Tag Archives: Bangalore

Vedam, a captivating dining destination inspired by the rich historical and traditional heritage of South Indian cuisine, officially opens its doors to the public in the bustling city of Bengaluru. Nestled within the Golds and Building, near Wipro Gate, Kaikondrahalli, Bengaluru,  Vedam is a QSR culinary gem that promises an exquisite journey through the heart of South Idian gastronomy. With a commitment to authenticity, purity, and innovation, Vedam’s skilled chefs have curated a menu that showcases the vibrant flavors of South India, preserving age-old traditions while embracing contemporary culinary techniques. Rohin Razdan, Founder, Vedam, discussing during the grand launch, spoke, “Our restaurant is a testament to our deep-rooted passion for South Indian cuisine, and we are elated to embark on this culinary journey with the Bengaluru community. Our primary goal is to provide an experience that authentically respects the traditions of South India while embracing the evolving tastes of today’s diners. Currently, we are dedicated to introducing Bengaluru residents to the rich diversity of our cuisine, adding a contemporary twist to beloved traditional flavors at Vedam.“ Featuring seating for 42 and additional standing space for 60 plus, Vedam seamlessly combines tradition and innovation to provide a captivating and genuine South Indian dining encounter. From its ambiance to its decor, Vedam pays homage to the rich heritage of South India, adorned with intricate designs, calming color schemes, and cultural motifs that transport patrons to the very heart of South India. The restaurant has bold expansion aspirations, with the founders aiming to introduce additional branches within the coming 12-18 months, not only in Bengaluru but also in other locations. The restaurant presents a delightful blend of traditional flavors that cater to the diverse …

According to FCM, prices of hotels in Asia have increased by an average of 26%, with Bangalore being the most expensive at $190 a night, followed by Delhi at $150 a night. Economy fares from Mumbai to Delhi have increased by 15% and business by 9%.  

Sarova Hotels & Resorts recently kick-started its four-city workshop in India, starting off with Delhi. Stakeholders, travel agents and policy makers attended the product presentation in the capital. Representatives of the hotel gave a detailed product presentation on the group’s properties across Kenya. After Delhi, the workshop will be held in Mumbai, Bangalore and Ahmedabad. The delegation also interacted with agents and shared insights on how to promote Sarova Hotels & Game Lodges to Indian leisure travellers and MiCE groups. According to figures released by the Ministry of Tourism on the state of Kenyan tourism in 2017, international arrivals hit 1.47 million in 2017, up from 1.34 million the previous year. The Indian market contributed to 6.2 per cent of these arrivals, as the fourth largest source market; behind the United States of America, United Kingdom and Uganda. “Sarova has been a well-known brand in terms of luxury, cuisine and the quality of services it has to offer for all travel segments be it leisure, MiCE or wedding groups. International arrivals have been on a steady growth since 2015, and the Indian market has been one of the fastest growing source markets. Our four-city roadshow in India gives us a better standing in the industry in tapping into this source market”, says Selina Dima, Travel Trade Manager—Global Sales, Sarova Hotels and Resorts, Kenya. Sarova Hotels has a keen understanding of social and cultural nuances of India that helps them to curate services tailored for guests from the Indian subcontinent.  

The Den, Bengaluru has announced the launch of Layla, a rooftop mediterranean restaurant, along with a grand opening reception of the first property by The DAN group (Israeli) in India. Located in the IT hub of Bengaluru, the 226-room property provides the right blend of service and luxury for business travellers as well as fulfils the requirements of the destination connoisseurs. On this special occasion, Ronen Nissenbaum, President and CEO, Dan Hotels said, “The Den is an urban oasis and at the heart of it is authentic hospitality and philosophy to do what you want with utmost comfort, panache and just a little edge.” Vinesh Gupta, General Manager, The Den, Bengaluru, added, “The launch of Layla has been much anticipated and we are ecstatic to bring to our guests one of the best mediterannean restaurant in the city. Layla is a beverage-centric restaurant with Mediterranean cuisine with a lively, light-hearted and fun-keeping atmosphere, reflecting a touch of fine dining. We are excited with the launch of Layla and welcome people from Bengaluru to experience a unique dining experience.” Located on the 21st Floor of The Den, Bengaluru, the breathtaking location of the rooftop restaurant makes it an ideal place for a high and fun-filled dining experience with the sky view.

OYO has announced its entry into the long-term fully managed housing rentals – OYO Living, geared to provide upgraded living experiences at an affordable price for India’s growing population. Perfectly suited for the changing housing needs of India, OYO Living will offer a first-of-its-kind, end to end managed and high-quality living experience that eliminates the hassles of finding, accessing and managing everyday housing. These accommodations are easy to find and easier to live in, where all OYO Living residents can experience the benefits of shared spaces while enjoying financial independence. With this, OYO aims to become the leading brand in the long-term housing rental and accommodations business and the biggest provider of housing in India. At the time of launch, OYO Living will have 35+ live properties, with over 2000 beds in Noida, Gurgaon, Bangalore and Pune, targeted at millennials and young professionals. With most assets currently operating already resulting at full occupancy, OYO Living will aim to expand to the top 10 metros by the end of 2019 and will offer over 50,000 beds. Commenting on the launch, Ritesh Agarwal, CEO & Founder, OYO Hotels & Homes, said, “OYO Living represents our ongoing commitment to continue innovating and creating world-class stay experiences from India. With the launch of OYO Living, we are all set to offer something new while remaining true to our core mission of creating beautiful living spaces. This launch marks a key milestone as we embark on our journey towards becoming India’s biggest provider of housing, consolidating our position as a category innovator and leader.” Piloted in mid-2018, OYO Living offers residents fully managed independent residential units, inclusive of contracting, furnishing, cleaning, maintenance, and in-stay services.

Gokulam Grand Hotel & Spa Bangalore has been accepted as a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts brand that represents more than 700 hotels, resorts, residences, and unique hotel groups across 85 countries as the newest experience available within the Preferred Hotels & Resorts Lifestyle Collection. Baiju Gopalan, Executive Director, says “As we step into one of India’s most dynamic and competitive hospitality/travel markets, we understand that we need strategic partnerships to leverage international travel markets, distribution systems and loyalty programmes. Preferred Hotels and Resorts was the ideal choice for us to go global.” Akash Gupta, General Manager, says, “We are excited to be in Bangalore to take the erstwhile MSR Hotel and Spa with its existing service and brand standards and market recall to newer heights. The hotel has grown from strength to strength, and with the new management team coming in, a new growth phase for the hotel is being charted out. In keeping with the international brand presence the hotel once enjoyed, we have judiciously decided to partner with Preferred Hotels and Resorts to connect with the overseas market. This strategic alliance is the first step for us to initiate and strengthen our brand presence globally, and benefit from the global sales, marketing and distribution network of Preferred Hotels and Resorts.” Gokulam Grand Hotel & Spa has 182 rooms and suites with three F&B outlets, a pool, Sohum Spa and a gym.

IndiGo is set to operate flights to and from Surat from August 16, 2018, connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Jaipur. After a successful launch of seven domestic and two international destinations since January 2018, the airline has announced Surat as its 56th destination. Bookings are open with immediate effect with fares starting from Rs 1999. To provide more enhanced connectivity across India, IndiGo will operate three new routes, including Jaipur-Varanasi, Jaipur-Guwahati and Mumbai-Bagdogra. All new services start in August 2018. The new flights are designed to cater to business and leisure travellers who are constantly on the lookout for new and affordable flying options. Customers who wish to plan their travel can book tickets via the official website. William Boulter, Chief Strategy Officer, IndiGo said, “We are pleased to have the opportunity to fly out of Surat starting August 2018. Surat, undoubtedly holds immense potential for IndiGo, and launching operations to and from the diamond city is in line with our growth strategy for the India market. We are also launching three other new routes which includes Jaipur-Varanasi, Jaipur-Guwahati, and Mumbai-Bagdogra.  With these new services, we are providing more flexibility of choice to our customers as IndiGo continues to offer them on time, courteous and hassle-free service and an always affordable flying experience.”  

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts started its annual India mission at Hotel Sea Princess in Mumbai. Around 14 hotels are participating at the roadshow from destinations like Sri Lanka, Oman, Doha, Malaysia, Singapore, etc. After Mumbai, the delegation will then travel to Delhi and Kolkata, and eventually conclude in Bengaluru. Shangri-La is also promoting its recently opened Shangri-La Colombo and a new programme ‘Buds by Shangri-La’ focusing on children and families, which was launched at Shangri-La Singapore. Speaking at the roadshow, Vivek Braganza, Director of Business Development- India, Regional Liaison Office, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts said, “We plan to target MiCE, leisure and luxury travellers and would like to thank all our partners across the cities. We look to grow exponentially this year as we have in the past. India continues to be an important market for Shangri-La. We will be following this show with another activity targeted at the MiCE and wedding segment, set to take place in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore in September.”

Online travel portal, Yatra.com claims to have become the first in the online travel industry to offer self-drive car rental service on its platform in partnership with Revv Cars. Diversifying its product offerings, this alliance will allow travellers to book their local and inter-city self-driven transport on Yatra’s mobile app. Currently, the feature is live in nine cities namely Delhi/NCR, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and Vizag. On every booking, customers can save up to 5% using their eCash as well as can earn eCash up to Rs 1000 on booking made above Rs 10,000. Manish Amin, Co-founder & CIO, Yatra.com, “The concept of self-driven cars is gaining popularity especially amongst the millennials and experience seekers. With self-drive option now available on the Yatra app, we are further strengthening our commitment towards offering all kinds of travel solutions for all kinds of travellers. We are confident that this new product will enable us to add more value to our existing as well as potential customer base.” In a similar collaboration, Yatra had launched a first-of-its kind in-app integration with Uber, for its customers to book their local and intra-city transport directly through the Yatra app. Yatra also offers Chauffeur-driven Outstation Cabs for inter-city travel in more than 300 cities.

redBus has launched its latest service, called Bus Hire, which would offer customers mini-buses or tempo-travellers if they are seeking to hire buses. Bus Hire will provide a one-stop access to leading chartered bus providers in a particular city who offer best-in-class vehicles and superior service quality. The platform gives transparent and all-inclusive prices along with value added information such as bus photos and convenient payment options to help customers make an informed and suitable choice. This service is presently available in seven cities across India- Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi, and Ahmedabad and is soon being extended to other towns. The range of vehicles that customers can choose from is very extensive, and includes luxury buses, regular buses, mini buses, tempo travellers and cars. Prakash Sangam, CEO, redBus.in, expressed his enthusiasm about the new service, commenting, “Often group travel such as corporate outings, weddings and pilgrimages require a full vehicle to be hired. There was no easy way for travellers to connect with multiple vehicle providers to hire a bus of their choice. With our new Bus Hire product, we aim to simplify the process by providing customers with a customised, transparent and quick method of evaluating and choosing among different vehicle options. For charter bus operators, it opens up another avenue for attracting customers and growing their business.” Once a customer provides basic details of his or her desired trip, the bus operators on redBus Bus Hire platform respond with quotations that are transparent and all-inclusive. The base fare, driver charges, tolls, permit fees and taxes are all specified in the quotations. Customers can also view images of the bus before they confirm a booking. Customers can …