by Dennis Richardson
Los Angeles, Jan. 27, 2025 –
Sony Honda Mobility America (SHMA) proudly announces its partnership with the FireAid benefit concert, a one-night-only event bringing together the biggest names in entertainment for an evening of music and solidarity. The concert, dedicated to rebuilding communities devastated by wildfires, will take place on January 30 at the Intuit Dome and Kia Forum, with a global livestream for audiences around the world. Demonstrating its commitment to supporting Los Angeles communities affected by wildfires, SHMA will also spotlight its groundbreaking AFEELA 1 vehicle at the event with exclusive listening experiences.
Photo courtesy of Sony Honda Mobility.
The event promises a night of unforgettable performances to support critical recovery initiatives in Los Angeles including: Billie Eilish, Earth, Wind & Fire, Gracie Abrams, Jelly Roll, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lil Baby, Olivia Rodrigo, Peso Pluma, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Sting, and Tate McRae playing at Intuit Dome. Alanis Morissette, Anderson. Paak, Dave Matthews and John Mayer, Dawes, Graham Nash, Green Day, John Fogerty, Joni Mitchell, No Doubt, P!nk, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stephen Stills, Stevie Nicks, and The Black Crowes will be performing at the Kia Forum.
Contributions made to FireAid in connection with the FireAid benefit concert, and other direct donations, will be distributed under the advisement of the Annenberg Foundation. The Annenberg Foundation, with decades of philanthropic leadership in the community, including rapid response, will help coordinate a team to direct funds for the greatest impact. Donations will support immediate relief and long-term initiatives to prevent future fire disasters across Southern California In addition, 100% of ticket purchases will go to benefit FireAid relief efforts, with all venue and ticketing service fees waived for this event.
As a mobility technology company dedicated to advancing sustainable innovation, SHMA’s partnership with FireAid underscores its sustainability vision to Moving People, building the way to a sustainable society. By showcasing the AFEELA 1, SHMA highlights its vision of a future where technology and community impact are seamlessly intertwined.
“Sony Honda Mobility America is honored to support FireAid’s vital work in rebuilding and healing communities affected by the Los Angeles wildfires. Just as Sony has supported music activities for many years, we are delighted to support the LA community through music. As we showcase the AFEELA 1 , we reaffirm our commitment to leveraging technology for the greater good, inspiring meaningful progress both on and off the road.” Shugo Yamaguchi, President and CEO, Sony Honda Mobility of America Inc.
Fans attending the event will also be able to experience the new AFEELA 1, making it a fully immersive celebration of mobility and resilience.
The FireAid benefit concert will be broadcast and streamed live globally across a vast range of platforms, radio broadcast and online streaming services ensuring global audiences can join the cause including: Amazon Music/Prime Video, Apple Music, the AppleTV app, DIRECTV, Disney+/Hulu, Facebook/Instagram, iHeartRadio, KTLA+, Max, Netflix/Tudum, Paramount+, Peacock/NBC News Now, SiriusXM’s exclusive “LIFE with John Mayer” channel, SoundCloud, TikTok, Veeps, and YouTube. In addition, Select AMC Theatre locations will host screenings of the event. Serving as the national audio partner, iHeartRadio will leverage its vast network of over 860 radio stations, digital platforms, and the iHeartRadio app to amplify the initiative and connect audiences nationwide.
For additional information about FireAid, please visit
FireAidLA.org.
This information is current as of the time of the announcement. Details may change without prior notice due to various circumstances.
About AFEELA
“AFEELA,” which embodies the concept of “FEEL” at the core of the mobility experience envisioned by Sony Honda Mobility, represents an interactive relationship where people “feel” mobility as an intelligent entity, and mobility “feels” people and society using advanced technologies such as sensing and networking. The first model to be released under the brand, AFEELA 1, is scheduled for official launch in California, USA, by the end of 2025.
About Sony Honda Mobility of America Inc.
Sony Honda Mobility of America Inc. is a subsidiary of Sony Honda Mobility Inc., a Japanese mobility tech company established in 2022 as a joint venture between Sony Group Corporation and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. By combining Sony’s technological prowess and Honda’s automotive expertise, SHM aims to lead innovation in the industry through joint development and sales of high-value-added mobility products and mobility-related services. For more information, please visit us at
https://www.shm-afeela.com or follow us on
Facebook,
Instagram,
X or
LinkedIn.
by Dennis Richardson
(For a video tour of Grand Hyatt Indian Wells and an interview with Chef Angelo Sosa, watch here and here.)
At the end of 2024, Grand Hyatt Indian Wells kicked off their official up-brand with a grand re-opening party, complete with self-guided tours for invitees, a glitzy party, and vibrant performances and meals. The celebration saw decadent highlights of the property’s two signature restaurants led by celebrity chef Angelo Sosa, a showcase of their spacious and brand new villas & penthouse views, and ideal usage of the plentiful and massive spaces available for any occasion. In typical Hyatt fashion, this event included small businesses who helped add some flair to the evening, amping up the party even more!
All photos courtesy of Grand Hyatt Indian Wells.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Trinity Investments are proud to announce the completed planned rebranding of Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa to Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort & Villas. The rebrand was timed to the culmination of a $64 million property-wide renovation and ushers in a new era of luxury for the iconic desert resort with redesigned guestrooms and luxury villas, an expanded lobby experience, elevated accommodations, refreshed meeting and event spaces, two new dining concepts and a reimagined pool complex with extended cabana offerings. A resort steeped in Indian Wells’ tennis history, the property is also a short drive away from the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, which plays host to the BNP Paribas Open, the first of nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments each year.
“Grand Hyatt hotels showcase bold and vibrant design and architecture, creating captivating destinations within a destination. The newly renovated and rebranded Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort & Villas will introduce guests and members to an elevated level of hospitality,” said Susan Santiago, President, U.S. and Canada, Hyatt. “Located in a key destination for leisure and business travelers looking to experience the best of Coachella Valley, the refreshed resort will help guests celebrate magnificent moments and create memorable experiences throughout their stay.”
Elevated Guestrooms, Suites and Villas
Grand Hyatt Indian Wells’ refreshed design, overseen by the renowned Southern California firm, IndiDesign, will reflect the serene beauty of its locale and offer an upscale resort experience. Inspired by the dramatic geography and date farms that surround the property, Grand Hyatt Indian Wells’ new look and feel combines a neutral color palette and tasteful wood accents with mid-century modern design elements. The property’s newly enhanced 531 accommodations, including 39 spacious suites have completed renovations, while 43 one- and two-bedroom private villas, are set to debut by November 2024.
Grand Hyatt Indian Wells will provide large guestrooms, with 550 square feet of luxurious living space. Guests can choose from various configurations, including one king bed, two king beds, rooms with full-sized bunkbeds, and more. Each room features a multi-functional living space, a spa-inspired bathroom, and a private patio or balcony. The resort’s newly renovated suites also offer spacious accommodations designed for families and groups. These suites include a separate living area with a sleeper sofa, a wet bar with a full-size refrigerator and microwave, and dual private balconies offering breathtaking views of the golf course, pool, resort grounds and surrounding mountain backdrop. Suites on the ground floor feature patios, offering convenient pool access.
As the premier offering at Grand Hyatt Indian Wells, the resort’s luxury villas will be transformed to seamlessly blend into the desert locale with sophisticated interiors that layer artisanal details like natural tones and muted hues with new landscaping to provide an intimate sense of place. Hand-crafted furniture will be mixed with modern decor and artistic lighting fixtures to bring character into each living space. Grand Hyatt Indian Wells’ new villas will offer an array of exclusive features and premium amenities for guests, including a private backyard with a hot tub, plunge pool or firepit, kitchenette with refrigerators, access to an adults only spa, and golf cart escorts around the property. Guests will also have access to an exclusive arrival experience and dedicated villa concierge to provide effortless service throughout their stay.
Inventive Dining Concepts
Aheads of its grand opening this fall, the property will offer a late summer preview introducing two new restaurant concepts – Tía Carmen and Carmocha – in collaboration with the acclaimed Chef Angelo Sosa. Renowned for his bold cooking, Chef Sosa brings over 25 years of experience that has taken him from three-star kitchens in Europe and beyond. A protege of Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Chef Sosa has worked with some of the industry’s most renowned restaurateurs, including Alain Ducasse, Stephen Starr and Masaharu Morimoto. He has opened several restaurants in New York City, San Diego, and most recently Phoenix, with Kembara, as well as the first location of Tía Carmen. Like the original location, Tía Carmen at Grand Hyatt Indian Wells will pay homage to Chef Sosa’s aunt (tía) Carmen, and celebrate the local landscape, farmers and community of the Southwest reflecting a mix of tradition and modernity, this time with modern Californian flair.
Carmocha is a new concept that reimagines global small plates from the perspective of Angelo’s tía Carmen if she had traveled around the world and came back from her journeys to put her own spin on some of the dazzling array of international flavors she experienced. For a casual dining option, the resort also enhanced its lobby marketplace, providing several all-day culinary offerings for either grab-and-go or sit-down settings with a coffee bar and selection of teas, sandwiches, and treats as well as wine, beer and more.
Destination-Driven Pool Experience
The anchor of the resort guest journey is its popular pool experience, and the new Grand Hyatt Indian Wells will unveil enhancements to the spacious outdoor recreation area with expanded cabanas fit for large groups and families, as well as new dining options including a food truck, Palmadoro’s, serving pizza and signature Italian bites, and a refreshed café, offering poolside favorites. Grand Hyatt Indian Wells’ pool experience also features the largest waterpark in the Greater Palm Springs desert, HyTides, which includes nine expansive pools, a set of 30-foot high (150-feet in length) dueling waterslides, a 450-foot lazy river and family-friendly favorites, such as an expansive splash pad.
Grand Gatherings
A top destination for events in Greater Palm Springs, Grand Hyatt Indian Wells will offer 88,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor function space. Recently revitalized ballroom, meeting rooms and boardrooms will give way to terraces and lawns with breathtaking views, ideal for weddings, special events and corporate retreats. With offerings that are nothing short of grand, the resort’s renovated Mezzanine level includes meeting and events space, allowing guests to create memorable gatherings for any moment or milestone.
Unparalleled Wellbeing Offerings
As a hospitality company focused on care, Hyatt takes pride in setting a new standard of wellbeing for travel, making sure every touch point is crafted to support all facets of wellbeing. Therefore, the property will introduce new programming and offerings to care for guests.
For a relaxing wellbeing retreat, the 30,000-square-foot Agua Serena Spa will unveil new enhancements this Fall. The property also recently collaborated with Kalologie MedSpa to open their newest location on property in Indian Wells. Situated adjacent to Agua Serena Spa, the new facility includes four private treatment rooms and an IV lounge with a variety of renewing services, including IV hydration therapy, B12 energy boosts, and more.
Grand Hyatt Indian Wells will also offer tennis and pickleball courts and two adjacent world-class golf courses. The resort is a short drive from the Palm Springs International Airport, placing guests just minutes from the best shopping, culture, and entertainment offerings in the Coachella Valley area.
About Grand Hyatt
Around the world, Grand Hyatt hotels bring travel dreams to life by celebrating the iconic in small details and magnificent moments. Located at the crossroads of local culture and global business within major gateway cities and resort destinations, each Grand Hyatt hotel is uniquely designed to be a captivating destination within a destination. Grand Hyatt hotels deliver welcoming and elevated service, first-class accommodations, and an abundance of options within a multicultural backdrop of dramatic architecture and bold and vibrant design. Grand Hyatt hotels boast inventive restaurants, luxury spas, fitness centres, and business and meeting facilities. For additional information or to make a reservation, please visit grandhyatt.com. Follow @GrandHyatt on Facebook and Instagram, and tag photos with #GrandHyatt.
by zuke oshiro
In Chinese astrology, the Snake holds a revered place among the twelve zodiac animals, symbolizing wisdom, intuition, and elegance. The Year of the Snake in 2025, beginning on January 29 and ending on February 16, 2026, marks a period associated with transformation and insight.
Historically, the Snake is seen as a powerful and enigmatic sign, deeply connected to intellect and mystery. Those born under the Snake are believed to be resourceful, contemplative, and graceful, often carrying an aura of sophistication. In the Chinese zodiac cycle, the Snake is the sixth animal, following the Dragon and preceding the Horse.
The Snake’s influence in 2025 brings opportunities for self-reflection and strategic planning. It’s a year that encourages embracing change and harnessing inner strength to achieve personal and professional growth. In Chinese culture, the Snake’s attributes often symbolize renewal, making 2025 a promising time to shed the old and welcome new beginnings.
Aligned with the Wood element in the Chinese Five Elements system for this cycle, 2025’s Year of the Wood Snake emphasizes growth, adaptability, and a nurturing approach to challenges. This combination amplifies the Snake’s wisdom with a harmonious and grounded energy, fostering a year of thoughtful progress and collaboration.
As with all zodiac years, the Year of the Snake offers lessons tied to its unique qualities, reminding us to balance caution with courage and to trust our instincts as we navigate life’s complexities.
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