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Karan Dhanelia, Representing Indore, is Crowned Champion at the World Class 2026 (India, Nepal & Sri Lanka) Finals

The winner emerged from over 800 entries, as India, Nepal and Sri Lanka came together for the first time on a single platform representing the subcontinent

In only his second year competing at World Class, Karan of Atelier V was named Bartender of the Year 2026, and also won the Speed Round and The Singleton 12 Sensory Sessions Challenges

This year’s Top 8 represented eight cities, dominated by mixologists from Tier 2 cities such as Indore and Jaipur, alongside Gurgaon, Goa, Bengaluru, New Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai

The finals also saw the highest-ever representation of women in the Top 8 with three finalists

The finale culminated with a cocktail festival featuring performances by Nucleya and takeovers by The Bar in Front of The Bar from Athens, Greece

NEW DELHI, March 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Karan Dhanelia, representing Indore, has been named Bartender of the Year 2026 at the 12th edition of Diageo India’s World Class finals (India, Nepal & Sri Lanka). The most coveted bartending competition in India reached an electrifying conclusion after the two-day final held at Le Meridien, Gurgaon, on March 27th and 28th.

This year’s finals were truly special, with the highest-ever female representation in the Top 8, a wider spread of tier 2 and metro cities across India, and a champion from a city in the heart of the country, well known for its food, now stepping up with its cocktail culture.

Over the course of the finals, Karan from Atelier V in Indore stood out for his charisma, composure and creativity with flavours. A standout drink he made included onion soda and spirulina syrup, which stood out for its originality and left a strong impression on the jury. In the speed round, his understanding of the classics ultimately gave him the edge and secured the win.

For him, this win acts as a catalyst, placing them on a global stage, where they will represent the Indian subcontinent at the World Class Global Finals later this year, a global platform that has shaped the careers of some of the most recognised names in bartending.

Karan Dhanelia, Head Mixologist at Atelier V, Indore, commented, “Winning World Class is a huge moment for me. It’s something I have worked very hard for, and to be able to represent India on a global stage is incredibly special. I’m also glad that I can put Indore on the cocktail map of India. More than anything, the journey has pushed me to think differently about my craft, from the way I approach flavours to how I tell a story through a drink. The mentorship through the platform has been invaluable, and I’m excited for what comes next.” 

An Evening of Competition and Energy

The final brought together the region’s top 21 bartenders for a series of concept-led challenges designed to test technique, interpretation, hospitality and adaptability. From translating music into flavour with The Singleton 12 to creating art-inspired serves with Don Julio 1942, each round pushed bartenders to think beyond the expected. The final round then stripped everything back to a Speed Challenge, a test of precision, creativity and composure under pressure. The competition was judged by an international panel of renowned bartenders and World Class alumni, including David Rios, Tim Philips, Konstantinos Theodorakopoulos and Jenna Ba, alongside restaurateur-bartender duo Yangdup Lama and Minakshi Singh.

The experience extended well beyond the competition stage. This year, the World Class Cocktail Festival unfolded on a much larger scale, opening up the platform to consumers and enthusiasts with more immersive experiences. Built around the philosophy of ‘Sip, Savour and Celebrate’, the format came alive through three distinct zones, bringing together brand-led storytelling, guided tastings and a high-energy, music-led atmosphere, which is now set to make its way to Mumbai on April 4th, 2026 at the SVP DOME. Across the festival, brands like Don Julio, Johnnie Walker, Tanqueray and The Singleton came to life through fun & innovative serves. The Prive Reserve Bar also made its debut at the World Class Cocktail Festival in Delhi, featuring super-premium expressions including Lagavulin and Oban, and will also be present at the Mumbai edition. The Johnnie Walker Blue Label experience was also showcased at the festival. Personalised elements such as charm stations and customisable T-shirt booths added interactive activities for all.

Following the winner announcement, performances by Sage, Novna x Avisha and Reyhaa led into a headline set by Nucleya.

Shaping How India Drinks

This year also saw a stronger focus on experimentation with whisky as a base for creative cocktails, encouraging bartenders to move beyond familiar formats and work with greater depth and complexity in flavour.

Anchal Kaushal, Vice President, Customer Marketing, Diageo India, said, “To see this year’s winner emerge from a city like Indore is so incredibly exciting and just goes to show the depth that World Class as a platform has reached. The composure that Karan displayed throughout the competition was commendable, and I’m sure he will represent our country very well at the World Class Global Finals.”

What This Win Represents

Winning World Class is often a turning point. It brings visibility, access and a global network, but more importantly, it changes how bartenders approach their craft. For many past winners, like Hemant Pathak and Jeet Rana, that journey continues well beyond the competition, into building their own bars and careers globally.

Results of the Finals

The Top 3 (Ranked)

  1. Karan Dhanelia, Atelier V, Indore
  2. Siddhesh Palande The Bombay Canteen, Mumbai
  3. Gracy Chourey, SOKA, Bangalore

Challenge Winners

  • The Quiz Round
    • Rajneesh Barthwal, No Vacancy, New Delhi
    • Mukul Pandey, Miso Sexy, Chandigarh
  • The Sensory Sessions with Singleton 12
    • Karan Dhanelia, Atelier V, Indore
  • Digital Galeria Don Julio 1942
    • Rajneesh Barthwal, No Vacancy, New Delhi
    • Dheeraj Bhatt, Quinta Cantina, Goa
  • The Speed Round
    • Karan Dhanelia, Atelier V, Indore

The Top 8 (Alphabetical)

  • Chitra M, NOVY, Gurgaon
  • Dheeraj Bhatt, Quinta Cantina, Goa
  • Dishant Kanojia, 1932 Trevi, Jaipur
  • Gracy Chourey, Soka Cocktail Bar, Bengaluru
  • Karan Dhanelia, Atelier V, Indore
  • Rajneesh Barthwal, No Vacancy, New Delhi
  • Sarbani Mukherjee, Conversation Room, Kolkata
  • Siddhesh Palande, The Bombay Canteen, Mumbai

About Diageo India

Diageo India is among India’s leading beverage alcohol (alcobev) companies with an outstanding portfolio of premium brands. A subsidiary of Diageo Plc., it is listed in India on both the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) under the name United Spirits Limited (USL).



Headquartered in Bengaluru, Diageo India has one of the largest alcohol manufacturing footprints in India, with 35 facilities across the country. It manufactures, sells and distributes Johnnie Walker, Black Dog, Black & White, VAT 69, Antiquity, Signature, The Singleton, Royal Challenge, McDowell’s No1, Smirnoff, Ketel One, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan and Godawan, an artisanal single malt whisky from India, bringing together global expertise and local pride to deliver innovative, world-class products and experiences to consumers. With a strong focus on driving positive impact on society, Diageo India has been working on collective action to improve livelihoods, champion Grain-to-Glass sustainability, responsible consumption, and nurture the alcobev ecosystem to contribute to India’s growth agenda. 

For more information about Diageo India, our people, our brands, and our performance, visit us at www.diageoindia.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, http://www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practices.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

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OPPO India and Reliance Digital Redefine Smartphone Launches in India with the Grand Debut of the Find X9 Ultra and Find X9s

MUMBAI, India, May 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — OPPO India, in partnership with Reliance Digital, unveiled the all-new Find X9 Ultra and Find X9s through a first-of-its-kind curated launch experience that reimagined how flagship smartphones are introduced in India. More than a product launch, the experience brought together creators, media, lifestyle influencers, and technology enthusiasts like Rajiv Makhni, Juhi Godambe Jain, Sejal Kumar for an immersive evening designed around storytelling, creativity, and content creation — reflecting the philosophy of the Find X9 Ultra and Find X9s: "Your Story Matters."

OPPO India and Reliance Digital Redefine Smartphone Launches in India with the Grand Debut of the Find X9 Ultra and Find X9s

Hosted at a beach side club in Juhu, the venue transformed the launch into a creator-led experiential showcase featuring immersive photography zones, live demonstrations, entertainment, and hands-on interactions powered by the Find X9 Ultra and Find X9s.

The OPPO Find X9s brings flagship imaging and performance into a sleek, lightweight form factor designed for modern creators and professionals. Featuring a 6.59-inch flat AMOLED display with ultra-thin bezels, 3,600nits peak brightness, and 3840Hz PWM dimming, the device delivers an immersive viewing experience across entertainment and productivity. Its Hasselblad co-developed 50MP triple-camera system includes a main, ultra-wide, and 3× periscope telephoto lens with support for 120× Super Zoom, powered by OPPO’s LUMO Image Engine for natural colours and enhanced detail. Backed by the MediaTek Dimensity 9500s platform, a 7,025mAh battery, and 80W SUPERVOOC™ charging, the Find X9s delivers seamless all-day flagship performance.

The Find X9 Ultra introduces OPPO’s new-generation Hasselblad Master Camera System, built for users who rely on smartphones as their primary camera.

At its core is a 50MP 10× optical zoom telephoto camera engineered as a built-in 230mm-equivalent teleconverter and powered by OPPO’s proprietary Quintuple Prism Periscope Structure. Working alongside the 200MP main and 200MP 3× telephoto cameras, the system delivers a focal range from 14mm to 460mm. The setup also includes a 50MP ultra-wide camera, a new True Color Camera and a 50MP front camera.

Supporting the system is OPPO’s LUMO Image Engine, which enhances dynamic range and detail, while Hasselblad Master, Portrait and XPAN modes bring creative flexibility and Hasselblad’s signature imaging experience.

For video, the Find X9 Ultra supports 4K recording at 60fps, 120fps Dolby Vision HDR and introduces 8K recording at 30fps for the first time on an OPPO flagship. Professional workflows are supported through O-Log2, ACES and 3D LUTs with real-time preview and LUT burn-in.

Up front, the Find X9 Ultra features a 6.82-inch 144Hz QHD+ ProXDR AMOLED display with peak brightness of up to 3,600nits and 2160Hz PWM dimming for enhanced viewing comfort. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 platform, it packs a 7,050mAh silicon-carbon battery with 100W SUPERVOOC™️ wired and 50W AIRVOOC™️ wireless charging.

The collaboration reinforced Reliance Digital’s vision of going beyond retail to create meaningful technology experiences for consumers. By enabling customers to discover, interact with, and experience innovation first hand, Reliance Digital continues to redefine the role of electronics retail in India’s premium technology ecosystem.

OPPO Find X9 Series will be available at an effective starting price of INR 62,199*

About OPPO India

Founded in 2014, OPPO Mobiles India Pvt Ltd (OPPO India) is a leading technology company in India, renowned for its innovative and diverse portfolio, including the Find, Reno, F, K, and A series smartphones, as well as IoT devices. The company is headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana.

OPPO has been at the forefront of technological innovation, particularly in imaging technology, device durability, and battery health optimisation. Guided by the philosophy ‘Make Your Moment’, OPPO empowers users to create and embrace the beauty of life through advanced technology, fostering freedom and fulfillment in everyday experiences.

Spanning over 110 acres, the company operates one of India’s largest mobile manufacturing facilities in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. With multiple production lines, assembly stations and testing stations, the plant is capable of dispatching hundreds of micro parts to produce approximately 200 smartphones in under 10 minutes. As a socially responsible organization, OPPO India actively engages in initiatives focused on skill development and e-waste awareness among the country’s youth.

About Reliance Digital

Reliance Digital is India’s largest electronics retailer, present in over 850 cities with more than 700+ large-format Reliance Digital stores and 900+ My Jio stores, serving customers in every corner of the country and making the latest technology accessible to all. With over 300 international and national brands and more than 5,000 products at the best prices, Reliance Digital offers the largest selection of models to help customers find the right technology for their lifestyle. The trained and well-informed staff at every store are always ready to guide customers through every detail of each product. Importantly, Reliance Digital provides after-sales service for all its products through Reliance resQ, the service arm of the retailer and India’s only ISO 9001-certified electronics service brand. Reliance resQ is available all week and is fully equipped to provide end-to-end solutions.

For ease of purchase, customers can visit any Reliance Digital store or shop online at www.reliancedigital.in.

*Effective price including applicable offers; T&C Apply

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ANSR and HFS Research Partner to Define the GCC Quotient (GQ) in an AI-First World

Landmark partnership to establish the first authoritative measure of how effectively enterprises are building, evolving, and extracting value from their capability centers in an AI-driven world

BENGALURU, India, May 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ANSR, the global leader in establishing and scaling Global Capability Centers (GCCs), today announced a strategic partnership with HFS Research, a leading industry analyst and advisory firm, to launch a first-of-its-kind research and strategic framework – ‘GCC Quotient'(GQ) designed to define, measure, and benchmark how enterprises are building, evolving, and extracting value from their capability centers in an AI-driven world. At a moment when GCCs are becoming central to enterprise transformation, innovation, and competitive advantage, the initiative aims to bring greater intellectual rigor, definitional clarity, and evidence-based insight to a rapidly evolving global model.

ANSR Logo

The partnership will produce a sustained series of joint thought leadership reports, strategic frameworks, and GCC success stories, giving enterprise leaders, boards, and investors the clarity and direction they need to unlock the full potential of their capability centers in an AI-driven world.

GCCs have become one of the most consequential operating models in modern enterprise strategy, yet the industry has never agreed on what one truly is. Multiple competing definitions, inconsistent frameworks, and a fast-shifting AI landscape have left enterprise leaders navigating significant ambiguity, at the precise moment GCCs are expected to deliver category-defining outcomes. ANSR and HFS Research are partnering to address this gap, bringing a unified definition, a clear evolution framework, and an AI-era roadmap to an industry that has long needed one.

“GCCs are at the most consequential inflection point in their history. AI is not just changing what GCCs do, it is fundamentally reshaping how work gets distributed, what skills matter, and what enterprises expect from global capability models. Yet the industry still lacks a shared language and framework to navigate this transition, creating ambiguity that is costing enterprises time, money, and competitive advantage. Our partnership with HFS Research brings together world-class research and deep GCC operating experience to help enterprise leaders navigate this shift with greater clarity and confidence. As AI adoption accelerates, success will increasingly depend not just on technology, but on building the right talent, operating models, and ‘GQ’ — the ability to work effectively with AI and adapt to new ways of working,” said Vikram Ahuja, Co-founder, ANSR.

Through this collaboration, ANSR and HFS Research will jointly deliver:

  • A unified GCC definition: establishing industry-wide consensus on what constitutes a Global Capability Center, resolving years of fragmentation across enterprise, analyst, and policy communities
  • An AI-first GCC maturity framework: combining HFS Research’s demand-side intelligence with ANSR’s deep operating experience to assess how enterprises are building, evolving, and extracting value from GCCs across strategy, talent, AI adoption, operating model evolution, and enterprise value creation
  • An AI readiness blueprint: actionable guidance for enterprise leaders on repositioning and retooling their GCCs to capture the transformative value of artificial intelligence
  • GCC success stories: in-depth spotlights on leading GCCs that are redefining enterprise value, providing real-world evidence of what the model achieves at its best
  • Demand-side research: rigorous, data-driven analysis of how global enterprises are making GCC strategy decisions today, and what the next generation of capability centers will look like

“The GCC model has quietly become one of the most consequential enterprise decisions of the last decade and it is about to become even more so. AI is accelerating everything: the value GCCs can create, the speed at which they must evolve, and the stakes of getting the strategy wrong. ANSR has built and operated more leading-edge GCCs than any organization on the planet. Combining that on-the-ground depth with HFS Research’s analytical rigor and demand-side intelligence gives the market something it has been missing — a credible, unified view of where the GCC model is going, and a clear roadmap for how enterprises should respond,” said Saurabh Gupta, President, HFS Research.

About ANSR

ANSR is the definitive global leader in establishing and operating Global Capability Centers. With over 200 GCCs built for more than 100 Fortune 500 companies across key innovation hubs in India, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia, ANSR combines unparalleled strategic insight, proven execution capabilities, and proprietary technology to help enterprises build and grow world-class global teams. As pioneers of the GCC as a Service (GaaS) model and creators of the 1Wrk platform, ANSR continues to redefine how enterprises achieve operational excellence and accelerate digital transformation. Visit www.ansr.com.

About HFS Research

HFS Research is a leading global research and advisory firm helping Fortune 500 companies navigate IT and business transformation. Known for bold insights and practical strategies grounded in deep demand-side data, HFS empowers enterprise leaders to make confident, high-stakes decisions at speed. Visit www.hfsresearch.com.

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OTM Identified by Study Respondents as the Leading Travel Trade Show in India and Asia for the Third Consecutive Year

In a customised study commissioned by Fairfest Media and conducted by NielsenIQ, 71% of eligible respondents claimed OTM provides the highest overall business value among evaluated travel trade shows.

MUMBAI, India, May 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — OTM, organised by Fairfest Media, was identified by a significant percentage of respondents as a leading travel trade show in India and Asia in a customised market research study conducted by NielsenIQ, a leading consumer intelligence company. The organisers noted that this is the third consecutive year that respondents claimed OTM to be the leading travel trade show in India and Asia. The study, which is now an annual feature, was commissioned by Fairfest Media and independently conducted by NielsenIQ among exhibitors and visitors of travel trade shows who had participated in OTM and one or more other travel trade shows.

With significantly stronger scores than the previous year, the organisers note that OTM’s lead has grown with each successive study. In addition to identifying the leading travel trade show at both the India and Asia levels, the study also assessed perceptions around overall business value.

The market research survey evaluated 15 international travel trade shows across Asia and 19 regional shows in India, including SATTE Delhi, ITB Asia Singapore, TTF and ITB India. Survey respondents across the India and Asia level indicated strong preference for OTM.

The 2026 study’s findings among respondents who participated in OTM and one or more travel trade shows in India were:

  • OTM as the Top Travel Trade Show in India: 63% identified OTM as the leading travel trade show in India, a significantly higher percentage than any other event in the country.
  • Leadership in Asia: In the broader Asia-wide context, 36% claimed OTM to be the leading travel show in Asia, significantly higher than other events in Asia, further reinforcing its position.
  • Leader in Overall Business Value: 71% of eligible respondents identified OTM as providing the highest overall business value among evaluated travel trade shows.

The independent study covered exhibitors and visitors of travel trade shows across Asia, Europe, North America and Africa, including respondents from India, the UAE, the USA, Switzerland and South Africa. Conducted between 18 March and 7 April 2026 using unbiased online research methodologies, the study was based on a significantly expanded respondent base compared to the previous year. The 2026 research included 435 respondents overall, comprising 77 exhibitors and 358 visitors, representing more than twice the sample size of the previous year’s study. The study was conducted using a total usable database of over 14,000 visitors and more than 2,200 global exhibitors.

These findings reflect higher respondent preference levels for OTM compared with the previous edition of the study in 2025, where 55% of respondents had identified OTM as India’s leading travel trade show (amongst the respondents who participated in 2 or more shows in India).

According to the findings, OTM enjoys a significantly higher preference compared to competing travel trade shows, reinforcing its position as the preferred platform for travel industry professionals seeking meaningful business opportunities, quality buyers and measurable ROI.

“The latest findings are especially meaningful because they reflect both leadership and business value,” said Mr. Sanjiv Agarwal, Chairman & CEO, Fairfest Media. “For OTM, the finding that more than seven in ten eligible respondents selected OTM as the show delivering the highest overall business value reinforces what we continue to focus on: quality buyers, meaningful meetings and measurable outcomes for the travel trade. As India and Asia become even more central to global tourism, OTM will continue to serve as the platform where the industry connects with this opportunity.”

OTM has consistently expanded its international reach, buyer quality and industry participation, while the growing importance of India and Asia as travel markets continues to strengthen the show’s strategic relevance for the global travel industry.

About OTM and Fairfest Media

OTM is India and Asia’s leading travel trade show, bringing together travel industry stakeholders from over 80 countries  to connect, collaborate and generate business opportunities in one of the world’s fastest-growing travel markets. Organised by Fairfest Media, India’s largest travel trade show organiser, OTM serves as a strategic platform for destinations, tourism boards, travel brands, hospitality companies and trade professionals to engage with the Indian and Asian travel trade community. Fairfest Media also organises the TTF and BLTM across seven Indian cities, and WTE in Miami, forming one of the largest travel show networks in the world. To know more please visit fairfest.com. To know more please visit otm.co.in.

Please note: Fairfest Media Limited’s claim is based on customised research conducted by NielsenIQ. Fieldwork: 18 March to 7 April 2026. Overall sample: N=435; exhibitors N=77; visitors N=358; population covered: exhibitors and visitors of travel trade shows; sampling method: online, purposive sampling. Margin of error: not applicable.

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