Kathmandu The Himalayan Times Perspectives 3rd Brandfest Nepal 2016 kicked off on August 5 at Soaltee Crowne Plaza. The programme was initiated with a welcome address by Ravin Lama, Managing Director of The Himalayan Times. The ceremony was inaugurated with the lighting of the traditional ‘Panas’ by the esteemed speakers. The two-day long brand extravaganza promises a galore of life touching stories and the impact brands have in the lives of people. Interesting names of animals such as musk deer, cat, dove and so on were given to the different teams representing various organisations. Active participation from banks, advertising agencies, corporate houses and others was witnessed during the event. The event began with the participants engaging in the ‘World’s Fastest Magic Bingo’. To the pleasant surprise of the participants, all of them won prizes. There were many fun filled games as fillers where participants bagged exciting gift hampers. Cyrus Broacha, Master of Ceremonies, set the mood for the show. He shared, “In the previous years, Neha Dhupia and Diana Hayden were the Emcees, but this year they wanted someone sexier so I was chosen to host the show.” The participants were all ears to the powerful presentations that elaborated on the power of change that brands can bring to society. The Nepali audience could instantly connect with Bharat Avalani, CEO, Connecting the Dots Consultancy, Malaysia, because of the personal stories he shared and for his interactive session. “Storytelling is the future of marketing. As marketers, it’s important you craft your own story,” he said. Similarly, Babita Baruah, Senior VP and Head, J Walter Thompson, India, Alvin Teoh, Executive Creative Director, Naga DDB, Malaysia and Anand Tilak, Global Brand Partner, Facebook, too had powerful stories and insights to share. “The sessions were both informative as well as interesting. Events like these provide opportunities to network with professionals from different walks of life,” shared Deepak Raj Joshi, CEO, Nepal Tourism Board. The session was followed by a panel discussion on ‘Pulling It All Together: Capturing Lessons Learned from the Day and Taking the Unanswered Questions’, moderated by Sumit Roy, Founder Director, Univbrands, India. Towards the end of the informative and fun filled day was Cannes Gold Prix Showreel and Brandfest 2016 Quiz. The overall mood of the mega event was quite celebrative and interactive. The Himalayan Times Perspectives 3rd Brandfest Nepal 2016 definitely set the benchmark for the extravagance of knowledge and entertainment. It was quite the celebration of Branding in Nepal, like never before. Asian Paints is the title sponsor of The Himalayan Times Perspectives 3rd Brandfest Nepal 2016 and it is powered by Real activ, with Microsoft Innovation Centre Nepal as innovation partner, Absolut as beverage partner and Outreach Nepal as creative partner. What they have to say... “It’s my third time at The Himalayan Times Perspectives Brandfest Nepal. The first and second sessions by speakers Babita Baruah and Bharat Avalani connected me to the human touch in branding. I liked the way Avalani narrated stories about branding and advertising.”

Deepak Jain, Director, Fujito Singapore

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“I really enjoyed the event. The Master of Ceremonies, Cyrus Broacha, with his humour and wit, made the show come alive. We are grateful to THT for organising this event as it helps companies grow their brands in ways unfathomable. The speakers were insightful and I had a great time. Cyrus kept us engaged throughout the sessions.”

Abhaya Gorkhali, Head of Marketing, Dabur Nepal Pvt Ltd

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“The Himalayan Times Perspectives 3rd Brandfest Nepal 2016 is a fantastic event that connects brand enthusiasts not only with the strategies of branding but also with the power that a brand has over society and people. The examples that were given during the sessions were very relevant.”

Budhaditya Mukherjee, Country Director, Asian Paints Nepal

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“This is my first time attending the event. As a marketing manager it’s very important to be updated with the latest marketing techniques and The Himalayan Times Perspectives 3rd Brandfest Nepal 2016 is just the right platform. The brand mantras from the brand gurus inspired me a lot.”

Rabina Acharya, Head of Marketing, Sunrise Bank Ltd