Restaurant India News: Hospitality Industry Slams Maharashtra’s 60 Percent Liquor Duty Hike

In a significant move for India’s tourism sector, the Telangana government, in collaboration with Hyderabad-based The Culinary Lounge, has launched the country’s first Culinary and Experiential Tourism Accelerator. The initiative aims to tap into the global culinary tourism market, valued at more than USD 1 trillion, and support the growth of businesses in food tourism and experiential travel. Introduced at The August Fest, the program focuses on building the next generation of culinary and cultural entrepreneurs, with an emphasis on innovation, sustainability, and heritage preservation. It is backed by Telangana Innovation Cell (TGIC) and NICE Org, with The Culinary Lounge serving as the knowledge partner.

The accelerator will provide startups in culinary and experiential tourism with access to industry experts, mentorship, incubation facilities, opportunities for cross-sector collaboration, market access for scaling up, and funding options. The project aims to position food and hospitality not just as cultural attractions but as economic drivers that can create lasting community impact.

“This is about reimagining food not just as culture or commerce, but as critical innovation infrastructure, with both social and economic impact,” said Gopi Byluppala, Founder & CEO, The Culinary Lounge. His approach blends culinary heritage with modern business strategies to create a more inclusive and sustainable tourism model. 

Meraj Faheem, CEO, TGIC,  said the accelerator will identify and support startups capable of preserving and promoting Telangana’s cultural heritage, adding, “We are committed not just to sustaining our legacy within Telangana, but also to taking it beyond state borders.”

The program aligns with Telangana’s broader vision of becoming a leader in experiential tourism. Special Chief Secretary for Tourism & Culture Jayesh Ranjan noted that it will help convert cultural assets into economic opportunities. By supporting entrepreneurs in food and tourism, the initiative is expected to generate employment, attract investments, and drive economic development in the region.

At the launch event, the organisers also announced plans for a Culinary & Cultural Passport for Telangana. Tourists will be able to collect stamps from culinary and cultural destinations such as Oragallu, Ramappa Temple, Sakinalu, Sarvapindi, Gussadi, Perni Natyam, and Ananthagiri Hills. The passport is designed to encourage visitors to explore local heritage while experiencing regional food. According to Byluppala, work on the passport is underway, with the official launch expected soon.

The accelerator will also focus on involving local communities and supporting artisans. The promotion of Adire, a traditional indigo-dyed fabric, has already created business opportunities for women artisans, improving their visibility and income security. Such initiatives aim to ensure that traditional crafts and cultural practices continue to thrive as part of the tourism value chain.

With this program, Telangana is building a framework for culinary and experiential tourism that integrates sustainability, cultural preservation, and business innovation. The initiative has the potential to strengthen India’s position in global tourism while offering authentic, region-specific hospitality experiences.

The Orchid Hotel Pune has elevated Dipak Singh to the role of Assistant Food & Beverage Manager. Bringing over eight years of experience in the hospitality industry, Dipak has consistently demonstrated his ability to deliver high-quality dining and banquet experiences. Since joining the hotel in 2020, he has played a significant role in enhancing banquet services and ensuring seamless guest experiences.

Dipak’s career journey includes roles at well-regarded hospitality brands such as Holiday Inn, Marriott, and Crowne Plaza. This experience has equipped him with the expertise to manage complex event setups and oversee daily operations efficiently. Known for his attention to detail and effective team leadership, Dipak has earned recognition from both guests and colleagues for his contributions to the hotel’s success.

Dipak said, "I'm honored and grateful for this opportunity. I'm excited to contribute even more to our hotel's success and make our guests come back again and again to The Orchid."

In his new role, Dipak will continue to focus on maintaining high standards of service in food and beverage operations, further supporting The Orchid Hotel Pune’s commitment to delivering excellence in hospitality.

The Den Bengaluru, a luxury hotel, has announced the appointment of Priyanka Rao as the new Head of Human Resources. Priyanka brings over thirteen years of diverse experience in flagship hotels across India to her new role. With a strong background in human resource management, Priyanka will oversee all HR operations, including organizational culture, employee relations, talent acquisition, and training and development at The Den Bengaluru.

Before joining The Den Bengaluru, Priyanka worked with the Orchid Group of Hotels and has been associated with renowned hospitality brands like Hyatt Hotels, Four Seasons Hotels, and Marriott Hotels. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated excellent problem-solving skills and has been key in implementing effective HR strategies that align with organizational goals.

Priyanka commented, “I am honored to join The Den Bengaluru and look forward to contributing to the continued success and growth of this prestigious hotel. I am excited to work with such a talented team and to support our employees in delivering exceptional service to our guests.“

Vinesh Gupta, General Manager of The Den stated, “We are happy to welcome Priyanka Rao to our leadership team, her extensive background in the luxury hospitality sector and commitment to excellence make her the ideal candidate to lead our human resources department as we continue to enhance our guest experience and foster a dynamic and inclusive workplace.”

The Leela Ambience Gurugram Hotel and Residences has appointed Manish Bedi as their new Director of Food and Beverage.

In his new capacity, Manish will supervise all F&B operations at the luxury hotel, aiming to uphold the highest standards of service and ensure an exceptional dining experience for guests.

With a career spanning more than twenty years, Manish is a well-known figure in the hospitality sector. Graduating from the esteemed Robert Gordon University of Scotland, Manish brings a wealth of experience from renowned establishments such as Shangri-La Bengaluru, Shangri-La Dubai, and The Park hotels, among others.

His responsibilities will include enhancing team efficiency, integrating F&B trends into culinary offerings, and aligning F&B activities with seamless operations. Known for his dedication to elevating dining experiences, Manish is poised to bring his expertise to The Leela Ambience Gurugram Hotel and Residences.

Manish said, “I am thrilled to be part of The Leela Ambience Gurugram Hotel and Residences and to contribute to its renowned hospitality legacy. It is an honor to oversee its F&B services and ensure they continue to set industry standards.”

The Leela Ambience Gurugram Hotel and Residences is confident that Manish will play a crucial role in enhancing culinary offerings and solidifying the hotel's reputation as a premier destination for exceptional dining experiences.

Crowne Plaza Today, Okhla, New Delhi, announced the appointment of Sumit Sinha as the Director of Food & Beverage.

Sumit Sinha will head Food and Beverage (F&B) Service as well as Food Production department at Crowne Plaza Today. He will oversee the functioning of all four Food and Beverage outlets at the hotel namely ChaoBella, Edesia, Copper Bar and French Heart along with room service and banquets.

An industry expert, Sumit Sinha holds an experience of more than 28 years in the hospitality industry converting strategic vision into measurable results.

As the Director of Food & Beverage, he will be responsible for heading and managing the F&B operations and maintaining high standards of guest satisfaction. He will also be supervising the daily operations of the kitchen, designing menus, developing new recipes and training the culinary team at the hotel. A driven professional, Sumit Sinha is extremely passionate about enhancing customer experiences and achieving operational excellence with his team.

Prior to joining Crowne Plaza Today New Delhi Okhla, Sumit has worked with brands like Taj and DLF Golf Resorts. Lately, he was working on an overseas assignment as a consultant, based out of Kuwait.

He has completed his education from IHM Bangalore. Sumit is an ardent animal lover and passionate about nature.

गोवा के अजया बीच रिसोर्ट ने जसप्रीत सिंह को अपना नया जनरल मैनेजर नियुक्त किया है। हॉस्पिटैलिटी उद्योग में एक दशक से ज्यादा के समय के साथ जसप्रीत सिंह इस उद्योग के दिग्गज हैं।

अपनी नियुक्ति पर जसप्रीत सिंह ने कहा, 'मैं गोवा के अजया बीच रिसोर्ट के प्रतिभापूर्ण और अद्भुत परिवार का हिस्सा बनकर बहुत खुश हूं। मैं आगे आने वाली चुनौतियों और संभावनाओं को देखता हूं। अजया की लोकेशन और सौंदर्य डिजाइन दुनिया भर के सबसे समझदार यात्री को आकर्षित करेंगे।'

उन्होंने आगे कहा, 'अपने मेहमानों को इस तरह के रिसोर्ट का अनुभव देने के लिए मुझे मेहमान-नवाजी के उच्चतम स्तर को प्राप्त करने के लिए तैयार किया गया है। हमारे रिसोर्ट के लिए सिर्फ गोवा ही इस तरह के प्यार की पेशकश और निर्माण कर सकता है।'

गोवा के अजया बीच रिसोर्ट को ज्वाइन करने से पहले कमर्शियल डायरेक्टर के रूप में जसप्रीत सिंह ने भारत में पहला अंदाज होटल लॉन्च किया, जिसने हयात के दुनियाभर के 15 अन्य अंदाज होटलों के लग्जरी लाइफस्टाइल कलेक्शन को जोड़ा। सिंह ने दो साल तक इंटरकॉन्टीनेंटल होटल ग्रुप में बतौर डायरेक्टर ऑफ सेल्स एंड मार्केटिंग (दक्षिण पश्चिम एशिया) के रूप में काम किया है। इसके अलावा सिंह ने ओबरॉय ग्रुप के साथ कई क्षेत्रीय विपणन और बिक्री पदों के साथ अपनी विशेषज्ञता विकसित की, जहां उन्होंने अपने करियर के 14 साल बिताए।

अपनी नई भूमिका में, जसप्रीत सिंह मेहमानों को हॉस्पिटैलिटी और सहज ज्ञान युक्त कस्टम मेड सेवाओं की पेशकश करने के लिए उत्तरदायी होंगे, जिसकी अजाया इच्छा रखता है।

Azaya Beach Resort in Goa announced the appointment of Jaspreet Singh as the General Manager. Jaspreet Singh is an industry veteran, with over a decade in the hospitality industry.

On his appointment, Jaspreet Singh, says, "I am thrilled to be a part of Azaya Beach Resort, Goa, talented and wonderful family. I look further to the challenges and prospects that lie ahead. Azaya’s location and aesthetic design will appeal to the most discerning traveler from around the world."

"I am elated to achieve the highest levels of hospitality, delivering our guests the kind of resort experience that only Goa can offer and building an enduring love for our resort. At Azaya we aim to give our guests an exceptional, surprisingly tailored experience," he adds.

Prior to joining Azaya Beach Resort, Goa, Jaspreet Singh in the capacity of Commercial Director, launched the first Andaz hotel in India, adding to Hyatt's luxury lifestyle collection of 15 other Andaz hotels worldwide. Singh also served as the Director of Sales and Marketing (South West Asia), for InterContinental Hotels Group, for two years. Also, Singh developed his expertise with several regional marketing and sales positions, with the Oberoi group, where he spent 14 years of his career.

In his new role, Jaspreet Singh will be accountable for offering guests cordial hospitality and intuitive custom-made services that Azaya aspires for.

अविजीत देब शर्मा को Ibis एंड नोवोटेल बेंगलुरु का एग्जीक्यूटिव शेफ नियुक्त किया गया है। अविजीत को 17 साल का अनुभव है और उन्होंने इंस्टीट्यूट ऑफ होटल मैनेजमेंट से ग्रेजुएशन की है।

अपने नए एग्जीक्यूटिव शेफ के बारे में बात करते हुए Ibis एंड नोवोटेल बैंगलुरु के जनरल मैनेजर डेलीगेट मेवरिक मुखर्जी ने कहा, 'हम शेफ अविजीत देब शर्मा को अपने यहां नियुक्त करने पर बहुत खुश हैं। होटल में फूड और बेवरेज से संबंधित चीजों को लेकर आने वाले समय को लेकर हम बहुत उत्साहित हैं। अविजीत रसोई को लीड करेंगे और हमें पूरा विश्वास है कि वे अपनी टीम का सही मार्गदर्शन और संचार करेंगे। अपने मैनेजमेंट स्टाइल, विवरण के प्रति सावधानी और परिणाम उन्मुख दृष्टिकोण की वजह से वे इस रोल के लिए एकदम सही च्वाइस हैं।'

उन्होंने आगे कहा, 'हम त्रुटिहीन सेवाओं और खाने के लिए जाने जाते हैं। इसी वजह से अविजीत हमारे लिए परफैक्ट फिट हैं। उन्होंने 5-स्टार रसोईयों में काम किया है और अनुभव से परिपूर्ण हैं।'

शेफ अविजीत देब शर्मा ने पहले आगरा में अमरविलास, लीला ग्रुप ऑफ होटल्स के साथ काम किया है।

Avijit Deb Sharma has been appointed as the executive chef at ibis and Novotel Bengaluru. With more than 17 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Chef Avijit is a graduate from the Institute of Hotel Management Bengaluru.

While talking about the new Executive Chef, General Manager Delegate for ibis & Novotel Bengaluru Maverik Mukerji said, “We are very pleased to have Chef Avijit Deb Sharma on board with us. We have exciting times coming up with regards to food and beverage at the hotel. With Chef Avijit leading the kitchen, we are confident that he will provide the right guidance and leadership to his team. His management style, attention to detail, and result oriented approach makes him the perfect choice for this role.”

“We are known for our impeccable service and food, which is why Avijit is the perfect fit for us; he has worked extensively in 5-star kitchens and comes with a wealth of experience,” he further stated.

Chef Avijit Sharma has previously worked with AmarVilas in Agra, the Leela Group of Hotels, among others.

GRT Hotels & Resorts, a Chennai based hospitality chain with 16 hotels for business and leisure travellers in South India, has planned to invest RS 900 crore to open nine new hotels in the South by 2025.

The company opened its 16th hotel, the Radisson Bengaluru City Center, a boutique lifestyle hotel offering 90 rooms, with an investment of Rs 80 crore.

GRT Hotels & Resorts is promoted by GR Thanga Maligai, popularly known as GRT, one of South India’s leading jewellers. Its hotel and resort brands include Grand (upscale business hotel) Radisson Blu (5-star boutique hotel and resort), Great Trails (nature resorts), Regency (mid-segment business hotel) and Zibe (select service hotel), that are located in 14 cities in the South.

“We want to grow our footprint in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, as most of our hotels are in Tamil Nadu. We plan to invest ₹900 crore to take our hotel count to 25 by 2025. Most of the ₹900 crore will come from internal accruals and 25 per cent from debt. Ours is an asset-heavy business because our board has mandated us to buy land and build our own hotels,” Vikram Cotah, Chief Operating Officer, GRT Hotels & Resorts said.

A Great Trails nature resort in Wayanad, Kerala, is scheduled to be ready in the third quarter of 2019 and a large convention hotel in Hyderabad is due to open in 2020. Radisson Bengaluru City Center is the company’s first hotel in Bengaluru and its third Radisson hotel. The other two are Radisson Blu in Chennai and a Radisson Blue Temple Bay resort in Mamallapuram. “We are the second oldest franchise for Radisson in India,” Cotah said. In Karnataka, the company is looking to open leisure resorts in Kabini and Coorg. In Kerala, plans are afoot for hotels in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi.

Our future focus will be on leisure hotels, because their yields are much better. For instance, our average room rate in Yercaud is ₹7,000, and is ₹10,000 at Radisson Blue Temple Bay Resort at Mamallapuram, while it hovers between ₹5,000–₹5,500 in a Grand. Earlier, the leisure travel business was seasonal. However, the trend has changed to a number of short vacations throughout the year,” Cotah said. The company’s 16 hotels with 1,072 rooms registers a 65 per cent occupancy rate. Its business hotels garner over 85 percent occupancy while it is 60 per cent in leisure hotels.

With the hospitality industry showing signs of recovery from the decade long slump, Lords Hotels and Resorts, India’s fastest-growing chain in the premium mid-market hotel segment, has decided to switch its expansion drive into top gear to become a 40-property chain by the end of financial year (FY) 2020.

With the demand for hotel rooms outpacing supply, the hotel chain is not only aiming at increasing its footprints at a faster rate, but is also looking to venture into new geographies and focus on niche segments.

With 26 operational hotels and four more scheduled to commence operations later this year, Lords Hotels and Resorts has been growing at an average of three hotels per year since its inception in 2007. It will now also target becoming the fastest-growing pilgrimage hotel chain in the country.

“Our hotels across the country have registered room occupancies in the range of 70–75 per cent in the last financial year. While there was only a marginal rise in ARR, the RevPAR grew by almost 8-12 per cent. This is an indication of demand outpacing supply and the need for increasing room inventories,” said P R Bansal, chief operating officer, Lords Hotels and Resorts.

In the current financial year, the hospitality chain has plans to establish hotel properties in Kolkata and Bhubaneswar in the east, and in Hyderabad and Chennai in the south.

“After a sluggish growth for close to a decade, the outlook appears positive for the industry and we plan to make the most of it while we can. Despite an unfavourable market scenario, Lords Hotels and Resorts continued making strides to become India’s fastest-growing hotel chain,” Bansal said.

“We have identified potential projects in the East, where Lords Hotels and Resorts has not made a mark yet, and also in the South, where we see tremendous growth in the coming years,” he added.

Lords Hotels & Resorts is a home-grown, mid-market player with a focus on serving the burgeoning Indian traveller. With a spread of four sub-brands, viz Lords Plaza, Lords Inn, Lords Eco Inn and Lords Resorts, the parent brand covers the entire spectrum of tourist segments.

“While many hotels brands, including international players, are realising the potential in the mid-market segment and making a foray into it today, we began our journey over a decade ago,” said Rishi Puri, vice-president, Lords Hotels and Resorts.

“We not only foresaw the prospective market, but we also were deeply passionate about serving guests with the global hospitality standards. Our ideology of True Value stems from here,” he added.

“We’ve successfully managed to offer our guests the best of services and amenities bundled together at economical tariffs,” Puri said.

“We even broadened our portfolio of hotels to better accommodate the needs of the leisure tourist, the business traveller, the bag-packer and the pilgrimage tourist,” he added.

“In fact, our next big focus is to serve the pilgrimage tourist, for whom today the stay options fall largely in the unorganised domain,” stated Puri.

There are close to 200 iconic, sacred places of worship in the country and these sites receive footfalls in excess of 1.5 million tourists annually.

While many of the top pilgrimage destinations today have branded hotels, a majority of the sites are served by stand-alone hotels, which leave tourists with no option but to manage with what is available.

“We are very keen on developing a focused offering to the pilgrimage tourist segment. Out of the 26 properties that we currently operate, seven are in the heart of such pilgrimage destinations, and we are aiming at maintaining at least 30 per cent of our portfolio for pilgrimage tourists,” Puri said.

“With the government’s impetus on Incredible India campaign, the designated tourism circuits will include a host of pilgrimage sites, and we have identified Katra, Mathura, Vrindavan and a few others for our upcoming projects dedicated to pilgrimage tourists,” he added.

Courtyard By Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal has announced the launch of its much-awaited rooftop restaurant Nazaara. Promoting North West cuisine and innovative cocktails, this outdoor venue offers a stunning view of the Bengaluru skyline and the Nagavara Lake and is all set to be the most favoured destination for Bengaluru’s glitterati.

“Set in an enchanting city offering a wealth of dining options, ‘Nazaara’ which translates to a beautiful scenic view stands true to its name. Offering expertly prepared dishes by a team of skilled chefs, elegant indoor & outdoor settings that are complemented by striking views of Bengaluru, we aim to redefine North West cuisine for the city dwellers. Nazaara offers alfresco dining areas with rustic lounge seating to kick back and enjoy the view of the city,” adds Shiv Bose, General Manager, Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal.

Executive Chef Gaurav Anand adds, “We are thrilled to launch our most awaited restaurant – Nazaara. Overlooking the picturesque skyline of the city coupled with a specially curated menu and cocktails it is sure to keep patrons coming back for an experience that both delights and surprises them. The menu draws inspiration from our team's creativity, travels, ingenious ideas and innate experiences. We have selected diverse regional cooking styles with the choicest of ingredients with the aim to tantalize our guest palates.”

Salient features of Nazaara include; an exclusive private dining area and a beer tasting room. A unique micro-brewery will soon be launched as well. The lounge also offers an extensive selection of international wine-by-glass menu, unique cocktails and an array of delectable North-West Indian cuisine catering to the eclectic tastes of guests.

Signature dishes on the menu include Amritsari Fish Tikka, Lamb Galotti Kebab, Classic Awadhi Style Mutton Curry, and the Signature Dum Biryani. Desserts include the much-loved Phirni, Gulab Jamun, Jalebi Rabdi and other North Western cuisine favourites.

Sergio Zertuche is Chief Sales & Marketing Officer of Palladium Hotel Group – an internationally renowned Spanish hotel chain with 50 diverse properties spread across six countries. On the Group’s success rate of promoting hotels in India, he confirms, “We are promoting three of our key Spanish properties— Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza, Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife and Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel in India. India is turning into a strong outbound market in the world and is ranked among our top 20. Ibiza is among the popular places visited by Indians which is known for its vibrant music scene and eagerly-awaited concerts every season, while Canary Islands is a new destination that Indians are exploring in Spain,” he said.

India’s travel and tourism industry is growing enormously every year owing to its rich cultural and historical heritage, variety in ecology, terrains and places of natural beauty spread across the country. For Zertuche, the business travel market in India is slated to be ranked among the top 5 by 2030 as business travel spending is expected to triple until 2030 from US$ 30 billion in 2015. “Being such a lucrative market, we seek interest to set up and expand our visibility in the Indian market in the future as we see the rise in demand for luxury hotel players in the country,” he added.

The experience at Palladium properties is kept distinct for an unparallel holiday experience. Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel is the first of its kind in the world to pioneer the concept of party hotel/ beach club. The Ushuaïa Club is the ideal choice for the best daytime parties in Ibiza. George Clooney and wife, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lionel Messi, Kylie Minogue, Paris Hilton, RanbirKapoor and Katrina Kaif are some of the famous celebrities that have visited the hotel lately, he informed.

Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza is the first Hard Rock Hotel of Europe that combines the style and energy of the legendary brand. The volcanic island of Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands and one of the most fascinating destinations in the world.

“We are closely working with tour operators and travel agencies from India as it is one of our top 20 markets with an average stay of 3 to 5 nights, and Indian market has kept growing along in the last four years. We plan to engage with the travel trade through networking dinners on a one on one basis for effective penetration in the Indian market,” he said.

With the focus on technology and sustainability, Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza, Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife and Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel have state-of-the-art technology with music-themed furnishings, glass enclosed whirlpool bath and chromotherapy in the rooms. The Pioneer DJ Suite, located at The Ushuaïa Club, to offer just an example, features an incredible music equipment that includes two pioneer DJ players, mixers, amp, speakers and a subwoofer, as well as a spectacular clear glass bathtub; while the hotel has its own recording studios with an innovative control room and services that include studio hire, musical production, personalised DJ classes, recording, mastering and mixing.

“Sustainability is also one of our strong commitments, therefore our properties sign a common quality and environment policy that agrees to carefully control and care about use of the natural resources and environmental impact,” he added.

The recently conducted networking training workshops for close to 100 tour operators in Mumbai and Bangalore was aimed to educate the trade and increase awareness about Palladium brand and its unique offerings. “We conducted 4 training sessions in each city focusing on aspects like the USP’s of the three properties, booking process, flight connectivity from different cities of India to Ibiza and attractions in and around the island during one’s stay at the properties. It was also a platform that helped us introduce Blue Square Consultants as our India representative to meet and cater to the growing demand for Ibiza from the India market,” he said.

Palladium Hotel Group is a Spanish hotel chain with 48 hotels and close to 14,000 rooms in six countries: Spain, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Sicily (Italy) and Brazil and operates 8 brands: TRS Hotels, Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts, Palladium Hotels, Palladium Boutique Hotels, Fiesta Hotels & Resorts, Ushuaïa Unexpected Hotels, Ayre Hoteles, Only You Hotels, as well as licensed brand Hard Rock Hotels. ‘BLESS Collection Hotels’ is a new hotel brand by Palladium Hotel Group targeted at the hedonist luxury. The first property in central Madrid is due to open in November 2018. The Palladium Hotel Group establishments are characterised by their philosophy of offering customers a high standard of quality in its products and services and excellent value. The Group is owned by Grupo Empresas Matutes (GEM).

Piramal Capital & Housing Finance Ltd (PCHFL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the diversified Piramal Enterprises Ltd, said on Monday that it has invested Rs 650 crore ($94 million) in hotels owned by Gurugram-based hospitality firm SAMHI Group.

PCHFL said in a statement that the structured debt funding will help SAMHI Group with its growth plans and refinance existing lenders across three assets – The Courtyard and Fairfield by Marriott in Bengaluru, Sheraton in Hyderabad and Hyatt Regency in Pune.

The company said that all loans are against operational assets.

The deal marks PCHFL’s third investment in the hospitality sector over the past six months.

Before this, PCHFL had invested Rs 600 crore in the Gurugram-based Vatika Group (Westin Gurgaon and the Westin Sohna) and Rs 600 crore in Advantage Raheja Group (JW Marriott, Bengaluru and the Crowne Plaza, Pune).

PCHFL has also sealed five other transactions worth Rs 450 crore against five hotel assets which are operated by top-tier brands like Taj, Hyatt, Radisson, etc. across regions like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Shimla and Goa.

Of this, the firm will provide Rs 100 crore as last-mile funding towards the completion of the first Taj Luxury Resort in Himachal Pradesh coming up in Theog, near Shimla.

“We believe that this is an opportune time to target the hospitality sector with ‘intelligent’ capital,” said PCHFL managing director Khushru Jijina.

“The industry is firmly on a path of growth, ably supported by both domestic and foreign tourism, has higher disposable income and is witnessing a general change in spending habits of target customers,” Jijina added.

The company has deployed Rs 2,000 crore towards the hospitality sector as it scales its offerings within this vertical to reach a target book size of Rs 10,000 crore in the next three years.

“We continue to see accretive acquisition opportunities in hotel sector and we are perhaps best positioned to take advantage of these,” said Ashish Jakhanwala, founder and chief executive officer, SAMHI Group.

SAMHI was founded by Jakhanwala and Manav Thadani in 2011. In 2016, US-headquartered investment firm Goldman Sachs had invested Rs 441 crore ($66 million at the time) in the PE-controlled hospitality firm for a minority stake.

Equity International, GTI Capital Group and International Finance Corporation had also invested in SAMHI Group.

Micro-hospitality startup SaffronStays has about $2 million from consumer-centric venture capital firm Sixth Sense Ventures. The pre-series A investment marks the first institutional round into the firm and will help SaffronStays expand the number of holiday properties under its platform.

Founded in 2015 by Devendra and Tejas Parulekar, SaffronStays curates and manages hospitality operations, reservations, branding and marketing for private vacation homes owned by high networth individuals. The firm currently operates 45 homes across six states in India and claims to host over 1,500 guests every month.

“We are excited to have Sixth Sense Ventures as our partners in our entrepreneurial journey. We hope to use this money to expand our footprint, work on innovative business models, strengthen our operations and improve our technology backbone,” said Devendra Parulekar, Founder of SaffronStays. As part of this investment, Nikhil Vora, Founder & CEO of Sixth Sense Ventures will join the board of SaffronStays.

Hospitality being a high margin sector, SaffronStays claims to be cash flow positive at a unit level even as it clocks about Rs 5 crore in annual revenues.

“The Indian travel market is massive and yet underserved. We believe that SaffronStays is very well equipped to capture this market with its exclusivity and well-curated offerings and parallely create an opportunity for homeowners to monetize their most valuable and expensive asset,” said Vora on the investment.

Currently operational around Mumbai, Pune, Goa and a few locations around Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, the firm is looking to scale to about 125 properties by the end of 2018 even as it looks to scale to over 1,000 homes over the next 5 years.

Hyatt Hotels Corp. has come up with its seventh brand Hyatt Centric in India. The rebranded Bengaluru MG Road property to Hyatt Centric has given rise to brand’s first hotel in India and twenty-third worldwide.

The hospitality brand of hotels target millennial travellers who are constantly looking for new experiences.

Sunjae Sharma, vice president, operations, Hyatt India in a statement said, “We are delighted to introduce the Hyatt Centric brand to our savvy guests in India with the opening of Hyatt Centric MG Road Bengaluru. Based in the hustle and bustle of Bangalore’s city center, we are confident that Hyatt Centric MG Road Bangalore will serve as a platform for guests to easily explore and share all that is vibrant, and exciting, about the garden city.”

Designed by consultancy firm Studio HBA, the hotel has 143 contemporary guest rooms, including four suites with terrace gardens overlooking the pool which have been redecorated and infused with local flair.

The property has two restaurants including The Corner serving coffee and light fare while The Bengaluru Brasserie delivers global cuisine with a focus on health and well-being.

Apart from offering event space, the hotel also provides a 24-hour fitness center, a business center, spa and multilingual staff.

Hyatt presently has over 7,000 rooms, across 29 hotels in 18 destinations of India. It is present across key metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai as well as cities like Pune, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, and Raipur.

The Chicago headquartered Hyatt Hotels Corp. has over 700 properties in more than 50 countries across six continents as of March 2018. Its brands include Park Hyatt, Miraval, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt, Andaz, Hyatt Centric, Unbound Collection by Hyatt, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, Hyatt Ziva, Hyatt Zilara and Hyatt Residence Club.

Adamo Hospitality’s landmark, The Empresa Hotel, has been setting new benchmarks in hospitality ever since it opened in Mumbai's Andheri in the year 2016. With its stylishly designed rooms, state-of-the-art hotel facilities and unmatched service, it has been the go-to hotel for business and leisure travellers alike. The Empresa now gives its patrons two more delicious reasons to visit them. Whipping up delightful food and drinks for The Empresa Hotel will be award-winning Masterchef Ajay Chopra and India's first female mixologist, Shatbhi Basu! The duo comes on board to guide and curate the team to greater heights of excellence.

Chef Chopra was a judge on Masterchef India and has hosted popular shows on Global television and the web series as well. Such as Hi Tea on Food Food, Northern flavours on Living Foods and many more. He presently is mentoring many Food and Beverage destinations and creating comprehensive and innovative F&B offerings. Shatbhi Basu runs her professional bartending academy, STIR, has run her own show on mixology and has even authored a book on the subject. She was recently felicitated by Hon’ President of India - Ram Nath Kovind, as "First Ladies" for being the first in their respective fields.

The Empresa Hotel offers three world-class dining options on its premises, viz. luxury fine dine White Charcoal, a chic all-day Café & Otium Rooftop and Lounge. The Empresa will now have the two masters, Chef Ajay Chopra and Shatbhi Basu, delighting patrons with their spectacular creations. Chef Chopra will curate a special menu for the entire property & is creating a Modern Indian make over to The White Charcoal bringing the world to your plate in the other venues. Shatbhi Basu will stir up some of her insanely popular martinis.

"The Empresa Hotel is a landmark not just in Mumbai, but in Indian hospitality too. Nothing is above the needs and comforts of our guests, where food and drinks are definite priorities. Chef Ajay Chopra and Shatbhi Basu are both legends in their own right and it is our absolute pleasure to have them on-board with us. We get a lot of local Mumbai guests who love dropping by for their meals and evenings out with us. We are sure they will all be delighted to know that we have roped in stalwarts to bring them India's best food and drinks together, alongwith our award-winning hospitality," shared Harsh Ajmera, Director - Ajmera Group.

Chef Ajay Chopra said, "I have been very fortunate to perfect and innovate with all kinds of cuisines, especially Indian. My food is shaped by all my experiences, from the Oberoi, JW Marriott and the Westin, to Mint Leaf London, Masterchef India and my various brand associations the world over. We will be curating a versatile, trendy menu for The Empresa, keeping in mind their patron base that loves the classic with a twist. Shabhi Basu's wizardry with the drinks menu greatly enhances the flavours, as they are so perfectly matched. Cuisine is a sensory experience, and it comes together beautifully at The Empresa."

Shatbhi Basu added, "As the bar consultant at Empresa, I bring my vision for The White Charcoal by extending the food philosophy to the drinks. I've helped with designing the working bar, creating their signature cocktails and mocktails menu, listing the alcobev brands and curating the wine menu. To ensure the ethos of the philosophy reaches the customer, I've trained the bartenders, upgraded their mixing skills and trained the service teams too. We've made a menu we're truly proud of, with elegant elements from the Indian flavor profile, and a beautiful wine menu that complements the Indian food palate. It's a great joy to join hands a young, talented chef like Ajay Chopra and the enthusiastic Ajmera group that truly values what I bring to the table!"

The Empresa Hotel, with its 33 luxuriously appointed rooms, modern spa and gym, chic swimming pool and an array of dining options, is one of Mumbai's most popular hotels. With Chef Ajay Chopra and Shatbhi Basu joining hands to make The Empresa Hotel's culinary experience an exemplary one, it's sure to get even more popular with Mumbai's gourmands. So if you're looking for a whale of a time in the heart of Mumbai with the best food and drinks, head straight to the Empresa Hotel, where the masters are at work!

Adamo Hospitality has Hotels across the country at destinations like Matheran, Goa & Nathdwara.

Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel, Gachibowli has appointed Chef Amit Kumar Dash as its Executive Chef.

Dash has over 13 years of experience in the hospitality industry and holds a diploma in Hotel & Catering Management from IIHM, Kolkata along with BBA in the Tourism and Hospitality industry from Vishwa Bharati Shantiniketan and a BA in International Hospitality Management from Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh, UK.

He encompasses expertise in handling kitchen operations, achieving guest satisfaction and team management.

During the last 13 years, Dash has grown from being a Jr. Sous Chef-Chef In-charge to being the Executive Chef. He has been previously associated with Courtyard by Marriott at Mumbai International Airport, Courtyard by Marriott, The Taj Connemara and ITC Hotel Park Sheraton Towers in Chennai. 

Sterling Holiday Resorts leisure hospitality firm, an arm of Thomas Cook India, has signed an agreement to acquire Nature Trails Resorts for an undisclosed amount to strengthen its presence in nature and adventure tourism segment.

The company has announced the signing of agreement to acquire Nature Resorts Pvt Ltd, an adventure holiday company that operates resorts at four unique destinations in Maharashtra, said Thomas Cook India in a filing to BSE.

This acquisition gives Sterling Holidays access to Nature Trail's land bank within drivable distance from Mumbai, Pune, Surat, Nashik and opportunity to set up new resorts in all these locations, it added.

Commenting on the development, Sterling Holiday Resorts Managing Director Ramesh Ramanathan said, "The acquisition of Nature Trails adds tremendously to our ability to offer adventure holidays and adds resorts to our network in locations close to Mumbai, Pune, Surat, Nashik and other cities."

Sterling Holiday Resorts will however retain the 'nature Trails' brand and its director Chinmay Divekar will continue to lead Nature Trails as its Chief Operating Officer.

Shares of Thomas Cook India today closed at Rs 208 on BSE, down 1.91 per cent from its previous close.