NEWS | The Iconic La-Paz Gardens Hotel, Vasco da Gama, Goa is now La-Paz Gardens Beacon!

Concept Hospitality Pvt. Ltd., India’s leading environmentally sensitive hotel chain, has opened its fourth hotel in  the sunny state of Goa with La-Paz Gardens Beacon, Vasco da Gama. With this new opening, the company’s  overall count has extended to 81 operational hotels across the country and in Nepal and Seychelles. 

Mr Suhail Kannampilly, CEO, Concept Hospitality-The Fern Hotels & Resorts said “We are delighted to bring  our smart & efficient Beacon brand into Goa, to complement our existing three Fern hotels in the State. With the  environmentally sensitive facilities, services and operations that the Fern and Beacon hotels are so well known for,  guests can now enjoy the fun and beauty of the destination while enjoying a level of accommodations, F&B and  banqueting services as well.” 

On the occasion of the rebranding of the hotel, Mr Dattaraj V Salgaocar, Chairman, VMSalgaocar Corporation  Pvt Ltd mentioned “Hotel La-Paz Gardens remains a revered landmark in the Port Town of Vasco, catering to the  travelers across all categories. We are now relaunching this landmark hotel and are delighted to have The Fern  Hotels & Resorts on board to manage this hotel as La-Paz Gardens Beacon Hotel. The hotel already has the  marvelous charm of the famed Goan hospitality, and will be offering personalized services and comfort to our  guests. Our hotel rooms and F&B offerings are already well appreciated locally and with this rebranding we now  aim to provide memorable stay experiences to more guests.” 

A cherished landmark in the heart of Goa’s Port city, La-Paz Gardens Beacon is conveniently located at a 10-minute  drive from Dabolim Airport and close to the Harbour and Vasco Railway Station. With 74 tasteful rooms and suites,  a variety of restaurants along with conferencing and banquet options, its close proximity to numerous commercial  and business enterprises and Bogmalo Beach make this a perfect gateway for business and leisure stays.  

The hotel offers a mix of rooms and suites. In-room amenities include complimentary packaged drinking water,  tea/coffee maker, satellite TV connections, digital in-room safe, bedroom slippers and daily newspaper service on  request, eco-friendly lighting arrangements and eco-friendly bathroom amenities. Dining options include The  Regency offering multi-cuisine, Sweet n Sour, our renowned Chinese restaurant, Goodyland, the fast food and  snacks shoppe and Harbour Bar at the poolside. 

LOCATION: The hotel is 4.7 km from Dabolim Airport, 0.5 km from Vasco Railway Station 1 km from Vasco KTC  Bus Stand, 2 km from Goa Shipyard, 5 km from Vasco Harbour and 9 km from Bogmalo Beach. ADDRESS: Swatantra Path, Vasco da Gama, Goa 403 802, India. 

T: +91 (0)832 2512121 | E: info.lapazgoa@beaconhotels.com 

Visit us at: www.beaconhotels.com | www.fernhotels.com  

NEWS | After Cci And Nclat, Fhrai Approaches Niti Aayog On Oyo’s Unethical Business Practices

New Delhi, July 2021: India apex Hospitality Association - Federation of Hotel & Restaurant

Associations of India (FHRAI) has submitted a representation to the CEO of NITI Aayog – Shri

Amitabh Kant highlighting Hospitality industry’s plight with reference to Oyo’s business

the model that has caused irreparable damages to the hospitality ecosystem in the country.

The Association has specifically pointed out that certain recent activities conducted by Oyo

to earn goodwill have actually come at the expense of partner hotels. It has stated that any

such humanitarian activities organized by the foreign-funded entity are just an image

repairing exercise to cover up its unfair, anti-competitive, and criminal activities. The FHRAI

has shared with the NITI Aayog copies of FIRs filed by hotel owners across the country along

with details of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code proceedings in the NCLAT and the

investigation against Oyo by the CCI. “OYO operates its business under a maze of more than a dozen subsidiary entities. These individual entities have agreements with independent hotels, mostly in the budget segment. FHRAI has the data of hundreds of such hotels that have reported payment defaults and

other unethical business practices by Oyo. The systemic depredation of the budget segment

hotel business and its market as a means to achieve notional billion-dollar valuation for OTAs are a serious cause of concern for the hospitality ecosystem of our country. In the

interest of the hospitality sector we want to bring to your attention Oyo’s unscrupulous business practices that have annihilated the livelihood, investments, and entrepreneurial initiatives of thousands of hoteliers from the mid and lower segment,” says Mr. Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, Vice President, FHRAI.

The FHRAI has submitted several cases reported from across the country about arbitrary cancellation or breach of contract by Oyo causing immense mental and financial trouble on

account of non-payment of dues to hotel owners. “Oyo, with its humongous funding, mainly from international PE funds takes over small hotels in the budget segment. They artificially create demand and supply on their portal and manipulate prices. With deep discounts and predatory pricing, they vitiate and degrade the hospitality market. Based on artificial and inflated valuation, the company promotes itself as a ‘Great Indian Success Story’ on the back of which it tries to get more funding. There is a clear pattern to its business model, first get the hotel under their branding and later create a dispute to avoid paying the hotel owners. This pattern came to light when several hotels owners across the country filed FIRs with similar complaints. Oyo has managed to fend these complaints so far by pleading them as ‘civil disputes’,” says Mr Pradeep Shetty, Jt. Hon. Sec., FHRAI. Oyo has not disclosed its balance sheets for 2019-20 and 2020-21 and has not complied with the statutory filing of the annual returns. The company has existing loans of around $300 million and is in the process of raising loans of Rs.4400 crores from international investors.

As per Oyo’s financial statement for the period April 2018 to March 2019, it has registered a net loss of Rs.36.72 crores for the year ending March 2018 and a net loss of Rs.102.97 crores for the year ending March 2019. “Moody’s has assigned a first-time B 3 rating to OYO which is not good at all but their fund mobilization drive is based on an overvalued asset proposition so that they are able to manage their bad debts through this. The FHRAI has also filed a complaint before the Competition Commission of India (CCI) against Oyo and MakeMyTrip for cartelization. The

CCI has directed an investigation against them for alleged violation of the provisions of

competitive laws and it is presently investigating the complaint. Here, Oyo had tried to

establish a monopoly by way of delisting their competitors from the MakeMyTrip platform. We wish to bring to the attention of the NITI Aayog these facts pertaining to Oyo and request a meeting with Shri Amitabh Kant for devising a system or policy to safeguard vulnerable hotel and lodge owners from all parts of India,” concludes Mr. Kohli. About Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI): The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) is the apex body of the Indian Hospitality industry. Founded in 1955, the FHRAI is the third-largest Hospitality association in the world and has diligently built on its rich legacy. The Association is today privileged to serve as the leading voice of the hotel and restaurant industry and plays a seminal role in supporting the growth trajectory of India and #39;s hospitality and tourism sector. FHRAI provides a vibrant interface between the industry, government, regulatory bodies, academia, international organizations, civil society, and the media.

Alila Diwa Goa announces new event space

Udeta features a 12,000 sq. ft indoor space that can accommodate over 1200 guests. It includes a 3,600 sq. ft pre-function area and the largest pillar-less indoor space in South Goa, spread across 8,400 sq. ft with a 20ft.

Udeta, meaning ‘rising’ in colloquial Konkani, is the new 18,000 sq. ft. concept event space at Alila Diwa Goa, a cornerstone five-star Hyatt resort. Conveniently located only 20 minutes scenic drive from the Goa Dabolim International Airport, Udeta is now the sought-after destination for weddings, corporate events, car launches, entertainment shows and other events in Goa.

For over 10 years now, Alila Diwa Goa has been the perfect destination for weddings and off-site corporate events, set amidst lush paddy fields, beautifully landscaped gardens dotted with water bodies, traditional Goan courtyard, sprawling banquets, and scenic poolside venues. Right from the theme to customized menus and signature cocktails, to personalized itineraries, every event is tailor-made. With the launch of Udeta, Alila Diwa Goa has now evolved the way events take place in Goa.

Udeta features a 12,000 sq. ft indoor space that can accommodate over 1200 guests. It includes a 3,600 sq. ft pre-function area and the largest pillar-less indoor space in South Goa, spread across 8,400 sq. ft with a 20ft. floor to ceiling height. Udeta is the only event venue in Goa with a built-in live Theatre Kitchen that offers a visual treat of our culinary artists preparing & serving fresh gourmet delights. The outdoor includes Lawns at Udeta and Udeta Alfresco spread across 6,000 sq. ft with a built-in bar and grill. The event space is modern, functional, and flexible that is complemented by an expert team of event planners and artisanal gourmet experiences. The venue is versatile with the outdoor and indoor spaces seamlessly weaving into each other, allowing flexibility for multiple styles of events.

The splendor of Udeta is an effusive reminder of Goa’s natural beauty with a blend of organic natural shades and textures, surrounded by a luxuriant tropical landscape. Guests are greeted by a magnificent mud wall with the light setting synced to a system, brightening up the wall as the sun sets. The ceiling of grand indoor space is a marvel, adorned with around 250 dome-shaped pendants with translucent globes consisting of a dynamic light source of any colour and hue, as needed for the various events. Every corner of this magnificent space is conceptualized right down to the last detail. Be it the cane seating and high tables in the pre-function area for breakaways, or the Udeta Alfresco with built-in bar & grill stations with outdoor seating.

Source

Re-Opening | The Westin Chennai Velachery Re-opens its Dining Outlets

The Westin Chennai Velachery Re-opens its Dining Outlets

July, 2021, CHENNAI, INDIA: With more government relaxations being announced in Tamil Nadu, The Westin Chennai Velachery is pleased to announce that the hotel is excited to re-open its doors of two of its multiple award-winning restaurants, Seasonal Tastes and MKC-Madras Kitchen Company. Seasonal Tastes is the all-day dining restaurant serving global cuisine from Breakfast to dinner and MKC-Madras Kitchen Company is the Café style restaurant serving Indian and Asian street eats.

Seasonal Tastes and MKC Madras Kitchen Company are ready to welcome our guests with Marriott’s Commitment to Clean, from social distancing of tables to QR Code enabled menus, to frequent sanitization of public areas, we are ensuring our guests enjoy their dining experience in a safe surrounding. When it comes to safety, our associates are always wearing masks, gloves and provide minimal contact service to all our guests.

Lakshmanan Ramanathan, General Manager, The Westin Chennai Velachery, says, “We are very pleased to welcome our guests back to our dining venues to be able to serve them with our authentic hospitality and delectable gourmet specialties. We have indeed missed our guests at the restaurants and with Marriott’s Commitment to Clean, I am confident that our guests will come back for a safe dining experience.”

Seasonal Tastes, the all-day dining restaurant will be open for Breakfast, lunch, dinners and Sunday Brunches, whereas MKC-Madras Kitchen Company is open for Lunches, Hi-Tea, and dinner.

Timings:

Seasonal Tastes: 7 AM to 8 PM

MKC-Madras Kitchen Company: 12noon to 8PM

For table reservations, please call us at +91 4466333777 or Whatsapp us at +918939892056

Address: 

154 Velachery Main Road, 

Chennai, 600042 

Tamil Nadu

International News| Emirates first-class lounge at DXB reopens

Emirates first-class lounge at Dubai International Airport’s (DXB’s) Concourse B has reopened. The airline’s business class lounge in Concourse B will remain open for first and business class travellers and eligible Skywards members.

It is the latest in a phased programme reopening for premium customers at the airport. The facilities include complimentary chauffeur drive in 70 cities and Emirates Lounge operations in Dubai, Cairo, New York JFK, Manchester, Boston, Milan, and Los Angeles.

Dubai International Airport was the busiest regional hub for international traffic before the pandemic, as it relies heavily on connecting passengers around the globe.

Recently, Dubai International Airport reopened Terminal 1 and Concourse D on June 24. They were both closed in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Source

Appointment | Mr. Harpal Singh has been appointed as the new Director of Finance & Business Support at Holiday Inn Jaipur City Centre.

Mr. Harpal Singh has been appointed as the new Director of Finance & Business Support at

Holiday Inn Jaipur City Centre.

Overseeing the hotel's finances, Harpal is an industry veteran with roughly 15 years of

experience in the hospitality industry having previously served as Financial Controller in Crowne Plaza Today, Gurgaon (An IHG Hotel). He has also been associated with brands like

Kingdom of Dreams Gurugram and Radisson MBD Hotel Noida.

Spearheading the hotel’s business strategy, Harpal will continue to evolve innovatively finance structures, processes, and effective controls, further strengthening risk management practices, as well as developing and mentoring our Finance executives across the hotel.

Harpal’s impressive background will benefit the hotel as we seek to progress our operational and financial performances. We believe he is the ideal leader to elevate our profit growth for a strong and sustainable future," said Pankaj Gupta, General Manager.

Harpal has completed his MBA in Finance from JIMS, Delhi, and is passionate about Travelling, Playing Cricket, and Badminton.

NEWS | Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy gets into Cabinet in reshuffle

The Modi Government upgrades the Tourism and Culture, giving it Cabinet status while appointing a new minister after the two-year tenure of outgoing minister Prahlad Singh Patel.

The importance of the Tourism sector was reflected by the move of the Narendra Modi government to upgrade the Tourism and Culture Ministry to Cabinet stature and appoint G Kishan Reddy from State Minister for Home to the new Cabinet Minister for Tourism, Culture. As part of bringing synergies between departments of the government, Prime Minister Modi clubbed the Department of DoNER (Development of North Eastern Region) with the Tourism & Culture.

The Narendra Modi government kept the record for the Minister of Tourism not staying in office for more than two years intact as Kishen Reddy replaced Prahlad Singh Patel as the new Tourism and Culture Minister of India in the cabinet reshuffle and expansion on Wednesday.

Apart from upgrading to Cabinet rank, the Tourism Ministry will have two Ministers of State to assist the Cabinet Minister—Ajay Bhatt and Sripad Yesso Naik.

The last two decades alone, starting 2000, has seen 11 tourism ministers, making the average tenure of less than 2 years. With a few exceptions like Jagmohan or Ambika Soni, who remained in the Tourism Minister’s post for more than two years, there are not many in that list. Prahlad Singh Patel also completed two years in office.

Elected from the Secunderabad constituency to the Lok Sabha in the 2019 general elections, Kishan Reddy was picked as a Minister of State for Home in 2019. It’s a big promotion for Reddy to be elevated to a Cabinet position within a short span of two years.

New Venture | Berco’s chain of restaurants joins hands with Japanese food brand for its India launch

Berco’s chain of restaurants joins hands with Japanese food brand for its India launch

In the future Berco's and Bento by EN will look at opening a common kitchen as they will operate out of the same facility.

Chinese and Thai Cuisine, Berco’s is now bringing Japanese food delivery by the name of ‘Bento by EN’ in Delhi and Gurgaon. The newly launched Bento by EN has started operating their outlets in Munirka and Udyog Vihar and is rapidly planning to expand throughout the world.

Bento by EN offers a diverse selection of traditional Japanese cuisines, which encompasses all of the country's traditional food items while adhering to all of the major Covid-19 criteria, which are governed by the food ministry and have sterile equipment and kitchens. Bento focuses on introducing westerners to the full range of meals, in addition to cooking and serving a wide choice of well-known Japanese foods. The Japanese meals are available on delivery apps like Zomato, Swiggy and Dineout.

Commenting on this SJB Singh Sandhar (Raji), President & Founder - Seinan Group & Chain of Restaurants in Japan & Canada said, “With over two decades of experience in the food and beverage sector and a strong presence in Japan we planned to team up with Kabir Advani, Operator of the most established food brand, Berco’s Chain of Restaurants to grow outlets in different cities across India. For your exquisite experience, we at Bento by EN bring the widest selection of savory to your doorstep, together with the greatest Japanese authenticity of Sushi.”

Source

Appointment | Dinesh Rai appointed as GM at Crowne Plaza Kochi

Prior to him moving to Crowne Plaza Kochi, he held the position of General Manager with Four Points Kochi where he was responsible for pre-opening of the hotel.

Crowne Plaza Kochi has appointed Dinesh Rai as General Manager. With over two decades of experience in operation and business development, Dinesh is known for his leadership qualities complemented by diverse work experiences. He brings valuable knowledge from the wide-ranging assignments with prestigious international and Indian hospitality groups. He has worked with leading brands such as Marriott, Accor, IHG and Taj Hotels during his previous assignments.

In his new role, Rai will be responsible for the continued success of the hotel by combining cutting-edge hospitality with innovative experiences for the guests. He has consistently displayed an incisive business sense along with fostering an environment of innovative thinking for driving revenues and operational excellence in all his assignments. With an outstanding reputation in establishing personal connections with guests and associates alike, his approach to work has always been commendable.

On his new appointment, Rai says, “Crowne Plaza Kochi is a Luxury Hotel with perfect embodiment of world-class service and True Hospitality. I look forward to advancing the plan we have in place, to expand our brand’s reach, build stronger connections with the local community, maintain fruitful relationships with our partners and deliver genuine experiences for our guests. Apart from devising strategies for strong Rooms and Social business, focus will be to leverage on Food and Beverage capabilities to curate novel offerings for our house guests and the residents of Kochi.” Prior to him moving to Crowne Plaza Kochi, he held the position of General Manager with Four Points Kochi where he was responsible for pre-opening the hotel.

Source

New Opening | IHCL Signs A Vivanta Hotel In Ahmedabad

Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), South Asia’s largest hospitality company, today announced the signing of a Vivanta hotel in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. This is a management contract for an existing hotel in the city, which would be undergoing extensive renovations before being flagged as Vivanta.

Commenting on the signing, Suma Venkatesh, Executive Vice President – Real Estate & Development, IHCL, said, “This signing is in line with IHCL’s strategy of strengthening our domestic presence in key cities. Ahmedabad is a thriving economic and industrial hub. The company will now have three of its brands – Taj, Vivanta and Ginger present in the city. We are delighted to partner with Leela Tradelinks Private Limited.”

Vivanta Ahmedabad, a 176-room hotel is strategically located on SG Highway, a comfortable driving distance from Gandhinagar, the state capital as well as important business complexes. The hotel’s dining options will include Mynt, the all-day dining restaurant, lobby café Swirl and a specialty restaurant. The recreational facilities will be a pool, fitness center and spa, meeting rooms and a banquet hall for social and business gatherings. It is a Brownfield project slated to open in 2022 after completion of its planned renovations.

Mr. Komalkant F Sharma, Chairman and Managing Director, Leela Tradelinks Private Limited said, “We are happy to partner with IHCL for Vivanta Ahmedabad. This will be the first Vivanta in the city, bringing in a refreshing new take in hospitality. I am confident that the collaborative efforts of Leela Tradelinks and IHCL will help redefine the new age of hospitality in the city of Ahmedabad.”

Ahmedabad, situated on the banks of the Sabarmati, is Gujarat’s largest city. It is an important commercial centre. The historic city of old Ahmedabad has been declared as India's first UNESCO World Heritage City

Source.

Proposals invited for two eco tourism projects near Punjab's Ranjit Sagar Lake

Valued at around INR 550 crore, the state government proposes to set up both projects in public private partnership mode

The Punjab state government plans to set up two eco-tourism projects around Ranjit Sagar Lake in Pathankot district. Considered to be around INR 550 crore, it will be set up in public-private partnership (PPP) mode.

Officials at Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) stated that the Nalok Tikka Pilangi lake front site is spread over 56.22 acres, while the Kulara Island measures over 18.54 acres. The respective project costs, as per the project proposal, are INR 448 crore and INR 105 crore, totaling more than INR 550 crore.

The selected bidder would also need to pay an upfront premium of INR 25 crore and INR 12 crore for the Palangi and Kurala island project respectively. Interested parties can bid for both the project sites through a single stage two-packet system. The last date of bid submission is 30th June 2021.

As per the proposal draft request, the selected bidder would be required to pay an annual concession fee of INR 3.56 crore for Palangi project and INR 2.65 crore for Kulara island project for 60 years, after which the projects would be handed over to the Punjab government.

The Amritsar Development Authority is the implementing agency for this project. Alongwith the Department of Housing & Urban Development it intends to select agencies for development of the infrastructure of the 74.76 acre area. Officials claimed that both land parcels have pre-approved environment clearance, Stage-1 forest clearance, a clear land title and is free of encroachment. A Stage-2 forest clearance would be applied for once the bidder is selected.

As per the terms and conditions of the projects, the Palangi project is to be constructed within a period of six years and Kulara island project within three years. The eco-tourism project details of Pilangi and Kulara island indicate that it will include an interpretation centre cum convention centre, eco-friendly accommodation villas, eco resort rooms, nature zone, Greens, Support facilities such as facility blocks (reception/dining/gym/club,driver/staff facilities, utilities, boating deck), roads and parking sites.

The project site would have a road connectivity of 25 km from National Highway 1 A that leads to Kashmir valley. It will be 30 km away from Pathankot railway station, 40 km from Pathankot Civil Airport and 155 km from Amritsar Internation Airport.

Source

NRAI seeks CCI intervention into Swiggy, Zomato ‘anti-competitive’ practices

NRAI has asked the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to investigate multiple issues, including deep discounting, data masking and violation of platform neutrality by the restaurant aggregators.

National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI) has sought the intervention of India’s anti-monopoly watchdog to resolve what it alleged were “anti-competitive practices” followed by Zomato and Swiggy, in a fresh salvo against the online food delivery platforms over a long-standing dispute between both sides.

NRAI, which represents over 500,000 restaurants across the country, has asked the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to investigate multiple issues, including deep discounting, data masking and violation of platform neutrality by the restaurant aggregators.

“During the (Covid-19) pandemic, the magnitude of anti-competitive practices of Zomato and Swiggy have increased manifold and despite numerous discussions with them, these deep funded marketplace platforms are not interested in alleviating concerns of the restaurants,” NRAI said in a statement on Monday.

“We have been in constant dialogue with foodservice aggregators over the last 15-18 months to resolve critical issues impacting the sector. However, we have not been able to resolve these issues; we have therefore approached the CCI now to look into the matter and investigate them thoroughly,” Anurag Katriar, president of NRAI, said.

NEWS | Carnival Cruise Line Returns To Guest Operations From PortMiami, Bolstering Local Economic Impact

Carnival Cruise Line Returns To Guest Operations From PortMiami, Bolstering Local Economic Impact

MIAMI, July 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival Cruise Line kicked off its first cruise from in almost 16 months from PortMiami, The Cruise Capital of the World, today with the departure of Carnival Horizon, providing a significant boost to the local economy and the tens of thousands of jobs in South Florida that are supported by the cruise industry.

Carnival's resumption of service in Miami provides guests with a much-anticipated vacation and is a further boost to the economy both locally and throughout the state.  Florida is number one in the nation in cruise embarkations with the cruise industry contributing more than $9 billion in direct purchases and responsible for over 159,000 jobs.  In Miami-Dade alone, cruise activity generates approximately $7 billion of spend and 40,000 jobs annually.  Of the 437,000 cruise industry-supported jobs in the USA, nearly 37% are in Florida.

Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy, Carnival Corporation President and CEO Arnold Donald and Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald kicked off the festivities with a ribbon-cutting ceremony officially welcoming guests on board.  Prior to Duffy's remarks, a moment of silence was held to honor those affected by the tragedy in Surfside.

"PortMiami is our number one homeport in terms of ships and passenger embarkations and today's return to cruising with Carnival Horizon represents an important first step in getting our company back to business while infusing much-needed capital to the thousands of workers who rely on the cruise industry for their livelihood," said Duffy.  "The past year has been challenging to say the least and I wish to thank our state and local officials, PortMiami, and our business partners and suppliers for their incredible support and patience during this time."

 "The restart of cruise ships from Miami is an exciting day for Miami's longshoremen.  We have approximately 800 members at PortMiami and their wages dropped as much as 80% during the nearly 16-month cruise suspension.  Today with Carnival Horizon's first sailing, we get back to work and look forward to supporting our families again," said Torin Ragin, president, International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) Local 1416.

Carnival Horizon will set sail today at 4 p.m. for a six-day cruise with stops in Amber Cove (Dominican Republic) and the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay.

In addition to Carnival Horizon's departure this afternoon, Carnival Vista departed Galveston yesterday, with Carnival Breeze departing from Galveston July 15 and Carnival Miracle kicking off the line's Alaska season from Seattle July 27. Mardi Gras, the line's newest ship, sets sail from Port Canaveral July 31.  Other ships in the Carnival fleet will begin service in August.

Hi- and low-res images of today's event are available here.  A video broll package is available here.   

For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line and to book a cruise vacation, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, visit www.carnival.com, or contact your favorite travel advisor or online travel site.

About Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line is proud to be known as America's Cruise Line with a total of 24 ships, sailing from 14 U.S. homeports and employing more than 40,000 team members from 120 nationalities.  The line's newest and most innovative ship, Mardi Gras, featuring the first roller coaster at sea and the first in the Americas powered by eco-friendly Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) starts sailing from Port Canaveral, Fla., on July 31, 2021.  As part of its 50th Birthday festivities, Carnival Celebration, sister ship to Mardi Gras, is scheduled to debut in late 2022 from PortMiami.

NEWS | P&O Cruises Australia Extends Cruising Pause Until Mid-December

P&O Cruises Australia Extends Cruising Pause Until Mid-December

MIAMI, June 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- P&O Cruises Australia today extended its pause in cruise operations by a further three months until 17 December 2021 because of ongoing uncertainty around a pathway to resume Australia-only cruising.

The extension to P&O's voluntary pause applies to cruises scheduled to depart from 17 September to on or before the new date of 17 December 2021.

The cruise industry has been discussing a framework for the re-start of domestic-only cruising with government and public health authorities since last October.

"These discussions have been underway for some time and we look forward to the opportunity to agree on a pathway for starting cruises that carry Australian residents on Australian itineraries," P&O Cruises Australia President Sture Myrmell said.

"This is about the livelihoods of the thousands of individuals and small businesses, many family-owned businesses, who rely on the cruise sector.

"These businesses cover a range of activities such as the supply of fresh food, entertainment, shore tours, coach operators, and marine engineering services.

"They are like every business in Australia – they need certainty, and I am concerned they may find it increasingly difficult to hang on without a clear pathway forward."

Guests whose bookings have been affected will be notified of the pause and options available either directly or via their appointed travel agent.

Mr Myrmell again thanked our guests for their loyalty, passion for cruising and continued words of encouragement.

"More than one million Australians cruised in Australia prior to the pandemic – and more than half of these guests sailed with P&O Cruises Australia," he said.

"We look forward to the day when a pathway is confirmed for cruising's return so that we can welcome everyone back on-board."

Guests can track the progress of their future cruise credit or refund request via the tracking tool found on P&O's website at www.pocruises.com.au.

SOURCE P&O Cruises AU

Surat Marriott Hotel opens doors to its 3rd restaurant -Vintage Asia -Tastes of Asia

Vintage Asia delivers a sensorial dining experience with its ‘Teppanyaki tales of taste’ and exquisite Asian flavours.

Witness an immersive and splendid dining experience showcasing the exotic ‘Tastes of Asia’ as Surat Marriott hotel unveils their specialty Pan-Asian restaurant ‘Vintage Asia’.

For the first time, Surat will experience Teppanyaki-style cuisine inspired by the celebrated culinary heritage of Asia, featuring a menu that is quintessentially Asian with decadent twists.

Teppanyaki- derived from the words ‘teppan’ (iron plate) and ‘yaki’ (grilled, boiled or pan-fried) - literally means ‘grilling on an iron plate’. Vintage Asia serves a range of Asian delicacies like Sushi and Sashimi, Dimsums, Tom Kha soup, Laksa soup, Udon noodles, Kafir lime crème Brulee, Tab Tim gob and Sweet sticky rice among others.

Vintage Asia will be pioneering performance-oriented exciting and theatrical cooking style, giving the guests a unique, mesmerizing, and one-of-a-kind dining experience!

Chef de Cuisine – Chef Mingwal and his team have crafted a menu that can be savored and enjoyed - presented and performed with finesse and flair.

The entire dining affair will be an enthralling offering to behold, featuring a bouquet of progressive Asian selections that blend the flavors, and essence of cuisine paired with dynamic theatrical cooking techniques. 

The ambiance boasts of an inviting vibe that is modern, alluring, and welcoming; crafted with a combination of vibrant contemporary lines and textured wooden traces.

 On this momentous launch, Amit Mehta, Area Director & General Manager, Surat Marriott hotel said, “We at Surat Marriott have constantly strived to craft unparalleled experiences for our guests, that are embedded as extraordinary memories. With Vintage Asia our skilled team has carefully curated a menu that combines a creative style of cooking with unique Asian flavours and exotic fresh produce. We look forward to serving the most delectable cuisine to the city of Surat in a very vibrant atmosphere. 

Tourism industry''s share in GDP falls 120 bps to 4.7 pc in 2020 due to pandemic impact: Report

The share of the travel and tourism sector in the GDP reduced by 120 basis points to 4.7 per cent in 2020, from 6.9 per cent in 2019, due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic that led to a de-growth of over 36 per cent in the sector, according to a report.

Quoting data from the World Travel and Tourism Council, SBI Research in a report said contribution of the travel and tourism sector to GDP went down from 6.9 per cent in 2019 to 4.7 per cent in 2020.

The first wave of the pandemic led to a whopping 36.3 per cent de-growth in the the travel and tourism sector, according to the report.

This has led to the number of jobs going down from 4.01 crore in 2019 to 3.18 crore in 2020, indicating a 20.8 per cent decline in employment, indicating the massive hit the sector took in the year, it added.

The major revenue for the tourism sector comes from domestic travellers, which in 2019 stood at 82 per cent and increased to 89 per cent in 2020, as airlines were not allowed to operate scheduled commercial flights, the report said.

To boost international travel, on the demand of industry, the government on Monday announced free tourist visas till the end of March 2022, or till five lakh visas are issued, whichever is earlier.

The overall expenditure is expected to be Rs 100 crore on free visas, the report said.

The government had on Monday extended 100 per cent credit guarantee of Rs 10 lakh to each agency for 904 travel and tourism stakeholders recognised by the Union tourism ministry, as well as Rs 1 lakh per guide for 10,700 tourist guides licensed at regional or state level.

The Reserve Bank of India had earlier announced a special window for contact-intensive sectors like tourism. Loans will be provided with a 100 per cent guarantee and will cover 10,700 regional-level tourist guides recognised by the states. PTI BEN HRS hrs

Accor leads in Treebo’s INR 118 crore Series D funding round

Other participants include BCCL, Elevation Capital, Matrix Partners, Bertelsmann, Ward Ferry and Mozambique Holdings’ Deputy MD Deepak Parayanken

Treebo Hotels has raised Rs 118 crore ($16 million) in its Series D funding round from a group of investors, led by French hospitality major Accor. Other participants in this funding round included its existing investors – Elevation Capital, Matrix Partners, Bertelsmann and Ward Ferry.

Media company Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd and Mozambique Holdings’ Deputy MD, Deepak Parayanken, also invested in the Bengaluru-based hotel company. Nine months ago, Treebo had raised a bridge round of $6 million from its existing investors, including SAIF Partners.

Talking about this development Accor’s CTO Floor Bleeker, said, “We are delighted to partner with the talented team of Treebo. Their software solution, Hotel Superhero, is exactly the kind of technology that the hospitality industry needs today. It is cloud based, intuitively designed, and comprehensive in its functionalities. We are looking forward to using their solutions to improve guest experience and operational efficiency.”

Accor had engaged with Treebo for investment opportunities for close to two years, though this did not materialise. The French hospitality major’s recent investment in the budget hotel chain is part of its broader partnership under which Treebo will deploy its cloud-based, SaaS hotel management software (HMS), Hotel Superhero, at various Accor hotels globally. The software is already operational at select Accor properties, Treebo said in a statement.

Hotel Superhero is an integrated HMS for hospitality chains and standalone hotels, which Treebo relaunched last year. It includes modules like property management, point of sale, rate planning and inventory management, housekeeping, and guest assist. Treebo’s SVP for engineering, Mayank Khandelwal, will head this business unit.

Sidharth Gupta, Rahul Chaudhary and Kadam Jeet Jain co-founded Treebo in 2015 as a tech-enabled manchised aggregator for budget hotels. It currently manages a network of over 500 hotels across 100 cities in India.

News| Goa's Club Tito's Sold Off, Owner Announces In Emotional Post; Says 'tired Of Harassment

Established in 1971, Goa's most iconic club, Tito's has been sold off, announced Ricardo Joseph D'Souza, whose family owns the club, in an emotional post

Established in 1971, one of Goa's most iconic clubs, Tito's has been sold off, announced Ricardo Joseph D Souza, whose family owns the club, in an emotional post on Facebook on Monday. Labelling it as the 'end of an era,' D Souza attributed the sellout to harassment meted out to Club Tito's at the hands of officials including the police, the excise, MLAs and others. However, in the same post, D Souza thanked CM Pramod Sawant, IAS officers and people of Goa for contributing to Tito's. 

Speaking to a local news channel, Tito's outgoing owner clarified that he had nothing against the present sarpanch of Calangute or IAS officers who, he said had been “brilliant”, adding that the the “crab mentality” of local Goan officials had made it increasingly difficult for Goan businesses to continue. Narrating the ordeal faced by businesses, D Souza claimed that several departments of the government including IT and GST strive to shut down businesses by harassment. 

Proudly asserting that he is a nationalist, Ricardo D'souza stated that Tito's does not evade tax and that he was the one who sued the Queen of England to bring back the Kohinoor diamond. While he did not disclose who the buyer of Tito's is, there are reports indicating that a Punjab-based casino operator has bought the iconic club. It is unclear whether the new owner will persist with the brand and the usual setting of the club in Calangute. Meanwhile, Ricardo D'souza has said that the family has plans to set up operations in Toronto, Dubai, parts of Ukraine, and Africa and also spread Tito's franchise across India.

According to the club's official website, over the years since it was established in 1971, the club has played over 87,600 hours of music, hosted 16,425 parties and on average had 90,000 visitors every month.

DESIGN | New Look Naladhu Private Island Maldives to Relaunch in November

Naladhu Private Island, the exclusive luxury island resort in the Maldives, has closed for six months for a complete renovation and is due to relaunch in November with an impressive new look and feel. The resort will undergo a total redesign with all the accommodation and public areas including the restaurant, bar, wine cellar, spa room and gym receiving a complete new look.

Naladhu Private Island Maldives - Ocean House with Pool and Private Cabana - Bathroom

• Located in the South Malé Atoll, Naladhu is just 30 minutes by luxury speedboat from Malé’s international airport

• Naladhu is home to just 20 keys, offering the ultimate in privacy and seclusion

• New York based designer Yuji Yamazaki is redesigning the resort, which will reopen with a modern colonial look

• The resort’s top suite, the Two Bedroom Pool Residence, will have its own 20 meter private beach

• Butler service is offered Naladhu-style by a Kuwaanu, meaning ‘storyteller/guide’ in Dhiveli, the Maldivian language

• Each Ocean House will have its own private beach cabana, so guests also have the option to relax on their super king-sized day bed on the beach and enjoy drinks and snacks delivered by their Kuwaanu

• Naladhu will be expanding its no-menu dine anywhere concept, enabling guests to choose their favorite dishes and dining spots round the clock

• The resort will be renewing its focus on wellness with a new dedicated spa treatment area including a double treatment room and bathing and changing area, plus a resident Naturopath and Nutritional Therapist

Appointment | Anantara Iko Mauritius announces appointment of new General Manager

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Pascal Bertrand as the new General Manager at Anantara Iko Mauritius Resort & Villas.

Bringing over 35 years of luxury hospitality experience to his new position, Pascal joins the Mauritius property, which opened in late 2019, to take it forward with his visionary leadership, which he has gained working with international brands in numerous regions.