Category Archives: Hotels

Experience divine serenity and vibrant hospitality at the sacred confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels (ASPHL) announced the opening of Zone Connect by The Park Prayagraj, a contemporary retreat in the historic city of Prayagraj. The milestone aligns with the spiritual fervour of the upcoming Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, making it a timely addition to the city’s vibrant hospitality landscape. Strategically located in the heart of the sacred Kumbh City, Zone Connect by The Park Prayagraj offers a perfect blend of comfort and spiritual serenity, making it an ideal stay for both devotees and travellers. It is located just two km from Prayagraj Railway Station and 13 km from Allahabad Airport offering easy access to the city’s key landmarks, including the iconic Triveni Sangam, just 6.7 km away. The guests can savour exquisite vegetarian cuisine at Café C, host gatherings in the Townhall banquet accommodating up to 100 people, and hold meetings in the versatile Grey Zone, designed for up to 30 participants. For rejuvenation, the Vitalia Spa & Fitness Centre provides a tranquil escape, ensuring a balanced and fulfilling stay experience. Speaking about the launch, Vikas Ahluwalia, General Manager and National Head, Zone by The Park Hotels, shared, “Prayagraj is a city of profound spiritual significance, and we are honoured to introduce Zone Connect by The Park Prayagraj in time for the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025. With thoughtfully designed spaces that encourage networking and productivity, Zone Connect caters equally to spiritual seekers and corporate travellers, making it a hub for being social, nimble and at ease.” Vijay Dewan, Managing Director, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels, emphasised the strategic importance of the launch, “We are …

Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) announced the signing of a hotel in Mandvi, Gujarat. This under construction project will be branded an IHCL SeleQtions hotel. Speaking on the occasion, Suma Venkatesh, Executive Vice President – Real Estate & Development, IHCL, said, “Mandvi’s unspoiled beaches and unique cultural heritage offers immense potential along India’s largely unexplored western coastline. Aligned with the Government of India’s Dekho Apna Desh initiative and IHCL’s pioneering spirit, we remain committed to developing such novel destinations. This signing strengthens our foothold in Gujarat bringing our portfolio to 29 hotels across brands. We are delighted to partner with Sea Leaf Resort for this project.” The 170-key IHCL SeleQtions Mandvi is a picturesque beachfront resort, set across 18 acres with scenic views of the Gulf of Kutch. Guests can enjoy a variety of dining options, including an all-day dining restaurant and a specialty restaurant. Recreational amenities include a swimming pool, a fully equipped gym, and a spa with seven treatment rooms. Families will appreciate the dedicated kids’ play area, making the resort an ideal choice for all travellers. Ritesh Tanna, Director, Sea Leaf Resort, said, “We are happy to collaborate with IHCL to make Mandvi a sought-after destination for leisure travellers.” Mandvi, a picturesque town in the Kutch region of Gujarat, is a serene destination to enjoy the sea, sand, and sun. The tranquil Mandvi Beach, leading to the Arabian Sea, offers a peaceful retreat. The town is home to several notable landmarks, including the Sundarwar Temple, Jama Masjid, Lakshminarayan Temple, Kajivali Mosque, and Rameshwar Temple, reflecting its rich historical significance. The iconic Vijay Vilas Palace, the summer palace of Maharao of Kutch, is among Mandvi’s most popular attractions. With …

Refined brand architecture, experiential luxury expertise and a focus on branded residences drive continued expansion as group reveals latest global pipeline figures. Minor Hotels is stepping into 2025 on a strong growth trajectory, underpinned by a robust pipeline of almost 300 new hotels slated to open over the next three years. This expansion puts the international hotel owner and operator on track to pass a milestone of 850 properties by the end of 2027, positioning it among the world’s largest hospitality groups. With more than 560 properties and 81,000 keys already in operation worldwide, Minor’s latest figures show a three-year pipeline of over 285 new hotels and almost 47,000 keys, underscoring the group’s ambitious global strategy and revealing a focus on global market diversification. While more than 50 per cent of Minor’s existing portfolio is currently concentrated in Europe, the addition of more than 100 properties in Asia, more than 60 in the Middle East & Africa, and 40 in Australia and New Zealand will lead to a more balanced global portfolio distribution. Minor Hotels is also looking to expand its presence in several priority markets, especially in North America and North Asia. Markets such as Morocco, Egypt, and Turkey have also been identified as priority destinations for entry, while efforts continue to accelerate momentum in the priority market of India following the recent opening of Anantara Jewel Bagh Jaipur Hotel. Leveraging global brand strength  Luxury and upscale remains a driving force in Minor Hotels’ expansion, with one-third of the three-year pipeline categorised in the Luxury segment, encompassing the Anantara, Tivoli, and Elewana Collection brands, and a further third in the Premium segment across NH Collection, Avani and nhow. The …

SOTC Travel expands its retail network with two new outlets: Vasant Kunj & East Delhi Reiterates the Company’s focus on the NCR region SOTC Travel, a leading omnichannel travel and tourism company, expands its franchise outlets in Delhi’s Vasant Kunj and East Delhi region. The new additions expand SOTC’s network strength to 10 in the NCR region, reiterating the company’s strategic focus on expanding its footprint in the region. The NCR region is an important source market for the Company’s holiday business within Delhi and its surrounding catchments witnessing strong demand. SOTC Travel’s new franchise outlets are strategically situated at prime locations to serve both leisure and business segments. The Vasant Kunj and East Delhi outlets offer end-to-end travel solutions with an array of services, including international and domestic holidays (group tours, personalised holidays, cruises, etc.), value-added services like travel insurance, etc. Rakesh Bawa – Senior Vice President & Head – Holidays, SOTC Travel said “With a legacy of over 75 years in pioneering group escorted tours, we at SOTC Travel continue to lead the way in understanding the evolving needs of the Indian traveller. We firmly believe that, No one understands the Indian traveller better than SOTC. Vasant Kunj and East Delhi are emerging as key source markets with strong demand. We are excited to open two new outlets, expanding our network to 10 locations. Centrally located, these stores will help us target key segments like families, millennials, business owners and Gen Z. Our holiday experts at Vasant Kunj and East Delhi extend a warm welcome to our customers and look forward to co-curate and plan a memorable holiday.”

Lords Hotels & Resorts is embarking on a significant expansion plan following the impressive success and growth achieved in 2024.  The group currently manages a portfolio of 70 hotels and is planning to add over 15 new properties by the end of 2025. It is actively expanding its presence in key regions, including Gujarat, Telangana, Karnataka, Bihar, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh, among others. Pushpendra Bansal, COO, expressed his enthusiasm stating “We are incredibly proud of the significant growth we achieved in 2024 and the enduring trust our partners and stakeholders have in our brand. Our iconic hotels, incredible food and beverage offerings, and unparalleled event venues reflect the commitment to delivering unmatched service and True Value Hospitality.” Vikas Suri, Vice President – Operations & Development added, “The demand for mid-segment upscale hotels is increasing and is expected to continue in the coming years, as travelers increasingly prioritize value for money. We aim to leverage this trend by expanding our operations further in Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 cities across India and internationally.”

Sharing his expectations from the Union Budget 2025 for the hospitality sector, Vishal Kamat, Chairman, CII Maharashtra Chapter, said, “Our hopes for the Union Budget 2025 revolve around meaningful policy reforms and strategic incentives to stimulate growth. While we applaud the government’s hefty investments in infrastructure, the hospitality sector needs more than just highways and airports.”

Targeting wider expansion, Vikram Cotah, CEO, GRT Hotels & Resorts, said, “Our strategy is to saturate the south. With resorts in Kodaikanal, Yercaud, Wayanad, Mamallapuram, and Puducherry seeing surging demand during peak holiday season, the company wants to ride the leisure boom with more properties in scenic locales, such as its upcoming ultra-luxury property in Pachalur.”

Outlining its expectations from the Budget 2025-26, FHRAI urges the government to introduce reforms that will address the critical challenges faced by the hospitality and tourism sector. It believes these reforms will increase investment, create employment, and support overall economic growth in the industry. FHRAI’s primary recommendation is to grant infrastructure status to hotel and convention center projects with costs starting from ₹10 crore.

Ahead of the Union budget, Rajesh Magow, Co-founder, MMT, said, “The travel & tourism sector is a vital pillar of India’s economy. Allowing GST credit for hotel construction & rationalising GST rates will help reduce the cost of accommodation while stimulating domestic tourism & positively impacting inbound tourism. He requested the FM to allocate resources for the global campaign under the Incredible India initiative.

K. Syama Raju, President of FHRAI, says it is keen to collaborate with the Andhra Pradesh govt to achieve its goals mentioned in its latest Tourism Policy which recognises tourism as an industry, combined with substantial incentives for private investors and a focus on thematic circuits. He says, “With its emphasis on sustainability and community empowerment, this policy has the potential to create significant economic and employment opportunities.”