Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced the signing of The Landmark Kanpur, a 170-key property that will join the JdV by Hyatt brand and is expected to open in early 2026. This marks the brand's second property in India after Goa. The company emphasised its commitment to working with leading local operators to provide distinct hospitality experiences while building on The Landmark's longstanding reputation in Kanpur.Read more

Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) announced the launch of its heritage retreat, Hari Ganga Niwas, under the SeleQtions brand in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The restored 15-key property has been developed in collaboration with the Prasad Group. The company highlighted that the retreat strengthens its footprint in the spiritual tourism circuit while aligning with its focus on heritage preservation. With this addition, IHCL's portfolio in Uttarakhand has now expanded to 34 hotels, including 21 under development.Read more

Hilton is expanding its presence in Rajasthan with Hilton Jaipur Kukas, a 122-room property scheduled to open in 2029 in partnership with Masbu Resorts Pvt Ltd. The company already operates Hilton Jaipur and DoubleTree by Hilton Jaipur Amer, while four additional hotels are under development, including Waldorf Astoria Jaipur, Conrad Jaipur, Signia by Hilton Jaipur, and a property in Udaipur. Jaipur's growing popularity as a cultural tourism and destination wedding hub aligns with Hilton's strategy to strengthen its full-service hotel offerings in high-demand leisure markets. Hilton aims to grow its South Asia portfolio from 71 to 300 hotels over the next decade.Read more

Ventive Hospitality Limited announced its plan to acquire a 76% stake in Soham Leisure Ventures Pvt. Ltd., which owns the 104-key Hilton Goa Resort and an adjacent land parcel. The deal, valued at approximately INR 320 crore, includes an initial cash outlay of INR 120 crore. Ventive intends to refurbish the resort, add 60-65 new rooms, introduce a spa and new dining concepts, and develop branded villas on the land parcel with an estimated gross sale value of over INR 100 crore. This marks Ventive's first entry into India's leisure hospitality market, expanding its partnership with Hilton and supporting its goal of doubling its room portfolio over five years.Read more

Hotels in Karnataka are facing challenges in passing on the benefits of recent GST rate cuts due to high taxes on LPG cylinders and property rents. The Karnataka State Hotels Association has urged the government to lower GST on rent to help businesses remain competitive. While the GST Council reduced taxes on about 375 goods and services during Navaratri, operational costs like cooking gas and rental expenses remain high. Association president G K Shetty explained that without relief on these expenses, hotels cannot lower food or room prices for consumers.Read more

IHCL has launched its 155-key Taj Ganga Kutir Resort & Spa in Raichak, West Bengal, situated at the confluence of the Ganga River and the Bay of Bengal. Puneet Chhatwal, MD and CEO of IHCL, noted that the property reflects the company's strategy to expand into culturally rich and unique destinations in India. Designed to combine luxury, wellness, and immersive local experiences, the resort strengthens IHCL's portfolio of signature Taj properties. It aims to attract travelers seeking premium leisure stays with scenic riverside views and a touch of Bengal's heritage.Read more

Sonani Jewels has launched the world's largest lab-grown diamond jewellery showroom in Surat, covering 18,000 sq ft across two floors. The store offers over 4,000 designs in daily-wear and bridal categories, crafted in 18, 14, and 9 carat gold at its in-house factory. The inauguration, led by Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil and attended by state and city leaders, was followed by a three-day celebration, including a fashion show of 300 designs. Founder Agastya Sonani emphasised the company's 25-year journey in diamonds and the growing demand for lab-grown jewellery worldwide.Read more

Schloss Bangalore has officially adopted a new corporate identity as Leela Palaces Hotels & Resorts Limited. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs gave its approval shortly after shareholders agreed to the change. The move is intended to align the listed company's name with its well-known brand, The Leela, which manages luxury hotels and resorts in India. Listed on the stock exchanges this June, the company will now also revise its memorandum and articles of association to reflect the updated name across all official records.Read more

Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) has announced plans to launch a 310-key Taj hotel in Visakhapatnam, marking the debut of the iconic brand in the coastal city. The greenfield project, developed in partnership with Varun Hospitality Pvt Ltd, reflects IHCL's strategy to expand its footprint in key leisure and business destinations. MD & CEO Puneet Chhatwal said the venture strengthens the company's partnership with Varun Hospitality while adding a landmark property to its portfolio. As Visakhapatnam grows as both a tourist and commercial hub, the new Taj hotel is expected to elevate the city's hospitality landscape with world-class luxury offerings.Read more

IHCL has invested over INR 100 crore to acquire more than 2 lakh shares of its wholly-owned subsidiary, ELEL Hotels and Investment Limited, through a rights issue. ELEL Hotels holds the leasehold rights for the Bandstand, Bandra site, where IHCL plans to develop the INR 2,500-crore Taj Bandstand project with 330 hotel rooms and 85 apartments. This investment follows an earlier rights issue in July, when IHCL acquired over 3.3 lakh shares for INR 165 crore, highlighting the company's steady commitment to completing the high-profile luxury project in Mumbai.Read more