Category Archives: Hotels

Clarks Safari enters Ahmedabad by signing a 50 rooms property near Kheda Gujarat. The luxury property will cater to luxury travelers, corporates, and families looking for a day outing, along with clients seeking out destination weddings. The brand already has multiple properties spread across the country but Ahmedabad being the business hub and one of the busiest cities of Gujarat, propelled the brand to open doors here. The newly signed property is centrally located and enjoys good connectivity. It is spread over an area of more than 5 acres, and has all the facilities inside it. The property has a banquet hall with a seating capacity of 800 pax. There is a dedicated kids zone and play area, where one can enjoy rain dance. In order to spread awareness around nature and animal life, there is a birding zone, and a pond with various water animals. It is good for those who want to spend their whole day in a luxury setup while enjoying different activities at the resort. They also have a swimming pool and inhouse gym on the property.The property has a Gaushala, from where organic milk products are generated. There will be 50 rooms spread across categories, each room will be furnished with all the amenities, such as a safe box, indoor games, seating area, deck area, pantry, etc. They also have a main lawn to conduct weddings or other functions with 600 pax capacity. Various experiential will be curated targeting different sets of audiences. Apart from solo travelers, and families, the brand is heavily eyeing the wedding segment, corporate, and MICE. The in-house restaurant will serve multiple cuisines, chiefly North Indian, continental, and also Gujarati food. …

Global hotel owner and operator Minor Hotels has appointed Puneet Dhawan as Head of Asia as the group plots its growth in Asia and India. From July, Dhawan will be responsible for the performance of all Minor Hotels properties in Asia, working in close collaboration with the Minor Hotels senior leadership team and will report to Minor Hotels CEO Dillip Rajakarier. Dhawan, a seasoned professional with a 30-year hospitality career spanning Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, brings a wealth of experience to his new role. His most recent role as Senior Vice President of Operations – India & South Asia at Accor saw him lead the group’s business development, owner management, hotel operations and commercial team, driving Accor’s growth in the region. Notably, he oversaw the opening of the first Raffles hotel in India. His 25-year tenure at Accor also included time as the group’s Vice President of Operations, Middle East, and several General Manager roles. Dhawan’s journey in the hospitality industry began with the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, where he held positions at its properties in the Philippines and Hong Kong. Dhawan holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He will be based in the group’s Bangkok Corporate Office when he joins Minor Hotels in July. Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor Hotels and Group CEO of Minor International, commented, “We are excited to welcome Puneet to the Minor Hotels family. His operational experience and empowering leadership will be invaluable as we work to achieve our growth ambitions in Asia and India in the coming years.” In January, Minor Hotels unveiled its target to add more than 200 new openings to its …

And the Story Continues is pleased to announce that it will be handling sales & marketing activities in India for the Italian hotel Group Starhotels. Starhotels, the n.1 private hotel company in Italy by revenue, is a market leader in the hospitality industry within 4 and 5-star hotels. Originally founded in 1980 in Florence by engineer Ferruccio Fabri, a visionary enthusiast, today Starhotels is led by Elisabetta Fabri, the Group’s President and CEO, who embodies her father’s ambitions and creativity. The group vaunts 30 hotels and luxury apartments with more than 4,200 rooms and luxury residences located in the heart of the top Italian destinations, in addition to London, Paris and New York. Founded by Tekla Maira, And the Story Continues – a well known hospitality name in India – will support Starhotels increasing awareness and growing business within the Indian market. And The Story Continues will integrate its expertise and knowledge of the Indian market with Starhotels’ chic style and dedication to authentic Italian hospitality to create success stories and business opportunities for the hotels many of which are steeped in history, heritage & design excellence.

IHG is proud to announce the signing of a management agreement with Mansarovar Amusement Park & Resort to develop Crowne Plaza Resort Nepalgunj, Nepal. Scheduled to open in early 2028, the resort will feature over 100 keys and will further strengthen IHG’s growing portfolio in the SWA region. Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts is one of the world’s largest premium hotel brands, with more than 520 open or in pipeline properties in major global cities and resort locations. Rooted in a deep understanding of the needs of today’s business traveler, Crowne Plaza’s “Work/Life Blend” features multi-functional spaces where guests can switch effortlessly between work and socialization. Located in the sub-metropolitan city of Banke District, Nepalgunj is a vibrant and diverse city that serves as a major transport hub for many of the western regions of Nepal. It is a convenient stopover for travellers between Nepal and India, due to its location near the southern border with Bahraich district in Uttar Pradesh. The city is famous for its treks to the Dolpo Plateau and Jumla region, and offers a strategic stopover spot on the pathway to the Himalayas, offering a unique blend of culture, adventure, and nature. The new resort will be easily accessible from the Nepalgunj Airport and the India-Nepal border, catering to the needs of travellers seeking leisure and blended travel. Commenting on the announcement, Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said, “We are delighted to announce the signing of Crowne Plaza Resort Nepalgunj, further expanding IHG’s presence in Nepal. The strategic location of the hotel will provide us with a great opportunity to offer world-class premium hospitality and cater to the demands of …

Jetwing Hotels, a pioneer in the Sri Lankan hospitality industry for over five decades, remains dedicated to fostering positive change for people and the planet. In line with this commitment, Jetwing Hotels has invested over one million USD to expand its solar photovoltaic (PV) installations by 1.6 megawatts (MW) by the end of July 2024. Installation work commenced in December 2023 and has made significant progress, currently standing at 65% completion. Jetwing Hotels has been at the forefront of integrating renewable energy into its hotel operations since 2010, when a 20-kilowatt (kW) system was installed specifically for guest room lighting at Jetwing Blue in Negombo. In the past 14 years, Jetwing Hotels has strategically implemented solar PV systems amounting to 925kW across its various properties along with the corporate office (Jetwing House) in Colombo which features its own solar PV system with a capacity of 40kW. In 2023, Jetwing Hotels generated 1,069-megawatt hours (MWh) of solar energy across its properties; equivalent to providing power for 13,490 households and mitigating the release of 608 metric tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. The forthcoming solar PV system installations will enhance the current capacity up to 2.6 MW, achieved by incorporating new installations and expanding existing systems. Jetwing Hotels currently meets 8% of their electricity requirement through solar PV installations. The new expansion will triple that contribution, resulting in 24% of their total electricity usage being covered through solar power. While most systems are roof-mounted, certain properties of Jetwing are embracing innovative approaches to PV installations. At Jetwing Vil Uyana, nestled in the heart of Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle, and Jetwing Kaduruketha, situated amidst the serene countryside of Wellawaya, solar PV systems …

Fortune Hotels, a member of ITC’s hotel group announced the launch of Fortune Statue of Unity Ekta Nagar, a shining new addition set to offer unmatched comfort and hospitality close to Gujarat’s latest attraction, alongside the scenic views of river Narmada. Just minutes away from the Ekta Nagar railway station, this 144-room all vegetarian hotel, promises an extraordinary journey into the world of fine hospitality. With comforting interiors that open into tranquil river vistas from most rooms, Fortune Statue of Unity Ekta Nagar also has lush green lawns and ample open spaces to soak in the spirit of the place. The hotel offers an array of features to enhance the guest experience be it the wide range of premium room amenities, 24-hour room service option to satiate your midnight food cravings or the high speed complimentary wi-fi that lets you stream your favourite web-series whilst your stay with us. Additionally, guests can indulge in a vegetarian food soiree at the Rainbow Restaurant, where vegetarian cuisines from seven inspired culinary mores await you such that every meal becomes a treasure trove of flavours and memories. Fortune Statue of Unity Ekta Nagar will also become an address to reckon with for intimate gatherings to corporate events. The hotel will soon provide versatile banquet facilities ideal for hosting weddings, birthdays, meetings, presentations, and brainstorming sessions. Fortune’s dedicated team will ensure that every event is executed seamlessly, leaving a lasting impression on guests and attendees alike. Strategically located close to the many attractions in the SOU area, like the Narmada Maha Arti ghat, the Valley of Flowers (Bharat Van), the Cactus Garden, the Butterfly Garden, the Glow Park and many more the hotel is …

Roseate Hotels & Resorts has partnered with Paris-based hospitality AI SuperApp, Quicktext to benefit from cutting-edge AI technology for their hotels based in the UK. The brand proffers a collection of seven luxury hotels across India and the United Kingdom, characterised by their unique charm, immaculate hospitality, highest standards of service and attention to the finest detail. Each of the hotels is strategically located and offers its guests a bespoke experience that has been well recognized and featured by key travel and hospitality media across the world. Following an engaging and meticulous process of research, this strategic partnership began with the introduction of Rose, the virtual assistant modelled specifically to reflect the benchmark service standards the brand is synonymous with: optimize guests’ interactions, enrich communication at every touchpoint, boost guest satisfaction, streamline operations and, last but not least, immaculate service. Best of all, the continuous analysis of big data (via (Q-Data & Q-Channel) is delivering actionable insights to Roseate Hotels & Resorts for new high value services, revenue management and personalized marketing campaigns. Quicktext also provides services to optimize sales and content (Q-Sales, Q-SEO, Q-Dynamic). Quicktext, the hospitality AI SuperApp is deeply impacting the world of hospitality marketing and operation with its outstanding, innovative solutions based on Q-Brain+, the hybridisation of classic conversational AI and generative AI. Ravi Birdy, Executive Director, Roseate Hotels & Resorts said, “We encourage and thrive on a culture of immaculate service, evolution, dynamism and growth! As part of our brand vision, we are on a constant quest to improve our products and services in order to offer an enriched, bespoke experience to our guests. The promising avenues that AI has opened today in the world …

After meeting the state’s tourism official, Kuldeep Singh Chandela, President, Federation of Hospitality and Tourism of Rajasthan (FHTR) said, “The tourism department is likely to come up with Rajasthan Tourism Unit Policy in the upcoming budget session. In fact, they are also planning to recognise, the unrecognised hotels, tour operators, and travel agents in the policy.”

With the hospitality sector in India experiencing a significant surge, Sebastien Bazin, CEO, Accor, said, “The country holds a strong place in Accor’s global vision, embodying not just a market, but a place of opportunity and growth. It’s impossible to ignore the immense potential that the country presents in the sector.”

Speaking about how India’s hospitality sector is leading the charge for sustainability, Pradeep Shetty, President, HRAWI, says, “This shift towards sustainability is driven by the sector’s acknowledgement of its environmental impact. The hospitality industry is responsible for 1-2% of global carbon emissions, a figure expected to rise. Therefore, it has become imperative for hotels and resorts to take action to mitigate their footprint. The sector aims to reduce emissions by 66% per room by 2030 and 90% by 2050 to prevent emissions from surging.”