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Representational image via Unsplash

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The National Basketball Association (NBA), ACG and the Basketball Federation of India (BFI), the governing body of basketball in the country announced the launch of the ACG Jr. NBA program, a nationwide 3v3 tournament for the top U-14 players across India and the largest school-based basketball program in the country. Skechers, the global performance and lifestyle footwear and apparel brand, will serve as the official kit partner of the program and provide high-quality gear for the participants.

The ACG Jr. NBA program will feature boys’ and girls’ divisions with teams representing schools from across the country and tip off on Tuesday, September 24 with tournaments in Chennai and Mumbai before visiting Aizawl, Delhi, Kolkata and Ludhiana. The top eight boys’ and girls’ teams from each city will then compete in a league phase within each city that will see the top three boys’ and girls’ teams and one all-star team from each of the boys’ and girls’ divisions advance to the league finals early next year.  The dates of the remaining city tournaments and league phases, and the dates and location of the league finals, will be announced at a later date.  Schools can register to participate by visiting this link.

In addition to the ACG Jr. NBA program, the collaboration aims to enhance youth basketball development at the local level, expand elite talent identification nationally, and provide new development opportunities for players, coaches and referees at all levels.  The collaboration builds on the prior association between the NBA and ACG that included the launch of ACG-NBA Jump, a nationwide basketball talent search program, and marks the first time BFI will serve as an ACG Jr. NBA partner.

 
The Jr. NBA program has reached more than 14 million youth and 15,000 physical education instructors across 35 cities in India since 2013. The ACG Jr. NBA program is part of the NBA’s broader basketball development initiatives in India that include NBA Basketball School, a network of tuition-based basketball development programs open to male and female players ages 6-18, and Basketball Without Borders Asia, the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program that has been held in India twice. 

NBA, ACG, BFI, and Skechers bring basketball to Indian schools

E-commerce giant Amazon India gears up for the country's festive season, creating over 1.1 lakh seasonal job opportunities across its operation network. 

The online retailer said that the hiring includes both direct and indirect job roles, including thousands of women associates and nearly 1,900 persons with disabilities.

Besides, Amazon India also reduced selling fees by 3-12% for 59 product sub-categories on the marketplace last week.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/gig-hiring-to-soar-by-20-during-festive-season-this-year-ecommerce-leads-trend-indeed-data-41473.htm">Gig hiring to soar by 20% during festive season this year, ecommerce leads trend: Indeed data</a>

The seller fee has been reduced by 9% for home furnishing products, by 8% for indoor lighting, and by 8% for home products.

Other e-commerce platforms have announced hiring in view of the festive season recently. Meesho has announced the enablement of 8.5 lakh seasonal job opportunities within its seller and logistics network.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/amazon-slashes-seller-fees-by-3-12-ahead-of-festive-season-40594.htm">Amazon slashes seller fees by 3-12% ahead of festive season</a>

Last week, Indeed data projected a 20% rise in seasonal hiring in the current calendar year as compared to the previous year.

E-commerce, logistics, retail, quick commerce, BFSI, tourism and hospitality, and manufacturing companies will expand the job hiring in the upcoming days to scale up revenue during the festive season, the report said.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/users-rise-by-22-percent-on-top-five-quick-commerce-apps-during-pre-festive-period-tonic-worldwides-gipsi-41471.htm">22 percent rise in users on quick commerce apps during pre-festive period: Tonic Worldwide's GIPSI report</a>

There is a 22 percent rise in users on India’s top five quick commerce apps in pre-festive 2024, Tonic Worldwide's insights division, GIPSI said in its The Festive Report part 2.

There were 2.2 million more searches for sales in pre-festive 2024 compared to pre-festive 2023 indicating that consumers anticipate festive sales and try to make the most of the period, the report added.

Amazon India creates over 1.1 lakh seasonal job opportunities ahead of festive season

Lay’s has become an Official Sponsor of both the FIFA World Cup 26 and FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027. This marks a global extension of Frito-Lay’s role as a Regional Supporter during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and as a Tournament Supporter at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.


As Official Sponsor, Lay’s, alongside a portfolio of food brands, including Doritos, Cheetos, Tostitos, Ruffles, Cracker Jack, PopCorners, Quaker and Gamesa, will bring fans closer to the game with exclusive experiences, merchandise, consumer activations and more.


On announcing the deal, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: “We’re delighted to extend this partnership with Lay’s and strengthen our collaboration as we head into a historic period for FIFA and the wider football community. After being involved in the last FIFA World Cup and FIFA Women’s World Cup, we’re proud that Lay’s has shared in our trust, vision and ideas for the development of the global game and has joined us on this journey into the future. Together, we will create special experiences for fans worldwide.”


“Joining FIFA as a regional sponsor in 2022 was a landmark moment for Frito-Lay, and we’re incredibly proud to have laid the groundwork for the next step of making our partnership global,” said Steven Williams, CEO of Frito-Lay and Quaker North America. “The Lay’s brand has a long history of bringing fans together through a shared love for the game, and we look forward to creating even more iconic moments as we continue to use our brands to unite and inspire FIFA World Cup and FIFA Women’s World Cup fans all over the world.”


The FIFA World Cup 26 will be the first edition to feature 48 teams and to be hosted across three countries – Canada, Mexico and the United States – while the FIFA Women’s World Cup will be held in South America for the first time in 2027. With the two tournaments set to make history, 


The brand will break new ground at both tournaments by recognising and rewarding the “Fan of the Match” at every match.


Additionally, Lay’s, and the full portfolio of food brands, will engage fans on a global scale via in-store and digital promotions leading up to the FIFA World Cup 26 and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027. The brands will also be prominently featured on the pitch at every match through LED stadium display board exposure and press conference backdrops. Going beyond the stadiums, Lay’s and the iconic food portfolio will deliver immersive consumer experiences at FIFA official fan zones across host cities.


Jane Wakely, Chief Consumer and Marketing Officer and Chief Growth Officer, International Foods – Lay’s added: “Partnering with FIFA marks a significant milestone for our business and ambition to embed Lay’s and our extended portfolio of food brands deeper into football culture. Football is one of the world’s biggest passion points, and this historic partnership allows us to bring the excitement and reach of the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Women’s World Cup together with the joy and fun of our iconic brands across the world.”


Romy Gai, FIFA’s Chief Business Officer, added: “The growth of Frito-Lay as a trusted partner of FIFA has been brilliant to see and we’re excited about where we can take this collaboration next as it goes truly global. The FIFA World Cup and FIFA Women’s World Cup are going to be bigger than ever, and Lay’s will be a central part of how fans all over the world enjoy and experience the action.”


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/coincidence-that-we-went-into-of-right-sizing-and-the-messi-announcement-came-atit-mehta-byjus-3552.htm">BYJU'S Atit Mehta on the Messi and FIFA World Cup sponsorship</a>

Lay’s named Official Sponsor of FIFA World Cup 26 & FIFA Women's World Cup 2027

The LIONS Creativity Report has released its definitive rankings. Based on performance from Cannes Lions 2024, the report shows benchmarked work of creative excellence, along with the insights and impact of the results it delivered, demonstrating how the world’s most creative businesses are using creativity as a lever for growth and progress.


Highlights from the rankings include Coca-Cola taking Creative Brand of the Year for the first time, with its brands receiving 17 Lions. 


Manolo Arroyo, EVP and Global Chief Marketing Officer, The Coca‑Cola Company, commented, “The Coca-Cola Company believes creativity is a superpower that drives growth, inspires people and – most importantly – ignites change.” 


WPP was named Creative Company of the Year, with its collaboration with Coca-Cola helping to secure three Gold Lions for ‘Thanks for Coke-Creating’, plus 14 more Lions across four pieces of work. Elsewhere in the rankings, the United States takes the leading spot in the Location rankings, followed by Brazil in second place, moving up a place from 2023, and Germany moves four places up, to reach fifth place.


Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS, said: “The LIONS Creativity Rankings shows creatives and marketers – agencies and brands – the creative marketing that matters, so that they can fuel their pursuit to create better, drive business growth and shift culture. The official rankings are a celebration and a powerful tool for future success, while the report is impact-led and built with analysis from the Lions Awards, to deliver tangible examples of how creativity can drive progress. Congratulations to all those who have ranked this year and have contributed to setting the global creative benchmark. We look forward to releasing the 2024 people rankings, as part of the Talent Report, in November.”


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/coca-cola-witnessed-robust-growth-in-2023-to-re-invest-significant-chunk-of-capital-investment-23192.htm">Coca-Cola witnessed robust growth in 2023; to re-invest significant chunk of capital investment</a>

2024 LIONS Creativity Report: Coca-Cola wins Creative Brand of the Year for the first time

Acer, one of the brands in the PC industry, announced Bollywood actress Jahnvi Kapoor as the new brand ambassador for Acer India. Kapoor will spearhead the brand’s campaign across multiple channels to showcase how Acer and Acerpure products enable modern living with style.

 

As the face of Acer India, Kapoor will endorse a wide range of Acer’s advanced laptops, Acerpure TVs, and home appliances, including water purifiers and vacuum cleaners. 

 

Harish Kohli, President and Managing Director, Acer India, expressed, "We are delighted to welcome Jahnvi Kapoor to the Acer family. Her vibrant personality and strong connection with the youth make her the perfect voice for our brand. At Acer, we continuously innovate to meet the evolving needs of our customers, and having Jahnvi represent us will help us connect with a broader audience that values quality, innovation, and style in their daily lives."

 

Kapoor stated, "I am truly honored to join the Acer family as their brand ambassador. Acer’s commitment to merging technology with everyday convenience is inspiring. As someone who appreciates both style and functionality, I am excited to represent a brand that embodies these qualities. I look forward to showcasing how Acer’s innovative products elevate how we live and work.”

 

Sudhir Goel, Chief Business Officer, Acer India, commented, "Jahnvi Kapoor’s collaboration with Acer India comes at a pivotal time as we continue to expand our footprint in the Indian market. Her influence and popularity, especially among the youth, align perfectly with our vision of delivering products that not only meet the demands of modern consumers but also inspire a lifestyle defined by technology and elegance."

 

Sooraj Balakrishnan, Associate Director & Head of Marketing, at Acer India, added, "At Acer, we believe in the power of technology to transform lives. Our partnership with Jahnvi Kapoor is a testament to our commitment to bringing innovative and stylish products to our consumers. Jahnvi’s association with Acer and Acerpure will undoubtedly amplify our brand’s presence and help us connect with a younger, tech-savvy audience who are looking for products that combine performance with aesthetics.”


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/acer-group-launches-acerpure-marks-its-entry-into-consumer-electronics-category-31763.htm">Acer Group launches Acerpure; marks its entry into consumer electronics category</a>

Acer India onboards Bollywood actor Jahnvi Kapoor as brand ambassador

EaseMyTrip.com, India’s online travel tech platforms has unveiled marketplace ScanMyTrip.com. It also becomes the first OTA to sell travel services on ONDC Network and buys from it. The new product, ScanMyTrip.com is a marketplace designed to enable OTAs, MSMEs, Travel agents and homestays to list their offering – Flights, Hotels and Homestay on ONDC Network.


EaseMyTrip’s integration with ONDC Network will allow businesses in the travel and tourism sector to leverage the digital infrastructure that ONDC provides.


Rikant Pittie, Co-founder of EaseMyTrip, stated, “We are very excited to build India’s first technology that will bring us one step closer to solving fundamental challenges of thousands of travel service providers. By integrating ScanMyTrip.com with ONDC Network, we are ensuring that every travel service provider in the ecosystem, from homestays to MSMEs, has the opportunity to thrive in a competitive digital market. Our goal is to provide access to advanced digital tools for businesses of all sizes, helping them scale and reach new customers.”


“EaseMyTrip joining the ONDC network is a pivotal moment in our mission to build a more inclusive and transparent travel ecosystem.” said Mr. Thampy Koshy, MD and CEO , ONDC. “This will not only enhance opportunities for MSMEs and small homestays, it will also help in bringing in an equitable marketplace for all participants and foster healthy competition. This is in line with our mission to streamline and democratise the travel experience and thereby the overall e-commerce for everyone."


Earlier this year, EaseMyTrip signed a Letter of Intent with ONDC during the ‘ONDC Startup Mahotsav’ to be a part of the digital revolution that ONDC is bringing in the ecommerce ecosystem. 


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/digital/easemytrip-introduces-google-wallet-to-elevate-travel-experience-31543.htm">EaseMyTrip introduces Google Wallet to elevate travel experience </a>

EaseMyTrip launches marketplace, ScanMyTrip.com, integrated on ONDC Network

According to the latest International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker data, the global wrist-worn device market shipped 43.7 million units in the second quarter of 2024 (2Q24), a year-over-year (YoY) decrease of 0.7 percent. China significantly outpaced the global wrist-worn device market with 15.5 million units shipped, a YoY increase of 10.9 percent.


The wrist-worn device market includes smartwatches and wristbands. The global smartwatch market shipped 34.7 million units in 2Q 2024, a YoY decrease of 3.2 percent, while China shipped 11.1 million units, a YoY increase of 18.7 percent. The global wristband market shipped 9.0 million units in 2Q24, a YoY increase of 10.6 percent, while China shipped 4.4 million units, a YoY decrease of 4.8 percent.


The growth of the Chinese wrist-worn market is not only exceeding the global market, in the first half of 2024 Chinese manufacturers also maintained a rapid growth rate and a strong market position in the global wrist-worn market. China's 15.5 million shipments in 2Q 2024 outpaced the global wrist-worn device market, marking a 10.9% YoY growth, while overall global shipments saw a slight 0.7 percent decline.


Huawei


Huawei achieved significant growth in 1H24 with the launch of new wristbands and smartwatches which resulted in a 55.1% YoY increase of shipments , leading the global wrist-worn market for two consecutive quarters now. It has made substantial progress in regions such as the Middle East and Africa, Latin America, and Central and Eastern Europe. The new Fit 3 has played an important complementary role in its smartwatch product line, significantly driving the growth of its wrist-worn shipments. In addition, Huawei has been leading China's wrist-worn market since 2021.


Xiaomi


Despite the lack of new wristband products in 1H24, Xiaomi still achieved significant growth and ranked second in terms of global wrist-worn market shipments. This is partly due to the strong performance of its smartphones, and on the other hand, Xiaomi's smartwatches have made breakthroughs in the entry-level and mid-range segments. Its Redmi series has seen significant growth in the entry-level segment with the coexistence of two generations of products, while the S3 watch has made breakthroughs with innovative designs. The Watch 2 series has made progress in the development of high-end smartwatches. Xiaomi's wrist-worn product line is expected to continue to grow with the launch of new wristband products in 2H24.


Apple


Apple's smartwatches have been affected by the global macroeconomic environment and fierce price competition in the market, leading to a decline in shipments. However, it is worth mentioning that Apple still ranks first in the global smartwatch market, which also represents its iconic market position in product development and sales performance. With the upcoming fall new product launch, Apple's next-generation smartwatches will be highly anticipated and are expected to boost its temporarily declining market performance.


Samsung


Samsung's growth in the wrist-worn market mainly comes from its new wristband Galaxy Fit 3, which was launched at the beginning of 2024, effectively complementing its wristwear product line in terms of form, appearance, and price distribution. Galaxy Fit 3 is mainly sold in developing regions, filling the gap in the local wristband market's mid-to-high price segment and significantly increasing shipments. While Samsung's 6th generation smartwatches are entering its late stages, the launch of new products is expected to drive future growth.


BBK


As a kid's watch manufacturer, BBK's significant growth in shipments mainly comes from the recovery of China's kid's watch market, which saw a significant increase in 1H24, thanks to the resumption of social activities, a temporary stabilization of the age-appropriate population, and the impact of replacement cycles. BBK has further expanded its sales advantages in the Chinese market through channel efforts and differentiated pricing strategies, thus achieving significant growth.


The rapid development of the Chinese wrist-worn market is mainly influenced by product price differentiation, promotional season activities, and long-tail terminal consumption.


Product Price Differentiation - Most manufacturers in the wrist-worn market have increased their focus on the supply side, especially on products priced at or below the thousand-yuan level, providing consumers with more choices in terms of price, appearance, brand, and network standards.


Promotional Season Activities - Flagship products of most leading manufacturers have executed varying promotional activities that have generally started earlier than in previous years and which have positively affected shipments.


Long-tail Device Consumption - Consumers are exploring various smart devices, resulting in a diverse and segmented market. Along with the public's increasing focus on health issues, this has brought a broader user base for the development of wrist-worn devices.


”The wrist-worn market has been in a technological accumulation phase for some time, with relatively limited innovative technologies being put into the market. This has made the driving force of the high-end market slightly weak, prompting manufacturers to layout more products in the mid-range to entry-level markets, providing consumers with more choices. On the other hand, it has also narrowed the gap between manufacturers on a global scale, promoting changes in the market structure and providing a buffer opportunity for manufacturers to break through with innovation in the next step,” said Sophie Pan, Research Director, IDC China.


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/spring-capital-invests-in-agilitas-will-help-develop-brand-and-launch-strategies-42018.htm">Spring Capital invests in Agilitas, will help develop brand and launch strategies</a>

China leads global wrist-worn device market

India's dairy brand Amul has won a trademark infringement case against an Italian brand.

Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), owner of Amul filed a lawsuit arguing that the dairy company is a household name in India and has a global reputation, Times of India reported.


On the other hand, Italian company Terre Primitive "blatantly" copied the script, style, and manner of Amul packaging and only added "eti" as a suffix in its name, making it Amuleti, Singh contended.

	
<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/advertising/the-butter-half-how-the-amul-girl-became-the-toast-of-india-41677.htm">The Butter Half: How the Amul girl became the toast of India</a>


Henceforth, the English daily said that the Delhi High Court granted an injunction in favour of Amul, the world's 8th dairy organization. Justice Mini Pushkarna passed the order restraining the Italian firm from using or dealing with any marks identical to "Amul" and directed them to remove infringing products from their website. 

"In the above said circumstances, the plaintiffs have demonstrated a prima facie case for grant of injunction and, in case, no ex parte ad interim injunction is granted, the plaintiffs will suffer an irreparable loss," an Informist media report quoted Delhi HC.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/amul-tops-as-the-worlds-strongest-food-brand-brand-finance-report-40143.htm">Amul tops as the world’s strongest food brand: Brand Finance report</a>

Additionally, Meta Inc. has ordered to block or delete the social media account of Terre primitive for promoting Amuleti.


GCMMF's managing director, Jayen Mehta, called the order a relief for Amul and an example of protecting indigenous brands from foreign infringement. GCMMF has used the trademark "Amul" for its products since 1958. However, the Italian firm created its website in 2020.

The next hearing of the case is scheduled for January 7, 2025

Amul wins trademark infringement case against Italian brand Amuleti

Global 5G handset shipments grew 20 percent YoY in the first half of 2024, according to the latest research from Counterpoint’s Market Monitor service. India overtook the US to become the world’s second-biggest 5G handset market for the first time, behind China.


Senior Analyst Prachir Singh said, “5G handset shipments have been growing steadily and with the increased availability of 5G handsets in the budget segment, the emerging markets have witnessed high growth in this segment. India became the second-biggest 5G handset market during the first half, overtaking the US. The strong shipments from Xiaomi, vivo, Samsung and other brands in the budget segment were the main reason for this trend. Other emerging markets also witnessed high growth in 5G handsets. Consumers in emerging markets are looking at 5G handsets as an upgrade to their devices, even in the lower price segments.”


“The Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) region was the fastest-growing region, registering 63% YoY growth, driven by high growth in key countries like Mexico and Brazil. The CALA region accounted for 14% of global net adds despite having a 6% 5G shipment share in H1 2024. Asia-Pacific accounted for 63 percent of the overall global net adds and commanded a 58 percent 5G shipment share. In Europe and the Middle East and Africa (MEA) regions also, 5G handset shipments witnessed double-digit growth.”


Apple led the 5G handset shipments globally, accounting for more than 25% share, driven by strong shipments of the iPhone 15 series and 14 series. Samsung followed in the second position, capturing more than 21% share, driven by the Galaxy A series and S24 series. Apple and Samsung took five spots each in the top-10 list for 5G models in the first half of 2024, with Apple taking the top four spots. Xiaomi took the third spot, with India being its major driver. 


Xiaomi registered a triple-digit growth rate in India while also registering a double-digit growth rate in the MEA, Europe and China. For vivo also, India was the major growth driver along with China and emerging Asian economies. Among the top 10 brands, Motorola grew the fastest, posting strong growth in the CALA, India, MEA and North America markets.


Commenting on the near-term outlook for 5G shipments, Research Director Tarun Pathak said, “5G handset contribution to the overall handset market was over 54% in H1 2024, crossing 50% for the first time. As the democratization of 5G handsets increases with increasing 5G penetration in lower price segments as well as increasing expansion of 5G networks, this trend will further grow. The ongoing global premiumization trend will further fuel this growth. According to our market outlook, 5G share will cross 57% in 2024 and 65% in 2025.”


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/digital/google-knowledge-sets-you-free-or-deeper-to-monopoly-42041.htm">Google: Knowledge sets you free or deeper to monopoly?</a>

India overtakes US to become second-biggest 5G handset market: Counterpoint

One month after a judge declared Google’s search engine an illegal monopoly, the tech giant is facing another antitrust lawsuit, this time focused on its advertising technology. This latest lawsuit, filed by the Joe Biden administration, has the potential to reshape the global Adtech industry.

In court, the Department of Justice, joined by several states, argued that Google has built and maintains a monopoly over online advertising technology. Regulators claim that Google controls both the buying and selling sides of online ads, allowing the company to keep up to 36 cents for every dollar spent. They also allege that Google dominates the ad exchange market, which connects advertisers with publishers.

“It’s worth saying the quiet part out loud,” said Justice Department attorney Julia Tarver Wood. “One monopoly is bad enough, but what we have here is a trifecta of monopolies,” she added, as quoted by the Associated Press.

Google, however, argues that the lawsuit is based on outdated technology. Google’s attorney, Karen Dunn, likened the government’s case to “a time capsule with a Blackberry, an iPod, and a Blockbuster video card.” She cautioned that actions taken against Google may not help small businesses and could instead benefit other large tech companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and TikTok.

Notably, Google’s revenue from its ad tech division has actually decreased in recent years, dropping from $31.7 billion in 2021 to $31.3 billion in 2023, according to its annual reports.

The trial, which began on Monday in Alexandria, Virginia, is being overseen by U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema.

This case follows a recent ruling that declared Google’s search engine a monopoly, along with another case where its Android app store was found to be monopolistic. The government has yet to propose specific remedies for the search engine ruling.

In the Virginia trial, witnesses for the government are expected to include executives from major newspaper publishers and online news sites. They argue that Google’s practices harm publishers by imposing high fees, which forces them to place more ads on their sites or put content behind paywalls.

Tim Wolfe, an executive at Gannett Co., testified that despite the high fees, Gannett feels compelled to use Google’s ad tech products because they provide access to a large pool of advertisers.

In a 2023 blog post, Google stated, “No one is forced to use our advertising technologies—they choose to use them because they work.” The company also highlighted increasing competition in the ad industry as evidence that the market is still dynamic and not solely dominated by Google.

Google disputes the claims of excessive fees and argues that its integrated technology ensures faster ad delivery and improved security. Additionally, the company asserts that the government’s case fails to account for the rise of mobile and social media advertising.

Google faces new antitrust battle over advertising tech monopoly

Airbnb's latest search data reveals a significant surge in travel interest.

The data highlights an approximately 340% Y-oY increase in domestic searches for Airbnb stays during the Independence Day and Raksha Bandhan long weekend. The following destinations have emerged as the top domestic destinations, reflecting a rising preference among Indian travellers for local exploration:

- Goa
- Lonavala
- Puducherry
- Mumbai
- Bengaluru
- New Delhi
- Udaipur
 
“The data underscores a growing trend amongst Indian travelers to explore domestic destinations during short breaks and long weekends as they are easily accessible. At Airbnb, we are excited to offer a wide range of stays as people explore new locations and immerse themselves in the local culture through our host offerings,” said Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb’s General Manager for India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.