41 hotels managed by Concept Hospitality accorded with TripAdvisor Traveler's Choice Award 2021

Out of these 41 hotels, 36 are managed under the Fern brand, one Zinc by The Fern, 3 under Beacon Hotels and one independently branded hotel

As many as 41 hotels & resorts managed by Concept Hospitality Pvt Ltd have won the TripAdvisor Traveler's Choice Award 2021. Out of these 41 hotels, 36 are managed under the Fern brand, one Zinc by The Fern, 3 under Beacon Hotels and one independently branded hotel.

Congratulating all the team members at the winning hotels, Noshir A Marfatia, Senior Vice President - Sales & Marketing said, "It is a matter of great pride for us that so many of the hotels patronized by our guests have been so well appreciated by travelers across the country."

We have been continuously striving for excellence and this recognition is a testimonial to the fact that we are on the right track, Noshir added. He exhorted all his General Managers to excel and ensure that more of their hotels achieve the award next year.

TripAdvisor uses a proprietary algorithm to determine the Travelers’ Choice honourees. It takes into account the quality, quantity and recency of reviews and opinions submitted by travelers on TripAdvisor over a 12-month period, as well as a business’s tenure and ranking on the Popularity Index on the site.

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Hyatt News | Hyatt announces the launch of more than 160 Hyatt Loves Local collaborations

Hyatt Loves Local has evolved to further meet the current needs of Hyatt communities and guests, including collaborating with more minority-owned and female-owned businesses and delivering reimagined experiences.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced Hyatt hotels across the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Southwest Asia regions have launched more than 160 Hyatt Loves Local collaborations in a continued effort to help revitalize and advance care to communities and small businesses recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following the success of the 2020 community-driven initiative, which provides complimentary resources and exposure to select local businesses that have struggled during the pandemic, Hyatt Loves Local has evolved to further meet the current needs of Hyatt communities and guests, including collaborating with more minority-owned and female-owned businesses and delivering reimagined experiences inspired by the new travel landscape. In turn, Hyatt Loves Local connects those in-need directly with Hyatt guests and locals through distinctly local offerings, including wellbeing, arts and entertainment, “voluntourism,” traveling with pets and culinary experiences.

Aligned with Hyatt’s Change Starts Here commitment to accelerate Hyatt’s longstanding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, nearly half of the 100 participating hotels are teaming up globally with more than 65 minority-owned and female-owned businesses, two groups that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

“Based on how enthusiastically guests and colleagues embraced Hyatt Loves Local since launch last year, we are excited to expand the program with more than 100 new community collaborations that truly support the people, businesses and organizations that are the foundation of the local communities in which Hyatt hotels operate,” said Amy Weinberg, senior vice president, loyalty, brand marketing and insights “Hyatt has been advancing care across communities for more than 60 years and to see Hyatt’s role helping small businesses thrive through Hyatt Loves Local last year has been a rewarding experience. We are proud to continue supporting communities while simultaneously offering our guests experiences that celebrate the future and recovery of travel.”

The latest Hyatt Loves Local trends and collaborations include:

• Emphasizing Wellbeing: With a focus on safety first and wellbeing always, Hyatt is reimagining the hotel journey with new wellbeing amenities and offerings that support local wellness providers who were forced to reduce or reshape their offerings during the pandemic:
o Hyatt Regency Chandigarh is collaborating with wellness brand H2 Origin. The brand had to permanently close their brick-and-mortar space, so the hotel is providing complimentary space in the hotel’s Amaira Spa & Club to lead guided meditation and yoga classes for guests beginning May.

• Pet Projects: Pet adoptions boomed during the pandemic lockdown with many travelers planning to bring their furry friends along for their next trip. Hyatt hotels are collaborating with local pet businesses to offer pampering and perks to pet travelers:
o Andaz Delhi is working with animal rescue, medical and adoption shelter, Touch and Treat Animal Trust, to build a community where people value and respect stray animals. Guests are invited to volunteer daily to help feed strays or with rescue missions to support this very important cause. This collaboration began in March 2021 and will be ongoing through the year.
o Grand Hyatt Goa is supporting local NGO, Welfare for Animals (WAG) - an organization dedicated to rescuing stray animals from the streets of North Goa. As part of this collaboration, animal-lovers staying on property have the opportunity to spend a day volunteering to help injured and stray animals under the care of WAG. Alternatively, guests can sponsor an animal for a year as a way to ensure their long-term care. This collaboration began in 2018 and is ongoing through 2021.

• The Art of Hospitality: As museums, movie theaters, and concert venues continue to face strict regulations to curb the spread of COVID-19, consumers are hungrier than ever to reconnect with arts and culture again. Hyatt hotels are serving guests art, music and film experiences in a socially distant manner:
o Alila Diwa Goa has teamed up with Jim Fernandes, a local singer and musician to perform live for guests on Saturdays from 7-10pm, and Moinuddin, a local food cart owner and one of the hotel’s regular vendors is providing food carts for onsite events.
o Alila Fort Bishangarh is collaborating with villagers who lost contracts for their services during the long pandemic shutdown. The hotel provides venues for artist Mohammed Rafiq Khan to perform Rajasthani Sufi folk arts, support for Ms. Leela’s work with the Fort’s organic farm and livestock, and work for Matu Singh and his crew with the hotel’s real estate development. The collaborations are ongoing through 2021.
o Grand Hyatt Mumbai Hotel and Residences is collaborating to help sisters, Sujata and Taniya (Su and Ta), behind saree- and apparel-maker Suta to offer various programs featuring the brand’s owners and artisans, including a High Tea and panel discussion for female entrepreneurs in June 2021 (invite-only), a weekly pop-up at Grand Brunch on Sundays for Suta to display and sell their collection, and private experiences for guests and locals including “Know and Experience Indigenous Crafts of India,” “Learn Indian Draping Styles,” and “Learn an age-old Indian craft directly from Suta artisans.”

• Stepping up for Voluntourism: The struggles of the pandemic have inspired many travelers to volunteer their time to support local organizations who seen a dip in volunteer support over the past year, and Hyatt hotels are connecting guests with these opportunities:
o Alila Diwa Goa in India teamed up with a local Podher (breadmaker) offering guests the experience to learn about the local breadmaking artistry and volunteer to prepare fresh breads for children at the nearby community center.

• Reimagining Hotel Gift Shops: Hyatt properties are taking onsite retail to new, hyper-local heights by inviting local makers and businesses to create and sell their products on property, resulting in guest experiences that educate and make a positive impact on communities:
o Andaz Delhi is featuring two artisanal food organisations: Darima Farms, a female-run maker of all-natural, preservative-free cheese in the village of Darima, and House of Umang, a female-run collective of producers, specializing in honey,  at the hotel’s award-winning food hall AnnaMaya, whose slogan is – “Eat Mindful. Shop Artisanal. Raise Awareness”.
o Hyatt Centric MG Road Bangalore is offering space to two local companies - Elemental by Nanya, a female-owned maker of handcrafted, earth-friendly concrete décor, will display her items for sale to guests and locals near the hotel’s 24/7 restaurant during brunches and events through May 2021, while Paul and Mike, a farm-to-bar maker of chocolates, fine flavors and real floral distillates, has been offered complimentary banquet space for interactive exhibitions, tastings and product displays through June 2021.
o Hyatt Regency Ahmedabad is supporting the creativity of local women by providing popup outlets for two local female-led businesses to showcase their products. SEWA Kalakruti, led by Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) Cooperative Federation, is an organization aimed at teaching local, underprivileged women crafts and arts, while The Heritage Shop, run by a young female artist, is a curated art & lifestyle boutique whose mission is to pay tribute to India’s First World Heritage City, Ahmedabad. Both businesses are receiving complimentary space in the property’s lounge and cafe on alternate weeks during the hotel’s Sunday brunches to showcase and sell handcrafted items and artworks to guests and locals. The hotel is also featuring artistic postcards from The Heritage Shop in its front office for sale to guests as souvenirs. The pop-up shops are debuting in June and will continue weekly through September.
o Hyatt Regency Chandigarh is collaborating with two local brands. Female-owned Phulkari brand, Phulkaris of Punjab, is receiving complimentary space weekly during Sunday brunches to sell their hand-embroidered clothing and accessories through June; and the hotel is outfitting its entire team with masks (100,000 orders to date) made by female artisans supported by Insha-e-Noor - a local NGO. 
o Hyatt Regency Chennai has been collaborating with local, minimalist men’s and women’s fashion designer Vivek Karunakaran (VK) to create a special, socially distant shopping experience for guests and locals since September 2020. The pop-up will be ongoing through 2021.
o Hyatt Regency Dharamshala Resort is indulging guests with departure gifts that help local businesses, including specially made tea bags from Anandini Himalaya Teas; handmade photo frames from Green Shop and recommended pottery workshops from Dharamkot Studio as a unique guest experience.

• New experiences on the menu: Nurturing the local community, Hyatt properties are collaborating with artisans to enhance their existing F&B portfolio, thus giving the artisans an opportunity to thrive amid the pandemic while innovating on the range of healthy and organic offerings for guests.
Hyatt Raipur is collaborating with T-Tales, the country’s first sustainably led tea-maker, to launch an onsite Bio-Café in June 2021. This will feature organic products that speak to climate, social and organically sustainable practices in line with Hyatt’s vision of advancing care for communities.
o Hyatt Regency Mumbai is collaborating with the citizen-action committee Rewilding Aarey that supports ecological sustainability and the indigenous tribes in the Aarey-Sanjay Gandhi National Park Forest. The hotel will feature farm-to-table brunches serving indigenous recipes while offering space in Glasshouse restaurant for the Adivasis (tribe) to set up a farmers’ market with fresh produce available for purchase by guests. The “Farm-to-Table” brunches will be held on Sundays at 12:30-3:30pm in June and July.

Initiative| Maharashtra Govt to host International Conference on Agri Tourism

The event will offer an overarching understanding of the agri-tourism sector, its challenges and opportunities, and will develop recommendations and an action plan that will guide the efforts of strengthening the agri-tourism sector

Maharashtra is the pioneer State to develop and promote Agri Tourism in the country. To further promote it in the State and commemorate the 14th World Agri-Tourism Day (16th May), the Department of Tourism, Maharashtra Government in partnership with Agri Tourism Development Corporation India, is organizing ‘INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AGRI TOURISM’ on 15th and 16th May 2021.

The objective of the conference is to explore sustainable entrepreneurship opportunities for rural women through Agri-Tourism.

The conference will provide a platform for national and international experts, researchers and farmers to share their experience and present examples on successful agri-tourism practices from various countries including Italy, Oregon, Illinois, Vermont, Uganda, South Africa, Philippines, Scotland, Spain and Thailand.

The event will offer an overarching understanding of the agri-tourism sector, its challenges and opportunities, and will develop recommendations and an action plan that will guide the efforts of strengthening the agri-tourism sector. Furthermore, it will showcase the vital role played by the Rural Women as enablers of sustainable and socially responsible tourism.

The international conference will also celebrate the excellence and success of Women farmers and Agri-tourism practitioners by felicitating them with ‘World Agri Tourism Awards 2021’, selected by International Agri-tourism Awards Committee.

The prestigious award recipients are as follow:
• Ms Charinee Chaiyochlarb, Mini Murrah Farm, Thailand- She imported 50 buffaloes from India in 2003 to start her Murrah Dairy Company. The agri-tourism center supports the women of her village as well.
• Mrs. Scottie Jones, Leaping Lamb Farm & Farm Stay- Oregon, America- She popularized Farm Stays in America. Leaping Lamb Farm has 6 lettable rooms and receives many guests.
• Dr. Meena Gabor, International School of Sustainable Tourism, Philippines – Former Secretary of Tourism, Republic of the Philippines,  she played a huge role in or the development, promotion, and operation of sustainable tourism in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.
• Caroline Miller, The Hideaway Experience Balkello Farms, Scotland - She runs an agri-tourism company called ‘Go Rural’ and has worked extensively toward the development of agri-tourism in Scotland.
• Jacqui Taylor, Founder & Managing Director Agri-tourism South Africa and Agri-tourism Africa - With over 30 years of experience in the Tourism and Agriculture industries, she has been promoting on agri-tourism and Sustainable Tourism initiatives in Africa.
• Maria Baryamujura, Founder of Cobati, Uganda - She is focused on empowering local communities which are near areas of high tourism potential to develop homestays and grassroots tourism attractions.
• Mrs. Kasar Nanda, owner of Meher Retreat Agri Tourism Center, Pune- She runs an agri-tourism center spread over 27 acres. Through her efforts, she has been able to enhance livelihood opportunities for women in her village.
• Mrs. Sangita Bhapkar, Nisarg Sangeet Agri-Tourism Centre, Morgaon, Baramati- She runs an agri-tourism center spreading over 5 acres.
• Dr. Ashwini Kotkar, Dirghayu Agri-Tourism Centre, Birwadi, Shahapur, Thane- She owns an orchard of 45 acres and grows mangoes using the organic method of farming.

Under the Government initiative category, Department of Tourism, Maharashtra Govt. wins the award for its tremendous contribution to the development of agri-tourism in the State and providing sustainable employment opportunities to the farming community.

Maharashtra has over 1000 Agri-Tourism centers which are empowering farmers and rural communities to enhance their economic viability and resilience. The centers are contributing majorly to the strengthening of livelihoods for women in rural areas.

To register for the ‘International Conference on Agri Tourism’, please click on this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_L5bxfsLCRsyGJhivf84MIA

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RevPAR declined 46.3 percent worldwide - Marriott International Reports First Quarter 2021 Results

First quarter 2021 comparable systemwide constant dollar RevPAR declined 46.3 percent worldwide, 46.3 percent in the U.S. & Canada, and 46.1 percent in international markets, compared to the 2020 first quarter;

• First quarter 2021 comparable systemwide constant dollar RevPAR declined 59.1 percent worldwide, 57.1 percent in the U.S. & Canada, and 64.1 percent in international markets, compared to the 2019 first quarter;

• First quarter reported diluted loss per share totaled $0.03, compared to reported diluted EPS of $0.09 in the year-ago quarter. First quarter adjusted diluted EPS totaled $0.10, compared to first quarter 2020 adjusted diluted EPS of $0.49;

• First quarter reported net loss totaled $11 million, compared to reported net income of $31 million in the year-ago quarter. First quarter adjusted net income totaled $34 million, compared to first quarter 2020 adjusted net income of $160 million;

• Adjusted EBITDA totaled $296 million in the 2021 first quarter, compared to first quarter 2020 adjusted EBITDA of $442 million;

• The company added more than 23,500 rooms globally during the first quarter, including nearly 12,000 rooms in international markets and a total of about 7,300 conversion rooms;

• At quarter end, Marriott’s worldwide development pipeline totaled over 2,800 properties and approximately 491,000 rooms, including roughly 18,000 rooms approved, but not yet subject to signed contracts. More than 222,000 rooms in the pipeline were under construction as of the end of the 2021 first quarter;

• At the end of the first quarter, the company’s net liquidity totaled approximately $4.7 billion, representing $0.6 billion in available cash balances and $4.1 billion of unused borrowing capacity under its revolving credit facility.

NEWS | Anantara in Spain and Portugal Reopens In Time for A Mediterranean Summer

Hola and bom dia from Anantara,

Planning European summer getaways just got easier with the reopening of two stunning Anantara resorts on the Mediterranean; Anantara Villa Padierna Palace in Spain and Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort in Portugal.

Both resorts feature new gastronomic journeys, wellness programmes, exceptional golf and exclusive experiences designed for guests to reconnect to the destination and luxuriate after a year of restrictions.

Anantara Villa Padierna Palace welcomes a stylish new beach club, Anantara By The Sea, serving Champagne on ice to the beat of live DJs, flamenco shows and culinary delights with a menu by two Michelin-starred Chef Paco Roncero. A series of new experiences include guided mindfulness meditation on a sailing boat or a personal shopper to browse the high end boutiques of Puerto Banus.

Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort offers a stylish Algarve retreat, suitable for groups of friends, families and couples seeking to enjoy the spectacular coastline and upmarket dining and nightlife. Anantara Spa presents a thoughtful combination of Ayurvedic philosophy and regional therapeutic traditions, embodied in the new ‘Digital Detox’ programme, the perfect tonic from the stresses of working from home.

Covid NEWS | McDonald’s India – North and East announces vaccination drive for its employees.

McDonald’s India – North and East announces vaccination drive for its employees

New Delhi, Guided by the core belief that we are all in this together, McDonald’s India – North and East, has announced its employee inoculation drive. The initiative is aimed at benefitting more than 5,000 people employed across the corporate office in Delhi, full-time and part-time restaurant employees across 11 states in North and East India including delivery riders. The company will cover the cost of the vaccination* of employee and their spouse and offer paid time off to employees post their vaccination if required. 

“The current situation requires a collective effort and nobody will be safe until everyone is safe. We have a responsibility towards our people – the heart and soul of McDonald’s. The safety and wellness of our people guide our decision-making. Vaccination is essential in the fight against the pandemic, and we are actively encouraging McDonald’s employees to take this important step. We remain committed towards the greater cause of ensuring the safety of our people and the communities in which we operate”, said, Sanjeev Agrawal, Chairman and Development Licensee, Connaught Plaza Restaurants, which operates McDonald’s restaurants in North and East India.

McDonald’s Safety 

As McDonald’s proactively monitors the impact of the COVID-19 situation, the brand is continuously making changes to its processes and restaurant operations with the safety of the employees, customers, and the communities at large on top priority. 

Since the onset of COVID-19, McDonald’s has introduced 50-plus process changes in its restaurant operations under its global Safety+ program. These measures include, but not limited to, mandatory daily wellness and temperature checks for everyone (crew, customers and delivery partners), compulsory facemasks for everyone, enhanced focus on hand hygiene with frequent handwashing and gloves for the crew. Hand sanitizers are available at all restaurants all the time for everyone to use. 

Front counters and Drive-Thrus have been fitted with protective screens. Contactless ordering, payment, and contactless delivery options are available for customers to minimize human contact. All restaurants have visual cues on furniture and floor to help customers and employees maintain adequate physical distance from each other and follow Covid-protocols. Customers will also notice foot-operated taps in the restrooms. Furthermore, the sanitation protocol has been further strengthened by introducing broad-spectrum hospital-grade sanitizers to disinfect all frequently touched points/surfaces in the restaurants.

With these and many more safety measures, McDonald’s is ensuring that every part of the McDonald’s experience is safe for its customers and employees. 

*The cost of the vaccination, as levied by the Government is INR 250 per shot, and each person requires two shots, so that will be INR 500 for each person.

About McDonald’s India - North and East: McDonald’s restaurants in North and East of India are operated by Connaught Plaza Restaurants Pvt. Ltd. McDonald’s is committed to delivering the highest quality restaurant experience to its customers in India and serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients sourced locally. McDonald’s serves millions of customers annually at its 150 restaurants across North and East of India and provides direct employment to more than 5,000 people. With a customer-centric approach, McDonald’s operates through a variety of formats and brand extensions including standalone restaurants, Drive-thru’s, 24/7 restaurants, McDelivery for customer convenience and experience.

For more information and updates, please log on to www.mcdindia.com, or follow Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

IRCTC announces Kerala 'Work from Hotel' packages

The package per person on triple occupancy for a five-night stay starts from Rs 10,126 and includes disinfected rooms, all three meals, twice tea/coffee, complimentary wi-fi, secured parking place for a vehicle, and travel insurance.

has launched a special 'work from hotel' package, providing professionals a "refreshing and soothing ambiance" in hotel rooms in Kerala as an alternative to the 'work from home setup, a statement said on Wednesday. This is part of the Railways' catering and tourism arm's efforts to rekindle confidence among guests to step out for availing hospitality services in the post COVID world, the IRCTC said in the statement.

The package per person on triple occupancy for a five-night stay starts from Rs 10,126 and includes disinfected rooms, all three meals, twice tea/coffee, complimentary wi-fi, secured parking place for a vehicle, and travel insurance.

"In the ongoing lockdown period, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC) has launched exclusive packages for professionals to continue with their work with a different yet refreshing and soothing ambiance from the comfort of hotel rooms, wherein they can relax and enjoy along with their routine," the statement said.

"Working away from the typical office setting has become the new normal during these pandemic times. Professionals can pick their favorite destination in Kerala among the list of hotels offered under the 'work from hotel' concept," it added.

To start with, professionals can choose among Munnar, Thekkady, Kumarakom, Marari (Alleppey), Kovalam, Wayanad, and Cochin, the statement said.

The duration of the package would be for a minimum of five nights which can be extended on prorate basis. Similar packages for other locations are also being explored, it said.

"Stringent COVID safety protocols and high standard of hygiene is maintained. The packages can be booked online through the IRCTC website or IRCTC tourism mobile apps - android and IOS," the statement said.

Designed keeping COVID-19 in mind, the package does not include any sightseeing, it said.

India saw a record rise in COVID-19 deaths with 4,205 fresh fatalities taking the country's death toll to 2,54,197, while 3,48,421 new coronavirus infections were reported, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.

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NEWS | 4-day work week for OYO, Ritesh Agarwal announces

OYO Founder and Group CEO Ritesh Agarwal made the announcement on Twitter saying the implementation would make Wednesdays an off to give employees a breather.

Hospitality firm OYO will be shifting to a 4-day work week, OYO Founder and Group CEO Ritesh Agarwal said in a tweet on Wednesday, as the company also launched a no questions asked flexible infinite paid leaves initiative. Agarwal in a tweet noted that COVID-19 continues to test the physical and mental well-being of people. One thing that truly matters is having more time for our loved ones and ourselves. Inspired by startups and large companies alike, we began a few initiatives this week at OYO, he said.

"Starting today we are moving to a 4-day work week but implementing it slightly differently, making Wednesdays off to let OYOpreneurs have a mid-week breather. We also launched a No Questions Asked Flexible Infinite Paid Leaves," he added.

In a series of tweets on the initiative, Agarwal said that employees can take off when they want and just need to inform their manager about it.

"Take off when you want, no need to log them, just let the manager know, no reasons needed, none asked. We are not going to stress about business impact and deadlines. We know work will not suffer, if anything OYOpreneurs will be more focused, efficient, and productive," he said in another tweet.

Stating that he would also like to unwind, Agarwal said,"I personally plan to wind down today and spend more time with my family, volunteering with the OYO COVID War Room & talking to a few friends and colleagues whose families have been impacted severely in the last few weeks".

As the country continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, "I hope & pray that we all emerge out of this crisis sooner. Until then we must all have each other's back & tide over this crisis together. Stay safe". OYO Hotels & Homes currently has over 1,00,000 small hotels and homeowners across 800 cities in 80 countries on its platform.

Covid NEWS | Aloft Bengaluru Cessna Business Park launches quarantine meals

The food is packed in environmental friendly boxes and is delivered using contactless delivery.

For individuals who are isolating at home and are unable to cook, Aloft Bengaluru Cessna Business Park is home delivering healthy and tasty meals at their doorstep.

These quarantine meals cover Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner and are made with utmost care and under strict hygiene measures. The food is packed in environmentally friendly boxes and is delivered using contactless delivery.

The menu for Breakfast is 1 Staple, 1 Morning Bakery, and 1 Tetra Pack Juice. The Lunch / Dinner includes 1 Salad, 1 Vegetable, 1 Lentil, 1 Rice, 2 Pc Tawa Paratha, and 1 Dessert.

The meals are priced as below:

• For 2 days Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner – INR 650 + Tax (18 %) per day

• For 4 days Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner – INR 600 + Tax (18 %) per day

• For 7 days Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner – INR 550 + Tax (18 %) per day

P.S. Delivery within a 3 KM radius – Complimentary and above will be charged at 250 + Tax up to 10 km.

NRAI may suspend or terminate Navneet Kalra’s membership; says awaiting clarity on case

Kalra owns the restaurants Khan Chacha, Town Hall and Nege & Ju in the national capital, besides eyewear retailer Dayal Opticals. Police seized 524 oxygen concentrators from the premises of the restaurants – Khan Chacha and Town Hall in Khan Market and Nege & Ju in Lodhi Colony – which were allegedly sold at heavily inflated prices.

The National Restaurant Association of India said it may suspend or terminate the membership of New Delhi-based restaurateur Navneet Kalra, who is alleged to have hoarded oxygen concentrators and sold them in the black market.

Kalra owns the restaurant’s Khan Chacha, Town Hall, and Nege & Ju in the national capital, besides eyewear retailer Dayal Opticals. Police seized 524 oxygen concentrators from the premises of the restaurants – Khan Chacha and Town Hall in Khan Market and Nege & Ju in Lodhi Colony – which were allegedly sold at heavily inflated prices.

“We will terminate the said restaurant’s membership if found culpable of any major criminal act or we will suspend the membership if the charges are for some non-serious offenses,” NRAI president Anurag Katriar said. “There are several contradictory stories about this case right now. We are still awaiting an official statement from the authorities on this subject before deciding on our next course of action.”

Katriar said this situation was unprecedented but if Kalra’s restaurants were found culpable of wrongdoing, the NRAI would not hesitate to initiate the most appropriate and strictest disciplinary action against them.

Delhi Police issued a lookout notice for Kalra on Monday.

According to media reports, the public prosecutor told the Saket court hearing Kalra’s anticipatory bail plea on Tuesday that he had “cheated the government” by failing to disclose the MRP for imports of the oxygen concentrators in “violation of orders passed last year.”

However, the chief metropolitan magistrate asked whether it was an offence to do business in this country and stated that there were no allegations of tax or customs duty evasion for the imported oxygen concentrators.

The court observed that all payments were accounted for and all taxes were paid. If the tax was paid, the tax department would have all the information and nothing was concealed, the court said, according to the reports.

The alleged hoarding of oxygen concentrators at Kalra’s restaurants came amid the raging Covid-19 pandemic, with medical oxygen running low in the capital as demand from patients surged. Concentrators, crucial in managing Covid-19, are mainly imported and a scarcity had further aggravated the situation. The industry has been pushing the government to cap the prices of these products at a maximum of three to four times the import landed price.

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VISIT MALDIVES | KICKS OFF A JOINT MARKETING CAMPAIGN WITH ‘LET’S GO TOURS’ IN THE SWISS MARKET

Visit Maldives commences a joint marketing campaign with ‘Let’s Go Tours’ to promote the Maldives as one of the safest and preferred destinations throughout the Swiss market. Starting in April until June 2021, the campaign includes marketing activities on both online and offline platforms targeting Swiss travel enthusiasts and travel trade.

Let’s Go Tours will host a ‘Virtual Direct Customer Event’ on 29th April 2021 as the first activity, showcasing the Maldives to an audience consisting of about 150-200 people from the Swiss travel trade. In addition, Maldives will be featured on monthly and exclusive newsletters reaching over 1,900 travel trade contacts and 8,500 private client contacts. Social media posts showcasing the beauty of the destination will also be posted on Instagram and Facebook with an outdoor advertisement planned for 6 months. The advertisement will be placed on public transportation in the city of Schaffhausen in Switzerland, reaching approximately 82,000 people.

With over 26 years of experience and a loyal customer base, Let’s Go Tours is one of the leading and specialized upmarket tour operators for its destinations specializing in Africa, Arabia, and the Indian Ocean.

In line with the strategies of Visit Maldives, the campaign with Let’s Go Tours promotes the Maldives in the Swiss market through ambient brand advertising, focused advertising, and promotion of individual products and experiences. Several other activities are in the pipeline for the Swiss market including print and digital media advertising, joint campaigns with stakeholders, familiarization trips, destination e-learning, and media events.

As of February 2021, Switzerland is ranked in the 8th position of the highest performing markets to the Maldives with 2.7% of the market share. Travelers from Switzerland are able to travel directly to the Maldives from Zurich via Edelweiss airline. The Maldives has welcomed a total of 5,189 arrivals from Switzerland and the country remains a key focus market in the recovery of tourism in the Maldives. In total, Maldives has welcomed over 350,388 tourist arrivals in 2021 so far.

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NEWS | FAITH urges Centre to take up measures targeting job creation

The Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH) urged the Union finance ministry, RBI and the tourism ministry to urgently take up measures targeted at creating jobs in the sector. “It has been repeatedly reaffirmed through all government data, whether that of GST, RBI or of income tax, that tourism, travel and hospitality continue to be the worst hit sector during the 13-months period since the time pandemic struck and is also likely to stay that way for much of the foreseeable period. “To address that on an immediate basis, the three measures proposed are waiver or compensation for Fixed Statutory Liabilities, Direct Benefit Transfer of Basic Pay and credit of SEIS dues for 2019-20,” a statement by FAITH said. FAITH, the policy federation of all national associations representing the tourism, travel and hospitality industry of India, underlined that there has been literally no tourism business due to full or partial shutdown of all other segments of tourism--inbound, outbound, corporate and also group tourism business and now domestic travel. This situation, it said, is dramatically inverse to that of pre-pandemic which saw more than 17.8 million international tourist arrivals, almost 26.9 million outbound and almost 2.3 billion domestic tourism visits in 2019-20. “Despite no revenues, there are statutory liabilities & compliance liabilities at both state and central government level and other regulatory bodies which still need to be met. These include various forms of duties, taxes, cess or license fees, including electricity and water, property taxes, excise duties, transport taxes, among others. “With no revenues and businesses continuing under shutdown for measures beyond their control, it is principally unfair for these businesses to continue paying fixed costs of statutory liabilities and compliances for them,” the statement said. The body also raised concerns over loss of jobs in the sector which generates around 10-12 per cent of direct and indirect employment. It requested that an amount equivalent to their pre- pandemic basic salaries be sent each month to such tourism, travel and hospitality employees in a direct benefit transfer against their PAN Card. “This will help support livelihoods of crores of people and their families till the duration of the pandemic. It will also enable them to be job and service ready for when it is time to restart Indian tourism,”

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NEWS | Jim Beam welcome sessions launches in June 2021

While the world around us may change, fans are now looking to reconnect with one another through a shared passion of live music. Launched as a platform that invites iconic artists back to the independent venues that gave them their first stage, Jim Beam Welcome Sessions collaborated with these individual artists to bring a one-of-a-kind experience for music enthusiasts.

Working in partnership with renowned music production team La Blogotheque - famed for collaborations with the likes of Justin Timberlake, Paul McCartney, Jack White, and Iggy Pop - the launch marks the start of a multi-year marketing effort to foster a relationship with music fans and support independent music venues handpicked for their unique welcoming spirit. With millions of fans having not experienced live music in over a year, each Welcome Session brings to life the spaces that have played host to seminal performances in years gone by – celebrating and creating moments where the power of music helps people feel like they truly belong.

Jim Beam Welcome Sessions is bringing together musicians, including Jack Garrett, Fontaines DC and Jose Gonzalez, with further acts to be announced. Launching in June 2021, each episode reimagines and celebrates the warm welcomes experienced by artists and music fans alike. Building on the initial releases across 2021, more artists will follow with their take on the live experience each year, supported by a range of unique content and activities across 2022 and beyond.

Created in collaboration with the individual artists and filmed during the pandemic, the atmosphere evoked in the viewer's mind is a shared experience in which people find their community and lose themselves in a moment that cannot and will not be repeated. An unmistakably singular shared experience that lives in the memory for a lifetime.

Malini Patel, Managing Director James B. Beam Distilling Co, said: "Although the light at the end of the tunnel is coming ever closer, the real world shared experiences we so crave remain few and far between. This sense of place and sense of community with others is something we as a brand have been firm believers in throughout our 226-year history. The Jim Beam Welcome Sessions are about creating connections between amazing global acts, the iconic independent venues and the audiences who love their music. By launching the global partnership, we hope to create a unique shared experience that fans can relate with, over and over again. An experience that inspires, uplifts and instill a sense of community to being part of something special."

The Jim Beam Welcome Sessions' announcement follows the launch of a fully integrated 360 multichannel marketing campaign and TV commercial. Titled 'Always Welcome,' the second collaboration with global advertising agency Adam & Eve NYC; the ad follows a small-town bartender as he finds that the offer of a Jim Beam Highball can be a warm welcome, no matter where he goes. The spot showcases the welcoming spirit of the world's number one bourbon brand through all its evolutions and innovations over its 226-year history.

ITC Hotels expands its food delivery network with its second cloud kitchen in Bengaluru

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

The Biryani & Pulao Collection will be available to order for the residents of Whitefield through leading food aggregator app Swiggy

Reinforcing ITC Hotels’ belief of showcasing the best of Indian culinary offerings, the world’s greenest luxury hotel chain has announced the expansion of its ‘Biryani & Pulao Collection’.

Renowned for its well-researched cuisine concepts embodying culinary excellence, ITC Hotels expands its food delivery network and brings its second ‘Cloud Kitchen by ITC Hotels’, catered by the kitchens of ITC Windsor.

United in its diversity, Biryani and Pulao have permeated every region with their universal appeal, bringing forward gems from the heritage kitchens of India.

From the Malabar coasts to the kitchens of Kolkata, the Masterchefs of ITC Hotels have traversed the country to create these authentic recipes. Crafted with utmost care and hygiene to ensure a safe dining experience, the 'Biryani and Pulao Collection by ITC Hotels' is an ode to the legendary dishes, curated for diners to enjoy.

The Biryani & Pulao Collection will be available to order for the residents of Whitefield through leading food aggregator app Swiggy.

The platform will enable ‘no contact’ deliveries on all pre-paid orders, which involves a delivery partner leaving the food at the doorstep rather than an in-person exchange.

Manas V. Krishnamoorthy, General Manager, ITC Windsor says, “It is no doubt that biryani is the most loved dish in our country, especially when every region boasts of regional culinary delights. With the Biryani & Pulao Collection, we are expanding the choices for the residents of Bengaluru by offering an aromatic and flavourful dining experience with their loved ones right in their living rooms.”

Backed by the promise of WeAssure programme, ITC Hotels follows stringent hygiene and safety protocol for Pan-India home delivery of food to their valued guests. With heightened health and safety measures in place, the cloud kitchens are sanitized along with regular temperature checks of all chefs, associates and the food delivery partners, among other practices. Moreover, packed in environment-friendly corrugated paper boxes, the Biryani & Pulao Collection offers a safe and responsible dining experience at the comfort of home.

Event | Celebrate Mother’s Day with a Special Touch At Novotel Hyderabad Airport

Celebrate Mother’s Day with a Special Touch At Novotel Hyderabad Airport

Treat the queen of your life to a regal celebration at Novotel Hyderabad Airport. You can enjoy a staycation with exclusive privileges, superlative culinary creations, and luxurious spa hampers to pamper your Mom in ultimate style this Mother’s Day. Come and enjoy the beautiful weekend with a comfortable stay with scrumptious food in the midst of nature.

Apart from Staycation Novotel Hyderabad Airport, also provides FREE Brunch for all Mummy’s and 20% Off for all who accompanies their Mother’s with their families.

On the occasion of Mother’s Day Gift your Mother a classy Staycation only at Novotel Hyderabad Airport

Hilton posts improved Q1 results, cuts losses in half - Net loss in the quarter was $109 million compared to $225 million in Q4 2020

Hilton has revealed its Q1 2021 results, and while losses are still in the millions, they are drastically less than Q4 2020.

Net loss in the quarter stood at US$109 million, well below the net income of $18 million in Q1 2020, but above the $225 million loss in the final quarter of the pandemic-struck 2020. Hilton also outperformed fellow US hotel group Hyatt, which saw losses amount to $304 million in Q1 2021.

System-wide comparable RevPAR shows a similar story, decreased 38.4 percent YOY, though still up from the 59.2 percent drop seen by the end of December last year. ADR and occupancy rates fell 23 and 11 percent respectively in Q1 2021, clocking in at $105.38 and $43.9. Adjusted EBITDA was $198 million for the first quarter

Looking at the MEA region specifically, it outperformed Europe across the board, with occupancies hitting 42.6 percent compared to 19.3 percent in Europe; ADR hitting $124.56 compared to $81.59; and RevPAR hitting $53.12 compared to $15.74.

Hyatt Reports First-Quarter 2021 Results - a net loss of $304 million

First quarter of 2021 highlights are as follows:

• Net losses increased compared to the first quarter of 2020 to a net loss of $304 million. The net loss included a $193 million non-cash full valuation allowance on U.S. deferred income tax assets.

• Adjusted EBITDA decreased 123.3% compared to the first quarter of 2020, to $(20) million.Comparable system-wide RevPAR decreased 48.9% compared to the first quarter of 2020, and decreased 65.4% compared to the first quarter 2019 on a reported basis.1

• Comparable owned and leased hotels RevPAR decreased 64.4% compared to the first quarter of 2020, and decreased 72.5% compared to the first quarter 2019 on a reported basis.1

• Net rooms growth of 6.5%.Pipeline of executed management or franchise contracts for approximately 100,000 rooms.

• As of March 31, 2021, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $1,628 million.

Mr. Hoplamazian continued, "While risks do remain in the management of the pandemic, we are optimistic about continued growth of demand in the coming months and the balance of 2021. The demand levels we saw in March have continued through April. While leisure travel continues to lead the recovery, we are encouraged by positive indicators across other travel segments as well."

NEWS | FAITH Associations recommend changes in ECLGS 3.0

Proposed changes include, borrower status, calculation of outstandings and moratorium on interest to enable drawdown under the proposed scheme.

FAITH, the Policy Federation of all the national associations representing the complete tourism, travel and hospitality industry of India (ADTOI, ATOAI, FHRAI, HAI, IATO, ICPB, IHHA, ITTA, TAAI, TAFI) has made suggestions to Finance Ministry, RBI & Tourism Ministry on ECLGS 3.0, introduced on 31st March, 2021, the special credit guarantee window created for tourism, travel and hospitality.

First recommendation draws attention towards the Borrower Status. As per the guidelines issued under clause 4 & clause 7, under clause 1 in the NCGTC letter and in the FAQs number 8 & number 109, this scheme proposes to extend support to tourism, travel & hospitality accounts which were classified as regular, SMA -0 & SMA -1 and whose DPD (days past due ) were not beyond 60 days as on 29th Feb 2020.

However, clause 19 of the operational guidelines mentions that the scheme will not be applicable to accounts classified as NPAs ‘as on’ date of disbursement would not be eligible. This clause is inherently contradictory to the proposed spirit of the scheme which is to help borrowers by assessing their accounts on a pre- pandemic status.

If implemented quickly, this will a very strong signal of policy support to all FAITH member associations , said Aashish Gupta, Consulting CEO, FAITH

All Government data whether that of GST or of income tax repeatedly has highlighted and affirms that tourism, travel & hospitality is the worst hit sector and there has been negligible to NIL business for majority during the 13 months period since the time pandemic struck India.

Thus, FAITH has suggested to reissue the necessary instructions to have that clause 19 issued in operational guidelines of the scheme to be immediately annulled as it is sending a contradictory message to all MLIs ( member lending institutions)

The second recommendation is on Calculation of outstanding. FAITH seeks to consider eligible outstandings for tourism, travel & hospitality as an average of 11 months of FY 2020 ( April 1st 2019 - February 29th 2020 ) as just against the outstandings as of 29th Feb 2020.

The rationale for the same is that October - February is traditionally the peak tourism season in India and thus credit outstanding levels are usually the lowest during February. Accordingly, an 11 months average of outstandings would enable a correct need assessment of the Indian tourism, travel & hospitality enterprises as it would balance out the off- seasons and the peak season accordingly.

The third recommendation is the Moratorium on Interest. There is no moratorium on Interest on funds drawn under this scheme and it has to be paid as per clause 10 of the Guidelines and clause 16 of the FAQS.

FAITH highlighted that due to the second wave of the pandemic there is literally no domestic tourism business. This is on top of complete shutdown of all other segments of tourism - inbound , outbound , corporate and also group tourism business. Without any business, it is practically impossible for tourism, travel & hospitality entities to generate cash flows and to service interest.

Source

VISIT MALDIVES | COMMENCES YEAR-LONG CAMPAIGN WITH CONNOISSEUR CIRCLE TARGETING GERMAN SPEAKING MARKETS

Visit Maldives commences a year-long campaign with Connoisseur Circle - an exclusive magazine for luxury hotels and destinations worldwide targeting an elite audience of travel enthusiasts in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

The campaign will use a multitude of platforms in both the online and offline channels of the publication in order to promote the Maldives as a safe haven and uplift the destination presence for the luxury market. The components of the campaign are distributed throughout the year which includes, advertorials in the print magazine, editorial stories in e-magazines, posts and promotional clips on social media, website banner display and features in newsletters.

Maldives is also nominated as the Best Luxury Destination for the Year by the Hospitality Awards organised by Connoisseur Circle. Over 30,000 consumers are reached through the online channels with 43,500 users on their social media platforms. Additionally, 47,000 copies in Germany, 9,000 copies in Switzerland and 25,000 copies in Austria are circulated reaching many high-income earners.

7,386 visitors from Germany, 5,189 from Switzerland and 2,235 from Austria arrived in Maldives till February 2021. Though these figures are low compared to figures of 2020, due to ongoing travel restrictions, their market contributions are significant, with Germany holding a market ranking of 7 whereas Switzerland and Austria rank at 10 and 13 respectively.

The campaign with Connoisseur Circle is part of Visit Maldives’ strategy in promoting the Maldives to the German speaking markets through ambient advertising along with usage of German language on social media platforms. Similarly, several campaigns are underway to further promote the destination in these markets.

These include several B2B and B2C activities like Joint promotions with Airlines and Tour Operators, destination training and several more collaborations with media and key stakeholders in the market. Visit Maldives also participated in ITB Berlin held this March, one of the leading travel and trade shows in the world. Throughout the 4-day virtual fair, a variety of networking events were carried out and provided a platform to strengthen destination presence and promote the Maldives as a safe haven.

Despite the global pandemic, Maldives has welcomed a total of 555,494 travelers in 2020 and over 190,000 travelers till February 2021. Amongst the many activities planned for the remainder of the year includes social media campaigns, joint marketing campaigns with global stakeholders, familiarization trips, and visibility campaigns. Several marketing activities and strategies have also been shifted to digital platforms in order to promote the destination whilst adapting to the evolving situation.

The administration of the covid-19 vaccine was initiated on 1st February 2021 with the government of the Maldives aiming to provide free covid-19 vaccines to all citizens and residents of the country in the upcoming months. As of 15th April 2021, 277،522 people in the Maldives have received the first dose of the vaccine with 34,531 receiving the second dose. 90% of the workers in the tourism industry of the Maldives have also been administered the first dose of the vaccine. The initiation of the vaccination drive is bound to offer hope to the local population, as well as ensure the safety of tourists.

Source

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NEWS | OYO adds rooms for use by hospitals

Rohit Kapoor, CEO, OYO India & South-East Asia said they were also in talks with several companies to use their space for mass vaccination drives.

With a severe shortfall in hospital facilities, OYO India joined the list of companies to volunteer hotels associated with the brand to be used as self-isolation and quarantine centres across three cities.

OYO currently has around 100 rooms which have been offered in the cities and the number will keep rising, as will the number of locations nationwide, a source within the company told ETHospitalityWorld. OYO has tied up with over thirty hospitals, he added.

Rohit Kapoor, CEO, OYO India & South-East Asia said, “In the wake of the second wave of the pandemic, there is a dire need to build capacity and support the health care system with existing infrastructure. At OYO, we’re doing everything in our power to help those who need us the most right now. Our presence across India allows us the opportunity to support the healthcare system during these tough times. As part of OYO Care, we are offering stays to anyone who requires isolation or quarantine to recover from COVID-19, protect their loved ones from the virus. We are also supporting healthcare workers with quarantine stays and rest well near hospitals. TheOYO app is now updated to allow easy booking of quarantine stays. We have also tied up with 30+ hospitals, several government authorities and private sector companies to offer our services for frontline workers.

Kapoor added that over the past few weeks, they had seen the country’s underprivileged struggle to get access to resources such as oxygen cylinders, beds, critical medicines.

“Given this situation, we are supporting GiveIndia’s fundraising campaign #ShelterforAll to aid vulnerable segments of our society with isolation or quarantine facilities free of cost. So far, we have turned three properties into quarantine centres across Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Gurugram. Vaccinations are the only way to beat the pandemic and make sure that the hotel industry recovers soon. To enable the country’s efforts in

#vaccinationforall, we are in talks with several corporates to offer our spaces for their mass vaccination drives for employees,” he said.