit under GCash Save Money.

GCash Save Money users can easily track their balance and transaction history through the “Save Money” button in the GCash app. They can also seamlessly move up to P100,000 per month between the deposit account and the e-wallet.

“GCash Save Money is also more secure than traditional cash handling and the Filipino habit of keeping cash in various places in their houses. Aside from being regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), GCash Save Money accounts are also insured by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) for up to P500,000,” Darre said.

As digital fund transfers increase in number as millions are in lockdown, financial technology is expected to play a big part in the new normal. Mobile wallets and e-deposit accounts are not just a matter of convenience in the era of social distancing, they have become necessities to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by making transactions go contactless instead.

“GCash Save Money is enabling more and more Filipinos to save as the days go by, especially now that they Filipinos are more mindful of their personal finances. We have seen this trend grow through our new customers and we are happy to empower them with a digital tool that allows them to financially secure themselves for the future,” Darre said.

So far, GCash has opened 2.2 million GCash Save Money accounts to date, further promoting financial inclusion in the country.

Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt), which operates GCash, is part of the portfolio companies of 917Ventures, the largest corporate incubator in the Philippines wholly-owned by Globe Telecom Inc.

GCash is available for download on the App Store and Google Play. For more information, kindly visit https://www.gcash.com/.