New Opening | ITC Hotels Launch Welcomhotel Katra ‘Brand Welcomhotel forays in the heart of Katra’

ITC Hotels Launch Welcomhotel Katra 

‘Brand Welcomhotel forays in the heart of Katra’

‘A spirited holiday destination popular for its scenic beauty and adventure sports’

 New Delhi, August 2021: One of India’s most popular and fast-paced hospitality brands, ‘Welcomhotel’ launched its latest outpost in Katra. Welcomhotel Katra has 83 well-appointed guest rooms, a swimming pool, an array of sublime activities on-site to keep one joyfully engaged. 

Welcomhotel Katra offers a quintessential ITC Hotels culinary experience with signature dishes on offer. The WelcomCafe serves the best of gourmet flavors in international and regional vegetarian cuisine is one of a kind in its offerings and the finest in Katra. The traditional WelcomSthalika brings the best of this region’s vegetarian cuisine on a platter. The ingredients are sourced from the local farming community of the neighborhood and are fresh & seasonal. The WelcomSthalika represents regional fare from the Jammu region, and is prepared in Sattvik style bringing out the flavors predominant in Katra and adjoining areas. Some of these local preparations are Jammu Rajma, Ambal, Shingare ki Kadhi, Mewe ka kofta, and Tumba ajwain aloo. 

The curated menu uses locally grown ingredients like Jammu Rajma, walnuts, almonds, badi masala, tumba ajwain, shahi zeera, saunf, sonth and more in traditional style.  These Local Love meals will take guests on the expedition to the tastes of this rich temple cuisine recreating exclusive meal experiences.

One can discover holistic Ayurveda experiences and therapies for an overall reboot of the body and mind at the soon to open Kaya Kalp Spa. The hotel also offers an ideal space both outdoor and indoor, for events, weddings and celebrations with a seamless banquet space of 2750 sqft.

Just 45 kilometres away from the Jammu airport, Welcomhotel Katra is an idyllic destination nestled in the lush green valleys and panoramic views. Amidst the pine trees, breathtakingly beautiful landscape, the hotel stands tall like a crown jewel of Katra city. The hotel is dotted with miniature hand paintings created by budding artists from the region. 

Already, the finest property in the city, Welcomhotel Katra brings joy to travelers seeking a fulfilling destination experience. With spiritual tourism on a constant surge, this new addition to the city of Katra makes for a welcome change to the city’s inventory. While the mere mention of Katra brings to fore images of the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi, there is much more to this high point destination.

Katra city is located in the foothills of Trikuta Mountains in Reasi district. It has been a preferred place for devotees for decades for its proximity to the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi has pilgrims visiting all year round. Katra is the base camp for aficionados not just going to Mata Vishnu Devi, the sanctum sanctorum but also nearby places of tourist attraction. 

Welcomhotel Katra is the base camp for those wanting to partake of the region’s picturesque attractions, including Patnitop. For the thrill seekers and nature lovers, Patnitop is just 85 kilometres drive away and the route to the hill station is truly poetic with the beautifully lined with pine and cedar trees. 

The Patnitop hill station is the only hill station where snowfall can be seen in the winters in Jammu and hence even the locals and guests from Katra come here during the winters. 

River rafting features high on the itinerary of Katra guests. The thrill of rafting in the white waters of Chenab is an unmissable experience. Katra has one of the best rafting stretches in the world with its fifteen-kilometer-long stretch bordered by lush green surroundings. Adventure lovers throng this place for water sports activities and the mesmerizing beauty.  

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Anil Chadha, COO, ITC Hotels said, “Brand Welcomhotel continues on its expansion spree offering guests the most beautiful destination properties like Welcomhotel Katra- popular for its scenic beauty and spiritual air. Katra truly offers the best of enriching experiences, for both pilgrimage and leisure. The globally acknowledged DNV platinum certified ‘WeAssure’ health and hygiene protocol at our hotels enables travelers to enjoy their holiday with complete peace of mind. “

Welcomhotel Katra is a destination that offers a gleeful experience to the discerning traveller who are in search of some rest and rejuvenation. Should one wish to pick a memorabilia or a local produce, one can shop in Katra for dried apples, home-grown organic products, Kashmiri chilies, woollen garments, leather jackets and hand painted miniature paintings in the colourful and bustling local markets.

About WelcomHotel  www.itchotels.com/welcomhotel

WelcomHotel is a collection of premium hotels designed for those who demand more and seek bespoke experiences to make the most out of their stay, optimizing their travel intent. With an endeavour to provide immersive and enriching experiences, the brand is reflective of the warmth of Indian culture while upholding the benchmark service standards that ITC Hotels is known for. From curated journeys that enhance leisure trips, to those that help maximize the efficiency of business stays, at WelcomHotel, every effort is made to add value to the new-age traveller. Present in locations ranging from hills to beaches, and deserts to cities, the hotels skilfully blend together local aesthetics and modern day comforts along with ITC Hotels' renowned culinary expertise. At the heart of everything at WelcomHotel, lies the thought of ‘enrichment’. And it is this vision that helps enrich the lives of the guests, the community, and our hotel associates through integrated efforts and holistic initiatives. ITC Hotels manages and owns many hotels under the Welcomhotel brand including Welcomhotel Tavleen Chail, Welcomhotel Shimla(Himachal Pradesh), Welcomhotel Sheraton New Delhi, Welcomhotel  The Savoy (Mussoorie), Welcomhotel Jodhpur, Welcomhotel Fort & Dunes, Khimsar, Welcomhotel Devee Grand Bay (Visakhapatnam), Welcomhotel Kences Palm Beach (Mammalapuram), Welcomhotel Coimbatore, Welcomhotel Pine n Peak (Pahalgam), Welcomhotel Amritsar, and Welcomhotel Bay Island,Port Blair.

About ITC Hotels  www.itchotels.in

With the enduring Namaste as the symbol of its brand experience, ITC Hotels is one of India’s leading luxury hotel chains offering comprehensive hospitality solutions through more than 100 hotels in over 70 destinations in the country. Embodying ‘Responsible Luxury’ as its guiding premise, ITC’s hotels integrates India’s fine tradition of hospitality with globally benchmarked services to reflect the culture and ethos of each destination, through a collection of hotels. The brand features opulent accommodations, state-of-the-art business facilities, renowned signature cuisine and award-winning wellness experiences. ITC’s hotel group operates under four distinct brands; ‘ITC Hotel’ at the Luxury end, ‘Welcomhotel’ in the 5-star segment, ‘Fortune’ in the mid-market to upscale segment and ‘WelcomHeritage’ in the heritage leisure segment. Each ITC luxury hotel is certified with a *LEED® Platinum rating for its endeavours towards green building, using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient. *LEED® - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

Appointment | Mr.T Shiju Nair promoted as "Executive Assistant Manager" in MAYFAIR Tea Resort Siliguri.

Mr.T Shiju Nair Deputy general Manager - F&B Service, Mayfair Lake Resort, Raipur is now transferred and posted as "Executive Assistant Manager" at Mayfair Tea Resort, Siliguri.

He brings in around 20 years of expertise where he has worked with various prestigious organizations in India and the Middle east.

He started his career as a Barman in the year 2000 with Sheraton. He then joined The Leela as an Am-F&B in 2004. In 2008, he got an opportunity to join The Ritz Carlton Muscat and relocated to Oman.

His first assignment as Deputy General Manager was in 2019, with the Mayfair Hotels & Resort Raipur and Providing Hospitality Owners more profit, with my experience & Hybrid concepts & solutions

Appointment | Vichin Sehgal appointed as Vice President of Rajasthali Resort & Spa

Vichin Sehgal was appointed as Vice President of Rajasthali Resort & Spa 

Jaipur, August 25, 2021: Vichin Sehgal has recently joined Rajasthali Resort & Spa as the Vice President. A prominent personality known for his leadership skills, Vichin will be responsible for the overall hotel operations. Having extensive work experience spanning more than 20 years in the tourism and hospitality industry, he is an industry expert who is known for setting new benchmarks with each career move and redefines the hotel. 

In his current role, he will be actively involved in curating an exceptional experience in alignment with the brand vision. His repertoire over the years has been an exquisite exemplification of the varied roles that he has donned in his career that has consequently helped him to hone his skills in terms of revenue and innovative management, pre-opening administrations, yield management and customer relationship. 

Commenting on his appointment, Vichin Sehgal, Vice President, said, “I am thrilled to take up my responsibility as a Vice President of Rajasthali Resort & Spa. The brand echoes the ethos of royalty amalgamated with the essence of the rich heritage and culture of Rajasthan. I’m looking forward to uplifting the standard of the service one top-notch with the support of my spectacular team.”

Before joining Rajasthali Resort and Spa, Vichin was working as the General Manager of Hospitality and Strategy with V Club for over six years. He started his successful career with Radisson Hotels as a Sales Manager in 2001. He worked his way up by associating with Vodafone India office as the coveted Head of HNI, Accor Asia Pacific Office as the Head of International Sales and Marketing, as the General Manager Units for Development and Expansion for Golden Tulip Hotels and Suites. 

An alumnus of IIHM Lucknow in hotel management, he is a man of many talents and avid interests. He is an ardent traveler and is keenly interested in exploring the different international cultures and cuisines. He enjoys the distinct aspects of travel and is also a part of some renowned groups with like-minded people who enjoy riding and travelling.

For more details please contact- 

Ritika Vaswani | 7838698095 | ritika.vaswani@khyathi.co

PROMOTIONS | Mercure Hyderabad KCP brings you the “Lunch Thali” with flavours of local cuisine

 Mercure Hyderabad KCP brings you the “Lunch Thali” with flavours of local cuisine

August 2021, Hyderabad: Mercure Hyderabad KCP launched a sumptuous lunch Thali designed to showcase the flavours of local cuisine, to pamper your taste buds with some mouth-watering delicacies.

This grand lunch Thali is designed to provide an amalgamation of local tastes. You can enjoy both non-vegetarian and vegetarian food at very pocket-friendly prices. You just pay INR 400 plus taxes for vegetarian Thali and INR 450 plus taxes for non-vegetarian. So take some break from your busy schedule and enjoy the authentic regional flavour.

Food is something that can bind us all together and as said food tastes much better when shared with our friends and family. So be there with your near and dear ones and enjoy some lip-smacking dishes. You can avail this luscious lunch Thali at Mercure Hyderabad KCP.  

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Soumitra Pahari, General Manager, Mercure Hyderabad KCP said “We at Mercure Hyderabad KCP have always looked into new and innovative ways to serve our esteemed guests. We have designed this Thali in such a way that you can have a delicious gastronomical delight in one plate that ensures a complete square meal. The portion size is just apt for everyone. Be it a corporate lunch or family celebration, the Thali can be the best option to grab a quick lunch and we strongly believe this would create the right memories and experiences for all of our guests.”

About Mercure Hyderabad KCP -

Mercure is a rare midscale brand that combines the strength of an international network with genuine and local hospitality experiences. The brand’s unwavering commitment to quality ensures a consistent and reliable standard of service at every Mercure around the world, while the design of each hotel reflects the distinct character and culture of its location. Going beyond the ordinary for business and leisure travellers, Mercure team members are known for their passion, enthusiasm and warmth, sharing their knowledge of the local scene, providing insider tips and entertaining guests with tales of history and local folklore. Mercure hotels are conveniently located in city centres, by the sea or in the mountains, with more than 810 hotels in 60+ countries. Mercure is part of Accor, a world-leading hospitality group consisting of more than 5,100 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries.

mercure.com | all.accor.com | group.accor.com

Spotlight | Caravans by Carvaa Travelers for a perfect Monsoon Getaway

Caravans by Carvaa Travelers for a perfect Monsoon Getaway
This monsoon season, caravans will be the most preferred and convenient choice of commute to avoid the shackles of mundane traveling while safety being the key priority. Caravans by Carvaa Travelers for a comfortable road trip experience within the country at an affordable price. 

Their caravans are fully equipped with all the essentials that might come in handy while one is on the roads such as a well-stocked Kitchenette, utensils, drinking water and water for other purposes, washroom, camping tents, a portable music speaker, pillows and quilts, among other things. Currently, they have two caravans operating namely, 'Fine' and ‘Rare’ that can accommodate a number of 5 and 3 people respectively.
The Caravans bookings and transfers are not limited to only Delhi/NCR or nearby locations. These can be sent outside of India at a nominal additional charge. The charges include 50% of the van’s per day rental till it reaches the location along with fuel charges and state/toll taxes.

What: Carvaa Travelers

Price: Fine- Rs 6,000 per day (inclusive of the driver and GST)

       Rare costs Rs 5,500 per day (inclusive of the driver and GST)

Connect- @carvaa.india on Instagram

PROMOTIONS | Lg Smart Tvs For Cruise Staterooms And Crew Cabins Bring Custom Controls, Advanced Hospitality Services

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill., Aug., 2021 – LG Business Solutions USA has introduced a line of smart TVs specifically designed for cruise staterooms and crew cabins to deliver a superb viewing experience with customizable hospitality and entertainment interfaces for cruise ship operators. 

With models available in 43-, 32-, 28- 24- and 22-inch class sizes, the voice-controlled and Wi-Fi connected TVs allow cruise lines to offer a variety of services and entertainment options in any size cabin. These Pro:Centric® Smart TVs also offer specialized service menus, allowing ship operators to create custom branded digital experiences.

As cruise operators begin to welcome back their valued guests, our Cruise TVs will allow them to deliver a catered, carefree digital environment where guests can easily navigate digital video programming and ship-related information,” said Mike Kosla, vice president of hospitality at LG Business Solutions USA. “Our cruise TV line will benefit both cruise operators and passengers with increased functionality, simplified operation and a thoroughly enhanced guest experience, just in time for a return to the seas.

The Pro:Centric software provides a number of critical features for cruise ship environments, including support for 39 languages, one-click service tools, webOS 4.5 smart TV features, remote system management and easy-to-use templates and pages for custom on-screen interfaces to provide information and services to guests. The TV line also allows cruise operators to enable wireless streaming of music and video content from passengers’ mobile devices and laptops through Smart Share, Screen Share and Bluetooth Sound Sync technologies.

The 43-inch class 4K UHD cruise ship smart TV (model 43UT782V2) displays images four times sharper than HDTV and upscales content to take advantage of the TV’s 8 million pixels. Crisp audio is provided through two 10W stereo speakers, and mounting is available via a standard 200x200 VESA compatible wall mount, sold separately. This model features a thin profile with minimal cabinet thickness — for easy placement in any cabin or stateroom. The TV’s 60-pin connector on the back accommodates an external, full commercial-grade access point module. The connector also can be used for other current and future add-on modules, helping to future-proof this TV.

The 32-inch class and 28-inch class Pro: Centric Smart TVs for cruise ships (models 32LT662VBUC and 28LT662VBUB) feature compatibility with standard 200x200 and 100x100 VESA wall mounts, respectively, and both have dual 5W stereo speakers. Both LT662V models offer LG’s latest version of Quick Menu, which provides an editable welcome message, date/time and a menu bar of frequently used tools. 

The 24-inch class Pro:Centric cruise ship smart TV (model 24LT660VBUA) is compatible with a standard 75x75 VESA wall mount and also has dual 5W stereo speakers. It also features a standard desktop mount. The 22-inch Pro:Centric cruise ship smart TV (model 22LS660V) features 1,920x1,080 resolution and 250 nits of brightness. It’s also compatible with 75x75 VESA wall mounts.

In addition to the wide variety of interface options and connectivity solutions, all five cruise ship TV models include the Pro:Idiom digital rights management system designed to provide access to high-value content while helping to deter video piracy. LG’s conformal coating on critical circuits is designed to help protect the TVs from extreme low or high temperatures, dust, humidity and salty air in the harsh marine environment. 

For cruise ship applications requiring larger TV sizes, LG also offers a complete line of hospitality smart TVs ranging from 49- to 75-inches diagonal. These LG US770H series models, with built-in hotel TV features, may be used in luxury suites and other hospitality applications from bow to stern. 

Complementing the stateroom TVs are LG’s award-winning large-format direct-view LED (DVLED) displays. LG’s DVLED “Ultimate Business Displays” are available in sizes from 81 inches up to 49 feet diagonal for indoor spaces and from 19 to 48 feet diagonal for bright, outdoor areas. The 16:9 aspect ratio screens are available with 2K, 4K and 8K resolutions, while dual2K and dual4K configurations offer a breathtaking 32:9 UltraWide aspect ratio. LG also manufactures a wide range of alternative digital signage options for public spaces. The LG line-up ranges from 22-inch to 98-inch with commercial large format digital signage, indoor/outdoor signage, touch screens, stretch displays, videowalls and more.

For more information on LG’s commercial display portfolio, please visit www.lgsolutions.com. For high-res images, click here. 

PROMOTIONS | Experience More When You Pay For Your Luxuriating Stay at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar this August

You Stay, We Pay

Experience More When You Pay For Your Luxuriating Stay at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar this August 

You Stay, We Pay

Experience More When You Pay For Your Luxuriating Stay at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar this August 

Mumbai, August 2021: This August, JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar, the city’s leading luxury business hotel, has crafted an exclusive staycation experience where a guest pays for his stay and receives 100 % of the booking amount as hotel credit. 

You Stay, We Pay is a unique staycation experience available across multiple room categories starting at INR 9,000 plus taxes, where a guest will receive a redeemable credit amount of the same value. The hotel credit can be redeemed against global dining options at our multi-cuisine restaurant, meal experiences via In-Room Dining, signature treatments at our award-winning 

Spa By JW and much more – The Experiences are Limitless.

For those looking to spend quality time with their loved ones, the exclusive offer allows you to savor mindful moments with a multitude of offerings, all under one roof. Families and couples can check in for a luxurious stay to unwind and rediscover moments of togetherness, allowing guests to experience a multitude of offerings. With the need to unwind and replenish the mind, the stay offer is all about providing multiple experiences in the safe confines of our luxuriating accommodation. So all you need to do is, Check-in!

The well-being of patrons has always been of paramount importance. Taking this practice a notch higher, the hotel is providing a heightened sense of safety and hygiene through a branded program devised by Marriott International – “Commitment to Clean”. The program covers a guest’s journey from arrival to departure ensuring safety at every stage. A dedicated cleanliness champion along with supervisors across all departments are appointed to ensure clinical level of cleanliness and hygiene across all 222 touch points in the hotel. Mandatory body temperature checks, contact-less check ins and payment options, regular disinfecting of frequent touch points, maintaining social distancing and providing menus, guest service directories etc digitally by displaying a QR code on the television screen are some key highlights of the Commitment to Clean program.

A Snapshot of You Stay We Pay Stay Offer

• Offer valid up till 30th September, 2021

• A guest will pay INR 9000* for 1 night stay and will receive redeemable credit of INR 9000.

• The guest can redeem these credits against Food and Beverage, Spa, Mini Bar and much more

• For more details , visit https://bit.ly/3jFYJwX or call 022 6882 8888

Terms & Conditions:

• The rate includes room only

• Credit to be used within the same stay

• Credit is of no cash value and is non-transferrable

• Cannot be redeemed against accommodation

• Certain hotel facilities will require prior appointment

• Extra person charge applicable

• Offer bookable and valid up till 31st August, 2021

About JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar

JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar offers effortless elegance and sophistication. Located 1 km away from the ChhatrapatiShivaji International Airport Mumbai, the luxury hotel makes for an ideal destination for business and stay. With 588 spacious rooms, including 39 suites, the property offers authentic cuisine crafted with passion, care and local flavors. The property offers indoor and outdoor convention space, 11 well-appointed meeting rooms with state-of-the-art conferencing facilities. Spa by JW, the first of its kind in Asia Pacific, extends its host of therapies so one can experience holistic wellness. Visit us online onwww.jwmumbai.com. For social media updates, follow us onFacebook,Instagram andTwitter on @JWSahar. For more information, follow us onLinkedIn,YouTube,Google Plus. 

About Marriott International

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 7,500 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 132 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy™, its highly-awarded travel program. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.



NEWS | Diggi Palace to up its F&B game

As a heritage hotel that has forever taken pride in promoting the culture and literature of the state, Diggi Palace has become synonymous with some of the most celebrated festivals across the city. Being the flagship brand for partnering with the Jaipur Literature Fest, the hotel has carved a niche for itself amidst Jaipur and even nationally and internationally. However, it is to be regarded that Diggi Palace has been an active collaborator with varied organizations from diverse verticals to endorse, partner, and host some of the most unique and celebrated festivals in the Pink City.

Not just the Jaipur Literature Fest, but the palace has been hosting the SAARC Sufi festival held in Jaipur for the last four years. “We have also been the proud partners for the Heritage Fashion Week of Rajasthan for the past three years among other events. Over the years, the Jaipur Literature Fest has come to garner massive media attention, thus propelling it into becoming one of the most celebrated events of Diggi Palace. However, the heritage hotel has over the years collaborated and shall continue to do so with events that are as much unique, celebrated, and diverse as the JLF festivals,” Rudra Diggi, Owner, Hotel Diggi Palace commented.

Diggi informed us that the revival of tourism is happening steadily. At the beginning of the pandemic, the hospitality industry was greatly influenced and affected by international travel limitations. But now we are witnessing a surge in the national tourism sector. “We have had an influx of national tourists who are keen to experience and rediscover the city and the regality of Rajasthan in the absence of international travel opportunities, with weekend escapades from the city bustle in the lap of heritage and timeless hospitality at Diggi Palace,” he said.

Source

New Opening | Ramada by Wyndham announces opening in Sonipat

The proposed hotel will be located on National Highway 44, connecting Delhi to the North India states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

M/S Monika Associates Private Limited, a real estate and hotel development company based out of Delhi announced the signing of a franchise agreement with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts for new hotel development in Sonipat, Haryana under the Ramada by Wyndham brand.

The proposed hotel will be located on National Highway 44, connecting Delhi to the North India states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. The location of this new property will offer guests great accessibility and connectivity.

Sonipat is a city and a municipal council in the state of Haryana, India. It comes under the National Capital Region and is around 44 kilometres from Delhi and 214 km from Chandigarh. Sonipat is a major industrial area with one of the largest bicycle-manufacturing centres in the country. It is a hub to the top educational institutions in the country including Ashoka University, O.P Jindal Global University, B.R Ambedkar National Law University. Sonipat is also famous for its monsoon time sweet dish Ghevar, which has its roots of origin here.

The hotel, scheduled to open by July 2024, will have a modern façade and will feature 101 contemporary rooms including six suites, a lobby lounge, an all-day dining restaurant and bar, meeting and event spaces, a business centre, refreshing wellness areas and an outdoor swimming pool.

“We are pleased to franchise our existing hotel with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts under their popular Ramada by Wyndham brand and become part of its rapidly expanding hotel portfolio in India and particularly in the state of Haryana. We are working closely with Wyndham to build the hotel to high international standards and look forward to welcoming the guests to our hotel.” said Krishan Kumar Wadhwa & Vikram Wadhwa, Director, M/s Monika Associates.

Business | Curefoods raises $13M from Iron Pillar, Nordstar, and Binny Bansal

Ankit Nagori

Curefoods has been acquiring and incubating multiple cloud kitchen brands in the last few months. The fresh influx of funds will be used to acquire many more digital food brands across geographies.

Curefoods, the spin off food tech brand founded by Ankit Nagori in 2020, which operates brands like Eatfit, Yumlane, Aligarh House Biryani, and Masalabox, has raised $13 million funding led by Iron Pillar, Nordstar, and Binny Bansal. Leading angels Adil Allana, Rashmi Kwatra, Lydia Jett, and Kunal Shah also participated in the round, according to a statement.

The company has been acquiring and incubating multiple cloud kitchen brands in the last few months. The fresh influx of funds will be used to acquire many more digital food brands across geographies. Moreover, Curefoods will look to expand its cloud kitchen footprint across multiple cities and build backend technology to manage its multi-brand, multi-city kitchens footprint.

With this fundraise, the total funding raised by the company is at $20 million between Seed and Series A. Curefoods is also looking to close a $10 million debt raise in the coming weeks. According to Ankit, the team now wants to expand from four cities to eight cities in South India in 12 months, and they want to acquire five more brands in the next 12 months.

In a conversation with YourStory, Ankit said, "The pandemic has transformed the way people eat and order food online. Some people did it for convenience and some people for entertainment. This made us believe that there is no one-size-fits-all. While we have been successful with Eatfit with a certain kind of audience at a certain time, we couldn't cater for entertainment of group order. We wanted to have a multi-brand approach that catered to different needs of the audiences."

He added that there are few Indian cloud-kitchen brands that are in the top 10 ordering choices of the consumer across the country, and the regional brands are part of the top 10 brands regionally. "This means the local regional brands haven't had velocity to reach a national level. So we thought to onboard local well-known cloud kitchen brands, which are digital brands, with Curefoods.

News | Weekend curfew in Karnataka districts cripples tourism industry

These districts have some of the most popular tourist destinations in the state, but local administrations have stifled businesses with micro-level restrictions.

It has been a rough 18 months for the multicrore tourism industry in Karnataka, with the pandemic wreaking havoc on the sector. And, just when economic revival appeared on the anvil, the state government has imposed weekend curfew in districts that adjoin Kerala and Maharashtra. These districts have some of the most popular tourist destinations in the state, but local administrations have stifled businesses with micro-level restrictions.

Officials suggest curbs in eight districts — Kodagu, Mysuru, Dakshina Kannada, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Bidar, Chikkamagaluru, and Kalaburagi — has resulted in a loss of about 35% revenue for government tourism agencies while leaving 85% of private operators and tourism-dependent resorts and travel agents out of business.

The industry directly or indirectly employs over 30 lakh people, and stakeholders have cried foul over the government’s ‘unscientific’ restrictions. They say while the inflow of foreign tourists and even those from other states has virtually dried up, those within the state – people from Bengaluru especially – are reluctant to travel because of weekend and night curfew.

Take the case of Girish Mattennvar. An entrepreneur, who set up two homestays in Chikkamagaluru and Belagavi before the pandemic struck, Mattennvar is today struggling to stay afloat.

Source

News | Tech-savvy tourism system can be a strong base for revival: Jyoti Mayal

Jyoti Mayal

Sharing her views on the relevance of tour operators and travel agents, Jyoti Mayal, President, TAAI said digital transition and move to a tech-savvy tourism system can be a strong base to revive the sector and eventually the travel agents’ business.

The TAAI President addressing a webinar organized jointly by Uttar Pradesh Tourism, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and Manyawar Kanshiram Institute of Tourism Management (MKITM) said that travel agents will have much more relevance in the post-Covid-era.

“Travel agents apart from their regular service will be monitoring the health and hygiene of its clients. Safety will take over everything and commitment towards the wellbeing of travelers will be the priority of the agents. We at TAAI have been putting our best efforts to educate, train and equip agents to handle post-pandemic traffic,” she said.

Mayal also said that the tourism industry is a very resilient sector. “There is a need to reinvent, restructure and reboot ourselves. Travel agents are looking at creating niche markets and I believe the focus on sustainable; rural and adventure tourism will be important. Promoting domestic products is the biggest sustainable model in the current times. We would need to move forward, travel agents will always be needed to navigate this strange new world of airlines, hotels, rental cars, and logistics but in a different format,” she said.

According to the TAAI President, the Indian travel trade needs a digital transition and should move to a tech-savvy tourism system which can be a strong base to revive the tourism sector and eventually the travel agents’ business. She said, “We need to tell travel agents to adopt relevant aspects beyond digitization, most importantly is positioning themselves as a specialist consultant. New advancements such as marketing on social media, skilling yourself and your employees, data analysis to know what your business is going to be in the future, form strategic alliances and most importantly, cash protection because, without liquidity, travel agents cannot sustain.”

Mayal further stated, “Coordinated actions across governments at all levels, private sector and the associations is very necessary to reignite the potential of the tourism sector. Industry status is very important to be able to become more effective, standardized, and Atma nirbhar. It is exactly what we at TAAI are doing – advocating for relevant policies and educating the travel business fraternity. We are continuously working to handhold our members, motivate them and see that they survive.”

Source

NEWS | UAE suspends visa-on-arrival for flyers from India

Abu Dhabi-based carrier Etihad Airways mentions that the visa-on-arrival has been temporarily suspended for passengers who are arriving from or have been in any of the high-risk countries, including India, in the past 14 days.

Almost a week after allowing visa-on-arrival facilities for Indian nationals with a visa or residence permit issued by the USA, United Kingdom or an EU Member State, the UAE has temporarily suspended the facility for flyers who have been in India in the past 14 days.

Abu Dhabi-based carrier Etihad Airways has updated its website with the latest regulation in which the categories exempted to fly to Abu Dhabi as their final destination include, a fully vaccinated resident of the UAE with proof of having received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine within the UAE no less than 14 days before travel. The others who are exempted include medical personnel, education sector workers or students studying in the UAE, those traveling for medical reasons, and federal government agency workers.

Source

Appointment | Hilton Jaipur Appoints Sandeep Sharma as Front Office Manager

Hilton Jaipur Appoints Sandeep Sharma as Front Office Manager

Hilton Jaipur announced appointment of Sandeep Sharma as Front Office Manager. Hilton Jaipur is owned by Fruitful Buildcon Pvt. Ltd.

Sandeep, Front Office Manager, Hilton Jaipur, said, “I am extremely delighted to be a part of Hilton family and foresee a sharp learning curve in my career graph. I will ensure stellar services in all aspects of guest relations & satisfaction, operations management and manpower planning.”

Sandeep brings 16 years of experience to his new role at Hilton Jaipur. In his former role at DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Bangalore, he was responsible for setting up & streamlining the front office processes leading to its successful improved rankings on Trip advisor and best-improved guest satisfaction scores in Hilton India. He was also nominated as Hospitality Champion for his contribution in handling operations during Covid.

Prior to Double Tree Suite by Hilton Bangalore, Sandeep was working with Hilton Shillim Retreat & Spa 2017-2019 & Jai Mahal Palace Jaipur 2011-2017- luxury flagship hotels of Hilton & Taj respectively. Sandeep received a Bachelor in Hospitality management from Institute of Hotel Management – Chandigarh.

Sandeep’s extensive hospitality and guest experience, makes him the perfect choice for his current position. He keenly looks forward to his new role, utilizing his expertise to elevate the property’s renowned reputation to greater heights.

Hilton News | These Three Hilton Destinations that Bring Theater Lovers Center Stage

In March 2020, more than 40 New York City Broadway theaters were forced to halt production due to COVID-19 restrictions. But starting this September, the Great White Way will once again light up with the talents of thousands of singers, dancers, and actors, as dozens of highly anticipated Broadway shows resume performances. 

The lineup of shows runs the gamut for theater lovers, with classics like West Side Story and Chicago, to award-winners like Hamilton and The Lion King, poised to take the stage.

Grab your tickets now—and make a night of it by stopping in for pre-show drinks or a night’s stay at one of these Hilton properties.

Visit Museums by Day, Shows by Night

Located in the heart of Manhattan, the all-suite, luxury Conrad New York Midtown offers discerning travelers a uniquely spacious and innately residential retreat. Conrad New York Midtown’s 54 floors encompass 562 luxury suites, striking views, a curated art program a 1,500 square foot fitness center and 6,000 square feet of flexible function space. Set on a quiet side street just steps away from Central Park, the hotel is surrounded by the best of New York City including Rockefeller Center, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Theater District.

Stay for a Show and a Handcrafted Cocktail in the Heart of Midtown

Located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, Hilton Garden Inn Times Square is minutes from Broadway, Central Park, Rockefeller Center and the Museum of Modern Art. It’s the perfect home base before the opening act or after the curtain closes in the theater district.

Enjoy Lunch & a Sunday Matinee

In Times Square, Hampton Inn by Hilton Manhattan/Times Square Central is just a short walk from Broadway musicals. While guests staying at the hotel can enjoy free breakfast and views of Midtown from the rooftop deck, it’s the hotel’s hospitality and service that’s worthy of a standing ovation.

Premium cocktails brand O’ Be Cocktails raises INR 3.5 cr angel funding to continue expansion

The investment raised in this round will fund O’ Be Cocktails’ core strategy of growing sales through retailers as well as continuing to increase its production of a new premium cocktail range.

Bengaluru-based RTD cocktail startup, O’ Be Cocktails announced raising its first round of investment led by First Cheque, Letsventure, Bhavish Aggarwal and Ankit Bhati from Ola, Abhishek Goyal – Founder, Tracxn, and Sprout Investments. The investment raised in this round will fund O’ Be Cocktails’ core strategy of growing sales through retailers as well as continuing to increase its production of new premium cocktail range.

The global ready-to-drink cocktails market size is expected to reach USD 1775.1 million by 2028, registering a CAGR of 12% over the forecast period as per research and market global reports. According to another report published by Goldstein Market Intelligence, India is the third-largest alcoholic beverage market, after China and Russia, estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.4% during the forecast period of 2017-2030.

With most of the country under lockdown and restricted movement, RTD beverage sales spiked last year, and with an increase in consumers who prefer to drink their cocktails at home, O’ Be Cocktails identified a gap in the market for premium ready to drink cocktails that could be experienced anytime and anywhere.

Launched by Nitesh Prakash in 2020, O’Be Cocktails is focused on giving the consumers a memorable experience of cocktails that titillate all the senses even at the comfort of their homes. The product is unique as it reimagines cocktails in the context of cultured and tasteful Indian consumers who are now on the constant lookout for experiences that are modern, globally inspired and absolute.

“Everyone loves a cocktail, but not everyone has the know-how or means to make one at the comfort of their homes. The Indian alcohol market is still in very early stages of growth on per capita consumption and premiumisation. With O' Be Cocktails, we have seen tremendous response from consumers and an even greater amount of demand for RTD alcoholic beverages. Our aim is to become the pioneers of the ready to drink category growth with the right blend of product, brand and sales.” Says Nitesh Prakash, Founder and CEO of O’ Be Cocktails.

“The Indian Alcohol market is a huge, fast growing $35 billion market. We however haven’t seen much product innovation from the incumbents over the past few years despite newer categories like Ready-To-Drink cocktails gaining lots of ground internationally. We believe the time is ripe for ready-to-drink cocktails to take the Indian market by storm and we love the product and brand that Nitesh and team are building” said Kushal Bhagia, CEO, FirstCheque.vc

To cater to the ever-growing demand for “something new and fresh, alluring and exciting” from the been-there-done-that millennial customer, O’ Be Cocktails is focusing on premium drinks that are way off the cocktail charts. It offers crafted drinks such as O’ be Fab Cosmopolitan, O’ be lively LIIT and O’ be Zesty Mojito ranging across premium spirits. The brand is currently present in 200 premium stores and has recorded strong growth and consumer reception for the cocktails across Bangalore and Goa.

NEWS | Manu Chandra announces departure from Olive Group

The partner of the group company and founder of iconic Monkey Bar, Toast & Tonic and Fatty Bao brands broke the news on social media, and was followed by a statement issued by AD Singh, MD of the Olive Group of restaurants.

Chef Manu Chandra announced his departure from the Olive Group on social media on Monday, August 23, 2021.

Chandra, who was co-founder of Olive Cafes South Pvt. Ltd, along with Chetan Rampal and then partner of the group company in a long post on Instagram as well as Facebook entitled ‘So Long and Thanks for all the Baos’ announced his departure.

“To run a restaurant is a great honour and greater responsibility…And that has been mine for seventeen years as a chef at Olive Beach, and subsequently as a partner with the company. For this I shall always be deeply grateful. It is wrenching to walk away from the many spaces which I have built, and which have been home to these precious milestones in your life. And this departure is no less of a milestone in my journey as a chef,” Chandra wrote.

He went on to speak about the brands which he had built and created.

“Monkey Bar was India’s first gastropub which updated and reimagined traditional Indian flavours…Fatty Bao turned a setback—the shuttering of Likethatonly—into a learning that paved the way to a runaway success…Toast & Tonic led to the revival of gin, striking that rare balance between comfort and cool. Cancan upgraded the ubiquitous Chinese restaurant with great elan. We persisted, we survived, we excelled,” he said.

On what his plans were for the future, he simply said, “I step forward towards a bigger canvas and greater ambition—to finally bring to fruition cherished dreams and ideas that were set aside to focus on the daily grind.”

AD Singh, Managing Director, Olive Group of restaurants, also issued a statement on the departure.

“All good things must come to an end goes the adage. Though what it does is pave the way for fresh beginnings and new legacies. It is with sadness that we announce the moving on from the Olive Family, its two partners Chetan Rampal and Manu Chandra,” he said, adding that, “As we part ways amicably, we know that some relationships transcend mere employment, and remain grounded in the goodwill and camaraderie built over these past many years. We wish them the very best in whatever they pursue on their new journeys and am sure they will continue to delight and entertain you as they always have.”

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New Opening | Tossin Pizza opens four new outlets in four cities

These include four each in Gurgaon (Haryana), New Delhi and Mumbai (Maharashtra) and two in Noida (Uttar Pradesh) and one each at Pune (Maharashtra) and Hyderabad (Telangana).

Tossin Pizza has launched four new outlets in New Delhi, Noida, Pune, and Mumbai. With these launches, not only has the homegrown gourmet Pizza brand entered the Pune market, it has also further expanded its presence in New Delhi, Noida & Mumbai.

Tossin Pizza now has Sixteen (16) outlets in five (5) states in India. These include four each in Gurgaon (Haryana), New Delhi and Mumbai (Maharashtra) and two in Noida (Uttar Pradesh) and one each at Pune (Maharashtra) and Hyderabad (Telangana).

Commenting about the launch, Chef Rohit Narang, Co-founder, and the Head Chef at Tossin Pizza said, “In spite of the pandemic, our delivery model helped us survive. Our partners have reposed faith in us seeing the appreciation for our gourmet Pizza. We already have leadership in the Gourmet Pizza category in North India and will be seeking to expand to every city that loves its gourmet delicacies.”

“It is indeed great to see the love we have received over the years for Tossin Pizza. We have been able to work with a 100% workforce without any layoff. Moreover, our employees have readily been vaccinated to ensure safe delivery to our customers. We look forward to serving lip-smacking gourmet pizza and much more to our customers in the same passion and hope to spread joy by curating the ultimate pizza experience,” added Honey Mehta, Co-founder at Tossin Pizza.

“We will continue seeking new partners and focus on expanding our presence in in the Tier-I & Tier-II cities. We are looking at doubling our presence in the next three years” further added Chef Narang.

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NEWS | Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and Travel & Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) met the the Goa Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant to appeal for charter flights

The importance of restarting charter tourism in Goa cannot be understated. According to available information with the Goa Tourism department, in 2018-19, there were 813 charter flights bringing in more than 2 lakh tourists into the state. In 2020, that figure was somewhere in the region of 600 flights before the lockdown was announced.

Soon after a joint delegation of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and Travel & Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) met the Goa Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant to appeal for him to begin working towards restarting international charter tourism to Goa—Sawant came out with a statement that the state would the state government will write to the Centre to take steps to revive tourism.

The chief minister said, “It (allowing charter flights) is in the purview of the Government of India (GoI) and until the GoI does not give the permission, we cannot start. Even earlier this request had been conveyed to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism. This time also we will be writing for them (TTAG). Until now we have not taken any decision but there is a willingness now and there is no harm in thinking positively about this. They (TTAG) want it to be started by October, which is still two months away. They wanted time to prepare for this and in case the number of Covid-19 cases increases, we can cancel it (permission for charter flights),”

As the leading international leisure tourism destination of India, the delegation asked the Chief Minister to take immediate steps to restart charter services on a reciprocal basis from countries that have opened their borders for Indian citizens. They said that charter flights from destinations like Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, should be allowed to operate to Goa.

“With the full closure of international flights and visas since March 2020, many operators and stakeholders have closed offices and are facing severe financial constraints,” the delegation said.

The delegation demanded the opening of International tourist charters from October onwards so that foreign operators have time to market and prepare for the operations. This will also help to save this season from going to waste. In case there is a third wave of COVID-19, the cancellation can be made by September or October.

Since the Visas are suspended for international tourists, special charter tourist visas should be worked out which can be issued manually by the local embassies or temporary landing permits can be issued on arrival to tourists, as done in the past, the delegation said.

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Achievements | Managing Director of Atelier House Hospitality awarded UAE Golden visa

Making waves in the largely male-dominated industry, Mahendra runs a global hospitality enterprise in the Middle East and was awarded the Golden visa for her contributions and accomplishments to the UAE.

Panchali Mahendra, the Managing Director of Atelier House Hospitality has just been awarded the UAE Golden visa. Making waves in the largely male-dominated industry, Mahendra runs a global hospitality enterprise in the Middle East and was awarded the Golden visa for her contributions and accomplishments to the UAE.

In four years as Managing Director of Atelier House Hospitality, under the guidance of Founder and CEO Ahmass Fakahany, Panchali has brought the Michelin star restaurant Marea to Dubai, which has won its own local accolades and awards. She also conceptualized local home-grown brand Mohalla, which is a Dubai-based Indian restaurant brand set to open 10 new locations in Saudi Arabia.

“I am honored and grateful for the recognition and privilege in being awarded the 10-year golden visa. I am thankful to Federal Authority for Identity and Nationality and General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs- Dubai for recognizing my efforts,” she said. To be recognized based fully on my skills and contribution to the industry and achievement in such a competitive field is such an honor..”

Looking ahead, Atelier House Hospitality is also partnering on a new and exciting unique concept called 11 Woodfire, in collaboration with a celebrity chef, in the late fall of 2021

Mahendra was also featured in the Power 50 List as the only Indian woman to ever be featured and The Power Women list in 2020 and 2021.

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