Karnataka Tourism Inaugurates KITE 2025, with Chief Minister Sri. Siddaramaiah unveiling the Tourism Policy 2025-29

It was a magnificent evening with a fitting introduction by Dr. Rajendra K.V IAS, Director Department of Tourism and Managing Director KSTDC addressed “A platform that brings global travel and tourism industry together, Karnataka International Travel Expo 2025 is a flagship event of our tourism sector, it’s a platform for partnerships and a catalyst for a  gateway to growth  for the Karnataka tourism industry to reach international and domestic markets, this event is about building relationships, creating opportunities and to promote Karnataka as world class travel destination. 

Smt Salma K. Fahim IAS, Secretary to Government, Tourism and Minority Welfare, and Haj and Waqf Dept, Govt. of Karnataka, addressed the gathering with some beautiful description of Karnataka and  profound words “Tourism is the major contributor to the states economy and generates lakhs of jobs, as you can Karnataka is poised to become a leading travel destination. KITE 2025 is the key milestone in that journey”Sri H.K Patil, Hon’ble Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Legislation, Tourism, Govt. of Karnataka addressed the audience with a an enthusiastic speech quoting “Building a more accessible Karnataka, for any destination to thrive seamless connectivity is key, Karnataka is leading the way for both well known and hidden tourism gems, our government led by Chief Minister Sri. Siddaramaiah has been working tirelessly to ensure that essential amenities across the state.The Shakti Scheme has been a resounding success, providing high qualities amenities and facilities. We look forward to support, facilitate and strengthen the tourism eco-system, let’s make Karnataka a global benchmark for responsible enriching and inclusive tourism”.

Mr. Rizwan Arshad Hon’ble MLA, Shivajinagar Assembly Constituency, quoted that “This is the land of possibilities, and will surprise tourists from across the globe, explore be here, and KITE will fly high this year”.

Chief Minister Sri. Siddaramaiah unveiled the Tourism Policy 2025-2029, “As you look to the future I call across all investors , tour operators, entrepreneurs , and industry professionals to join hands with us to make Karnataka a top tourism destination in the world,”

Peps Industries brings new Sleep Solutions to Bengaluru, Buy Best Spring Mattress Online-Peps India .

 The brand is set to redefine comfort, support, and durability with the launch of four new product series

Peps Industries, India’s leading sleep solutions brand, has unveiled its latest range of luxurious mattresses, exclusively designed to bring world-class sleep experiences for consumers in the Bengaluru market. 

Developed with the commitment to innovation and affordability, Peps’ new range launches four new product series, Peps Comfort, Peps Supreme, and Peps Restonic Memory Foam, that are set to redefine comfort, support, and durability. With a surge in individuals prioritising sleep health and improving their well-being, the mattresses are tailored to fit the requirements of customers, offering optimal comfort and restful sleep.

Speaking on the launch, Mr. G Shankar Ramm, Co-Founder and CEO, Peps Industries, said, “The launch of our new mattress collections in Bengaluru reinforces Peps’ commitment to innovation, quality, and affordability. With consumers prioritizing superior sleep solutions, our latest range—Peps Comfort, Peps Supreme, and Peps Restonic Memory Foam—meets their needs perfectly. Combining cutting-edge technology with eco-friendly materials, we are setting new benchmarks for comfort and durability. As awareness of sleep health continues to grow, Peps is proud to offer world-class products tailored to the unique preferences of Indian consumers.”

Peps Comfort is engineered with the best steel’s high-carbon, non-oiled steel wire for enhanced durability and sag resistance. The mattress is crafted using advanced European technology, and features an iron-resistant flat-knitted polyester fabric and 93% biodegradable materials, offering an eco-friendly sleep solution.

Designed for an undisturbed night’s sleep, Peps Supreme features zero-disturbance pocketed springs, eliminating motion disturbance between partners. Manufactured with the world’s most advanced pocketed spring technology, the mattress is crafted for durability, breathability, and comfort. 

Peps Restonic Memory Foam features two new launches including the Peps Sanibel Bonnell Plush Memory Foam, and Peps Ardene Pocketed Plush Memory Foam. Part of the American Restonic Great Sleep Series, the Peps Sanibel Bonnell Plush Memory Foam is a hybrid mattress that integrates temperature, and pressure-sensitive breathable memory foam, with high-carbon Tata Steel bonnell springs for superior comfort. Additionally, the Peps Ardene Pocketed Plush Memory Foam serves as the ultimate luxury mattress with zero motion transfer. Combining advanced pocketed spring technology with plush memory foam, the mattress offers unparalleled comfort and undisturbed sleep. 

Over the years, Peps has expanded its presence across Karnataka with 60 Great Sleep Stores and Exclusive Stores, and 530 multi-brand stores. The newly launched products are available in all stores and on Peps’ exclusive website: https://pepsindia.com/.

World’s premier Tata Consultancy Services World 10K Bengaluru set for Sunday, 27th April 2025 ~Registration opens on Thursday, 20th February for all race categories ~

Procam International, pioneers of globally renowned distance running events in India, have announced the 17th edition of the World Athletics Gold Label Road Race, the Tata Consultancy Services World 10K Bengaluru (TCS World 10K), scheduled for Sunday, 27th April 2025. 

The TCS World 10K Bengaluru, with total prize money of USD 210,000, continues to be one of the World’s Premier 10K events, attracting top athletes and amateur runners from across the globe. The race is a celebration of Bengaluru’s spirit, offering a blend of competition, camaraderie, and community impact. Always A Step Ahead, Incredibly Fast, Scenic, Endlessly Magical, Truly Inclusive; Simply – #EndendiguBengaluru - Forever Bengaluru.

Sunil Deshpande, Regional Head, TCS Bengaluru, said “TCS believes in the transformative power of sports to inspire change. The TCS World 10K Bengaluru is more than just a race—it’s a celebration of resilience, health, and community impact. Over the years, it has become a beacon for fitness and philanthropy, placing Bengaluru firmly on the global sporting map and supporting numerous causes since its inception. Integrating technology and sustainability, TCS is committed to creating smarter, more inclusive sporting events. As we look forward to the 2025 edition, we remain dedicated to making a lasting impact and invite everyone to be a part of this journey."

At the core of the TCS World 10K Bengaluru is its commitment to delivering an exceptional experience for every participant. From a meticulously crafted race route that winds through the heart of Bengaluru, to state-of-the-art facilities that cater to every need before, during, and after the race, every detail is designed to ensure that participants not only meet their goals but exceed them. 

The race will be flagged off from Cubbon Road (opposite RSAOI Gate No. 5), while the finish line for all races will be on Cubbon Road, outside Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw Parade Ground.

Narayan TV, Chief Marketing Officer, IDFC FIRST Bank, said “This year marks IDFC FIRST Bank’s fourth year partnering with the TCS World 10K Bengaluru, and we’re excited to continue supporting an event that brings people together. Our partnership aligns seamlessly with our Customer First philosophy—engaging with our customers on their journeys, whether towards better health or financial well-being. Continuing with our theme of #JourneyToTheStart, we are committed to helping people take the first step towards physical & financial well-being. Every runner who completes the respective run within a stipulated time period will be eligible for a specially designed IDFC FIRST Bank Runner’s Tee. We look forward to another year of energy, passion, and personal milestones and here’s to the spirit of Bangalore!” 

Ahead of the 17th edition, Vivek Singh, Joint  MD, Procam International, said, "For over 16 years, the TCS World 10K Bengaluru has been a symbol of unity and pride for the city, bringing together runners from all walks of life. As we open registrations for the 2025 edition with renewed enthusiasm, we extend our sincere appreciation to the Indian Army, Karnataka &Kerala Sub Area for facilitating a venue."

"Our gratitude also goes to the Government of Karnataka for their continued support since the event's inception, as well as to our sponsors, partners, and the running community. Your commitment has shaped this race into a landmark event, and its legacy will only grow stronger with each passing year."

Finisher Tee by ASICS Sports Goods Partner

As a token of recognition for their efforts and achievements, Japanese sports performance brand ASICS will present the exclusive Finisher Tee to the top 1000 finishers each, men and women, in the Open 10K.

Registration Details

On-ground Run

Registrations for all race categories—Open 10K, Majja Run (5.1 km), Sr. Citizens Run, and Champions with Disability (4.2 km)—will open on Thursday, 20th February, at 7:00 AM and will close on Friday, 28th March, at 11:59 PM, or earlier if the running spots are filled, whichever is earlier. Register now at  https://tcsworld10k.procam.in/

To encourage greater women’s participation, a limited number of spots are reserved for women who do not have a timing certificate. These slots will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Virtual Run

The virtual edition continues to gain popularity, allowing runners from across the globe to participate and experience the event through the TCS World 10K Bengaluru app. Participants can choose from the10K and 5K categories.

Registrations for the Virtual Run open on Thursday, 20th February, and will close on Thursday, 17th April 2025, or earlier if spots are filled.

Advantage Virtual 

This year, the TCS World 10K Bengaluru offers an exciting opportunity for Virtual 10K and Virtual 5K participants to earn a guaranteed non-complimentary spot in the prestigious on-ground race categories for the 2026 edition. Finishers in these virtual events, selected through a random drawing, will secure their place in the respective categories, providing a seamless path from virtual to in-person participation. Entry rules and regulations will apply.

The selection includes:

• For Virtual 10K finishers: 1000 men and 1000 women finishers in the on-ground 10K.

• For Virtual 5K finishers: 250 men and 250 women finishers in the on-ground 10K.

• For Virtual 5K finishers: 1000 men and 1000 women finishers in the on-ground Majja Run. 

Venue for Race Day 

• RSAOI Cricket Ground – Pre-race holding area for Open 10K and Majja Run participants

• Army Public School parking areas – Pre & post-race holding areas for Champions with Disability participants

• Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw Parade Ground – Pre & post-race holding area for Senior Citizen Run participants

• Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw Parade Ground – Post-race area for Open 10K and Majja Run participants

• Service road on Kamraj Road (outside Army Public School) – Pre & post-event holding area for elite athletes

Tata Consultancy Services World 10K Bengaluru receives continued support from the Government of Karnataka, Karnataka Athletic Association, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Bengaluru Police, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, Department of Horticulture, Sports Authority of India, Athletics Federation of India, World Athletics, Association of International Marathons & Distance Races and Global Sports Communication.The TCS World 10K Bengaluru is strengthened by its partnerships

Title Sponsor — Tata Consultancy Services

Associate Sponsor — IDFC FIRST Bank 

Sports Goods Partner — ASICS 

Hydration Partner — Bisleri 

Energy Drink Partner — FAST&UP 

Social Connect Partner – Vedanta 

Print Partner — The Times of India 

Entertainment Partner — Mirchi 

Telecast Partner — SONY Sports 1

Medical Services Partner — Fortis 

Philanthropy Partner — aidbees 

Hospitality Partner — ITC Windsor Bengaluru

Sr.Citizens Run Facilitator — Vayah Vikas

Inclusion Ally — Adventures Beyond Barriers Foundation (ABBF) 

Follow us on

https://tcsworld10k.procam.in/

https://www.instagram.com/tcsw10k/

https://www.facebook.com/tcsw10k

https://x.com/TCSWorld10K

https://www.youtube.com/user/procamrunning

 For more details, please contact

Procam International:

Neha Kandalgaonkar / Deepak M Pilankar

neha@procam.in/ deepak@procam.in

WordsWork Communication 

Nandini Kumar; 9886040715; nandini@wordswork.in

 

Freedom Healthy Cooking Oils to felicitate the winners of the Bumper Draw of ‘Go for Freedom Gold Offer 2024’ 1 winner from each state receives the 50 gram Gold Coin & 2 winners get 10 Grams Gold Coins

 Freedom Healthy Cooking Oils, the leading brand of edible oils in the country, announced the winners of the Bumper Draw of ‘Go for Freedom Gold Offer’ for Bengaluru. One lucky winner has received a 50-gram gold coin, while 2 winners have received a 10-gram gold coin. The famous Kannada Actress Ashika Ranganath gave away the awards to the lucky winners.

The promotional scheme ‘Go for Freedom Gold Offer 2024’ was introduced to engage with the customers during the festive season. It covered the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. In these regions 100 consumers won 1-gram gold daily and also got a chance to participate in the bumper draw. To participate in the ‘Go for Freedom Gold Offer 2024’ the customers needed to purchase two 1-litre pouches of Freedom Refined Sunflower Oil in these markets.

The scheme received an overwhelming response from all the states. As a part of the scheme 5 lucky winners (1 from each state) would receive a 50-gram gold coin, while 10 winners (2 from each state) would  receive a 10-gram gold coin. A total of 5500 lucky winners received one 1gm Gold Coin across the states.  The list of winners was also published on the website of  www.freedomconsumeroffer.com. Pine Labs Pvt Ltd is the technology partner of ‘Go for Freedom Gold Offer 2024’. They were also a dominant provider of point-of-sale and payment solutions in India, with a vast reach across the merchant ecosystem.

Mr. P. Chandrashekara Reddy, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Gemini Edibles & Fats India Ltd, said, “At Freedom Healthy Cooking Oils, has always been driven by the zeal to look beyond just offering quality and safe products to our consumers through unique promotional schemes like ‘Go for Freedom Gold Offer 2024’ across the geographies we operate in.  This offer has spread happiness among the people. We are happy that people from diverse backgrounds have received the prizes during the scheme. We would like to congratulate all the lucky winners and thank all the customers who participated in the scheme and made it a grand success.”

Adding to this, Mr Chetan Pimpalkhute, GM, Marketing, Freedom Healthy Cooking Oils, stated, “Our mission is to inspire healthier cooking habits by providing oils that are not only rich in nutrients but also support heart health. To add excitement to this festive season and reward our patrons, we have introduced ‘Go for Freedom Gold Offer 2024’. This limited-time promotion gives customers the opportunity to win a gold coin every day while enjoying the health benefits of Freedom Healthy Cooking Oils as they savour the delicacies by eating guilt free, this season. I would like to congratulate all the lucky winners and thank all the customers who participated in the scheme and made it a grand success.

Freedom Refined Sunflower oil is fortified with Vitamins A & D. It is also rich in naturally occurring Vitamin E. It is thus a healthier choice for the entire family. Freedom is a leading brand of Sunflower oil and currently ranks No. 1 by market share in the Sunflower Oil category in India. (Source: Nielsen MAT FEB, 2024).  

10 young chefs battle out in Round 1 of 11th IIHM Young Chef Olympiad at Bengaluru Final winner to be announced on Feb 8

 10 young chef Olympians from 10 different countries of the world participated in the Round 1 of the 11th IIHM International Young Chef Olympiad (YCO) in the Bengaluru campus of the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) today.

The participants of the round-1 were Doru Lucian Nasta from Romania, Lim Qi Yi from Malaysia, Alicia Dzithendo Muvhirwa from South Africa, Elwaro Junior Suze from Namibia, Aishath Sobaha Hussain from Maldives, Sarmila Subba from Bhutan, Nguema Obono Aqulies Alogo from Equatorial Guinea, Young Choi from Switzerland, Gabrielle Brooke Harrison from Northern Islands and Shirin Moosaee from Iran. 

The culinary battle, that began at 9 am saw these young chefs showcasing their culinary skills in 3.5 hours starting with skills test, preparation of vegetarian dish and a dessert. The contest concluded at 2:00 PM.

The first round of the Olympiad Competition for Bengaluru was judged by a panel of esteemed international chefs, including Chef Shaun Kenworthy, Chef/food concept consultant and strategist, Chef Mario Perera, Executive Chef at The Dorchester, London. Chef Enzo Oliveri, Celebrity Chef, Cavaliere OSI, President of Italian Chefs Federation UK, Director International Hospitality Council, Senior Judge Young Chef Olympiad, Hospitality Educator, Food promoter, Events/Exhibition Organiser. The Chief Adjudicator was Chef Paul Jervis - head of school Westminster capital city of college.

The Bengaluru event will be sponsored by Ariane Porcelain, Brigade Hospitality, Mc Cain Foods, Incredible India- Ministry of Tourism & Yuva Tourism Bangalore Chapter and Delphis.

“The competition aimed to test the participants' culinary skills, creativity, and knowledge of different cuisines, as well as their ability to work under pressure. The judges were impressed with the level of skill and creativity displayed by the young chefs, making it a tough competition to judge. We all are super excited as this is the 11th YCO”, apprised Sanchari Chowdhury, FIIHM, Director- IIHM Hotel School, Bangalore, Head- South India & Co-Director- IndiSmart Learning. 

The leading 10 competitors from Round 1 will compete in the Grand Finale; the next 10 competitors filling the 11th to 20th positions will compete for the Plate Trophy and the remaining competitors will take part in the YCO Dr Suborno Bose Challenge. The 11th International IIHM Young Chef Olympiad looks all set to be the mega culinary competition and conclave of the year.

On the occasion, Dr Suborno Bose, Chairman, IIHM, who conceptualised and has passionately guided this event since its inception in 2015, said, “The 11th International Young Chef Olympiad is the biggest Culinary Olympiad anywhere in the world. This year over 50 countries are participating in the Olympiad. This is the first time in the history of the event that there is participation in such large numbers. IIHM campuses across the country are eagerly looking forward to hosting this mega culinary competition which will not only inspire young chefs from around the world to do their best but also sensitise them to the critical importance of sustainability in the field of hospitality.”

The Grand Final’s Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medallists; the Plate Trophy Winner; the YCO Dr Suborno Bose Challenge Winner and all other Award Winners will be announced at the Closing Awards Ceremony on the evening of February 8, 2025. While the Gold winner will be awarded a US $ 5,000 prize, the Silver winner will bag US $3,000, and the Bronze winner $2,000.

This year an additional elimination round was the Young Chef India round which saw participation from students from hotel management institutes across the country. We are proud that the winner of the YCI 2025 is Aliakbar Rampurawala from Bengaluru,” apprised Ms Chowdhury, 

Showcasing the multicultural culinary diversity of different countries, YCO 2025 also brought together the student chefs and chef mentors for the “United World of Young Chefs”. There was World Cuisine display on Feb 3 by the 10 participating countries at Bangalore & Karnataka Food festival organized by IIHM Bangalore in partnership with Venue Partner Brigade Hospitality,” added Ms Chowdhury.