NEWS | MINT TO BRING NEW LEGAL ACTION AGAINST MARRIOTT

MINT TO BRING NEW LEGAL ACTION AGAINST MARRIOTT

Further to its obligation to keep stakeholders informed of material events, Minor International (“MINT”) makes the following statement:

MINT has filed a legal claim in Thai court against Marriott International, Inc. (“Marriott”) in relation to the JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa (the “JW Marriott Phuket”) which is owned by MINT and operated by the Marriott group. MINT’s claim is for THB 570.6 million and alleges that Marriott has committed a number of offenses under Thai law, including:

·        competing with the JW Marriott Phuket through its operation of competing Marriott portfolio hotels;

·        using the JW Marriott Phuket facilities to promote Marriott’s other competing hotels;

·        misappropriating MINT’s confidential and proprietary information to benefit Marriott’s own interests;

·        operating its loyalty program in bad faith and against the interests of MINT as hotel owner;

·        failing to manage the JW Marriott Phuket in a manner to protect and benefit the owner’s interest; and

·        unduly enriching itself at the expense of the hotel and MINT, through hidden license fee arrangements and supplier rebates and use of monies in the Marriott loyalty program fund.

MINT is pleased to confirm that its legal action in Thailand remains ongoing (although slowed by Covid) and will be pursued until MINT’s claims are fully addressed. Further updates will be provided to the market in due course.

In addition to its legal claims in the Thai courts, MINT is also imminently initiating further legal action against Marriott, claiming breaches by Marriott of its fiduciary duties toward MINT as the owner of the JW Marriott Phuket. MINT expects that this case will have wide-ranging relevance to the hotel market and highlight a number of problematic business practices by Marriott. Further details will be shared with the market in due course, in the interest of keeping MINT’s stakeholders fully informed as this matter progresses.

About Minor International: Minor International (MINT) is a global company focused on three core businesses: hospitality, restaurants, and lifestyle brands distribution. MINT is a hotel owner, operator, and investor with a portfolio of 527 hotels under the Anantara, AVANI, Oaks, Tivoli, NH Collection, NH Hotels, how, Elewana, Marriott, Four Seasons, St. Regis, Radisson Blu, and Minor International brands in 55 countries across the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, the Indian Ocean, Europe, South, and North America. MINT is also one of Asia’s largest restaurant companies with over 2,300 outlets system-wide in 26 countries under The Pizza Company, The Coffee Club, Riverside, Benihana, Thai Express, Bonchon, Swensen’s, Sizzler, Dairy Queen, Burger King and Coffee Journey. MINT is one of Thailand’s largest distributors of lifestyle brands and contract manufacturers. Its brands include Anello, Bodum, Bossini, Charles & Keith, Esprit, Joseph Joseph, Radley, Scomadi, Zwilling J.A. Henckels and Minor Smart Kids.

For more information, please contact Stephen Chojnacki at +34669387385 or visit www.minor.com.

NEWS | Indian cloud kitchen startup Rebel Foods valued at $1.4 billion in $175 million fundraise

Indian cloud kitchen startup Rebel Foods valued at $1.4 billion in $175 million fundraise

Rebel Foods, which operates a large network of dark kitchens in nearly a dozen markets, is the latest Indian startup to attain unicorn status.

The 10-year-old Indian startup said on Thursday it has raised $175 million in its Series F financing round that valued it at $1.4 billion, up from about $800 million last year. Qatar Investment Authority, sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar, led the financing round with participation from existing investors Coatue and Evolvence. Rebel Foods also counts Sequoia Capital India and Goldman Sachs among its investors.

Rebel Foods is the third Indian startup to become a unicorn this week, and 31st to become a unicorn this year as scores of high-profile investors including Tiger Global, SoftBank, Sequoia and Temasek aggressively double down on their bets to back young firms in the world’s second-largest internet market. (And many more are beginning to explore India. A16z made its first investment in an Indian startup this week.)

Rebel Foods operates the world’s largest number of what it calls “internet restaurants” in 10 countries including the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia and Malaysia. Over 45 brands, many of which Rebel Foods owns and also several from partner firms such as Wendy’s and Mad Over Donuts, prepare food exclusively for delivery rather than serving dine-in or takeaway customers. The startup says it operates over 4,000 of these internet restaurants.

The idea behind dark kitchens — also known as ghost or cloud kitchens — is to make food serving operations more economical. Setting up and operating a restaurant is expensive as they are also, after all, pieces of real estate. Setting up cloud kitchens allows partner restaurants and brands to move away from pricey retail locations and also streamlines the business by focusing on just producing food.

“The big disruption that the cloud kitchen model brought about is that you don’t have to put up five real estates [locations] to run five different restaurants,” said Jaydeep Barman, founder, and chief executive of Rebel Foods, in a virtual conference earlier this year. As carmakers produce dozens of models from one factory, “using technology, supply chain, and workflows, you can actually have one kitchen for five restaurants,” he explained.

Many investors say that the cloud kitchen model is also crucial for food delivery firms, restaurants and brands to reach a larger market. In many developing markets including India, the ticket size for a lunch or dinner order is $3 to $5, which makes the existing business models unviable for firms to turn a profit.

This would explain why both Swiggy and Zomato — the two top food delivery firms in India — have made several efforts to explore setting up their own cloud kitchens.

Swiggy, for instance, announced in late 2019 that it had invested in more than a million square feet of real estate space across 14 cities in the country to help restaurant partners of all sizes expand to more locations both within their city and across new cities through cloud kitchens. The firm, which invested over $25 million into its cloud kitchen business, significantly scaled it down last year after the pandemic hit. Like Swiggy, Zomato has also struggled to make inroads with its cloud kitchen efforts.

But the model is here to stay — and investors are buying. “Working in Rebel’s favor is the loss of investor interest in single-brand entities given that these brands don’t have the ability to drive profitable unit economics from just operating one brand. Scaling a single brand across cities requires capital investments far higher than for brands that are part of a larger portfolio, where fixed costs are controlled,” reported Indian news and analysis publication CapTable, which also scooped the fundraise talks last week.

Why have big firms struggled to make inroads with cloud kitchen? TechCrunch spoke with Ravi Golani, the chief strategy officer at Rebel Foods, who said a challenge that he sees with the cloud kitchen model is that there are several different strategies at play and they are yielding different results.

“We are combining the best of both worlds — digital and physical — to understand how to expand a particular brand, to make unit economics work, and to ensure adequate supply chain and leveraging technology. It’s a different ball game altogether,” he said, adding that some of the other firms have only succeeded in achieving some of these. Rebel Foods works with food delivery firms as its delivery distributing partners.

“If you think about cloud kitchens generally, you would imagine five or more different booths in a kitchen. They have their own staff, production material and delivery tie-ups. In our kitchens, what we have done is organize the entire layout by workflows rather than restaurants,” he said.

The startup said it plans to deploy the fresh funds to expand its international footprint and also explore acquisition opportunities. It’s also eyeing becoming a public company within two years, said Piyush Kakkad, the startup’s chief financial officer. Rebel Foods’ current annual run rate is $150 million.

Award | Minor Hotels Sweeps Another Big Win With 38 Accolades In 2021 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards

Minor Hotels, the parent company behind the Anantara, Avani, Tivoli, NH Collection, and Elewana hotel brands, is pleased to announce a total of 38 accolades awarded to its properties worldwide in 2021 Condé Nast Traveler US and UK Readers’ Choice Awards. The trove of prestigious accolades is a resounding vote of confidence in the group’s ability to lead the sector as it emerges from months of disrupted travel.

Leading these great results, two resorts have been named in the overall Top 50 Resorts globally, placing these properties among the most inspirational, trusted and loved hotels in the world. Naladhu Private Island Maldives, the exclusive luxury island resort was voted #4, closely followed by Anantara Chiang Mai Resort in Northern Thailand as #8. Furthermore, two hotels were included in the Top 50 Hotels globally, Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels by Tivoli in Doha as #13 and The Marker Hotel in Dublin ranked #46.

Continuing the top rankings of the world’s most prestigious hotels, the uber-exclusive Naladhu Private Island Maldives was also voted #1 among Top 30 Resorts in the Indian Ocean for the fourth time in five years, while fans of Anantara Chiang Mai Resort helped the serene riverside property retain its #1 ranking in the Top 20 Resorts in Thailand.

Award | Naladhu Private Island Maldives Named #1 Top Resort in Indian Ocean & #4 Best Resort in the World

Naladhu Private Island is excited to share that it has once again been named the #1 Top Resort in the Indian Ocean in the annual Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. In addition Naladhu has been named #4 in the Best Resorts in the World.

The annual Readers’ Choice Awards are the longest-running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry. For the 2021 vote, the readers were asked to draw on their happiest travel moments, spotlighting the places that made those magical moments possible, in a show of support for the travel industry.

Located on the edge of a pristine lagoon in the South Malé Atoll, Naladhu will reopen on November 1st after a complete renovation, revealing an impressive new look and feel, with the public areas and accommodation being redesigned and the resort’s top suite, the Two Bedroom Pool Residence, reopening with its own 20 metre private beach.

The new product will further support the amazing service and experience that the Naladhu team has delivered over recent years, with the resort being internationally recognised as #1 in the Indian Ocean for four of the last five years and two years in a row being named in the top five of the Best Resorts in the World.

New opening | Guggenheim Abu Dhabi set to open by 2025

The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is on track to open by 2025, authorities in the emirate have confirmed. Facing numerous delays over the years, the museum was first announced in 2006.

Joining a collection of Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation museums, including arguably the most famous in Manhattan, the Abu Dhabi museum has been designed by Frank Gehry. When it opens, it will present a range of global modern and contemporary art pieces, with a specific focus on West Asia, North Africa and South Asia.

Gehry commented: “It is truly thrilling to see this project enter into this new phase. I am immensely proud to work closely with our partners, DCT Abu Dhabi and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, to create a home for their ground-breaking cultural program. I hope that this building is embraced by the people of the UAE and that this work will endure as a landmark for the country for many years to come.”

“Guggenheim Abu Dhabi fosters a deeper understanding of how different art perspectives have shaped the interconnected histories and cultures of our time. With both Emirati and regional experts playing a key role in the development of the museum’s collection and programmes, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will provide a first-of-its-kind platform for artists from the UAE and the Gulf,” said The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) in a statement.

H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, continued: “Guggenheim Abu Dhabi advances Abu Dhabi’s position as a dynamic centre for arts and culture. The region’s pre-eminent museum of global modern and contemporary art, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will present an equitable platform for art from all over the world. The museum will also play a civic role through its mission to spark wider interest in global modern and contemporary art, fostering diversity and inclusion in a meaningful cultural exchange.

“As we move forward with our plans, it is crucial to recognise the impact of this museum in realising our vision for the Emirate’s culture and creative industries. Investing in these industries is pivotal to the economic development of our Emirate, and to our contribution to the global art world. Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, along with other cultural institutions such as Louvre Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museum, will undoubtedly contribute significantly to a thriving creative scene.”

NEWS | Doha restaurant to welcome lauded Mexican chef

Chef Auilles Chavez will post up at Vertigo within Banyan Tree Doha

Mexican chef Anquiles Chavez is flying over to Qatar for a guest appearance at Vertigo – Banyan Tree Doha at La Cigale Mushaireb’s latest restaurant.

Though the panoramic restaurant is centered on Pan-Asian cuisine, chef Chavez will be in the kitchen from October 5 to 9 injecting some of his own cultural influences into the menu.

Starters include guacamole as well as tuna tartare, while the main dishes feature the flauta de Borrego, a lamb stew, the hamour en mole, a catch cooked with a green mole sauce, and the signature wagyu slow-cooked short rib. For dessert, the chocolate Jango will be the star with chili chocolate mousse, raspberry jelly, and caramel glaze.

Chavez will conduct two live cooking masterclasses, on the sixth and seventh of the month. Those interested will be able to join the class for QAR300 per person.

Aurelio Giraudo, cluster general manager, Banyan Tree Doha at La Cigale Mushaireb, commented on the event: “We are extremely excited about the imminent visit of Chef Chavez. We are committed to delivering on our promise to bring unique activations through our brands and restaurants in Doha, and we are certain that this event will bring our guests in Qatar a sensational experience never to be had before.”

NEWS | Carnival Corporation Names Company Veteran Sture Myrmell to Lead Carnival UK; Appoints Global Tourism Leader Marguerite Fitzgerald to Lead Carnival Australia

MIAMI, Sept. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world's largest cruise company, today announced two appointments within its global leadership team, naming industry veterans to lead operations for Carnival UK and Carnival Australia.

Effective Oct. 18, Sture Myrmell, currently president of P&O Cruises Australia and president of Carnival Australia, will begin his new role as president of Carnival UK, the UK's largest cruise operator, overseeing the Cunard and P&O Cruises UK cruise line brands. Myrmell, who will be based in Southampton, England, will also serve temporarily as president of Cunard during the recruitment for that position. He will report directly to Josh Weinstein, chief operations officer for Carnival Corporation, who also has responsibility for Carnival UK.

Effective Jan. 10, 2022, Marguerite Fitzgerald, most recently serving as the lead for Boston Consulting Group's (BCG) global lodging and leisure practice, as well as its global strategy business, will assume Myrmell's prior position serving a dual role as president of P&O Cruises Australia and Carnival Australia. Fitzgerald, a global travel and tourism veteran bringing deep expertise in all aspects of cruise operations to Carnival Corporation, will be based in Sydney and report directly to Jan Swartz, group president, Holland America Group.

"Sture is a two-decade-plus veteran at our company, so we look forward to him bringing his deep experience, excellent leadership skills and proven track record of success to a new leadership opportunity," said Weinstein. "He will play a crucial role in our success in the UK, and we look forward to his contributions as we deliver to our guests the best vacation experiences in the world."

With over 20 years of experience with Carnival Corporation, Myrmell has served in multiple positions across the Princess Cruises, Cunard, Seabourn and P&O Australia brands. In his new role with Carnival UK, Myrmell replaces Simon Palethorpe, who will be leaving the company at the end of November after six years for a new opportunity.

"Simon has been a true asset for the company these past years, and we wish him the best with this new opportunity," said Weinstein. "He successfully revitalized the Cunard brand and then ably stepped into the role of president of Carnival UK for the past 15 months, leading both P&O Cruises and Cunard back into guest operations this summer with the Carnival UK executive team."

Australian-born Fitzgerald brings two decades of strategy and operational experience in retail and leisure travel to her dual-role position with Carnival Australia, replacing Myrmell.

Fitzgerald has worked across global geographies developing international strategies for travel and tourism companies, including over 10 years working with cruise lines – including several Carnival Corporation brands – in virtually every area of operations, from commercial to hotel to maritime. Prior to her time at BCG, Fitzgerald served for several years in the Australian power industry.

"Marguerite is a trusted global authority in the travel and tourism industry with extensive expertise in the worldwide cruise passenger market, including direct experience working in the Australian and New Zealand region," said Swartz. "With the insight she brings from consulting with some of the world's most well-known travel and tourism companies, including several of our brands, she is uniquely qualified to make a strong contribution to Carnival Australia's continued success. We are delighted to welcome her to the team."

About Carnival Corporation & plc 
Carnival Corporation & plc is one of the world's largest leisure travel companies with a portfolio of nine of the world's leading cruise lines sailing to all seven continents. With operations in North America, Australia, Europe and Asia, its portfolio features Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises (Australia), Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard.

NEWS | HRAWI Petitions To The Govt. For Timing Extension For Hotels And Restaurants In The State

HRAWI Petitions To The Govt. For Timing Extension For Hotels And Restaurants In The State

Mumbai, September: The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) has submitted a representation to the Hon’ble Chief Minister - Shri Uddhav Thackeray, Hon’ble Chief Secretary - Shri Sitaram Kunte (IAS) and to the Hon’ble Environment, Tourism and Protocol Minister - Shri Aditya Thackeray requesting for an extension of operation timings for hotels and restaurants in the State. The Association has recommended restoring the operation timings of hotels and restaurants as per the license held by establishments, on all days of the week from Monday through Sunday. It has also requested the Government offers relaxation on the condition that restaurant staff be fully vaccinated for resumption of operations.

The Association has stated that since October 2020, restaurants in Maharashtra were allowed to operate under restrictions at 50 per cent capacity with restrictions on timings. But the second wave of the pandemic led to another complete lockdown and later more severe restrictions were imposed on restaurants.

“The rental and salary expenses, servicing of old debts, negative cash flows, and the statutory payment obligations have made running a hotel or restaurant a most unviable and unsustainable business under the present situation; and all its revival efforts have gone down the drain. However, things are looking up for the State with around three crores of its population having received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and the number of new cases is steadily on the decline. Under the circumstances, we request the Government to take immediate measures to restore economic activities in the State and help its citizens to come out of the huge financial losses they have suffered during the last 18 months. For businesses such as restaurants, the curtailed timings of 7am to 10pm is just not viable so we request the Government to restore the timings of restaurants to the operation timings as per the license timings of each establishment on all days of the week,” says Mr Sherry Bhatia, President, HRAWI.

Amongst all the sectors, the hospitality sector in the country has taken the biggest hit due to the pandemic. Business came to a complete standstill after the lockdown came into effect. As of today, 30 per cent of hotels and restaurants in the country have shut down permanently due to financial losses. Over 20 per cent of hotels and restaurants still haven’t opened fully and the remaining 50 per cent are running in losses with revenues below 50 per cent of the pre-COVID19 levels.

“The present timings for restaurants from 7am to 10pm do not complement this business. This is only adding to the losses caused due to the two lockdowns. We recommend that the Government allows hotel and restaurants to revert to the pre-pandemic timings through the week. This will not only benefit restaurants but it also will promote staggered venturing out of the public. Other than this, we also request the Government to be considerate and provide hotels and restaurants relaxation on the condition that the staff be fully vaccinated for resuming operations. We request that the Government allows hotels and restaurants to undertake the pending vaccinations if any, in a gradual manner. We are sure that these positive measures would immensely benefit the people of Maharashtra to come out of the huge economic turmoil caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” concludes Mr. Pradeep Shetty, Sr. Vice President, HRAWI.

About Hotel & Restaurant Association Western India (HRAWI)

The Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) is a 71 years old Association of Hotels and Restaurants in Western India. Its members include various restaurants and smaller Hotels up to 5-Star Deluxe categories. The bulk of its members like any growth economy are made up of restaurants and budget hotels. With membership base spread across Western India, HRAWI covers Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa and the Union Territories of Daman, Diu & Silvassa, and is considered to be the voice of the Hotel and Restaurant Industry. The association is part of the national body of Federation of the Hotels & Restaurants Associations of India (FHRAI), located in New Delhi, which was originally founded in Mumbai in 1950 by the late Mr J.R.D. Tata.

Visit Maldives | Niyama Private Islands Maldives Hosts Surf Week 2021 with Professional Surfer, Shaper and Photographer

Niyama Private Islands is launching its 2021 Surf Week from 1 to 7 November, hosting Josh Kerr and Matt Parker, two big names in the world of surf, and with a full programme of surfing and socialising for participants.

Josh Kerr, former Australian pro surfer and two-time world surf air show champion, will be sharing his expertise during daily surf clinics as well as one-to-one surfing coaching sessions. Josh has also been Todo Santos Big Wave Champion and a ten times top ten finisher in the WSL championship tour.

Matt Parker of Album Surfboards will be analysing guests’ surfing style and producing a tailormade board for each participant. Matt was the 2021 Electric Acid Surfboard test winner with surfer Coco Ho and has been shaping one of a kind, innovative surfboards since 2001.

In addition renowned professional surf photographer, Erick Proost, currently resident at Niyama, will be there to capture action images of the guests riding the waves.

Niyama is the only luxury resort in the Maldives with its own wave breaking onto the shore – Vodi – which is a powerful and sometimes hollow left hander. Off to the west and five minutes away by speedboat, Kasabu is a rippable and hollow right hander. There are also a number of other surf spots in and around the Dhaalu Atoll that can be easily reached from Niyama by speedboat or seaplane.

Marriott News | Marriott International signs 22 new agreements in south Asia

The hotel chain plans to add more than 2,700 rooms to its portfolio in India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Nepal.

Marriott International announced that it will add more than 2,700 rooms with the signing of 22 new hotel agreements in south Asia over the past 18 months. These include India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Nepal.

Rajeev Menon – president of Asia Pacific (excluding Greater China), Marriott International, said, “It is a sign of confidence from our owners and franchisees who have been an integral part of our growth journey. We are grateful for their continued support and trust in the power of our brands as we continue to welcome back travelers.”

More than one-third of the newly signed projects include hotels and resorts in the luxury tier, comprising brands such as JW Marriott and W Hotels. This reflects travelers’ growing demand for bespoke and top-of-the-line amenities and services. Travelers can anticipate the debut of the W Hotels brand in Jaipur with W Jaipur in 2024.

Hilton News | Hilton launches large-scale Franchise Model in Asia Pacific

Owners can now operate franchised hotels under the award-winning Hilton Garden Inn brand, part of a new holistic business model in China

Hilton, the fastest growing hotel company in Asia Pacific and a recognized global leader in franchising, has announced the launch of its large-scale franchise model in China. The business model will allow independent hotel owners in China to benefit from Hilton’s innovative commercial strategies and extensive support network, as the company welcomes investors and owners to explore franchising opportunities with its award-winning upscale focused-service brand, Hilton Garden Inn.

Alan Watts, president, Asia Pacific, Hilton, said, "As a leading global hospitality company with over 100 years of experience managing world-class brands and operating industry-leading hotels, Hilton has always been committed to delivering best-in-class returns for owners and safeguarding the interests of our partners. We remain optimistic about travel industry recovery in the long term as we continue to see strong domestic leisure demand in various parts of Asia Pacific, and investors remain bullish on the hotel sector. Providing opportunities for franchised partnerships with Hilton Garden Inn – one of the strongest focused service brands in the market – is a great step towards winning the hearts and minds of strong, savvy independent hotel owners in China. We are confident that the new model will serve as a great opportunity for our owners to access one of Hilton’s iconic brands and bring an exciting new entrant to their respective destinations.”

With the launch of the new franchise model, Hilton is offering a Hilton Garden Inn brand prototype developed specifically for the Chinese market, which was originally launched in 2019. This prototype fulfils Hilton’s commitment to providing guests with exceptional stay experiences, while also driving long-term investment success for owners. Under the program, owners can take advantage of attractive upfront investment costs, while the leaner operating model drives profitability and provides ease for day-to-day operations.

To date, Hilton has inked more than 100 deals to develop Hilton Garden Inn hotels in China, bolstering the company’s confidence in the long-term growth of the focused service brand and its ability to cater to a rising middle class. The anticipated growth momentum also corresponds with the increasing demand for internationally branded hotels to meet evolving consumer needs, especially within second and third tier cities in China.

Clarence Tan, senior vice president, Development, Asia Pacific, Hilton, said, “The launch of the pure play franchise model and corresponding prototype enables independent owners to leverage the award-winning international brand recognition and build quality of Hilton Garden Inn. We have also heavily invested in our systems, training and processes to support owners as they adapt their hotels to local demand drivers. Beyond China, we are confident that this development model will thrive in key destinations across Asia, as we anticipate rising demand for hotels in this segment in the long term. We are always on the lookout for the right partners in the right locations, and we will absolutely be assessing the right time to introduce the franchise model to regional investors in Asia Pacific – helping them to capture the strong demand for midscale lodging solutions.”

Alexandra Jaritz, senior vice president, Brand Management, Asia Pacific, Hilton, said, “As the fastest growing hospitality sector in China, focused service brands are primed to capture further market share. Hilton Garden Inn, our award-winning upscale focused service brand, currently has a global footprint of over 900 hotels, with 35 in China and 44 across Asia Pacific. The guest experience at our Hilton Garden Inn hotels in China has been tailored to the evolving preferences of Chinese consumers – all while remaining true to the brand’s global pillars of positive, upbeat service, luminous spaces, modern amenities, and stylishly approachable design delivered at an affordable price point.”

NEWS | Teardrop Hotels Sri Lanka appoints BRANDit as India Representative

Teardrop Hotels Sri Lanka appoints BRANDit as India Representative

Teardrop Hotels, a chain of luxury boutique hotels in Sri Lanka has appointed BRANDit, a specialist in tourism marketing, as its representation partner in India. BRANDit will be responsible for shaping the travel trade strategy, promoting sales and executing PR campaigns. This marks a new chapter for Teardrop Hotels as it looks to invest and strengthen its presence in the Indian market.

Speaking of the appointment, Mr. Henry Fitch, CEO, Teardrop Hotels said, “We are pleased and excited to introduce our brand of unique hotels to the Indian market through BRANDit. The hospitality sector has endured tremendous change in the recent past, impacting behaviours across the paradigm from travellers to hoteliers alike. The travel hiatus has resulted in a renewed enthusiasm, with visitors wishing to see the destination from a different perspective. With the sturdy track record that the BRANDit team has held over the years, we are confident of achieving greater visibility in India and will leverage this opportunity to elevate the Indian travellers’ experience with the finest indulgences that we as a brand have to offer.”

Teardrop is a collection of small, stylish, service-driven hotels that prides itself for contemporising centuries-old heritage buildings and vintage tea bungalows-with-views in distinct regions across the island nation. Each property is defined by its atmospheric destination, encouraging guests to engage in experiences that shape their own narrative of Sri Lanka.

“We are delighted to be able to promote Teardrop Hotels, especially at this juncture. Travel trade and consumers are both yearning for new experiences as we begin planning our next escape. With great connectivity, scenic landscape and a number of attractions, Sri Lanka has always been a perfect short-haul getaway for Indian travellers. Now, with borders re-opening, we are committed towards accelerating demand and increasing visitation by putting Teardrop Hotels on the radar of the travel trade and media stakeholders in India,” said Ms. Lubaina Sheerazi, CEO & Co-founder, BRANDit.

Hospitality startup Oyo likely to file for $1.2 billion IPO next week

Of the total issue, up to $250 million could be in secondary share sales and early-stage investors of Oyo are likely to make a partial exit through this IPO

Oyo Hotels and Homes is expected to file an IPO next week, Reuters news agency reported. After the stellar debut of food aggregator Zomato, the hospitality startup OYO is likely to go public and is eyeing between $1 billion and $1.2 billion, which is approximately between ₹7,300₹8,800 crore. 

According to reports, this will consist of a fresh issue of shares and an offer for sale from existing shareholders. After Zomato, CarTrade, Paytm, PolicyBazaar, Nykaa, and Mobikwik, Oyo would be the seventh Indian tech unicorn to roll out an IPO. While Zomato and CarTrade have already rolled out their IPOs, the others have filed papers with SEBI.

Oyo grappled with an existential crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic. It laid off staff and instituted salary cuts to stay afloat. The SoftBank-backed startup has appointed bankers and lead book managers for its listing, and is expected to file its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) by mid-October.

NEWS | Kerala to permit dine-in at restaurants, reopen bars

Coronavirus pandemic lives news update: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said that dine-in at hotels and restaurants will be permitted in the state. The state has also decided to reopen bars. The entry will be permitted to those who are fully vaccinated with both doses of vaccines against Covid-19. The hotels and restaurants can permit 50 percent of the seating capacity.

“The staff of the establishments should have received both doses of vaccination. Air conditioning must not be operated and only up to 50% of the seating capacity should be occupied,” said Chief Minister Vijayan. The state has also decided to allow the functioning of indoor stadiums and swimming pools.

Kerala on Saturday reported 16,671 new cases and 120 deaths. With this, the total death toll in the state touched 24,248 while the active cases stand at 1,65,154.

India recorded 29,616 new covid-19 cases in the 24 hours ending 8 am Saturday. With 290 new deaths, the country’s death toll now stands at over 4.46 lakh. Active cases stand at over 3.01 lakh while over 3.28 crore people have recovered after testing positive. Out of these, the highest cases were reported by Kerala at 17,983 along with 127 fatalities.

Source

NEWS | Kerala Tourism welcomes the first batch of tourists to the newly-built cruise terminal in Cochin Port

The Lakshadweep-bound luxury cruise M V Empress carrying 1200 travellers had a stop-over here with 300 travellers de-boarding the ship for a day-long on-shore sightseeing

The newly-built cruise terminal in Cochin Port received the first batch of tourists as the luxury liner M V Empress from Mumbai called at the port city, marking a promising start to the revival of post-pandemic domestic tourism in Kerala.

The Lakshadweep-bound luxury cruise carrying 1200 travellers had a stop-over here with 300 travellers de-boarding the ship for a day-long on-shore sightseeing.

Kerala Tourism Department accorded a warm welcome to the guests with martial Velakali dancers and women in traditional off-white dress greeting them.

The snow-white vessel, owned by Cordelia Cruises, became the first luxury cruise to anchor at the state-of-the-art terminal, after the devastating Covid-19 pandemic swept across the world.  

The Cochin Port wore a festive look, as Velakali performers holding sword and shield swayed with graceful vigour in two rows, showcasing the richness of the medieval cultural form.

“I am from Indore in Madhya Pradesh. This is a particularly exciting reception,” said a middle-aged passenger walking past the Velakali dancers besides more than a dozen women facing each other in a line-up and presenting bouquets to the guests. “We plan to explore some of the heritage pockets of Kochi,” the passenger said.

The day-long Kochi leg scheduled a round of Mattancherry and Fort Kochi, touching several points of historical importance. Boat rides along the backwaters for the tourists to take in the charm of the ‘Queen of Arabian Sea’ were also arranged.

The Lakshadweep islands is the next destination of the liner, but passengers who have opted for just the Kochi package will be taken to other parts of the state, according to Voyages Kerala, the tour agent.

The tourists walked down the new-look terminal around 9.30 a.m, one-and-a-half hours after MV Empress anchored at the terminal in sunny weather. The guests were received by Kerala Tourism Joint Director Shri K. Radhakrishnan and Deputy Director Shri T G Abhilash besides top officials at the port.

With today’s event, Kerala Tourism signals a busy future following the waning of the pandemic even as the on-shore tour adheres to the strict Covid-19 protocols.

NEWS | Carnival Corporation on Pace to Restart Over 50% of Fleet Capacity by October

Carnival Corporation on Pace to Restart Over 50% of Fleet Capacity by October

World's largest cruise company to resume guest cruise operations on 42 ships through the end of October across eight cruise line brands - Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK), and Cunard
The company's current operations and announced sailings to date continue building momentum for the ongoing restart of cruise vacations, as part of an overall goal to return nearly 65% of capacity to begin the New Year

MIAMI, Sept.2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world's largest cruise company, today announced that it expects to return over 50% of its total fleet capacity to guest cruise operations by the end of October, representing an important milestone for the company's previously announced plans to resume service with nearly 65% of its fleet capacity to begin the New Year.

To date, eight of the company's nine cruise line brands – Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK), and Cunard – have resumed guest sailings. By the end of October, those eight brands have announced they will be operating 42 ships, marking the return of over 50% of the company's global fleet capacity, as part of overall restart efforts around the world. Additional brand updates on the resumption of guest cruise operations will be forthcoming in the coming weeks, including details on ships and itineraries.

Collectively, the corporation's brands are resuming operations using a gradual, phased-in approach, with sailings from major global ports in multiple regions around the world, including the U.S., Mexico, Caribbean, United Kingdom, Western Europe and the Mediterranean, among others. The cruises operate with enhanced protocols developed in conjunction with government and health authorities, and informed by guidance from the company's public health, epidemiological and policy experts. This includes operating vaccinated cruises with updated testing and masking policies that follow the latest guidance, while creating extraordinary vacation experiences that continue to generate high guest satisfaction scores.

"Based on our initial restart of guest cruise operations across eight brands, it is clear from our guests that there is tremendous confidence in our brands, our health and safety protocols, and the return of cruising as one of the world's most popular vacations," said Roger Frizzell, chief communications officer for Carnival Corporation. "As the restart of cruising continues to gain momentum and create positive economic activity for people who depend on our industry to make a living, we look forward to serving our guests with more than half our fleet capacity returning in October, while delivering a great guest experience and serving the best interests of public health. Our highest responsibility and top priority remains compliance, environmental protection, and the health, safety and well-being of our guests, our shipboard and shoreside personnel, and the communities we visit."

The following summarizes Carnival Corporation's brand restart announcements to date, including those contributing to the 50% milestone in October, along with plans for additional ship restarts as part of the company's overall goal to return nearly 65% of capacity by December 31, 2021.

North America Brands:

• Carnival Cruise Line plans to have 13 ships sailing in October and a total of 17 ships by year-end.

• Princess Cruises plans to have six ships sailing in October, with eight total ships in operation by the end of the year.

• Holland America Line plans to have four ships in operation in October, with a total of six ships in operation by the end of the year. Additionally, the brand has announced plans for all 11 ships in its fleet to be in service by spring 2022.

• Seabourn plans to operate its full fleet by spring 2022, including a new expedition ship with its first sailing in April 2022, totaling six ships in service next year.

Europe & Asia Brands:

• Costa Cruises plans to have five ships in operation in October, with a total of six ships in operation by the end of the year.

• AIDA Cruises plans to have eight ships in operation in October, with a total of 10 ships in operation by the end of the year.

• P&O Cruises (UK) plans to have three ships in operation in October, with a total of four ships in operation by the end of the year. Additionally, the brand has announced plans to operate its full fleet by spring 2022.

• Cunard plans to have two of the three ships in its fleet in operation by the end of the year. Additionally, the brand has announced plans to resume operations with its remaining ship in spring 2022.

In working with global and national health authorities and medical experts, as well as authorities in global destinations, the company's brands have developed a comprehensive set of health and safety protocols for protection against and mitigation of COVID-19 across the entire cruise experience. This includes cross-industry learnings and best practices based on the proven health and safety record of industrywide sailings, and input from top science and health experts and health authorities. Protocols have been and will continue to be updated based on evolving scientific and medical knowledge related to mitigation strategies. Additional information on enhanced protocols, including the latest information and policies for each Carnival Corporation cruise line brand, is available on individual brand websites.

Cautionary Note Concerning Factors That May Affect Future Results

Some of the statements, estimates or projections contained in this document are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions with respect to us, including some statements concerning our resuming of cruise operations in the US, Caribbean and Europe. These statements are intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical facts are statements that could be deemed forward-looking. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about our business and the industry in which we operate and the beliefs and assumptions of our management. We have tried, whenever possible, to identify these statements by using words like "will," "may," "could," "should," "would," "believe," "depends," "expect," "goal," "anticipate," "forecast," "project," "future," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "target," "indicate," "outlook," and similar expressions of future intent or the negative of such terms.

Because forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are many factors that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. This note contains important cautionary statements of the known factors that we consider could materially affect the accuracy of our forward-looking statements and adversely affect our resuming of risk operations. Such risks, uncertainties and factors include the risk factors discussed in Item 1A of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

Forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual results. Subject to any continuing obligations under applicable law or any relevant stock exchange rules, we expressly disclaim any obligation to disseminate, after the date of this document, any updates or revisions to any such forward-looking statements to reflect any change in expectations or events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.

About Carnival Corporation & plc

Carnival Corporation & plc is one of the world's largest leisure travel companies with a portfolio of nine of the world's leading cruise lines sailing to all seven continents. With operations in North America, Australia, Europe and Asia, its portfolio features Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises (Australia), Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard.

Additional information can be found on www.carnivalcorp.com, www.carnival.com, www.princess.com, www.hollandamerica.com, www.seabourn.com, www.pocruises.com.au, www.costacruise.com, www.aida.de, www.pocruises.com and www.cunard.com.

NEWS | FSSAI introduces new logo for ‘vegan’

The Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) of India  has introduced a new logo to identify vegan products in the country on Tuesday. Green in colour, it has a V inscribed in the middle with a small plant on top of it and Vegan written at the bottom.

The food regulator informed that the design resonates with the current logo, which is a green and brown dot in the middle of a square,  respectively, for vegetarian and non-vegetarian products. FSSAI.

The logo has been developed by Kruti Manish Rathore of Mount Caramel College, Bangalore, pursuing Masters in Food Science and Nutrition, under the guidance of Sangeeta Pandey.

Visit Maldives | RCI members can now experience the best of Maldives

Right since July of 2021, when the island nation reopened its travel boarders to international tourist, there has been a robust rise in vacation queries and booking

RCI, the global leader in holiday exchange and part of the Panorama collection of travel brands at Travel + Leisure Co. celebrates with affiliated resorts in Maldives on the return of inbound foreign traveler to the island. Right since July of 2021, when the island nation reopened its travel boarders to international tourist, there has been a robust rise in vacation queries and booking by RCI members across the globe to Maldives.

According to a recent RCI booking trends report, Maldives emerged as the most popular and largest international tourist destination amid pandemic in 2021. The report states that overall search for Maldives as a destination on RCI.com increased multiple folds to 595%. Q1 and Q2 of 2021 have seen the highest volume of RCI members opting for Maldives as a preferred destination, the booking trend shows an increase of 151% in first quarter and 195% in second quarter of 2021. Top 10 countries with high volume of Booking in RCI for Maldives are India, The United States of America, China, Vietnam, England, Brazil, Australia, Canada, Finland and South Africa.

Commenting on the data research, Paul Mulcahy, Managing Director for RCI APAC, India & EMEA shared, “We are pleased to see RCI contributing to the  grand scheme of tourism growth, India has emerged as one of the top source markets for tourist arrivals in the Maldives in 2021. Members are increasingly seeking more information and are inquisitive to know about safety standards, flexible cancellation policies etc. We anticipate demand for Maldives travel not only from India but also other countries such as The United States of America, China, Vietnam, England, Brazil, Australia, Canada and South Africa”.

As per the report, the overall demand by RCI members from India experienced a surge in overall demand by 245% in the first half of 2021 as compared to 2020. The booking trends also showcases an increase of 143% in first quarter and 656% in second quarter of 2021 when compared with the same time period in 2020. The most favored Maldives resorts chosen by RCI members are surrounded by turquoise waters that shine with coral and marine life, to name a few these being Medhufushi Island Resort, Filitheyo Island Resort, Hondaafushi Island Resort, Grand Park Kodhipparu. The members also have hotel options available through Alliance Reservations Network (ARN).

Commenting on the rise in bookings for Maldives, Munaz Maharoof, General Manager, AAA Resorts shared “We have started seeing signs of recovery with regard to tourism in Maldives and have witnessed a wide array of interest from travelers across the globe over the last few months, which affirms their keenness to travel to a safe destination. The island aims to achieve 1.5 million tourist arrivals in 2021 and are accepting bookings to go back to pre-covid levels by December 2021 and are constantly adding new products and attractions in order to cater to the increasing arrivals. Today we are very well prepared to welcome the guests by providing them with upmost AAA Standard for Care, Safety and Cleanliness at our resort.”

New Opening | The Fern Hotels & Resorts opens its seventh hotel in Karnataka

With this new opening, the company’s overall count has extended to 83 operational hotels across the country

Concept Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. has opened its seventh hotel in Karnataka with The Fern Residency, Hubballi. With this new opening, the company’s overall count has extended to 83 operational hotels across the country and in Nepal and Seychelles.

Suhail Kannampilly, CEO, Concept Hospitality-The Fern Hotels & Resorts said “We are delighted to bring our eco-friendly Fern brand to this historical city, to complement our other six Fern hotels in the State, in Belagavi, Bengaluru, Shivamogga, Udupi and Vijayapura. With the environmentally sensitive facilities, services and operations that the Fern hotels are so well known for, guests can now enjoy the 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, Ashok Koti & Vinay Koti, Managing Partners, Vinayak Hotels mentioned “Our hotel has been catering to all travelers coming to Hubballi. We have now relaunched the hotel with The Fern Hotels & Resorts coming on board to manage the hotel, offering their personalized services and operational standards 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.”

The Fern Residency, Hubballi is conveniently located 5 km from Hubballi Airport and 2 km from Hubballi Railway Station. With 52 tasteful rooms and suites, a multicuisine restaurant, poolside bar and conferencing and banquet options, the hotel is ideal for both corporate and leisure stays.In-room amenities include complimentary packaged drinking water, tea/coffee maker, satellite TV connections, digital in-room safe, bedroom slippers, daily newspaper service on request, eco-friendly lighting arrangements and eco-friendly bathroom amenities.

Dining options include Moroccan, the Mediterranean décor multicuisine restaurant and Margarita, the poolside bar.

NEWS | Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre partners with Hyderabad Round Table for providing classroom infrastructure for the Zilla Parishad School

Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre partners with Hyderabad Round Table for providing classroom infrastructure for the Zilla Parishad School

Hyderabad September 22nd, 2021: Cyberabad Convention Centre Private Limited (Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre & Hyderabad International Convention Centre) in collaboration with Round Table India Freedom through Education School Block sets up a classroom (structure) in Zilla Parishad High School Narsingi. The program's major objective was to promote girls' education in our society. This school building was inaugurated by Mr. S. Madhusudhana Rao, CFO of Emaar Properties, and guests of honor included Mr. Manish Dayya, General Manager - Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre & Hyderabad International Convention Centre, Mr. Siva Kumar Perla, partner, IIFL Wealth, Mr. Kapil Kumar and Mr. Sumeet Kadia, and others.

Hyderabad Titans Round Table 303 and Hyderabad Youth Round Table 304 collaborated on the idea. The school has a total enrolment of 570 students, with 270 males and 300 females, and also 25 teachers. The school now educates students in grades 6 to 10. ‘The 7th Class Room project is aimed at ensuring access to basic resources such as school supplies, and proper classroom infrastructure for female children, affecting learning results and education quality, and encouraging them to pursue higher education.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Manish Dayya, General Manager - Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre & Hyderabad International Convention Centre said, “At Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre, we take up initiatives to improve the communities where we operate. We are humbled and proud to be a part of the project, aimed at empowering the girl child with the education, by providing proper classroom infrastructure at the Zilla Parishad High School, Narsingi.