Traders Hotel, Manila Launches PressReader Offering Guests Access To 2,500+ Newspapers and Magazines

Guests Can Use Personal Devices to Read and Download Global Selection of Titles

Manila, July 23, 2014 —Traders Hotels is raising the bar by implementing PressReader, an all-you-can-read digital news stand, in its 15 hotels throughout Australia, Asia and the Middle East.

PressReader’s innovative technology offers Traders Hotel guests cover-to-cover full editions of more than 2,500 global newspapers and magazines in 60 languages from over 100 countries, which can be read or downloaded on personal laptops and mobile devices.

“We at Traders Hotels strongly believe in offering our guests the quickest and easiest way to get what they need.  In this instance, PressReader clearly does that,” says Lothar Nessmann, chief operating officer, Traders Hotels.

Traders Hotels, part of the Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts network, is the practical choice for both business and leisure travelers. Its hotels are located in key hubs, such as, Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai and even Brisbane. Traders Hotels caters to the savvy traveler who appreciates smart functionality at work, rest or play.

“We are happy to support Traders Hotels’ goal of making life easier for their guests,” said Igor Smirnoff, chief commercial officer of PressReader. “This partnership allows us to meet the needs of Traders Hotels’ guests while aligning to their eco-friendly practices through PressReader’s digital delivery format.”

Guests of Traders Hotel, Manila will find it very convenient to start reading the latest editions of their favorite newspapers and magazines the moment they check in. There is no need for guests to set up an account or login. Once the guest connects to the hotel

i, they can download and launch the PressReader app on their personal device and will instantly be able to select from thousands of titles. The service is available anywhere on the hotel property.

PressReader’s broad selection includes many local newspapers and lifestyle magazines from the areas served by the hotels.

For inquiries, please call (63 2) 708 4888. For updates, visit www.facebook.com/TradersHotelManila.

Smart to train teachers on mobile apps development

Wireless leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) will hold a four-day training workshop on mobile applications development for faculty members of colleges and universities in a bid to help meet market demand for mobile apps developers.

The SWEEPx Mobile Apps Development project is designed for faculty members in tertiary level schools. It will have its first run at the Angeles University Foundation in Angeles City on August 15 to 20.  Similar training programs will be organized in other educational hubs in other parts of the country over the coming months such as the cities of Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Legazpi, and Davao.

The training will focus on Android mobile apps development.  Industry data has revealed that majority of mobile handsets and tablets in the Philippines run on the Android operating platform.

“SWEEPx aims to help nurture the mobile apps development community by building a bigger base of Android apps developers in our colleges and universities.  There is a growing demand for mobile apps with the increased take-up of smartphones and other mobile devices,” said Ramon R. Isberto, head of Public Affairs at Smart.

“By tapping the creative pool from our schools, we want to make the Philippines a hub for mobile apps development for learning, games and recreation, mobile money, and even for social good,” added Isberto.

SWEEPx is the latest initiative of Smart in the mobile education space, where mobile technologies and content are utilized to help further expand learning opportunities for target learning communities.  For this initiative, Smart will promote skills development among the teachers and familiarize them with the latest technology trends in this highly digitized environment.

Research firm IDC predicts smartphone adoption in the country will rise 22 percent year-on-year in 2014. In 2013, market analyst GfK reported a 42-percent jump in smartphone sales.

IDC said the sustained demand for smartphones will lead to a consequent increase in mobile apps usage among Filipinos.  IDC said demand for more localized apps and those that cater to the interests of Philippine consumers will further increase, opening up huge opportunities for mobile apps developers in the country.

“With SWEEPx, we want to help build and expand the skills of the faculty members of our colleges and universities.  This initiative is in line with our efforts to sustain learning among our teachers and keep them abreast with the latest trends in mobile technologies,” said Stephanie Orlino, senior manager and head of education programs at Smart Public Affairs.

“This will also help colleges and universities come up with course offerings that are relevant to the needs of the marketplace,” added Orlino.

Guided by the principle of matching the technology platform to the partner community’s context, Smart has been instituting various initiatives under its Smart Schools Program that aim to enhance Philippine education.

Traders hotel, manila celebrates chinese new year with special Dining and Room Offers

Traders Hotel, Manila welcomes the festive Chinese New Year by offering an exciting line-up of activities and exclusive dining and room privileges to celebrate good fortune and an auspicious 2014.

Start the most anticipated and blissful Year of the Wood Horse by indulging in a majestic spread of beautifully crafted international specialties and a vast assortment of specially prepared Chinese creations along with Chinese-Style Roast Suckling Pig and the Yee Sang or Yu Shang, a popular tradition also known as the ‘Prosperity Toss’.

Yee Sang consists of more than 20 ingredients all chosen for their symbolism. It is considered a must-have dish for Chinese New Year festivities to attract good fortune. Make the event even more memorable by celebrating with loved ones for only P1,288 nett per person for lunch or dinner buffet from January 30 to February 2, 2014. Get one (1) complimentary buffet for every group of six (6) plus one free lucky ticket. Per DTI-NCR Permit No. A1-0009. Series of 2014.

Japanese food patrons may indulge in fresh sushi, sashimi, savory U.S. Beef Sukiyaki, assorted tempura and more in a special weekend lunch buffet by Japanese Executive Chef Masahiro Mizumoto at Kitsho Japanese Restaurant and Sake Bar for only P888 nett per person from January 31 to February 2, 2014. 

Take part in tradition and welcome the positivity with a dazzling Lion Dance performance by the members of Philippine Ming Sheng Wushu Association and an abundance of prosperity from the God of Fortune on 31 January 2014, 11:30 a.m. at the hotel lobby.

IdeaSpace-backed PinoyTravel clinches IT Startup of the Year award for 2013

PinoyTravel, an IdeaSpace-backed startup that seeks to revolutionize the local provincial bus industry in the Philippines, was awarded as the “IT Startup of the Year” during the Cyberpress Awards in December. IN PHOTO: (From left) PinoyTravel Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder Maui Millan, IdeaSpace Associate Director Dustin Masancay, PinoyTravel CEO and Co-Founder Aurora Soriano, Cyberpress President Alora Uy Guerrero and Vice President for Internal Affairs Paolo Montecillo. Photo courtesy of Raffy Pedrajita/Cyberpress 

For its bold attempts at revolutionizing the provincial bus industry in the Philippines, PinoyTravel, a startup that provides an online and mobile reservation system for domestic travel, has been named the “IT Startup of the Year” during the Cyberpress Awards in December.

PinoyTravel is one of the first incubatees of the largest privately-backed technology incubator and accelerator in the country, IdeaSpace Foundation, Inc. (IdeaSpace), and offers travelers the convenience of skipping the queue in bus terminals to reserve and purchase tickets to their provincial destinations.

Commercially launched in October 2013, PinoyTravel currently allows booking of bus seats to three local destinations—Baler, Baguio, and Tuguegarao—through its Android and Web apps.

“As a young startup company, we feel really honored to be recognized for the work that we did with PinoyTravel in 2013. We thank Cyberpress for this distinction that inspires us to do a lot more to change domestic travel in the country and promote local tourism as a whole,” said Aurora Soriano, President and Co-Founder at PinoyTravel.

The Cyberpress Awards, given annually by the IT Journalists Association of the Philippines, recognizes the best output of the technology industry every year. Among other awardees for 2013 include the LG G2 smartphone for “IT Product of the Year”; Cherry Mobile for “IT Company of the Year”; Peter Bithos for “IT Executive of the Year”; and the NSA scandal for “IT Story of the Year.”

Aside from receiving the award, PinoyTravel was also identified by IdeaSpace as one of the few startups it is currently evaluating for further funding and support.

IdeaSpace is currently on the lookout for fresh technology ideas that will form part of its second batch of startups for 2014. With entries now open to early-stage startups and ideas in Southeast Asia, IdeaSpace hopes to get more innovative technology solutions until the submission deadline on January 15, 2014.

“The Philippines and the entire Southeast Asian region has an edge in making a difference in the technology landscape through social innovations that address the market’s most pressing problems,” said Earl Martin Valencia, President and Co-Founder at IdeaSpace. “With the competiton now open to startups in Southeast Asia, we expect to get more sparks of genius such as PinoyTravel that we can help nurture and develop.”

To know how you can submit your unique technology idea to IdeaSpace, simply visit http://apply.ideaspacefoundation.org. Winners of the IdeaSpace 2014 Startup Competiton stand a chance to win an incubation and acceleration program worth P1 million, including seed funding, legal support, training, mentoring, housing and office space, among others.

To know more about PinoyTravel, please visit www.pinoytravel.com.ph or download the Android app on the Google Play Store.