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Latest News May 15, 2017

May 15, 2017

news From All Africa

  • GROHE leads the way in innovation and ecological compatibility winning five prestigious awards

    GROHE (www.GROHE.com), the world’s leading provider of sanitary fittings and a global brand dedicated to providing innovative water products, receives five of the most sought-after design awards for its Blue Home water system, shower toilet Sensia Arena, bathroom faucet Lineare and kitchen faucet lines Concetto Professional and Essence Professional.

    The Red Dot Award is known as one of the most coveted awards honoring exceptional design performance. GROHE’s recognition bring the total number of Red Dot Awards 2017 for LIXIL Corporation, a global sanitary ware market leader which includes premium brands such as GROHE, to six.

    The international design competition Red Dot is held by the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen in Germany and appraises the best products of the year: Designers and manufacturers from all over the globe submit their products and a jury of 40 specialised experts evaluates those products by their degree of innovation, functionality, ergonomics, durability and ecological compatibility. In 2017 more than 5,500 products have been submitted from 54 countries around the world.

    GROHE presented its exceptional variety of products with intelligent solutions in modern designs for bathroom and kitchen. As the worldwide leading provider of sanitary fittings, GROHE successfully proved its leading market position by receiving five sought-after Red Dot Awards for GROHE’s water system Blue Home, GROHE’s shower toilet Sensia Arena, GROHE’s bathroom faucet Lineare and GROHE’s kitchen faucet lines Concetto Professional and Essence Professional.

    As a private water source for ultimate taste and enjoyment, GROHE’s innovative and ecologically friendly Blue Home water system supplies filtered and chilled water with three selectable carbonation levels straight out of a kitchen faucet. Superseding the need for industrialized mineral water, it cuts drinking water costs by at least 50 percent and reduces carbon emissions by 61 percent compared to bottled water. Offering ultimate hygiene and comfort, GROHE’s Sensia Arena shower toilet sets new standards in the field of intelligent care.

    GROHE’s Lineare bathroom faucet of remarkably balanced proportions combines the most delicate faucet body GROHE ever manufactured with a flat spout and a visually restrained lever with a clean and contemporary look. Distinguished by their particularly slim and streamlined body, GROHE’s new kitchen faucet collections Concetto Professional and Essence Professional combine elegant and sensual design with high-performance, making kitchen work more efficient and comfortable. With its expanded Essence faucet range coming in deluxe colours and state-of-the-art finishes, GROHE serves the global trend of individuality by extending it to bathroom and kitchen.

    As Part of LIXIL, GROHE combines the innovation and premium brand power of a German “Mittelstand” Company with the global resources and technological leadership of LIXIL. With six Red Dot Awards 2017 the combination is proving its worth in the market place, building on GROHE´s core values: quality, technology, design and sustainability.

    Distributed by APO on behalf of GROHE.

    For media inquiries please contact: 
    Lina Varytimidou
    Email: Varytimidou@Grome.com

    About GROHE:
    GROHE (www.GROHE.com) is the world’s leading provider of sanitary fittings and a global brand, dedicated to providing innovative water products. 
    For many decades, GROHE has been committed to the brand values of technology, quality, design and sustainability that all illustrate GROHE’s commitment to creating exceptional experiences and to delivering “Pure Freude an Wasser”. With its engineering, innovation and design activities firmly anchored in Germany, GROHE products bear the badge of quality “Made in Germany”, ultimately strengthening the customers’ confidence in the brand. All plants of the GROHE manufacturing network make use of high-precision production engineering to ensure compliance with consistently high GROHE standards. This way GROHE ensures that its products live up to the most uncompromising demands in terms of workmanship and functionality. 
    Over the past ten years alone, the success of GROHE has been confirmed by more than 240 design and innovation awards as well as several top rankings as one of “Germany’s most sustainable major companies”. Numerous high-profile projects around the globe are fitted with GROHE products, testifying to architects’, designers’ and developers’ preference for the brand.
    GROHE is part of the LIXIL Group Corporation, a publicly listed company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. LIXIL is the global market leader in the sanitary ware industry, managing a broad portfolio of well-known household brands such as GROHE, American Standard, and INAX. It is also Japan’s leading provider of housing and building materials, products and services.

    About LIXIL:
    LIXIL is the most comprehensive and connected global company in the housing and building industry, delivering human-centric innovation that enhances people’s living spaces – we call this Living Technology. Delivering core strengths in water, housing, building and kitchen technologies, our brands including LIXIL®, GROHE®, American Standard Brands, DXV, INAX® and Permasteelisa® are leaders in their industries and regions. Operating in more than 150 countries and employing more than 80,000 people, we bring together function, quality and design to provide better living solutions to the world today and for future generations. Learn more at www.LIXIL.com and follow us at www.Facebook.com/lixilgroup. 

  • Note to Correspondents on South Sudan

    On the margins of the London Conference on Somalia, the Secretary-General discussed the situation in South Sudan with a number of international stakeholders. In this respect, on 10 and 11 May 2017, he met with the Chairperson of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat. 
     

    In the course of these consultations, the Secretary-General reiterated the United Nations’ deep concern at the prevailing security and humanitarian situation in South Sudan, highlighting the untold suffering being inflicted on the civilian population. He underlined the imperative of renewed regional and international efforts to bring to an end the unfolding tragedy in that country, in particular through the immediate cessation of hostilities, unfettered humanitarian access to the millions of people in need of assistance, freedom of movement for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the promotion of a credible and truly inclusive process involving all the opposition forces in line with the principles enshrined in the August 2015 Agreement for the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan. 

    The Secretary-General is encouraged by the commitment of all his interlocutors to further enhance their efforts towards ending the violence tearing South Sudan apart, bearing also in mind the need to prevent further negative repercussions on regional security and stability. The United Nations looks forward to working closely with the IGAD and the AU in the period ahead to identify practical steps that would help arrest the current downward trend towards greater fragmentation of South Sudan, escalating violence and deepening hardship and sustainably put the country back on the track of peace and reconciliation. 

    New York, 12 May 2017 

    Distributed by APO on behalf of United Nations - Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

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    United Nations - Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General
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  • Opera announces Victor Moses as brand ambassador in Africa

    Opera (www.Opera.com) is kicking off a partnership with football professional Victor Moses, Chelsea starter and Nigerian national team star player. Moses will be the brand ambassador of Opera Mini (http://APO.af/oO85qy), the most popular browser in Africa. Starting today, Moses will be featured in the new Opera Mini TV commercial (http://APO.af/sDJKir) as well as a range of collaborative projects extending throughout 2018.

    “Football is one of the most popular types of content consumed by Opera Mini users throughout Africa”, says Jørgen Arnesen, Global Head of Marketing and Distribution at Opera. “Victor Moses is a perfect match for Opera, being not only a high performer, but also a great role model and natural ambassador of his home country Nigeria.”

    This coincides with Opera’s recent announcement to invest $100 million USD (30 billion Nigerian nairas) in Africa (http://APO.af/bPD736) over the next two years with the goal of strengthening the internet ecosystem in countries such as Nigeria.

    Nigeria is home to the second largest population of Opera Mini (http://APO.af/oO85qy) users. Search, social networking and sport are the most popular content consumed by Opera Mini users in this country. One fourth of them check out live scores and sports news when browsing. This number is relatively higher than the ones in other African countries.

    On the topic of the recent partnership, Victor Moses states, “I am proud to be in partnership with Opera and am looking forward to working together. The Opera team have taken me through their plans and vision for the brand in the Nigerian market and it's made me incredibly excited about the future. I'm delighted to be a part of such a groundbreaking campaign.”

    Opera recently launched its first nationwide TV and radio commercials to announce a faster and more affordable internet experience with the Opera Mini browser. Already airing in South Africa and Kenya, there will be a special version for Nigeria. Victor Moses will be challenging his on-field speed against Opera Mini’s. 

    Distributed by APO on behalf of Opera Software ASA.

    Media contact: 
    Peko Wan
    Opera Software AS
    PekoW@Opera.com 

    About Victor Moses:
    Well known for his current Premier League signing with the top Premier League club Chelsea, the 26 year old has grown a successful career throughout the higher level leagues of the sport from an early age. This includes an earlier career boost with Crystal Palace, as well as performances for Liverpool, Stoke City and West Ham United. His outstanding performance has earned him “The Premier League’s most remarkable star” by the Sun.

    About Opera:
    Since its founding in 1996, Opera has been a pioneer in shaping the future of the internet. Providing faster and more innovative web browsers, Opera is the everyday browser of choice for more than 350 million people.

    Opera Software AS is a privately held company and is headquartered in Oslo, Norway. Follow our news at http://Blogs.Opera.com/news.

    Opera is a trademark of Opera Software AS.

  • Protea Hotels by Marriott® Named Coolest Hotel Brand in South Africa for the 7th Consecutive Year

    In an announcement that re enforces the brand’s growing traction in the South African market, Marriott International (NASDAQ: MAR) (www.Marriott.com) today announced that Protea Hotels by Marriott® (www.ProteaHotels.com) has been named the Coolest Hotel Brand in the Sunday Times Generation Next Survey 2017. Designed for the progressive yet pragmatic traveller seeking a high-­quality travel experience, Protea Hotels by Marriott® has been consistently emerging as a favorite in South Africa particularly with the young travellers winning this coveted recognition for the 7th consecutive year.

    “Our forever-young market comprising of the next generation of travellers consists of a vital segment of progressive individualists and forward-thinkers and we are delighted to see that Protea Hotels by Marriott® is a brand that is resonating with this audience in South Africa,” said Neal Jones, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. “South African brands look to the prestigious Sunday Times Generation Next Survey as an industry benchmark and we are excited to be featured in the coveted list, year on year, gaining the confidence of this important and key market and the next generation of travelers.”

    Emphasizing the importance of being perceived as “cool”, Danny Bryer, Area Director for Sales & Marketing, Protea Hotels by Marriott added, “Reinvention is the key to success in an extremely competitive market and must take place on a continuous basis to stay relevant. We are committed to providing a dynamic and personalised experience at every touchpoint of the guest journey. Our associates, a large number of them from the next generation themselves, help us deliver a level of service that not only matches global standards but is also uniquely local, understanding and anticipating needs and making each guest stay memorable.”

    Now in its 13th year, Generation Next polls the opinions of over 5,500 young South Africans mainly below 22 years of age from urban and peri-urban environments in six provinces across South Africa. The lifestyle and consumer behaviour questionnaire is boosted by over 4,500 additional face-to-face interviews. The results of the 2017 Generation Next Survey were published on 12 May 2017.

    Connect with Protea Hotels by Marriott on twitter and Instagram @ProteaHotels, and on Facebook.

    Distributed by APO on behalf of Marriott International, Inc..

    Media Contacts:
    Bonny Feldman
    Senior Account Manager Irvine Partners
    +27214624033, 0764957167
    bonny@irbvinepartners.co.za

    Anjali Mehra
    Anjali.mehra@marriott.com
    +971 565396555

    About Protea Hotels by Marriott
    Protea Hotels by Marriott® is the leading hospitality brand in Africa and it is one of the most widely recognized brands in Africa.  The strategic footprint includes 90+ hotels throughout South Africa and seven other African countries, including Zambia, Nigeria, Namibia, Ghana and Uganda amongst others. 
    Protea Hotels by Marriott® is ideal for both business and leisure travelers by offering properties in primary and secondary business centers and desirable leisure destinations.  Each hotel offers modern facilities, proactive and friendly service and consistent amenities such as full service restaurants, meeting spaces, complimentary Wi-Fi, and well-appointed rooms, ensuring global standards for a high quality, relaxed and successful stay.  
    Protea Hotels by Marriott® is the winner of 8 Coolest Hotel Group awards in the Sunday Times Generation Next surveys, the winner of the Ask Africa South African Customer Service Award 2013 and Icon Brand 2015, and the winner of the Hotels category in the Ask Afrika 2015/2016 Youth Brands Survey.  The hotel group was bought by Marriott International in April 2014 and forms part of Marriott’s global brand portfolio made up of 30 leading brands that operate more than 6,000 hotels in 122 countries. 

    For more information, visit www.ProteaHotels.com
    Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) (www.Marriott.com) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 6,000 properties in 30 leading hotel brands spanning 122 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts. The company also operates award-winning loyalty programs: Marriott Rewards®, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest®. For more information, please visit our website at www.Marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.MarriottNewsCenter.com. Connect with us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/marriottinternational) and @MarriottIntl on Twitter (https://twitter.com/MarriottIntl) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/marriottintl).


    Media files
    Marriott International, Inc.
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