ROCK SHOP GEORGE TOWN OPENS AS THE FIRST STANDALONE STORE IN UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE

GEORGE TOWN, Malaysia, Aug. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hard Rock Cafe Penang proudly announces the grand launch of Rock Shop George Town, marking its debut as the first standalone store in George Town, Penang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its historic architecture and cultural landmarks.

Nestled within the vibrant streets of George Town, the store seamlessly integrates contemporary style with the city's rich heritage. Boasting an eclectic range of merchandise, from trendy apparel to coveted accessories and iconic pins, every item reflects the spirit of rock n' roll with Penang's UNESCO World Heritage Status.

Michael Smeeton, General Manager of Hard Rock Hotel Penang, emphasised the store's significance, "Being the first standalone Rock Shop in a UNESCO World Heritage Site is a big deal for us. More than just merchandise, we offer an experience that resonates with the soul of rock n' roll in Penang. It's a testament to our commitment to push boundaries and create memories, just like our hotel."

Guest of Honour Yang Berhormat Wong Hon Wai praised the launch, "The arrival of this global brand in George Town also signifies the recognition of Penang as a renowned tourist destination by international brand giants. Hard Rock is more than just a hotel and store; it is a cultural and artistic platform that attracts artists, musicians, and cultural events, further enriching Penang's cultural ecosystem."

Joining the celebration were distinguished figures from various sectors, including Yang Berhormat Wong Hon Wai, Penang State EXCO for Tourism and Creative Economy, Mr. Ooi Chok Yan, Chief Executive Officer of Penang Global Tourism, Mr. Jeffrey Chew Gim Eam, Chairman of Teluk Ewa Port, Langkawi, Datuk Tony Goh Nai Heng, Chairman of the Malaysian Association of Hotel Penang Chapter, Dato Annie Chin Lim, President of the Penang Women's Chamber of Commerce, Raf Ramos, Director of Operations, Hard Rock International, inspectors, partners and media.

For more information, please visit https://cafe.hardrock.com/penang/

About Hard Rock®:
Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies with venues in over 70 countries spanning 309 locations that include owned/licensed or managed Hotels, Casinos, Rock Shops®, Live Performance Venues and Cafes. HRI also launched a joint venture named Hard Rock Digital in 2020, an online sportsbook, retail sportsbook and internet gaming platform. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world's largest and most valuable collection of authentic music memorabilia at more than 88,000 pieces, which are displayed at its locations around the globe. Hard Rock Hotels has been honored by J.D. Power's North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study as the number one brand in Outstanding Guest Satisfaction for two consecutive years, and among the top Upper Upscale Hotels for four consecutive years. HRI became the first privately-owned gaming company designated a U.S. Best Managed Company by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal in 2021, and has since been honored threefold. Hard Rock was also honored by Forbes among the World's Best Employers, as well as Best Employers for Women, Diversity and New Grads and a Top Large Employer in the Travel & Leisure, Gaming, and Entertainment Industry. In the 2022 Global Gaming Awards, Hard Rock was named Land-Based Operator of the Year for the second time in four years. Hard Rock International currently holds investment grades from primary investment-grade rating agencies: S&P Global Ratings (BBB) and Fitch Ratings (BBB). For more information on Hard Rock International, visit www.hardrock.com or shop.hardrock.com.

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

ROCK SHOP GEORGE TOWN OPENS AS THE FIRST STANDALONE STORE IN UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading-edge artificial intelligence algorithms are now powering production at nearly half of VSPO's esports tournaments, dramatically reducing content creation time and enhancing fan engagement, said the company's co-founder Danny Tang at the New Global Sport Conference 2024 ("NGSC") in Riyadh this August.

At a panel discussion with other industry leaders including Ahmad Alabduljabbar, Craig Levine, Jean Mariotte, Penny Diao and Shay Segev, Tang said nearly half of the esports tournaments VSPO produces are now leveraging AI to assist key production tasks such as live highlights capturing and post-game replay editing, markedly boosting the efficiency and agility of the company's tournament operations.

VSPO, Asia's biggest esports company, organizes and produces more than 80 tournaments and 7,000 matches every year, captivating an online fan base of over 800 million.

"Over the past couple years, we have developed a lot of AI tools to allow us to better produce esports tournament content in a much more efficient manner," said Tang, who is also VSPO's CFO and head of global strategy office, "For example, our 'AICam' now allows us to turn hours of game footage into viral social media content in mere seconds."

As the leading conference for the Esports World Cup Foundation, the NGSC 2024 hosted a global delegation of over 1,200 industry thought-leaders at the Kingdom Centre on August 24-25.

At the event, Tang introduced VSPO's two proprietary AI tools, "AIOB" and "AICam", which have been instrumental in streamlining esports production process. AIOB, an algorithm trained on extensive tournament data, assists directors in identifying and broadcasting the most thrilling moments in real time. AICam, on the other hand, automates the selection and editing of highlights, turning them into viral video clips with unprecedented speed and precision.

Another VSPO's key AI project Tang shared was VSPO's partnership with Qualcomm on the Snapdragon "Faith of Victory" initiative, an esports athlete emotion detection system capable of providing real-time insights into an athlete's state of emotions by studying their facial expressions and heart rates. The AI system has been trained with data from 175 professional players across 18 top teams in the King Pro League, and VSPO continues to refine it for improved performance on a frequent basis.

Furthermore, Tang said that VSPO is also in the process of integrating its proprietary AI technologies into its signature, award-winning "4K OB Truck," a patented mobile production unit designed for on-the-go creation and broadcasting of top-tier esports events.

This innovative vehicle was a standout feature at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year, where esports was recognized as a medal sport for the first time, as a significant portion of the esports series was produced using VSPO's "4K OB Truck," showcasing its capabilities on an international stage.

About VSPO
With a global presence encompassing 14 office locations and eight top-tier esports arenas, VSPO offers a comprehensive suite of esports services, including tournament organization, marketing solutions, community development, and more.

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

VSPO Co-founder Danny Tang: Half of VSPO's Esports Tournaments Now Assisted By AI