SINGAPORE, Oct. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore, celebrates an exceptional year with a series of international and local sustainability awards in the first three quarters of 2023.

Heads of Department at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore

These prestigious awards acknowledge PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore’s unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and sustainable practices within the hospitality industry.

The year began on a high note with PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore being honoured with the "Sustainable Hotel (Asia Pacific) 2022-2023 Award" at the International Hotel Awards 2022. This accolade is a testament to the hotel’s dedication to implementing sustainable practices across its operations. Additionally, the hotel clinched the "International Sustainable Awards 2023" at the Luxury Lifestyle Awards 2023.        

Continuing its sustainability journey, PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore was listed among the "Top Six Green MICE Venues" by Visit Singapore 2023. This recognition highlights the hotel’s commitment to providing eco-friendly event spaces, emphasising the hotel’s dedication to sustainable practices within the meetings and events industry. The hotel was also a finalist in the "Outstanding Achievement" in Sustainability 2023 category at the Singapore Tourism Award 2023, organised by the Singapore Tourism Board.

Further solidifying its position as a sustainability champion, PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore was welcomed into the esteemed Green Collection 2023 by GHA DISCOVERY. This recognition underscores PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore’s efforts to promote best green practices within the hospitality sector, setting an example for the industry.

Taking centre stage at the World Travel Awards 2023, the hotel was honoured with the prestigious title of "Asia’s Leading Green Hotel 2023". The hotel also received the esteemed "2023 GOGREEN Sustainable Development Pioneer Award" at the GOGREEN Awards 2023 by Bang Media, the hotel’s first award win in China.

The year’s achievements continued with the hotel securing Gold Medal in the "Best Sustainability Initiative 2023" Category at the Global NorthStar Stella Awards 2023. Organised by United States-based Northstar Meetings Group, PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore is proud to be the sole recipient of this esteemed award in Southeast Asia. ‘PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore leads the way in sustainability, and its recognition as a Gold Medal Stella Award winner in the important Best Sustainability Initiative category worldwide is well-deserved,’ said David Blansfield, Executive Vice President, Northstar Meetings Group. ‘The hotel’s measurable achievements speak for themselves, for example, over 51,000 tonnes of carbon emission prevented, and more than 360,000 plastic bottles no longer used, to name a few. Through innovative measures, such as rooftop solar panels, an Urban Farm, and other eco-friendly initiatives, they’re setting an inspiring example of what green hospitality can achieve.’

PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore concluded the first three quarters of the year by defending its position as the "Best Sustainable Hotel – Asia Pacific" at the Travel Weekly Readers’ Choice Awards 2023 for the second year running, as well as winning the ‘Singapore Hotel Sustainability Award 2023-2024’ by the Singapore Hotel Association, an award which is supported by the Building and Construction Authority, National Environment Agency, PUB (Singapore’s National Water Agency), and the Singapore Tourism Board. The award’s comprehensive evaluation assessed the hotel’s performance in energy, water, plastic and waste management, community engagement, and guest and employee education. The submission included proof of the hotel’s green efforts, as well as proof of data and metrics recording and tracking.

PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore initially achieved recognition in sustainability in 2021 when it was first awarded silver in the "Reducing Plastic Waste in the Environment" Category at the World Responsible Tourism Awards 2021. The hotel went on to win the "Sustainable Hotel of the Year 2022" by The ULTRAs and the "Global Green Model Building 2022 Award" by Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Awards, an annual worldwide prize awarded by Global Forum on Human Settlements and supported by the United Nations Environment Programme.

These prestigious awards and accolades received throughout the year reflect PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore’s unyielding dedication to sustainable practices, innovation, and guest satisfaction. As the hotel looks ahead, it remains committed to setting new standards in the hospitality industry and creating memorable experiences for guests, while preserving the planet.

At PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore, eco-friendly practices are central to the hotel’s core functions, including its food supply resilience, energy and water consumption, plastic waste, food waste and general waste management.

The hotel also works to share many of its best practices and green innovations to help others become better environmental citizens. The hotel offers sustainable hotel building tours to members of the public, to showcase its green features, and to demonstrate how sustainability is practiced across the hotel’s operations. Tours are also offered to students with the goal to heighten awareness of the urgent need for climate action, and to "plant" sustainable seeds in young minds. Rather than simply explaining sustainability, the hotel provides a living example of how sustainability may be integrated seamlessly into a hotel’s operations.

While the management and Associates of PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore take time to enjoy the hotel’s green achievements, the work is only the beginning. One of the driving principles of the hotel is to constantly find innovative ways to become greener and more sustainable, such as the upcoming launch of the hotel’s rainwater harvesting initiative in late 2023, all while providing a distinct and inspiring world-class guest experience.

In addition to its sustainability awards, PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore has garnered various prestigious accolades that highlight its commitment to delivering exceptional guest experiences. Notably, the hotel was honoured the "Best City Hotel – Singapore 2023" at the TTG Asia Travel Awards 2023. This recognition underscores the hotel’s exceptional service and dedication to providing an unforgettable experience for guests. Furthermore, the hotel was recognised among the Top 100 Hotels & Resorts of the World 2022 by the Luxury Lifestyle Awards 2022. This esteemed distinction showcases the hotel’s status as a premier destination, offering world-class amenities and unparalleled luxury to its discerning guests.

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Source : Accolades Galore: PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore Triumphs with Multiple International and Local Sustainability Awards

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The ASEAN-CGIAR Innovate for Food and Nutrition Security Regional Program was officially launched during the 45th Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on October 4, 2023. This program aims to scale up and scale out integrated innovations in order to enhance the resilience of ASEAN’s agri-food systems to climate change.

(L-R): Assistant Secretary Noel Padre (Philippines); Secretary of State Prak David (Cambodia); Director General Kyaw Swe Lin (Head: Myanmar); Senior Director Kevin Khng (Singapore); Deputy Minister Thongpath Vongmany (Lao PDR); Dr. Jongsoo Shin, ASEAN-CGIAR Program Director; H.E. Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu (Malaysia); H.E. Minister Datuk Dr. Abdul Manaf Metussin (Brunei Darussalam); Director General Prof. Dedi Nursyamsi (Indonesia); and Dr. Stephan Weise, ASEAN-CGIAR Program Co-Director.

"Over the next 10 years, the program envisions delivering better livelihoods for food producers and stakeholders, while ensuring affordable, nutritious, and healthy food for consumers. Additionally, it seeks to foster a healthier natural environment for all," according to Dr. Jongsoo Shin, the ASEAN-CGIAR Regional Program Director.

CGIAR has been working with the ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN Member States, and a range of funding and other partners to develop this multi-year research and innovation program.

Dr. Stephan Weise, ASEAN-CGIAR Program Co-Director, emphasized that "the Program aims to be bottom-up, cross and trans-disciplinary. It is being co-created and, therefore, is fully co-owned by ASEAN partners."

H.E. Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Malaysia, who is also the AMAF Chair, extended his gratitude to CGIAR for developing the Intervention Packages (IPs) that are in line with the 9 thematic areas to address comprehensively, the needs of the country’s food, land and water systems. He stressed that the ASEAN-CGIAR Regional Program "underscores the dedication and commitment of AMS towards achieving a competitive, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable food and agriculture sector in our region."

H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, the Secretary General of ASEAN, emphasized that the program is "formulated to address the above-mentioned challenges by leveraging cutting-edge research, technology, and innovation that enhance the resilience of the agricultural system. With eight intervention packages, the Programme will catalyse transformative change, enabling us to adapt to the evolving needs of our region, particularly with the impact of climate change." 

Under the ASEAN-CGIAR Innovate for Food Regional Program, the following eight IPs were developed:

Regenerative Agriculture/Aquaculture Practices and Judicious Agrochemical Use  Climate Neutrality and Circular Agriculture Enhancing ASEAN Agrobiodiversity Use and Landscape Biodiversity Enhancing Value Chains and Regional Trade Transboundary Pests and Diseases Private Sector Investment and Sustainable Financing Farmer-Led Irrigation for Climate-Resilient Agri-Food Systems Food Systems Transformation for More Nutritious and Healthy Diets

Dr. Ajay Kohli, the Director General of IRRI and Senior Leadership Team Member of CGIAR, represented Professor Andrew Campbell, the CGIAR Executive Managing Director, during the event expressed honour and gratitude to the AMS for this collaboration. Dr. Kohli, proudly shared that the Program, which can be a model on how to cater to client’s needs, is "not just about creating technologies, but using the policies and taking them to the farmers and industries, and making a difference and empower man’s life."

Representatives from the funding partners expressed statements of support for the Program. H.E. Will Nankervis, Australian Ambassador to ASEAN, extended his congratulations, saying that "The Program will serve as a catalyst for even deeper collaboration to promote food security in The region". He shared that the Australian government had contributed an additional AUD 1M bringing its total contribution to the Program to over AUD 3M. To add, Dr. Daniel Walker, Chief Scientist of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, shared that the Program will be a platform to strengthen Australia’s partnership with ASEAN and CGIAR.

H.E. Sarah Tiffin, the Ambassador of UK to ASEAN, commended the Program’s "new way of working", being "a detailed technical program developed in such an engaging way". She proudly announced that UK will contribute an additional GBP 2M to the Program, bringing a total contribution of GBP 2.25M.

Representing the Asian Development Bank, Dr. Md. Abul Basher said that the Program and ADB share the same cause of "addressing the issues concerning food and nutrition insecurity in the evolving environment." He shared that ADB is already in discussion with ASEAN and CGIAR teams on "how to work out the most appropriate way to support this Program." 

The Program Launch, which was attended by high-level officials from the AMS and CGIAR experts, as well as funders, was a celebratory event marking a significant milestone in the Program. The event also acknowledged the promise of scaling up innovative solutions for positive transformation across ASEAN’s agri-food systems, benefiting various stakeholders.

Prior to the Program Launch, stakeholders from the AMS and CGIAR Centres convened in the morning for the Program Planning Meeting. The Planning Meeting provided a platform for comprehensive discussions on the progress made by the IPs in the kick-off phase within the ASEAN-CGIAR collaboration. The participants discussed the details of each IP, including objectives, strategies, expected impact, challenges, and collaboration aspects.

Source : ASEAN and CGIAR Launch Joint Program on Accelerating Innovation in Agri-Food Systems

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BEIJING, Oct. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Serbia is one of the countries benefiting from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), with the century-old steel mill in the northeastern city of Smederevo serving as a prime example. Founded in 1913, the Smederevo Steel Mill once contributed 40 percent of the city’s revenue at its peak and was known as the "pride of Serbia."

Later, due to intensified market competition and poor operation, the steel mill began to lose money year after year and was on the verge of bankruptcy. The Government of Serbia initiated several rounds of international tenders, all of which failed. In 2016, over 5,000 employees faced uncertainty. But then China’s Hebei Iron and Steel Group stepped in to establish HBIS Serbia Steel and introduced advanced management and technology, turning the steel mill into a global enterprise with a focus on clients and supply chain. The company was actively integrated into the "Belt and Road" and the process of economic globalization, rapidly establishing itself as a highly competitive steel enterprise in Europe and a prime example of international industrial collaboration.

BRI cooperation between China and Europe

The revival of the century-old steel plant is an epitome of the benefits brought about by the BRI to Europe. Twenty-six European countries have signed BRI documents with China. Under their BRI cooperation, China’s imports from the EU increased by 63.7 percent between 2016 and 2021. Its imports from Central and Eastern European countries jumped 127.3 percent during the same period. The China Railway Express, which links a number of Eurasian cities located near China’s east coast to the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, is increasingly busy. In the past year, 16,000 trains traversed the route between China and Europe, a stark contrast to the mere 80 at the inauguration of the CR Express over a decade ago.

New challenges

Compared with the first few years of the initiative, the situation between China and Europe is significantly different. Their bilateral relationship needs fine tuning to tackle uncertainties and challenges, as well as an upgrade of the mindset to replace the out-of-time zero-sum one. Chinese senior diplomat Wang Yi, when addressing the 12th China-EU High-level Strategic Dialogue held in Beijing last week, said China and the EU are partners, not rivals, and they have more common understandings than differences. Vice President of the European Commission Josep Borrell said that, despite their different political and economic systems, the EU and China share a common interest in pursuing constructive, stable relations.

Meanwhile, the BRI is also entering a new stage. In the beginning phase, both private and state-owned contractors took the lead in building basic infrastructure. Those projects helped to nurture political goodwill and energize local business partners. Thanks to them, private Chinese companies now feel more comfortable doing business in BRI partner countries. China is encouraging private enterprises to take a more active role and participate in projects labeled as "small and beautiful," which refers to the smaller projects directly connected with improving local livelihoods. New investment favorites include businesses in sectors such as new energy, healthcare, mobile communication, and e-commerce.

Need for more dialogue

Since the launch of the BRI, its global partners have been trying to find more theoretical frameworks and institutional arrangements to make the global cooperation program sustainable. Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. These global initiatives have been widely recognized by the international community and have made historic contributions to global human rights governance on specific issues related to security, development and cultural diversity.

Against all these backdrops, it is high time for China and Europe to carry out more dialogue on key strategic issues and CGTN is hosting a TV forum on the sidelines of this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair, themed China’s Global Initiatives and the BRI: Opportunities or Risks?

Panel guests include Danilo Türk, former President of Slovenia; Michael Schumann, chairman of the Board of the German Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade; Rudolf Scharping, former German Defense Minister; Susanne Baumann, former director of the Confucius Institute at Dusseldorf; and Zhong Hong, former senior vice president of Evonik Industries. The panelists will have an in-depth discussion about China-EU ties under the discourse of the Belt and Road Initiative, which are related not only to the wellbeing of the two sides, but also to global stability and prosperity.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-10-17/As-the-Belt-and-Road-turns-10-high-time-for-China-and-Europe-to-talk-amid-uncertainties-1nXkFjKKduU/index.html

Source : CGTN: As the Belt and Road turns 10, high time for China and Europe to talk amid uncertainties

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WUHU, China, Oct. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — On October 16, the "CHERY 2023 Tech Day" was hosted in Wuhu, China. This event, serving as a significant segment of CHERY’S 2023 International User Eco-co-creation Conference, revolved around the theme "Technology Within Reach." It presented insights and demonstrations on new platforms, advanced intelligence, and innovative experiences, vividly encapsulating CHERY’S commitment to continuous innovation and future technology leadership.

A Platform Born Extraordinary – Equipped with Third-Generation PHEV Hybrid Technology

Under the imperatives of dual carbon goals, green, low-carbon, and high-quality development has increasingly become a pivotal focus for automakers. In this context, CHERY is actively exploring a diversity of automotive energy solutions and flexibly dynamic technologies that are both eco-friendly and low-carbon.

The new platform is equipped with the third-generation PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) technology encapsulating high energy, efficiency, and reliability. It strikes a balance between robust performance and energy conservation. Anchored by this innovative platform, CHERY is poised to continuously roll out products that stand out for their performance and capability. Tiggo 7 pro-PHEV models were recently revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in Doha and will be available in Australia in the near future.

New Intelligence Redefines the Future – Unlocking the Realm of Intelligent Mobility

The amalgamation of "new energy + artificial intelligence" is morphing automobiles from mere means of transportation to integral components of future mobility. The notion of intelligent mobility is inching closer to reality. Positioned at this pivotal juncture, CHERY has positioned itself as a leader in the domain of intelligent mobility.

At Tech Day, CHERY unveiled a slew of autonomous driving technologies centered around the Robotaxi model, epitomizing its tangible achievements in "electrification, intelligence, connectivity, and sharing," and unlocking new horizons for intelligent mobility of the future. In terms of intelligent interaction, the integration of ChatGPT in vehicles is another innovation by CHERY. It elevates the vehicle-user interaction to a new echelon, enabling users to effortlessly execute task commands through simple "conversations" with their vehicles, ushering in a more fluid, liberated, and intuitive interactive experience.

Source : CHERY 2023 Tech Day – New Platforms, Advanced Intelligence, and Innovative Experiences Paving the Way for Future Mobility

This content was prepared by our news partner, Cision PR Newswire. The opinions and the content published on this page are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Siam News Network

ATLANTA, Oct. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — AMI®, the leader in foundational technology for sustainable, scalable, and secure global computing, is set to drive the future of Intel Data Center Manager (DCM) as it takes over the development, sales, and support of DCM under an agreement with Intel. This strategic transition empowers AMI to lead further the innovation and expansion of the Intel DCM product.

With a unique position in the industry, AMI plays a pivotal role in enabling the cloud and data center ecosystem for all compute platforms. Intel DCM empowers data centers with the capability to manage and fine-tune server performance, energy consumption, and cooling efficiency. This operational optimization reduces the total cost of ownership, improves sustainability, and elevates performance benchmarks.

"We thank Intel for trusting AMI to lead Intel DCM into the future. This solution for efficient data center management will play a crucial role in enhancing the operational eco-efficiency of the data centers. It empowers data center managers with real-time insights into energy usage, thermal status, device health, and asset management," says Sanjoy Maity, CEO at AMI. "AMI remains steadfast in aiding data center operators in achieving their manageability and sustainability objectives."

Intel, the Intel logo, and other Intel marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or elsewhere. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About AMI:
AMI is Firmware Reimagined for modern computing. As a global leader in Dynamic Firmware for security, orchestration, and manageability solutions, AMI enables the world’s compute platforms from on-premises to the cloud to the edge. AMI’s industry-leading foundational technology and unwavering customer support have generated lasting partnerships and spurred innovation for some of the most prominent brands in the high-tech industry. For more information, visit ami.com.

Follow AMI on LinkedIn and Twitter to receive the latest news and announcements.

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Source : AMI to Drive Intel® DCM's Future and Broaden Manageability Solutions for Sustainable Data Centers

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With Oracle OPERA Cloud Property Management System, the Bangkok-based hotel chain can streamline operations and unify data to personalize guest experiences

AUSTIN, Texas and ASIA PACIFIC, Oct. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Minor Hotels is upgrading 100 of its properties to Oracle OPERA Hospitality Cloud. By moving to the cloud, the growing hotel owner, manager, and operator will be able to bolster efficiency and unify guest profiles across its global properties. This will help Minor Hotels better understand the unique preferences of its guests so it can better engage and serve them no matter where in the world they choose to stay. The roll-out of OPERA Cloud Property Management (PMS) is starting with Minor Hotels’ flagship luxury hotel, the Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel, Thailand.

Minor Hotels already uses Oracle MICROS Simphony Cloud Point-of-Sale (POS) solution in select hotel restaurants and bars. These solutions, together with OPERA Cloud PMS, will enable Minor Hotels to consolidate data into a common platform, better manage revenue across different countries and currencies, and optimize its operations with insights from real-time analytics and reporting, while providing an extraordinary experience to its guests.

"With our growth across global markets, we needed a better way to manage both financial processes and the guest experience across locations," said Dillip Rajakarier, Group CEO of Minor International and CEO of Minor Hotels. "We’ve had a long and successful collaboration with Oracle and knew they were the right partner to support us in our continued move to the cloud. By unifying our financial and guest data on a common platform, we will be able to better cater to our guests and the bottom line as we continue to expand," Rajakarier continued.

Checking into the Cloud

A component of OPERA Cloud PMS, Minor will utilize OPERA Cloud Sales and Event Management to optimize space and opportunities, from booking life celebrations and corporate events to better managing space, catering, and room blocks. Accessible via mobile devices, the solution will enable Minor team members to easily facilitate off-site customer visits and on-property site inspections, perform inventory checks, or change a booking at any time and any place they are online.

Additionally, Minor Hotels can leverage the Oracle Hospitality Integration Platform to further customize its operations by plugging in new third-party capabilities based on the unique needs of its various properties.

"Minor Hotels is a leader across the global hospitality sector and is constantly innovating to differentiate the experience for its guests and optimize hotel operations for its associates," said Alex Alt, executive vice president and general manager of Oracle Hospitality. "With Oracle’s cloud solutions, Minor Hotels will have the ability to curate the perfect hotel or resort experience for guests while creating an operating environment of maximum efficiency and ease of use for its thousands of associates around the world."

About Minor Hotels
Minor Hotels is an international hotel owner, operator and investor, currently with over 530 hotels in operation. Minor Hotels passionately explores new possibilities in hospitality with a diverse portfolio of properties designed intelligently to appeal to different kinds of travellers, serving new passions as well as personal needs. Through our Anantara, Avani, Oaks, Tivoli, NH Collection, NH, nhow, Elewana, Marriott, Four Seasons, St. Regis, Radisson Blu and Minor International properties, Minor Hotels operates in 56 countries across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, the Indian Ocean, Europe, South America and North America. With dynamic plans to expand existing brands and explore strategic acquisitions throughout opportunistic markets, Minor Hotels pursues a vision of a more passionate and interconnected world.

For more information, please visit www.minorhotels.com.

Oracle Hospitality
Oracle Hospitality brings more than 45 years of experience in providing technology solutions to independent hoteliers, global and regional chains, gaming, and cruise lines. Our hardware, software, and services enable customers to act on rich data insights that deliver personalized guest experiences, maximize profitability, and encourage loyalty. Cloud-based, mobile-enabled, with open APIs, Oracle’s OPERA Cloud property management and distribution, Simphony point-of-sale, reporting and analytics, and Nor1 upsell solutions accelerate innovation, increase revenue, lower IT cost, and maximize operating efficiency. To learn more, please visit www.oracle.com/Hospitality.

About Oracle
Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at oracle.com.

Trademarks
Oracle, Java, MySQL and NetSuite are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. NetSuite was the first cloud company–ushering in the new era of cloud computing.

Source : Minor Hotels Upgrades to Oracle Cloud to Better Serve its Guests

This content was prepared by our news partner, Cision PR Newswire. The opinions and the content published on this page are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Siam News Network