WPP’s Gain Theory Named A Leader in Marketing Measurement and Optimization Solutions

NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Gain Theory, a global foresight consultancy that accelerates growth for ambitious brands, has been named a Leader in The Forrester Wave™: Marketing Measurement and Optimization Solutions, Q1 2022.

The Forrester MMO wave evaluates and benchmarks the most significant marketing measurement and optimization providers against current offering, strategy, and market presence. Forrester categorizes providers as either Leaders, Strong Performers, Contenders or Challengers.

The Forrester report states that “Large global enterprises with complex marketing budgets in search of high-touch services should put Gain Theory on their short list” and notes that Gain Theory’s “services offering really shines among the competitive set.”

Gain Theory received the highest scores possible across 13 criteria, defined as superior relative to other vendors in the evaluation. Gain Theory’s highest scores include the use case criteria of ‘Brand Portfolio Management’, ‘Omnichannel Marketing Strategy and Planning’ and ‘Insights Driven Business’. Full marks were also given to Gain Theory in the criteria of ‘Unified Measurement Methodology’, ‘Marketing Strategy Consulting’, ‘Business Strategy Consulting’ and ‘Change Management Consulting’.

Of note is the top mark possible given to Gain Theory in ‘Unified Measurement Methodology’. The report states “Gain Theory’s long-term approach is to advance its planning and optimization recommendations by incorporating more customer behaviors and data signals.”

With regard to Gain Theory’s ability to advise on enterprise-wide business growth levers, top marks were also given in the ‘Business Strategy Consulting” criterion which evaluated vendors’ ability to apply its measurement and optimization capabilities across areas such as customer churn analysis, pricing analysis, demand generation analysis and other functional insights.

At a time of unprecedented change and uncertainty, organizations need a more holistic and future-facing approach to accelerating growth. We have enabled our clients to do this by activating smart business strategies that fuse hindsight, insight, and foresight. We are delighted about our position as a Leader in Forrester’s Wave report,said Gain Theory Global CEO, Manjiry Tamhane, “It confirms for us the unique value that we deliver to our clients globally who trust us to focus on what matters the most, simplify the complex at speed, and ultimately make a meaningful difference to their business performance.

About Gain Theory

Gain Theory is a global foresight consultancy, focused on accelerating growth for ambitious brands.

Our experts in data, advanced analytics, technology and consultancy fuse hindsight, insight, and foresight to improve investment decisions and activate growth at speed.

Available in 62 markets, our award-winning solutions and highly specialized vertical expertise support clients via four measurement and optimization pillars: Foundations for Growth, Data Excellence, Growth Accelerators and Activating for Growth.

To focus on what matters the most for clients, Gain Theory’s proprietary Marketing Effectiveness Index evaluates and benchmarks marketing effectiveness maturity – establishing critical gaps standing in the way of accelerated growth. Built on data, the Marketing Effectiveness Index benchmarks against sector and industry to help inform transformational roadmap priorities.

Gain Theory is a WPP agency (NYSE: WPP).

Find out more at www.gaintheory.com and follow our social channels via LinkedIn or Twitter.

For press queries please contact:
Claudia Sestini
Global CMO, Gain Theory
claudia.sestini@gaintheory.com

Africa’s first voco hotel is open in South Africa’s trendy district, Rosebank Johannesburg

JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has opened voco The Bank Johannesburg Rosebank – the first voco property in Africa. As one of IHG’s newest hotel brands, voco combines the reassurance of a global brand with the informality and charm of an individual hotel.

The Bank, Rosebank’s striking new architectural gem, is a short distance from the Gautrain (Metro Express) and surrounded by the buzzing walk-work-play district of Rosebank. voco The Bank Johannesburg Rosebank takes space, sophistication and artistry to the next level, with a range of beautifully appointed rooms and suites featuring the thoughtful, relaxed and unstuffy design so characteristic of the voco brand, as well as an enviable collection of original local artwork.

An upscale sanctuary in the heart of one of the city’s trendiest districts, an international business hub renowned for its shopping, art and design, and exclusivity, voco The Bank Johannesburg Rosebank delivers on the promise of its name – ‘to invite’ or to ‘come together’ in Latin.

Africa’s first voco hotel: voco The Bank Johannesburg, King room

Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East and Africa, IHG said: “As part of our growth strategy in Africa we have partnered with Valor to expand our footprint on the Continent. Valor has been our long-term partner in the United States and the United Kingdom, and we are delighted to open our first voco hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa. voco The Bank Johannesburg Rosebank is a best in class property and a great entry to market for IHG. voco The Bank is a distinct hotel with an individual character in the buzzing “walk-work-play” district of Rosebank and will be a great addition to the destination. This new opening in the trendy hub of Rosebank adds to the momentum we are building in the IMEA region with six voco hotels openings in key cities.”

The 131-room hotel embodies the characteristics of voco with exclusive features and distinctive hallmarks, setting it apart for a memorable stay. Every guest will experience the voco signature ‘come on in’ warm welcome, promising a swift and simple check in, with dedicated voco hosts available throughout the guest’s stay as resident experts, and a locally inspired welcome treat. As part of the transformational works carried out at the property, the guest rooms benefit from the voco design concept with thoughtful comforts like cosy bedding made from 100% recycled materials, Antipodes high quality organic amenities in larger dispenser bottles, and high-speed Wi-Fi, Smart TVs, executive desks and in-room refreshments. So, guests can relax and indulge in some ‘me time’ when they stay at voco.

Double volume ceilings, chic modern bathrooms and valet parking complete this distinctive upscale experience, while business travellers will be delighted with thoughtful features such as the in-room hand-held clothes steamers and large workspace with international adaptors and USB ports.

For a taste of ‘voco life’, the exciting and modern mid-century inspired all-day eatery, Proud Mary, is located on the ground floor of The Bank building, while Workshop17, a haven for remote working, can be found just one floor up. voco Johannesburg Rosebank also features a fully equipped gym.

Guests staying at voco The Bank Johannesburg Rosebank can enjoy in-room dining selecting from Proud Mary’s innovative menu featuring delicious small plates, salads, grills and a boutique wine list you would find at no other eatery in town.

With its strong commitment to ensuring the highest levels of sustainability, reflected in the multi award-winning building’s use of mainly renewable energy sources and voco The Bank Johannesburg Rosebank’s leading global sustainable practices, guests will be assured that their stay is both the epitome of comfort whilst being easy on the planet.

“We know that nowadays guests like to feel that they are making a difference,” said Jessica Redinger, General Manager of voco The Bank Johannesburg.  “We’ve gone out of our way to minimise the impact of our hotel on the environment, using best-practice sustainable guidelines where-ever we can. But it is just important for us to look after our guests while also looking after the planet. So, we have not sacrificed our world-class amenities and the comfortable and friendly guest experience that people have come to expect from voco.”

Occupying six floors of this mixed-used building, voco The Bank Johannesburg Rosebank shares this innovative space with signature tenants such as Rand Merchant Investments, Bespoken Man Barbers and Tailor Me, with the Rosebank Mall, The Firs and The Zone shopping districts being right on its doorstep.

For guests on the clock, private Workshop17 meeting and event spaces can be booked seamlessly through voco The Bank Johannesburg Rosebank.

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JOURNÉE MONDIALE DES MTN 2022 : 100 MONUMENTS DANS LE MONDE ENTIER S’ILLUMINENT ENSEMBLE POUR SENSIBILISER AUX MALADIES TROPICALES NÉGLIGÉES

ABOU DHABI, Émirats arabes unis, 31 janvier 2022 /PRNewswire/ — À

Expo 2020 Dubai Al Wasl Plaza - Credit_Chris Pike

l’occasion de la troisième Journée mondiale des maladies tropicales négligées (MTN), qui a eu lieu le 30 janvier 2022, 100 monuments dans 32 pays se sont illuminés à l’unisson, dont le clocher The Bell Tower à Perth, la tour de Tokyo, la Grande Muraille de Chine, la gare de New Delhi, le pont Cheikh Zayed à Abou Dhabi, l’Expo 2020 de Dubaï, le Kenyatta International Convention Centre, le Colisée de Rome, le Jet d’eau de Genève, les chutes Niagara, la Tour CN, la bibliothèque présidentielle Jimmy Carter et le Christ rédempteur de Rio de Janeiro.

Un accent particulier a été mis sur les monuments importants des pays endémiques, notamment le Bangladesh, le Brésil, le Burundi, la République démocratique du Congo, l’Éthiopie, le Ghana, l’Inde, le Kenya, le Libéria, le Mexique, le Niger, le Nigeria, les Philippines, le Rwanda, le Soudan du Sud et le Soudan. Annoncées initialement à Abou Dhabi en 2019, les 100 illuminations visent à mettre en lumière les MTN, car la Journée mondiale des MTN soutient l’objectif de l’Organisation mondiale de la santé (OMS) d’éradiquer au moins une MTN dans 100 pays endémiques d’ici 2030.

Rome Colosseum - Credit_Alessio Rubicondi

La Journée mondiale des MTN est un mouvement international qui vise à galvaniser la communauté mondiale de la santé et à faire participer le public à l’effort urgent d’éradication des MTN. Cette année, Unis pour combattre les MTN a profité de la Journée pour lancer le mouvement 100 % Engagé, dont le but est d’obtenir des engagements politiques et financiers soutenant la Déclaration de Kigali sur les MTN.

Thoko Pooley, directeur exécutif d’Unis pour combattre les MTN, a déclaré : « Aujourd’hui, en nous appuyant sur le succès de la Déclaration de Londres sur les MTN et en reconnaissant l’évolution du paysage mondial, nous utilisons la Journée mondiale des MTN 2022 comme catalyseur d’action. Nous lançons la campagne 100 % Engagé, un mouvement mondial visant à obtenir des ressources accrues pour les maladies tropicales négligées, et essentiel pour faciliter le leadership et la responsabilité politique des programmes de MTN dans les pays affectés, par l’aval et la signature de la nouvelle Déclaration de Kigali sur les MTN. »

Canada Niagara Falls - Credit_Lucas Claxton - GiantShoeCreative

Grâce aux efforts diplomatiques dirigés par les Émirats arabes unis pour obtenir la reconnaissance officielle de cette journée auprès de plusieurs États membres de l’OMS, cette dernière a officiellement reconnu la Journée mondiale des MTN en mai 2021. La Cour du prince héritier d’Abou Dhabi continue de jouer un rôle de premier plan dans l’établissement de partenariats et le soutien de la Journée mondiale des MTN, par l’entremise de l’initiative Reaching the Last Mile (RLM), un portefeuille de programmes de santé mondiaux axés sur l’accélération des progrès vers l’élimination de la maladie, motivés par l’engagement personnel de Son Altesse le cheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, prince héritier d’Abou Dhabi.

Philippines SM MALL OF ASIA GLOBE_Credit - Erwin Barleta

Nassar Al Moubarak, directeur principal de la Cour du prince héritier d’Abou Dhabi, a affirmé : « La Journée mondiale des MTN joue un important rôle catalyseur pour transformer la sensibilisation en action – il est non seulement primordial que le public en sache davantage sur ces maladies, mais aussi que les donateurs, les pays endémiques et les autres parties prenantes collaborent pour éradiquer les MTN dans les pays touchés. Au cours des dernières décennies, des progrès incroyables ont été réalisés pour faire disparaître les MTN; pourtant, une personne sur cinq dans les communautés les plus vulnérables du monde entier souffre toujours d’une de ces maladies pouvant être évitées et soignées. Nous sommes heureux de constater que la Journée offre une plateforme pour accroître la sensibilisation grâce à la nouvelle campagne 100 % Engagé et à des efforts comme les illuminations. Nous espérons que ce mouvement continuera de prendre de l’ampleur et de susciter de nouveaux partenariats et engagements nécessaires pour éliminer les MTN pour de bon. »

Tokyo Tower - Credit_Yoshiaki Miura

Les MTN sont un groupe de maladies transmissibles qui peuvent être évitées et soignées, mais qui continuent pourtant de toucher plus de 1,7 milliard de personnes dans le monde, dont 1 milliard d’enfants. Ces 20 maladies provoquent d’immenses souffrances : elles affaiblissent, défigurent et peuvent être mortelles. Les MTN créent des cycles de pauvreté et coûtent chaque année des milliards de dollars aux pays en voie de développement.

New Delhi Railway Station in India

https://worldntdday.org/

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Leaning Tower of Pisa - Credit_Vanessa Salvati
Christ the Redeemer in Brazil - Credit_Roberto Antunes
Canada CN Tower - Credit_Jonathan Gazze
Kenya Kenyatta International Convention Centre - Credit_Lameck Ododo
UNESCO World Heritage Kinderdijk Mills - Credit_Sylvia
Rwanda Kigali Convention Centre - Credit_Andre Rugema
The Helmsley Building in New York
UAE Emirates Palace - Credit_Jonathan Gibbons
Great Wall of China, Simatai - Credit_WTown

Des journalistes de 55 pays africains participent à une conférence de presse organisée par l’Église Shincheonji

NEW YORK, 31 janvier 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Des médias de 55 pays africains ont participé à une conférence de presse organisée par l’Église Shincheonji de Jésus, le Temple du Tabernacle du Témoignage, le 28 janvier. L’événement comprenait des interventions du président de l’Église Shincheonji, Man Hee Lee, et un résumé des faits saillants concernant la dernière série de l’Église, intitulée « Témoignage sur les paraboles des secrets du ciel et leur véritable signification ». La conférence de presse a été organisée à la demande des journalistes et des pasteurs africains de tout le continent.

Africa Press Conference of Shincheonji Church

Le tout nouveau séminaire en ligne de l’Église Shincheonji sur les paraboles de Jésus a débuté le 3 janvier et se poursuivra jusqu’au 28 mars. Il fait suite au succès de la série précédente de l’église, qui a témoigné des prophéties et de leurs accomplissements inscrits dans le livre de l’Apocalypse pendant 10 semaines en 2021, du 18 octobre au 27 décembre. Jusqu’à présent, le nombre de vues cumulées sur YouTube a atteint 8 millions. À la suite de ce séminaire sur l’Apocalypse, l’Église Shincheonji a signé des protocoles d’accord avec plus de 1 200 pasteurs et séminaires dans 57 pays. Sur ce total, 235 protocoles d’accord ont été signés dans 16 pays d’Afrique.

« Je souhaite que tout le monde, dans le monde entier, vienne étudier la parole du séminaire de Shincheonji pour changer leur vie », a déclaré Stephen Ogwang, secrétaire général de Born Again Churches en Ouganda.

Environ 300 journalistes ont participé à la conférence de presse du 28 janvier. Le président Lee, qui a répondu aux questions sur les séminaires et les protocoles d’accord, a demandé à tous les attachés de presse de promouvoir le témoignage sur la prophétie et l’accomplissement de l’Apocalypse et le fait que les secrets du royaume des cieux sont accessibles à tous.

La série « Témoignage sur les paraboles des secrets du ciel et leur véritable signification » est diffusée deux fois par semaine sur la chaîne YouTube de l’Église Shincheonji, dans 24 langues différentes.

Rendez-vous sur le site Internet de Shincheonji Americas pour plus d’informations : www.scjamericas.org

CONTACT POUR LES MÉDIAS : Gina Del Gigante, 16466287365, revelation@scjamericas.com

Photo : https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1736581/Photo_Main_Image.jpg

Tropical Storm Ana leaves trail of destruction in Madagascar

Residents in an inundated neighbourhood of Madagascar’s capital Antananarivo are returning with dread to see what remains of their homes and harvests, three days after Tropical Storm Ana relented.

Flooding has killed 51 people on the large Indian Ocean island off southeastern Africa since 10 days of intense rain began on January 17.

The storm formed to the east of Madagascar last week, causing floods and landslides and affecting around 130,000 people, with many made homeless overnight.

Ana then hit Mozambique and Malawi on the African mainland, killing 90 people across the three countries.

Rescue crews are still battling to access regions where roads and bridges have been swept away after the storm cut off tens of thousands and left them without power.

Travelling on makeshift boats, small groups row through water and a common floating plant called tsifakona normally given to pigs as food.

Some refused to spend the 300 Malagasy ariary ($0.08) for transport and are forced to carry their children where the water level remains high.

“I woke up at three o’clock in the morning to go to the toilet and found my house full of water,” said Ulrich Tsontsozafy, 66.

Recalling the ordeal from the top of a pile of chairs in his waterlogged room, the retired soldier is trying to find ways to avoid having his feet constantly in the water.

“It ruins your skin. It chafes and it infects,” he said of the floodwater, showing a fine white film that has developed on the skin between his toes.

– Humanitarian emergency –

Residents in Antananarivo’s swampy Betsimitatatra plain are used to living with water thanks to an ingenious system of wooden pontoons that usually connect houses.

But the storm has engulfed everything with a brownish water that reeks of silt, while rats seeking food swam at the surface for a few days.

Tsontsozafy’s rice paddy, coconut tree and avocado tree were destroyed.

His wife, Juliette Etaty, 65, managed to save some bags of rice, heaped up with pans and clothes in a pile that reaches their ceiling.

Their grand-daughter Luciana, 17, remembered waking up in the middle of the night with her feet dipped in water.

“The first thing I thought of was my school notebooks,” she said.

Gyms and schools in the capital have been requisitioned and turned into emergency shelters.

But the family preferred not to go for fear of catching Covid-19 in a crowded space and leaving their home vulnerable to burglars and the elements.

Toky Ny Nosy, an unemployed 42-year-old, took shelter in a school as she thought her home was about to collapse under the weight of the deluge.

She also suffers from asthma and said the water was preventing her from breathing properly.

Despite coming back to her neighbourhood every day for almost two weeks, the water still reaches her hips.

Hundreds of families huddled in a classroom converted into an emergency shelter watch the arrival of a truck laden with food for the evening.

But “there’s never enough,” said Toky.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

Waste from COVID-19 Gear Poses Health Risk

The World Health Organization warns of health care risks posed by discarded COVID-19 equipment and is calling on nations to better manage their systems for disposing of the used gear.

Tackling the COVID-19 pandemic requires the use of huge quantities of personal protective equipment or PPE and the use of needles and syringes to administer vaccines, among other essential products.

A new World Health Organization global analysis finds the quantities of health care waste generated by the goods are enormous and potentially dangerous. Maggie Montgomery is the technical officer for water, sanitation and health in the WHO Department of Environment.

She says COVID-19 has increased health care risks in facilities at up to 10 times previous volumes.

“If you consider that two in three health care facilities in the least developed countries did not have systems to segregate or safely treat waste before this pandemic, you can just imagine how much burden this extra waste load has put on health care workers, on communities, especially where waste is burned,” Montgomery said.

The report finds the hazardous disposal of COVID-19 waste potentially exposes health workers to needle stick injuries, burns and pathogenic microorganisms, air pollution and many dangers associated with living near poorly managed landfills and waste disposal sites.

WHO experts analyzed approximately 87,000 tons of PPE that were shipped to needy countries between March 2020 and November 2021 through a joint U.N. emergency initiative. Most of the equipment, they say, was expected to end up as waste.

The report provides an initial indication of the scale of the COVID-19 waste problem that exists only within the health sector, which is enormous. Montgomery says it does not look at the volumes of waste being generated in the wider community.

“In terms of the waste generated by the public, in particular masks. For example, in 2020, there were 4.5 trillion additional disposable masks thrown away by the public, which led to six million tons of additional waste,” Montgomery said. “So, certainly, the public is generating the most. At the same time, we feel that the health sector has a really important role and there are many concrete things that can be done to reduce, unnecessary use of PPE.”

WHO recommendations for safer and more environmentally sustainable waste practices include using eco-friendly packaging and shipping, safe and reusable gloves and medical masks, and investing in non-burn waste treatment technologies.

Source: Voice of America

US Lightning Bolt Leaps Into Record Books at 768 Kilometers Long

A single lightning bolt that leapt across three U.S. states has been identified as the longest ever, the U.N. weather agency said Tuesday. Dubbed a megaflash, the rare low-rate horizontal discharge covered 768 kilometers (477 miles) between clouds in Texas and Mississippi in April 2020.

It was detected by scientists using satellite technology and its distance – beating the previous record by 60 kilometer – confirmed by a World Meteorological Organization committee.

“That trip by air[plane] would take a couple of hours and in this case the distance was covered in a matter of seconds,” WMO spokesperson Clare Nullis said.

Another megaflash that occurred above Uruguay and Argentina in June 2020 also set a record, as the longest-lasting at 17.1 seconds, the WMO said.

While these two newly cataloged megaflashes never touched the ground, they serve as a reminder of the dangers of a weather phenomenon that kill hundreds of people a year.

“We reiterate our message: when thunder roars, when you see lightning — go indoors. Don’t seek shelter in a beach hut, don’t stand under a tree,” Nullis said.

Source: Voice of America