Latest news with #AlanWatts
Daily Mirror
10-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Chatgpt is asked the 'biggest lie ever sold' - answer blows people's minds
If you've ever found yourself wondering what the biggest lie ever sold is then you could ask ChatGPT - but one internet user has already done it and the answer has got everyone talking When it comes to ChatGPT it would seem there's no question too big or small. And if you've ever found yourself sitting at home wondering what time the supermarket shuts or the meaning of life, ChatGPT can come in very handy indeed. The AI tool is a chatbot that can help you find answers to all kinds of questions, practical or philosophical, as one Reddit user @ sahannonis recently discovered. After asking ChatGPT to share the 'biggest lie ever sold', it replied: 'If I had to name one of the biggest lies ever sold to people—subtle, widespread, and deeply shaping—it's this: 'You are small and insignificant in the universe.' 'It's wrapped in science-sounding language, whispered through education systems, media, and modern culture: 'You're just a speck on a rock, spinning around a star, in a random universe with no meaning.' 'It's a worldview that strips life of purpose, beauty of depth, and existence of any real connection. But here's the thing: this lie didn't come from science - it came from how people chose to interpret it. 'Yes, the universe is vast. But being vast doesn't mean you are meaningless. A tree doesn't question the sky's size—it grows toward it. The ancient ones—before satellites, before equations—already knew they were part of something cosmic, sacred, intelligent. They didn't feel small looking at the stars—they felt woven into them. 'The real truth is: You're not just in the universe—you are the universe, conscious of itself. You are life, aware of life. You are not 'just human.' You are part of the source that moves through everything. 'But if people believe the lie of insignificance, they become easier to control. They accept empty systems. They chase distractions. They forget their power, their intuition, their connection to the land, to each other, to the source. So yeah—space might be vast. But your spirit? Your awareness? Far vaster.' And the post has provoked many people to agree. User @oddeidolon wrote: 'From a spiritual perspective... It's spot-on. LOL.' Mountainbranch added: 'Instantly recognised this as Alan Watts. Through our eyes, the universe is perceiving itself. Through our ears, the universe is listening to its harmonies. We are the witnesses through which the universe becomes conscious of its glory, of its magnificence.' But not everyone was convinced. Reddit user arbiter12 wrote: "Sounds to me like what a college student would say to an art girl he's trying to pick up. "You are small.... That makes you the biggest part of it all. You, the infinity of the universe.... You can choose to see it as separate, or you can choose to be a part of be one with it. There is no need to fight the flow when you are the flow..." "Wooooow.... you're really deep" "The mind is far are more moves in the game of Go than there are atoms in the observable are so much more than what the eyes can see."
Hindustan Times
06-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Hilton sets sights on major India expansion, eyes 10-fold growth in a decade
Global hospitality giant Hilton plans to double its brand portfolio in the Indian market over the next five years. Looking ahead, the company aims to expand its presence 10-fold in India within the next decade. This ambitious growth strategy comes as the Indian travel market is projected to become the third-largest in the world over the next five to 10 years, said Christopher Nassetta, president and chief executive officer for Hilton at the company's First Immersive brand showcase in India held in Bengaluru. Hilton plans to double its brand portfolio in India over the next five years and expand its presence 10-fold within the next decade, said Christopher Nassetta, president and chief executive officer for Hilton. (Hilton) He said that the Indian market represents a major opportunity across brand segments from luxury to premium economy. "We are super focused and investing in significant ways to expand our business (in India). We have signed and announced a bunch of different deals lately, including Spark and Hampton. And we are doing more in the luxury space for Astoria, Conrad and other brands. We believe in the next five years, we will double the number of brands that we have represented in the (India) market. Over the next decade, we will increase our representation 10-fold in the Indian market or 300 plus hotels. That will bring us to hundreds of hotels. Our ambitions over the long term are for thousands of hotels," he said. Out of the 24 brands Hilton operates globally, at least five are currently present in India — including Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, and Hampton by Hilton. To tap into the growing demand for premium economy accommodations in the country, Hilton announced plans in November last year to launch 150 hotels under its new brand, Spark by Hilton, with room rates ranging between ₹ 4,000 and ₹ 6,000. "We have 130 (Spark hotels) in the world. By the end of the year, we'll probably have hopefully 250 Sparks. We only launched it last year. It's moving at a rapid pace," Nassetta told reporters at the event. He said that India may be a small market right now for Hilton in terms of the number of hotels in the country but there is a huge growth opportunity. Hospitality segment expanding on the back of infrastructure development in India: Alan Watts Alan Watts, president of Asia Pacific, Hilton, told reporters that the hospitality segment is expanding on the back of infrastructure development in India. "About 100 million people will join the consumer class over the next five years. The infrastructure of domestic travel is improving on a daily basis. The India hospitality space is exploding on the back of that infrastructure. Also, while everyone may aspire to be in a Waldorf Astoria, there are only a few locations with the real estate to suit a Waldorf Astoria," he said. During the event, Hilton also announced its first LXR Hotels and Resorts brand in India which will debut in Bengaluru in 2026. Watts also said that Hilton plans to expand 10 times the current portfolio in India with its Strategic Licensing Agreement (SLA) partners. The hospitality major has signed a SLA with Nile Hospitality to open 75 Hampton by Hilton hotels in India this year and with Olive by Embassy to develop 150 Spark by Hilton hotels in the country in November last year. Expansion plans The company showcased five of its brands at the event including Conrad Hotels and Resorts, Hilton Hotels and Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton by Hilton and the soon-to-be-launched brands such as the luxury Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts, LXR Hotels and Resorts, Signia by Hilton, the lifestyle (Curio Collection by Hilton) and focused service (Spark by Hilton) brands. The first, Spark by Hilton, (the aspirational and value brand) will open in 2025 in India, joining more than 130 trading hotels around the world. The Hampton by Hilton brand will debut across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Bihar. Hilton's largest brand in India, DoubleTree by Hilton—besides its 11 existing hotels—has announced 12 additional properties across Tier II and III cities, including Siliguri, Bhopal, Kochi, and Chandigarh. Hilton's first Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts brand in Jaipur is expected by 2027. Slohh by Roach and Curio Collection by Hilton are set to debut as Hilton's first lifestyle hotel in India, opening later this year in Bengaluru's Whitefield. The brand will draw inspiration from Karnataka's lush coffee plantations. Meanwhile, Hilton's third Conrad Hotels & Resorts property in India, located in Jaipur, will showcase artwork by Goa-based artist Subodh Kerkar. The brand has also developed an innovative 1-3-5 model for experiences that allow guests to explore new destinations in one, three, or five hours based on personal preferences. 'This concept is about giving guests purposeful options, whether they have one, three, or five hours to immerse meaningfully in a destination,' said Dino Michael, Global Category Head, Luxury Brands, Hilton. Hilton's collaboration with Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone At Hilton's Brand Showcase held in Bengaluru, attendees got a first look at the strategy behind the company's upcoming campaign featuring global icon and brand ambassador Deepika Padukone. 'We've admired her for a long time,' said Gretchen Moore, vice president of Marketing & Loyalty, APAC at Hilton. 'She's bold, grounded, and always focused on what's next. In many ways, she reflects the spirit of our guests.' The partnership was born from a shared commitment to authenticity and human connection. 'When we sat down with Deepika, we asked, 'What matters to you right now?'' Moore said. 'She spoke openly about the fast pace of her life, the demands she faces, and how meaningful it is to feel truly supported while traveling. That conversation deeply resonated with us,' Moore said. Hilton has a portfolio of 24 brands comprising more than 8,600 properties and nearly 1.3 million rooms, in 139 countries and territories.
Entrepreneur
06-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Hilton to Capitalize on Momentum and Strengthen Investments in the Indian Hospitality Market
Hilton also announced its first LXR Hotels & Resorts property in India, poised to debut in Bengaluru in 2026, which will triple the company's luxury estate portfolio and plans to open its Waldorf Astoria brand in Jaipur. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. With strong momentum in 2025 and a vision for the future, Hilton will invest and expand its presence in India according to Alan Watts, president, Asia Pacific, Hilton, who added that the group's commitment to the region is stronger than ever, with more than 1,000 hotels across Asia Pacific, and plans to grow to 10 times its current portfolio within India. Speaking about investor interest, especially with Hilton's wide portfolio, "We have stood for 160 years for best-in-class permanent returns for the owners that own these individual hotels, and that means we need to be safe stewards of their investment. And although everyone might dream or aspire to open a Waldorf Astoria, there are often very few locations where the real estate will suit a Waldorf Astoria and can command the rate between the obvious places in India. So as the market expands, those locations will expand," Watts said at Hilton's brand showcase event held in Bengaluru. As of 2024, the premium hotel market in India reached close to USD 2.7 billion, with projections to reach USD 6.2 billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 8.83 per cent between 2025 to 2033 according to IMARC Group. Hilton also announced its first LXR Hotels & Resorts property in India, poised to debut in Bengaluru in 2026, which will triple the company's luxury estate portfolio and plans to open its Waldorf Astoria brand in Jaipur. In the first half of 2024 alone, overall hotel investments in India reached USD 93 million, according to a report by JLL Research. The report said that owner-operators clocked 30 per cent of the total transaction volumes, followed by HNIs, family offices, and private hotel owners at 26 per cent. Chris Nassetta, president & CEO, Hilton, said that India is a critical part of Hilton's global growth strategy. As one of the world's largest and most dynamic markets, it represents a major opportunity across brand segments from luxury to premium economy. "Our ambitions over the long term are for thousands of hotels. For now, the goal over the next ten years is to bring our presence to ten times what it is today, or 300-plus hotels," said Nassetta. Alexandra Jaritz, senior vice president, Brand Management, Asia Pacific, Hilton, said that India is bold, fast-moving, and shaping the way the world travels. "Our goal here is simple: meet guests wherever they are, with the right brand, in the right place, at the right time. From the iconic Waldorf Astoria to the energetic Spark by Hilton, our diverse portfolio is built to serve India's equally diverse travelers. This Brand Showcase is a celebration of that vision, and we're only just getting started." Hilton announced more new brand launches in India, such as Conrad Hotels & Resorts and Signia by Hilton, Hilton's approachable luxury brand for Jaipur, and Curio Collection by Hilton to debut in Bengaluru. On owner economics and investments, Nassetta added, "We will invest where we need to invest and deliver our partners great performance. When I'm back next year or in five and ten years from now, you can hold us to task. It requires hard work, discipline, investment, and ultimately doing the right things by customers to have great stay experiences that translate into great owner economics. The formula is the same anywhere we trade. If you think of best-in-class owner returns, it is a discussion that happens with owners. It doesn't happen with hotel companies, but ultimately the industry. The owners decide who they're going to invest in."
