Category Archives: Hotels

At the 72nd Annual General Meeting of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) held on 24th September 2022, Pradeep Shetty – Director, Maharaja Hotels was elected the President. Maharaja Hotels operates hotels and restaurants, among other F&B facilities in Mumbai. Prior to taking over as the President, Shetty served as its Sr. Vice President and has been an active member of the Association for over a decade. He has also served as the Jt. Hon Secretary of the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India – the country’s apex Hospitality Association. The youngest President of the Association, Shetty is also considered one of the foremost legal minds on hospitality. He has spearheaded several legal campaigns at the behest of the hospitality industry and played a critical role in bringing together hoteliers and restaurateurs protesting the unethical business practices of OTAs and FSAs, cable TV / TRAI matters, service charges, and MRP issues faced by the members. “The pandemic dealt a big blow to the hospitality and tourism industry and although things are getting progressively better, there are several concerns that are yet to be addressed. The association’s endeavour is to do its best towards alleviating as many pain-points of its members and we will work closely with the State and Centre in policy advocacy for the growth of tourism and hospitality in the region. I thank the Executive Committee for their trust and for electing me as President of the Association,” says Shetty. The new office will have Nirav Gandhi and Chetan Mehta as the Sr. Vice President and Vice President of the Association. Jimmy Shaw will act as the Hon. Secretary, Dilip Kothari as the …

Accor continues to expand its luxury footprint in India with the signing of Fairmont Udaipur, located in the historical city of Udaipur, in the state of Rajasthan, which is set to open in 2024. The agreement was signed in partnership with Keystone Resorts, a real estate development company set on increasing their footprint in hospitality. At the signing event, Mark Willis, Chief Executive Officer India, Middle East, Africa and Turkey for Accor, said, “With the aim to provide unforgettable experiences, Fairmont’s distinctive collection of unrivalled hotels reflects our belief in giving world-class service to guests who appreciate unique locations. As we are witnessing a rising demand for luxury experiences in India, and as the leading hospitality group in the country, we aim to stay ahead of the curve. The new Fairmont Udaipur Palace will continue to showcase our commitment to offering a place for occasions and unmatched guest experiences at the most beautiful locations around the country. We couldn’t think of a better city than Udaipur for Fairmont –a city steeped in culture and has a rich heritage that offers the perfect setting for the hotel.” With a unique location along a hillside, with an exclusive access to the forest reserve, the property is spread over 16 acres of land, offering guests an unparalleled view of the city. Featuring 340 guest rooms with over 100,000 sq.ft  of banqueting and events space, a variety of outdoor venues, recreational spaces, dining facilities and Fairmont’s signature Spa, offering luxurious one-of-a-kind holistic wellness experiences. Aniruddh Kumar, VP Development, Accor India & South Asia, commented, “We are delighted to expand our presence in Udaipur by adding another property within the Fairmont brand. We will continue the legacy …

Sarovar Hotels has opened its 100th hotel in India – Lagoon Sarovar Premiere, Pondicherry. Anil Madhok, Executive Chairman, Sarovar Hotels said, “2022 is a milestone year for us as we open our 100th hotel. This hotel holds a special place in our portfolio of hotels. Our vision 27 years ago was to make hospitality accessible in every part of the country. Our future vision is to strengthen our strong presence in tier 2 and tier 3 cities.” Lagoon Sarovar Premiere Resort is spread across 33-acres of land nestled on the banks of Chunnambar Backwaters. Pondicherry’s beautiful French colonial architecture is reflected through our resort’s rooms. Each has a private sit-out area overlooking an infinity pool and tranquil backwaters. Paradise Island, a unique icon of Pondicherry is adjacent to Lagoon Sarovar Premiere resort. Lagoon Sarovar Premiere Resort is conveniently located 20 minutes away from Pondicherry airport, 3 hours drive from Chennai international airport. It’s well connected with Pondicherry’s train and bus stations. The resort houses Flavours – all-day dining restaurant by the lily pond overlooking the pool with an array of local and international delicacies. Rhythm Bar, overlooking the bay offers a variety of Cocktails, Mocktails and Barbeque eats.

Spree Hospitality announced the signing of a new hotel in the city of lakes, Udaipur. It is located 1.3 km from Udaipur bus stand and 1.1 km from Pichola lake. This hotel comprises 30 rooms with spacious and luxurious amenities, an all-day dining restaurant, lounge and banquet hall. Commenting on the signing, Sagar Khurana, Vice President of Spree Hospitality said, “We are delighted to partner with Mr. Bilochi. This is our second property in Rajasthan. Udaipur is known for an important tourist destination and this encouraged us to sign the hotel in the city.” With the signing of this hotel, Spree Hospitality started to increase its portfolio in Rajasthan.

Cross Hotels & Resorts, along with TravelBullz is conducting a webinar today at 12pm. Representatives from both the brands will update the trade about their offerings. Participants also have a chance to win exciting prizes. Register at jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com, +91 9650196532.

Cross Hotels & Resorts, along with TravelBullz is conducting a webinar on 7th October at 12pm. Representatives from both the brands will update the trade about their offerings. Participants also have a chance to win exciting prizes. Register atjaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com, +91 9650196532.

Cross Hotels & Resorts is thrilled to introduce travelers to Cross River Kwai, one of Kanchanaburi’s most-talked-about riverside hotels with themed guest rooms and floating cabins. The Fallingwater Pool Villas has one and two-bedroom rooms, the latest in hand-crafted luxurious accommodation. Each of the 10 multi-storey units are blessed with spectacular scenery and Tenasserim mountain range. It is along the stretch of Kwai Noi River. Cross River Kwai is surrounded by with green, mature trees, towering bamboo, and native flora and fauna giving the retreat a balanced natural ambience. The resort incorporates elements unique to Kanchanaburi and the town’s history and strategic location. The Fallingwater Pool Villas expands the nature-inspired narrative of Cross River Kwai and pays homage to Erawan Falls in the nearby Erawan National Park. From the comfort of their living room, guests can plunge into the indoor-outdoor swimming pool or sit back and feast their eyes upon the beautiful countryside. The living area opens onto a private deck with comfortable sun loungers overlooking the majestic river. The master bedroom features floor to ceiling windows that offer unobstructed view of the river and mountains that blend with natural features. Guests can go on an excursion to Kanchanaburi’s Bridge over the River Kwai, visit Death Railway museum or Erawan National Park. They can also visit the town centre or participate in activities at the resort. Alternatively, they can sit back and admire nature in all its infinite beauty. The hotel currently operates 26 hotels in Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and Japan under five distinct brands: Cross, Cross Vibe, Away, Lumen, and Cross Collection.

Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Limited (ASPHL) is delighted to announce the signing of Zone by The Park Digha, West Bengal. Situated in West Bengal’s ‘Brighton of the East’ – a prominent sea resort and tourist destination, the hotel is ideal for travelers & tourists seeking a relaxing getaway. ASPHL has entered into a long-term agreement with Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) and Digha Sankarpur Development Authority (DSDA) to manage and operate the hotel. The 65-rooms hotel consists of a 1,000 seater convention center with banquet halls and exhibition center spread over 5.5 acres of land. Commenting on the signing, Mr Vijay Dewan, Managing Director, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Limited said, “We are delighted to partner with KMDA and the government of West Bengal. The hotel will be a destination by itself and will be crucial for tourism development and employment generation in the area. We plan to be ready for the G20 meetings in January 2023 at Digha.” Zone by The Park Digha offers a midscale experience with unique design elements and at the best price. Zone by The Park, the midscale social catalyst brand by THE Park Hotels has its presence in Coimbatore, Jaipur, Chennai ORR, Bengaluru, Jodhpur, Jammu, Kolkata, Dimapur with upcoming hotels in Amritsar, Phalodi – Jodhpur, Muzzafarpur, Siliguri and Srinagar.

Marriott International has announced that it expects to open 14 additional luxury properties in Asia Pacific by the end of 2023. The planned additions highlight the strategic growth of Marriott International’s luxury hotel portfolio in the region, where it currently operates 156 luxury properties. Across 13 countries and regions in Asia Pacific, Marriott International’s portfolio of dynamic luxury brands continues to create bespoke experiences for today’s luxury traveler in ever popular cities including Tokyo and Melbourne, and is ready to bring these experiences to emerging destinations such as Jeju and Jiuzhaigou. With a collection of iconic brands such as The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, W Hotels, The Luxury Collection, EDITION, JW Marriott and Bulgari, the company is set to meet the increasing demand for exceptional luxury travel experiences for our guests from all around the world. “Today’s luxury traveler is looking for authentic experiences that are personalized, thoughtful and uniquely meaningful,” said Bart Buiring, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Asia Pacific, Marriott International. “Our current portfolio of highly distinctive brands is well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of travelers, and these expected additions reflect our optimism for the future of luxury travel.” The Ritz-Carlton Brings Curated Luxury to New Destinations In 2021, The Ritz-Carlton arrived in the Maldives and the inimitable style and luxury of the brand is set to expand further in Japan with the expected opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Fukuoka in 2023. In Australia, the anticipated opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne in early 2023 will offer guests sweeping panoramic views above the city skyline, along with the brand’s acclaimed culinary offerings. Ritz-Carlton Reserve anticipates debuting its fourth rare estate in Asia Pacific in the historic Chinese valley of Jiuzhaigou …

Everyone deserves a holiday break, but these days, with so much news about the impact of travel on our precious planet, it is hard not to be concerned about our effect on the environment. The good news is that we can still take a hard-earned vacation while minimising our carbon footprint and getting good vibes from our leisure time. It is called ‘travelling consciously’ and Cross Hotels and Resorts have loads of ideas and inspiration for that this month. The Meaningful Travel partnership with Socialgiver is an essential and generous collaboration directly supporting the health and welfare of our precious green resources. By booking packages through the Socialgiver website, half of whatever you spend will be donated to The Big Trees Project to support nature conservation and the protection of green spaces throughout Thailand. This is a feel-good and rewarding initiative. The hotels also have great ideas about participating in World Car Free Day in September. A venture that gives us reflection time about reducing our reliance on motor vehicles. Vehicles are convenient and offer many benefits, but they also contribute to a dangerous amount of pollution. World Car Free Day is great for raising awareness about these concerns and helping to reduce emissions. So, we are suggesting we all take the lead by stepping up, out, and into your day without motor vehicle keys. People are more conscious about what they consume, and the hotels are jazzed about the reopening of the exceptional vegan restaurant, Moreganic, at Away Chiang Mai Thapae Resort. It is nestled beside the hotel’s tropical gardens and offers a relaxed and tranquil ambience. The restaurant serves delectable drinks such as banana, cocoa, and almond milkshakes, …