Discovery Hospitality Celebrated as 2024 Philippines’ Leading Hospitality Brand

Discovery Hospitality, the Philippines’ beloved home-grown hotel management group, has once again demonstrated its industry leadership by being named “Leading Hospitality Brand in the Philippines” for the second consecutive year at the prestigious World Business Outlook Awards 2024 held this November 2 at the Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park. The group also took home awards for “Best Hospitality Services Provider” and “Best Luxury Business Hotel” for Discovery Primea, further solidifying its standing as a pioneer in the local hospitality landscape.

Adding to these recognitions, Blessy Townes, Vice President of Digital Marketing at Discovery Hospitality, was also named “Hospitality Digital Marketing Leader of the Year for Asia-Pacific” for the second consecutive year, showcasing the brand’s digital innovation and leadership.

These awards are a testament to Discovery Hospitality’s continued growth and unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional guest experiences. “Our commitment to 'Service That’s All Heart' is more than just a philosophy; it’s a promise to deliver unparalleled hospitality,” says Chief Operating Officer Jose "Jun" C. Parreño, Jr. “Our service comes from a genuine place of care and dedication to personalized guest experiences.”

Since its launch in 2011 as The Discovery Leisure Company, Inc., Discovery Hospitality has been at the forefront of the Filipino hospitality industry, with a portfolio that includes some of the country’s most luxurious and award-winning properties such as Discovery Boracay, Discovery Coron, Discovery Primea, Discovery Suites, Discovery Samal, and Manami Resort. 

The significance of these accolades goes beyond prestige—they enhance customer trust and affirm Discovery’s status as a trusted name in hospitality, providing the brand with leverage for future growth in hotel management and expansion.

"Winning these awards reflects our relentless commitment to excellence and innovation," said Blessy Townes. “We are proud to be a future-facing brand that continues to create remarkable experiences for modern travelers, underpinned by genuine Filipino warmth.”

This new accolade follows suit with Discovery Boracay bagging the recognition “Philippines’ Leading Beach Resort 2024” at the recently concluded 2024 World Travel Awards. 

Guided by its philosophy of "Service That’s All Heart," Discovery Hospitality promises to continue elevating the standards of Filipino hospitality while leaving a positive impact on the communities and environments in which it operates.

Discovery Hospitality welcomes new partners who are eager to grow their brands and introduce high standards of service to more destinations. Leveraging on their award-winning property management, shared services, and expertise in boosting direct bookings, Discovery Hospitality is prepared to enhance ventures and support smooth, successful operations. For inquiries and future partnership opportunities, you may contact Senior Vice President and Head of Sales and Operations, Lynette Ermac at lynette.ermac@discoveryhospitality.com

OPPO and HKPolyU Renew Collaboration and Launch Joint Innovation Research Centre to Expand AI Imaging Frontiers

November 4, 2024, HONG KONG — Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corp., Ltd. (OPPO) and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) held a signing ceremony to further deepen their collaboration based on the agreement signed in 2022, contributing to the integration of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). According to the renewal agreement, OPPO will collaborate with PolyU to increase funding and technology investment, upgrading the “PolyU-OPPO Joint Innovation Research Centre”, which marks a new chapter in the comprehensive partnership in AI imaging technology.

OPPO signed a collaborative framework agreement with PolyU

The signing ceremony took place last Friday (1 November) at the PolyU campus, witnessed by Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU and Mr Jason LIAO, President of OPPO Research Institute. The agreement was signed by Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU and Mr Zheng QIN, Head of Industry-Academia Affairs of OPPO. Under the framework of the agreement, the “PolyU-OPPO Joint Innovation Lab” will be upgraded to the “Joint Innovation Research Centre.” Additionally, OPPO will provide no less than RMB 30 million over the next five years to expand the scale of co-trained PhD and postdoctoral researchers, promoting technical development and exploration in imaging algorithms while further deepening the collaborative efforts between OPPO and PolyU in AI imaging technology. 

“In the three years of collaboration between OPPO and PolyU, we have witnessed significant technological breakthroughs and notable achievements in talent cultivation through the Joint Lab," said Jason LIAO. "Adhering to our mission of 'Technology for Mankind, Kindness for the World', OPPO is dedicated to deepening the integration of academia-industry cooperation in the field of AI through this renewal, bringing more innovative intelligent imaging experiences to global users."

Prof. TENG remarked, “To address the opportunities and challenges of the AI era, PolyU will officially establish the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences in January 2025. This is an important move to implement the University’s innovation development strategy, aiming to meet growing technological needs and support talent nurturing. The Department of Computing, which houses the Joint Innovation Research Centre will also join the new faculty. The new structure will effectively promote in-depth exchanges and collaboration among research teams, and create more impactful outcomes. We believe that this in-depth cooperation with OPPO will enable us to fully seize opportunities and actively promote technological innovation and knowledge transfer.” 

The signing ceremony for the collaborative framework agreement took place at the PolyU campus.

In 2022, to promote in-depth cooperation in GBA, OPPO and PolyU signed an agreement to establish the “PolyU-OPPO Joint Innovation Lab.” Within just three years, the Joint Lab has achieved a series of innovative milestones, successfully developing and implementing various leading imaging algorithms: the AI super-resolution technology has been applied to multiple OPPO products, significantly enhancing the image quality of telephoto photography; the deployment of HDR imaging algorithms enables users to capture high-quality photos under different lighting conditions, greatly enhancing the photography experience. 

Furthermore, the Joint Lab has actively explored cutting-edge technologies, including image restoration and detail enhancement based on generative models, as well as interactive image and video editing technologies. These efforts have improved the quality and stability of image generation and provide more possibilities for image and video post-processing.  Additionally, the Joint Lab has made significant strides in talent cultivation, nurturing several PhD and postdoctoral researchers who are actively contributing to OPPO's AI imaging technology, providing a strong driving force for continuous technological innovation.

The evolving collaboration between OPPO and PolyU will propel the further development of AI imaging technology, providing new momentum for technological innovation and talent development in the GBA. Looking ahead, both parties will continue to strengthen the academia-industry cooperation, fully exploring and promoting innovative applications of AI imaging technology.

TECNO SPARK 30 Series Launches its TRANSFORMERS Edition for as low as P5,599

Manila, November 05 – Innovative technology brand TECNO has announced the debut of its latest smartphone in the Philippines, the SPARK 30 Series, featuring a dynamic lineup of four models including an exciting SPARK 30 Series TRANSFORMERS Edition. The new series brings revolutionary durability and playability with 5-year guaranteed lag-free performance, more immersive audiovisuals, an incredible main camera and much more. 

The SPARK 30 Series features a special TRANSFORMERS Edition, under license by TRANSFORMERS brand from leading toy and game company Hasbro, made up of a SPARK 30 Pro Optimus Prime Edition and SPARK 30 Bumblebee Edition. In addition to their powerful performance, these special devices feature iconic TRANSFORMERS elements, delivering iconic design, entertainment, and interaction like never before.

“The SPARK 30 Series is poised to revolutionize the smartphone experience, offering a symphony of unparalleled features and a coveted exclusive TRANSFORMERS Edition,” said Jack Guo, General Manager of TECNO. “With continuous enhancements to the SPARK Series, we are ensuring that vibrant, tech-savvy youth will embrace and revel in the power of our innovations to create new possibilities.”  

Creating Seamless Fluency and Durability Assured by a 5-year Lag-free Commitment

The SPARK 30 Series gives users long-lasting value for money. Certified by TÜV Rheinland, SPARK 30 Pro offers incredible 5-year lag-free operation, standing out in its class as a must-have device for a seamless experience. 

Making everyday use even smoother, the SPARK 30 Series is equipped with exceptional battery capacity, impressive storage and powerful performance, with battery health at 80%+ enduring after 1,000 charge cycles. The SPARK 30 Pro’s convenient 33W Fast Charge offers three intelligent charging modes and can charge the device from zero to 100% in approximately 70 minutes. The SPARK 30 Series offers up to 256GB+16GB (8GB Extended RAM) storage with a system slimming feature that frees up ROM space. The SPARK 30 Pro is powered by MediaTek’s Helio G100 processor, boasting an Antutu score over 420,000, adding to the fluid performance even more.

With super WIFI and ultra-fast 4.5G Lightning Network, consumers can enjoy enhanced online smoothness. The 4.5G Lightning Network delivers speeds up to 100% faster than 4G, with download speeds reaching up to 300Mbps, while super WiFi sets internet speeds apart in a crowd, improving ability to access networks by 616% compared to those without this feature. Leveraging its exceptional performance, the SPARK 30 Series demonstrates power and durability akin to that of the formidable TRANSFORMERS robots.

Inspiring with a Design Rebirth Full of the Transformers' Visual Splendor

Complementing its ultimate performance, the TECNO SPARK 30 Series features a trendy, sleek and tech-infused design. The SPARK family's signature large circular design is now enhanced and refined for a more streamlined appearance. With a 7.4mm ultra-thin body, the SPARK 30 Pro embraces the emerging minimalist technology trend, bringing an unprecedented grip experience in-hand. Not only eye-catching, the SPARK 30 series is also extremely durable, able to withstand the micro drop test up to 25,000 times. The SPARK 30 also features an IP64 level of dust and waterproof protection.

Taking inspiration from the unstoppable TRANSFORMERS robots, Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, the SPARK 30 Series TRANSFORMERS Edition infuses technology with a Cybertronian-inspired design texture.  The integrated DECO design is crafted with a metallic sheen and precision color coordination, adding a vibrant look while paying homage to the resilience of the iconic characters. Additionally, the edition debuts a customized interface adorned with TRANSFORMERS motifs, bringing the iconic world to life and providing a dynamic platform for users of all ages to express their love for the franchise.

Captivating with an Exceptional Audiovisual Entertainment Experience

The SPARK 30 Series creates an immersive entertainment space for users through vibrant audiovisual experiences. The 120Hz AMOLED Eye-care Screen, recognized by TÜV Low Blue Light Eye certification, delivers vivid images while providing an eye-friendly experience. On the audio front, the SPARK 30 Series provides symmetrical stereo sound. With Volume Plus 2.0 algorithms and a Dual Speaker, the SPARK 30 Pro delivers up to 300% full-scene louder volume for an immersive and balanced sound. The addition of Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res certified speakers significantly enhances entertainment quality. 

Furthermore, the SPARK 30 Series is also equipped with the Infrared Remote Control for 15 household devices, allowing intelligent control of home life, enabling a personalized space at will.

On the camera front, the SPARK 30 Pro boasts a 108MP main camera, complemented by 3x lossless zoom and 10x digital zoom, delivering finely tuned images no matter the distance. The SPARK 30's SONY IMX682 Main Camera with 64MP, offers larger pixels, greater detail, and increased cropping flexibility. Equipped with TECNO AI, the SPARK 30 Series offers an array of advanced AI-driven features, including AI voice assistant, AI wallpaper, and AIGC imaging, enhancing your productivity and creativity.

Led by the masterful SPARK 30 and SPARK 30 Pro, the new SPARK 30 Series also features the exceptional SPARK 30C, SPARK 30 5G. As well as a groundbreaking special edition device, the TRANSFORMERS collaboration adds a further layer of excitement for energetic youth, with exclusive branded merchandise and gift sets also available.