Latest news with #RFP
Skift
3 days ago
- Business
- Skift
Events Industry Recovery Hits Geopolitical Headwinds
The industry is facing its first non-pandemic resilience test. The numbers aren't terrible, but they're a wake-up call for an industry that's gotten too comfortable with its comeback narrative. The global events industry cooled in the first quarter of 2025 but still outperformed the same period last year, according to a new Events Industry Council (EIC) report. Hotel group bookings and RFP activity dipped to 90% of 2019 levels — down from 96% and 98% in the prior quarter, but up from 87% in Q1 of 2024. North America had the strongest hotel group demand, hitting 96% of 2019 levels. The Middle East followed at 95%. Central and Eastern Europe was the worst performing region at 74% of pre-pandemic levels. Regional RFP activity varied widely. Mexico led at 177% of 2019 levels, followed by Turkey at 171%. The U.S. maintained strong performance at 112%, while China and Germany struggled at 56% and 50% of pre-pandemic activity respectively. Global room rates averaged 129% of 2019 levels, a modest increase given a global inflation rate of 23.7%. This pricing pressure comes at a challenging time, as organizations grapple with tightening budgets and scrutiny of business travel and event expenditures. Large and medium-sized events (200+ peak room nights) show greater price sensitivity. Rates for larger events average 123% of 2019 levels compared to 129% for smaller ones. Events booked within 12 months command higher premiums than long-term bookings, suggesting organizers are paying more for flexibility. Industry headwinds include Middle East tensions, tariff uncertainties, and shifting travel policies. The latest business sentiment index from Oxford Economics — which partners with the EIC on this series of reports — is 1.1% below the historical average, with 74% of respondents citing trade war concerns as their top risk. While the industry's recovery foundation remains solid, geopolitical pressures and policy shifts raise questions about potential slowdowns ahead.
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Developed by Pune's ARDE and Bharat Forge: Close Quarter Battle carbine ready for frontline ops
A FULLY indigenous and highly effective system for counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism (CI/CT) operations, the Close Quarter Battle (CQB) carbine developed by the Pune-based facility of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Pune-headquartered Bharat Forge as development partner — is ready to be inducted into the Indian Army for frontline operations. The lightweight, compact and effective weapon system has been designed by the Pune based Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) which is a key facility of Armament and Combat Engineering Cluster of the DRDO. A post on X by the DRDO read, 'Significantly boosting Atma Nirbharta in critical technology, 5.56×45 mm CQB Carbine, designed and developed by Armament Research and Development Establishment and produced by Bharat Forge Ltd selected as L1 in Indian Army Request for Proposal (RFP).' An RFP was initiated by the Ministry of Defence for procurement of more than 4.23 lakh units of the Close Quarter Battle carbines in November 2022. The CQB designed by ARDE and manufactured by the development partner, Bharat Forge Ltd was also fielded. Many other industries also fielded their respective products. After extensive performance evaluation and other quality and maintainability trials, five weapons were qualified. CQB carbine fielded by Bharat Forge Limited and designed by ARDE was the lowest bidder (L1), DRDO officials said. ARDE selected Bharat Forge Limited and Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) — which is a government of India enterprise — through a competitive bidding process for development contracts and established the technology with both industry partners in a span of two years. The CQB weapons manufactured by both the industry partners had qualified in the RFP trials and Bharat Forge manufactured system emerged as the lowest bidder. The 5.56×45 mm CQB carbine is a light weight, compact, effective weapon for use in close combat CI/CT operations. The design of CQB carbine is based on the high strength steel alloy based machined upper and lower bodies with bottom opening configuration. The CQB carbine is designed to fire in-service 5.56×45 mm ammunition. One of the unique features is it can fire both the NATO ammunition and INSAS ammunition. The weapon weighs less than 3.3kg with an effective range of 200 meters. ARDE-Bharat Forge CQB is a 100 percent Make in India weapon, DRDO officials said. The carbine uses forged steel technology and metal injection moulding technology which makes it highly reliable and accurate. The weapon is equipped with a 30 round magazine with a very high rate of fire. The weapon was tested in all terrains, operating conditions and in temperature ranges from subzero to scorching heat conditions. 'It is a case of full synergy between the development agency and manufacturing agency which has led to the success of the product making the DRDO proud.' an officer said. ARDE has already developed a 7.62×51 mm Assault Rifle named Ugram, which means ferocious. Ugram's design is based on the CQB Carbine platform and has an effective range of 500 meters. This weapon is being manufactured by Hyderabad based Dvipa Defence India Pvt Ltd as a development partner. Sushant Kulkarni is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express in Pune with 12+ years of experience covering issues related to Crime, Defence, Internal Security and Courts. He has been associated with the Indian Express since July 2010. Sushant has extensively reported on law and order issues of Pune and surrounding area, Cyber crime, narcotics trade and terrorism. His coverage in the Defence beat includes operational aspects of the three services, the defence research and development and issues related to key defence establishments. He has covered several sensitive cases in the courts at Pune. Sushant is an avid photographer, plays harmonica and loves cooking. ... Read More
Borneo Post
24-06-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Run for Peace returns to Sabah this September, promoting unity, sustainability and action
Lee (seated centre) with the organising committee of the Run for Peace. KOTA KINABALU (June 24): The biennial Run for Peace (RFP) will return to Sabah this September, calling on Malaysians from all backgrounds to unite in a powerful show of hope, sustainability and solidarity. First held in 2005 and organised by Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM), the non-competitive run has grown into a national grassroots movement promoting peace, social harmony and environmentally conscious living. It is endorsed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of National Unity. With this year's theme 'Peace Starts with Me – ActNOW for SDGs!', Run for Peace 2025 aims to amplify conversations around climate action and inclusivity, while encouraging people to embrace the principles of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In Sabah, the event will take place on September 7 at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Padang Kawad. According to Lee Pooh Ann, chairman of Soka Gakkai Malaysia, Sabah Branch, the run will cover a distance of 6.4 kilometres and is open to all participants aged between seven and 80. This year's edition brings with it a deeper commitment to sustainability. In line with efforts to reduce waste, participants are encouraged to reuse their t-shirts from the 2023 run. For those who require new shirts, SGM will provide options made from Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certified materials. Breaking from tradition, the organisers have also opted not to issue medals this year, highlighting that the real reward lies in taking part and contributing to the cause. Additionally, participants are urged to bring reusable water bottles and eco-bags, while recycling stations will be made available at all event venues. But Run for Peace is more than just a race. Ahead of the event, SGM will also be hosting a series of community-driven initiatives including gotong-royong campaigns, peace exhibitions, blood donation drives, recycling workshops and SDG awareness programmes. These activities are designed to inspire reflection and action long before the starting whistle is blown. Since its inception, the event has attracted more than 400,000 participants nationwide. Its greatest strength, organisers say, lies in its inclusivity, bringing people together across race, religion and age to work toward a more peaceful and united Malaysia. Registration for Run for Peace 2025 is now open via the official website:
Business Recorder
24-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
PC to appoint FAs for more Discos to assess sell-off potential
ISLAMABAD: The Privatisation Commission (PC) has decided to appoint Financial Advisors (FAs) for four more power distribution companies—Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO), Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO), Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO), and Hazara Electric Supply Company (HAZECO)—to evaluate the potential for their privatisation. The decision was made during a meeting of the PC Board, chaired by Muhammad Ali, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Privatisation. The board's recommendations will now be forwarded to the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCoP), led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar. Currently, three power distribution companies (DISCOs)—Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO), and Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO)—are already in the privatisation pipeline, with Financial Advisors actively developing their privatisation models. Discos' sell-off/provincialisation: PMO directs Power Div. to expedite consultations In this second phase, the PC plans to engage FAs to advise on structuring private sector participation in HESCO and SEPCO. Proposals are now invited from qualified firms or consortia with proven experience in similar transactions. Interested parties can access the Request for Proposal (RFP)—including Terms of Reference (ToRs), Evaluation Criteria, and a draft Financial Advisory Services Agreement (FASA)—at: Applicants must submit both Technical and Financial Proposals via email and courier, along with a non-refundable processing fee of $1,000 (or equivalent in PKR), as outlined in the RFP. The deadline for submissions is July 22, 2025. The PC emphasized that this notice does not constitute a formal offer or commitment, and no express or implied warranties should be assumed. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Cision Canada
23-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Solace Ranked Exemplary Provider by ISG Software Research in 2025 Messaging and Event Processing Buyers Guide
Solace Platform cited for full breadth of functionality, as well as overall product and customer experience OTTAWA, ON, June 23, 2025 /CNW/ -- Solace, the leader in powering real-time, event-driven integration for the agentic age, today announced it was named an "Exemplary Provider" in ISG Software Research's 2025 Messaging and Event Processing Buyers Guide, joining other industry heavyweights such as AWS, IBM, Microsoft and Google Cloud. An "Exemplary" rating is the highest classification given to those vendors who performed beyond the median in overall product and customer experience scoring. Solace earned the designation of Overall Leader as well as Leader in Product Experience and Customer Experience. In the Capability category, Solace received the highest marks for its complete scope of messaging and event processing functionality, as well as its commitment to investing in product development resources and system improvements. In Customer Experience, Solace was ranked among the top providers for its commitment to a successful customer journey across sales, onboarding, support, services and partners. "Messaging and event processing are the essential foundations of an event-driven architecture and enablers of real-time data processing, allowing enterprises to operate at the speed of business by acting on events as they happen," said Matt Aslett, Director of Research, Analytics and Data at ISG Software Research. "Solace's long-term focus on event-driven technology and strategy is reflected by its classification as Exemplary, as well as a Leader in both Product Experience and Customer Experience." Representing a distillation of more than a year of market and product research efforts, the Messaging and Event Processing Buyers Guide assessed 15 software providers, evaluating how well their offerings address an enterprise's requirements for capturing events and sharing information between applications, devices and systems as these events occur. Evaluation criteria span seven performance categories in Product and Customer Experience. Research is not sponsored nor influenced by software providers and is conducted to support an enterprise's RFI/RFP evaluation process through tailored assessment services and the ISG Software Research Value Index methodology. The full Messaging and Event Processing Buyers Guide can be found here. ISG Research also ranked Solace as an "Exemplary Provider" in two other related Buyers Guides for Real-Time Data and Application Integration. "The starting point for a real-time data strategy is the ability to liberate and communicate information related to business events as they occur. Solace's event-driven integration platform has proven to be the standard for seamlessly connecting systems through the instantaneous sharing of real-time events," said Shawn McAllister, CPO and CTO at Solace. "These Buyers Guide rankings underscore our ongoing commitment to empowering organizations with the real-time data movement capabilities they need to build responsive, event-driven integration solutions and stay ahead in today's digital landscape." Solace helps enterprises adopt AI by enabling real-time, event-driven data movement across their entire business. Built on a modern event-driven architecture, Solace Platform connects systems, applications, and AI agents with the data they need — securely, seamlessly, and at scale. Established enterprises worldwide – including RBC Capital Markets, Heineken, PSA Singapore and Schwarz Group – trust Solace to enable time-sensitive applications and processes; modernize their application and integration landscape; and create seamless digital experiences for their customers, partners and employees. Learn more at Press Contacts Europe & Americas IBA International Jamie Kightley [email protected] +44 (0) 1572 757932 UK Positive Daniel Brown [email protected] +44 7480 924144 APAC Rice Communications Trixie Wong [email protected] +65 9757 7531 SOURCE Solace Corporation
