Category: Hospitality

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), in partnership with Lotus Trans Travel Private Limited, is planning to establish four hotel portfolios under the banner of Holiday Inn in Bodhgaya, Kushinagar, Gorakhpur and Shravasti. Expected to open between 2020 and 2023, the four properties together will add 450 rooms to IHG’s inventory in India. As part of the agreement, Holiday Inn hotels in Bodhgaya, Kushinagar and Shravasti will be refurbished and upgraded while Holiday Inn Gorakhpur will be a newly build hotel. With this partnership, IHG has become the first International hotel chain to have presence in the Buddhist Circuit of India. Bodhgaya ... Read more

Strengthening its dynamic sales team further, the flagship property of JW Marriott Hotels in India has announced the appointment of Sneha Jha as the Director of Sales. With over a decade of experience in the hospitality industry, Sneha brings to the table proficient expertise and immense knowledge in Sales and Marketing, Hotel Operations, Customer Service and Business Development. Before joining the JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu, Sneha spearheaded a talented team as the director of Sales and Marketing at Holiday Inn Mumbai wherein she was responsible for exploring revenue, generating opportunities and securing successful positioning for the hospitality brand. She also ... Read more

Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), which runs 165 hotels across the Taj, Vivanta and Ginger brands, is the latest hospitality major which is coming out to join the protest against the use of plastic straws. The hotel has made a commitment to stop using plastic straws at its properties as part of a sustainability push aimed at reducing plastic pollution in the world’s oceans. Earlier this year, the company announced that Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Andamans in the Indian Ocean would become its first ‘Zero Single Use Plastic Hotel ‘. “We at IHCL have taken a pledge to phase ... Read more

The historic Al Alamein Hotel in Egypt has officially reopened after a major facelift by Emaar Hospitality Group that makes it amongst the finest resorts along the Mediterranean. The opening event was attended by Egyptian Minister of Tourism HE Dr Rania Al-Mashat and prominent personalities. Situated in the picturesque setting of Sidi Abdel Rahman Bay, the hotel’s glamorous design ethos and refurbished retro-modern interiors hark back to the glory days of the 1960s, when the resort first opened. The remodelled designs blend vintage charm with contemporary style, evoking a sense of nostalgia of the golden age of Egyptian music and ... Read more

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a management agreement with Városház Utca Projekt Ingatlanforgalmazó Kft. for the first Hyatt Regency hotel in Budapest, Hungary. The 231-room property is expected to open in early 2020. Hyatt Regency Budapest will be located in the landmark building Postapalota, the former postal office on Petőfi Sándor Street. Situated near the vibrant Váci Street and a five-minute walk to the Danube river, this upscale hotel will provide the perfect setting for business and leisure travelers to connect with the city. “The development of Hyatt Regency Budapest demonstrates Hyatt’s commitment ... Read more

The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) is all set to open India’s first public sector hotel run entirely by women for women in the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram. Named ‘Hostess’, the hotel will open its doors within six months, close to the main bus stand and the Central Railway Station in the city. Minister for Tourism Kadakampally Surendran will inaugurate the work on the project at the Kerala Transport Development Finance Corporation (KTDFC) Complex at Thampanoor at 4.30 pm tomorrow, in the presence of M Vijayakumar, Chairman, KTDC. “The all-woman hotel is the first-of-its-kind initiative from a government in the country. ... Read more

Giving a much needed relief to the tourism sector, the GST Council has slashed the rates as per the demands of the industry. The GST of those hotels which has tariff rates upto Rs 7500 is reduced to 18 per cent. For hotels with the tariff rate of Rs 7500 plus, the GST will remain as 28 per cent. The council also decided that GST for hotels to be charged on the actual price that the customer pays and not on the declared tariffs. The GST Council in its 28th meeting, chaired by interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, has decided ... Read more

Hyatt hotels announced its plan to eliminate single-use plastic straws and drink picks. After Sept. 1, 2018, straws and picks will be available on request only, and eco-friendly alternatives will be provided where available. “At Hyatt, we care for people so they can be their best, and this care extends to our communities and to preserving resources for future generations. Eliminating plastic straws and drink picks builds on the environmental sustainability programs we have in place and further drives our global efforts to reduce environmental impact. This is a meaningful step, and our commitment doesn’t stop with straws and drink ... Read more

Marriott International has announced that they would be introducing facial recognition at the check-in desk, which is a first in the industry. Marriott has partnered with Chinese e-commerce group Alibaba to trial the technology at two two China properties – the Marriott Hangzhou and the Marriott Sanya. “We are excited to partner with the joint venture yet again to offer an innovative and convenient check-in alternative for Chinese travellers. Marriott International has a track record of embracing cutting-edge technology to create memorable experiences for guests. With technology, our hotel associates can work more efficiently to do what they do best ... Read more

Novotel New Delhi Aerocity AccorHotels has introduced ‘MyRoom by AccorHotels’ concept across five properties which offers customised rooms. The concept rooms are introduced in AccorHotels’ Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Goa hotels with an aim  to meet travellers’ stay experiences which are distinctive, innovative, customised and local. To bridge the gap between the hotel staff and guests, MyRoom themes have been designed by the hotel staff itself. The staff brainstormed on themes they are passionate about, while keeping their guests in mind. Following internal discussions, three winners were shortlisted, where each winner was given charge to decorate and plan the room as per their ... Read more

Tourism Sector has created 14.62 million jobs during the last four years, thus becoming the leading sector in the economy in terms of job creation, said Minister for State for Tourism (I/C), K J Alphons. He said that all segments of the society benefit from the tourism sector, as it creates employment opportunities at all levels. The Tourism Minister was speaking after interacting with Ambassadors of foreign missions in Delhi on bilateral tourism. Around 20 Ambassadors attended the meeting which included Finland, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Russia, Malaysia, Russia, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina, etc. “Engaging the Ambassadors of countries is important to ... Read more

Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty sets the destination mood right with the grand luxury spa at the property – Śāntata. The new spa, spread across 22,000 sq.ft, is ready with its carefully crafted treatments to ensure wellness and rejuvenation to the guests. Śāntata features seven treatment rooms, relaxation rooms, spa locker rooms, crystal steam room, sauna, plunge pool, ice bath fountain, experience shower, member’s lounge, indoor lap pool and a hydrotherapy area. The spa focuses on traditional Ayurveda and contemporary international treatments, offering a selection of massages, facials, manicures, and unique wellness packages. Relaxation Lounge The signature series of Śāntata is ... Read more

ITC Kohenur Hyderabad ITC Limited said it plans to add 2,500 rooms to its hotel segment to take the total inventory to 12,000 in five years. At present, the group has 9,500 rooms. Sanjiv Puri, Managing Director, ITC said the company would invest Rs 2,500 crore in the next two to three years in Telangana, among others, to set up an integrated consumer goods manufacturing unit and logistics facility and for the capacity augmentation and efficiency of Bhadrachalam Paperboard. ITC has appointed a committee internally to examine the possibility of foraying into the healthcare space. Once it submitted its report, ... Read more

The Raviz Hotels & Resorts has appointed Sanjay Kaushik as their Chief Operating Officer. Sanjay Kaushik moved to Raviz from IHG where he was the Area General Manager, West India. Sanjay Kaushik brings in 22 years of experience in hotel industry. He holds proven track record in business turnarounds. Sanjay was as Judo Player in CISF and his hotel career was kick-started with the ITC Maurya Sheraton, Carlson and IHG. Sanjay Kaushik has won many awards accolades in the industry including Kerala State Tourism Award for the Best Hotel General Manager. He has served as the General Manager of Crowne Plaza Kochi before ... Read more

Uday Samudra (UDS) Hotels at Kovalam in Thiruvananthapuram, has bagged the prestigious award for “Outstanding Commitments and Excellence in Service” in the field of tourism. Instituted by London based Anand TV, Rajasekharan Nair, Chairman and Managing Director of the hotel group has also been adjudged as the “Best Businessman in Tourism Sector” The awards were presented by Ian Duncan Smith, MP of British Parliament, in a function held at London. In addition to the above, Trivandrum-based “Jayan Samskariak Veedi” has conferred the “Best Business Man Award” to Rajasekharan Nair for his outstanding contribution in the field of tourism. Minister for ... Read more