Aug 27 - Sep 02, 2001

HUBCO clarification

"Reference is made to a news item published in several national newspapers alleging 'Wapda rejects Hubco power purchase draft'. The Company spokesman made it clear that this news item is incorrect. After the December Dispute Resolutions all the meetings/discussions between Wapda and Hubco are taking place in a most cordial and constructive atmosphere and no rejections have taken place. We hope that this clarifies the matter, the company spokesman added".

HUBCO and LRBT Join Hands to Cure Eye Diseases in Balochistan

The Hub Power Company Limited (HUBCO), the largest independent power producer in Pakistan, has recently donated a Laser Photo Coagulator to The Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust (LRBT), to facilitate eye surgery for the people of Quetta.

Present at the simple handing over ceremony were Paul Chapman, Operations Director, HUBCO, Mr. Sardar M. Yusuf Khan, Advisor to HUBCO on Corporate Affairs, Mr. Zafar Hassan, Chairman, LRBT and Mr. Zain A. Alavi, Managing Trustee, LRBT.

At the ceremony, Mr. Sardar M. Yusuf Khan presented a cheque of Rs. 2.3 million to Mr. Zafar Hassan, and said, "HUBCO is pleased to provide this modest contribution towards the betterment of eye treatment through laser technology to the people of Balochistan".

The Trust will acquire the laser from M/s ALCON who will supply and install the laser unit within six weeks.

The LRBT is a charity that works for the eradication of blindness in Pakistan and manages nine hospitals from Karachi to Swat, providing free treatment to hundreds of patients everyday. Since its inception in 1984, the Trust has treated over 5 million patients free of cost.

STUDENTS EVINCE KEEN INTEREST IN PRESTON'S ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

University organizes Information Seminar for prospective students: Preston University, Pakistan organized an Information Seminar at a local hotel. The Seminar was organized to inform the prospective students about the Bachelors and Masters level academic programs being offered by the university, at its campuses located all over the country.

Response to the Seminar was overwhelming. More than 250 students participated. The participating students evinced keen interest in the academic programs of the university. A fairly significant number of them registered themselves for admission in academic programs of their interest. The students also expressed keen interest in the (600) scholarships that the university is offering across the country, on merit-cum-need basis, to the regular students this Fall Semester/Quarter. Parents of some prospective students, attending the seminar, expressed their satisfaction over the quality of the academic programs the university is currently offering at the Bachelors and Masters level. They also appreciated the well spelled out admission, examination and scholarship policies of the university.

Welcoming the distinguished gathering of students and their parents the Director General Academics of Preston University, Air Marshal (Retd) A. Rashid Shaikh highlighted the significance of Preston University programs, and its admission, examination and scholarship policies.

Later, the Director General Operations of Preston University, Syed Zille Abbas gave a detailed presentation on the academic programs being offered by the university at the Bachelors and Masters level, at all its campuses. He also announced the introduction of two new programs—Master of e-Business and B-Tech from this Fall Semester/Quarter. Preston's Director General Operations disclosed on occasion that the Sindh Government has recently conferred a university charter on the Preston Institute of Management, Science and Technology (PIMSAT) Karachi (vice Sindh Ordinance No. XXVI of 2000). PIMSAT, he said, is an integral part of Preston University, and students seeking admission in any of its programs at any of its campuses in the country, will now be registered as a student of PIMSAT, and get a recognized Degree.

At the end of the Seminar nine former Preston University students, currently working in senior positions with reputed private and public sector organizations in the country, were awarded certificates of excellence for excelling in their professional careers.

A STAR IS REBORN IN NEW YORK

Innovation has defined the strategy for marketing The Roosevelt since this landmark New York hotel emerged from a $65-million renovation in 1997. At its preferred midtown address beside Grand Central Station, this celebrated hotel property now enjoys exceptional occupancy levels, attracting both business are leisure guests year-round and generating a brand loyalty well documented by the high percentage of repeat visits.

Gearing up for major re-positioning to synchronize with the hotel's renaissance, the management team for The Roosevelt looked to public relations as a key marketing tool. Director of Sales Kevin Croke commented: "To re-launch an old hotel in its new role — now designed to meet the needs of today's traveler — required focused positioning. We wanted high-profile media exposure for the re-styled Roosevelt Hotel to make consumers aware of our great new hospitality product. With a focus on public relations, we researched newsworthy angles to pique media interest and generate coverage. The results speak for themselves."

Attracting Media Attention

To develop media coverage, The Roosevelt set about creating human-interest angles for stories on the property. One successful project began with an invitation to a New Jersey couple to return to The Roosevelt, where they had spent their wedding night fifty years ago, and experience the hotel in its reincarnation. The couple had paid the grand sum of $13 for a room in 1951.

Making the occasion truly memorable, The Roosevelt provided — at no expense to the guests — a celebratory 50th-wedding anniversary dinner in the Terrace ballroom tickets to a Broadway show, and transportation to and from the hotel by limousine. Priced today at $299, a deluxe room was offered once again at the original $13 rate. The story was announced to the media, and generated wide-reaching coverage on network television with CBS Channel 2 News, plus a feature story in one of the city's top-circulation newspaper, the New York Daily News.

Creative Packaging

Building revenue is the bottom line in any marketing campaign. In New York City, where business travel represents the lion's share of income for midtown hotels occupancy levels are comparatively lower over the weekend. To boost weekend sales, The Roosevelt created specially designed packages on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, offering value-added features to attract weekend leisure travelers.

The Roosevelt-Metro-North program combines overnight accommodations with breakfast and two tickets on New York's Metro-North Railroad in a special inclusive rate, based on double occupancy. Available Friday through Sunday until the end on the year, this package is geared to bring in business from the regions served by Metro-North by absorbing guests' travel costs.

With a focus on Mother's Day — a big weekend for leisure travel and one of the year's greatest flower-giving days in the U.S. — The Roosevelt created a program called April Showers Bring May Flowers. Offered weekends from April 27 through June 3, this package cleverly wraps up overnight accommodations, admission to the New York Botanical Garden, a disposable camera for memorable snapshots, and a platter of fresh fruit in one special rate, For families planning a treat for Mom, the program makes a New York weekend both fun and affordable. Photos taken with the complementary camera will keep the trip top of mind in later months and perhaps trigger repeat visits to the hotel.

Targeted press releases on these special programs sparked strong media interest, and resulting coverage helped sell added room nights over otherwise quite weekends. As a key factor in an integrated marketing thrust, public relations is paying of in dollars earned.

History Meets the Future

Named in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt, The Roosevelt Hotel in New York City first opened its doors in 1924. Its reputation as a Grande Dame of Manhattan hotels grew rapidly, attracting a clientele of international leaders and celebrities that now extends across all continents. The property's historic heritage is reflected in the meticulously restored interiors, designed to capture the original architecture while a 21st-century infrastructure offers cutting-edge facilities and communications support. With 1,013 guestrooms, including 30 suites, and 28,000 square feet of meeting space, The Roosevelt offers the ideal experience for both business and leisure travelers.

MCB - Towers construction work in progress At I.I. Chundrigar Road, Karachi

The critical phase of construction of Pakistan's proposed 27 Floors tallest building in Karachi, involving Pile work. Foundation work and Pile Cap to Podium level of MCB Towers has been completed.

This information was given to MCB Tower Construction Committee which was accompanied by Mr. S. M. Munir, Vice Chairman MCB and Mr. Mohammad Aftab Manzoor, President, when it recently visited the construction site alongwith Mr. Shafiq A. Khan, SEVP/Group Head of MCB and other concerned Engineers.

The Committee which is headed by MCB Director, Mr. Sarmad Amin, was informed that the civil works contractor M/s. Builders Associates are now in a position to build the structure of this prestigious highest building of Pakistan in the rate of two floors every month. As such the entire 27 floors structure would be ready in next 14 months i.e. by October, 2002.

The committee expressed its satisfaction at the existing progress of the project and advised the Construction and the Project Engineers to ensure quality construction and full sue of State of Art facilities available for MCB Towers, which will house the MCB Head Office and its various attached department which are currently scattered all over Karachi.

The pilling and Foundation work has been done by reputed International firm M/s. Bauer of Germany. M/s. Builders Associates, the civil works contractor, is a leading construction firm of Pakistan having built the famous Saudi Towers in Blue Area of Islamabad.

Inbox Speed Show

Inbox Business Technologies, manufacturers of Inbox brand of computers, recently organized a two-day event titled "Speed Show" featuring Inbox Powerline, the Intel® Pentium® 4 processor based machines, at Park Towers, Karachi.

The Inbox Speed Show was the largest Pentium 4 showcase event to date and showcased various Inbox machines such as Inbox Basic, Inbox Absolute, Inbox Vision and Inbox Mobile. A pioneer in introducing locally assembled laptops, the Inbox Mobile range offers customers the most economical choice in portable devices.

Swissair First class reaps top industry awards

Swissair, the Swiss national airline which operates 30 weekly flights from Middle East (5 weekly flights from Karachi) has been awarded first place for its inflight food and drink and second place for its Overall Service and Management in the industry's 2001 World First Class survey compiling 34 global airlines.

"Our First Class underwent a complete refurbishment in 2000, allowing us to offer one of the world's best products in the category and I am thrilled that this has been appreciated by discerning travellers around the world". said Richard Castle, Swissair Marketing Manager, Middle East and North Africa.

Last year's full refurbishment of all Swissair A330 planes flying long haul included installing new state-of-the-art First Class seats, especially designed by the renowned Swiss designer Tilla Theus. Each First Class seat can now be adjusted to make a flat bed, two meters in length and 60 centimeters wide one of the largest and most confortable First Class beds in the air.