Lulu Group has obtained prime land in Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada on long-term leases from the Andhra Pradesh government for developing mega shopping malls. Visakhapatnam's project spans 13.74 acres with a 13.5 lakh sq ft mall, while Vijayawada involves 4.15 acres for a 2.23 lakh sq ft retail complex. These allotments come with a 99 year lease and a three-year rent-free construction period under the state's tourism land policy. Critics have raised concerns over public land use, displacement of transport infrastructure, environmental risks, and the concessional deal running against legal norms.Read more

Retail space leasing in key Indian cities witnessed a notable 69 percent year-on-year increase during the first half of the year, reaching approximately 5.7 million sq ft, as per JLL India. This growth was attributed to heightened demand from both domestic and international retailers. Simultaneously, new supply of retail space more than doubled to 2.3 million sq ft across seven prominent cities. The sector has already achieved 70 percent of last year's total leasing activity, and leasing volumes are projected to surpass 10 million sq ft for the full year.Read more

IHG Hotels & Resorts has entered into a franchise agreement with KGA International Trades for the development of Holiday Inn Express Kottayam Changanassery in Kerala. The hotel, scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2027, will offer 90 rooms and be part of the under-construction KGA Mall, a mixed-use development. This collaboration marks IHG's second partnership with KGA, following their earlier project, Crowne Plaza Kochi. IHG currently operates 50 hotels across six brands in India, with 63 more properties in the pipeline set to launch within the next five years.Read more

The Goa government has amended its Homestay Policy to address key challenges for local communities in the state's rural hospitality sector. Under the revised policy, eligible applicants will now receive a direct grant of INR 2 lakh to set up homestays, replacing a previous reimbursement model that posed financial hurdles. This move, primarily aimed at empowering rural women who will manage these homestays, seeks to create livelihood opportunities, preserve cultural heritage, and add to Goa's tourism offerings. The application process will begin after the ongoing assembly session concludes next week, with an initial phase supporting 100 homestays and plans to strengthen partnerships with platforms like Airbnb and MakeMyTrip.Read more

Khushi Advertising has partnered with Nexus Ahmedabad One Mall to launch VERTIQ, a towering vertical-format digital screen under its KHUSHI D3X DOOH portfolio. Located at Gujarat's largest mall, the screen stands 10.5 ft - 31.5 ft and offers high-resolution, high-refresh-rate LED display capabilities, fully supporting 3D and anamorphic content. Designed to run 10-second ads in a 2-minute loop, VERTIQ enables brands to connect with over 900,000 monthly mall visitors through engaging, high-impact visuals. The screen enhances retail visibility and enriches the mall's experiential environment for both brands and consumers.Read more

Croma, the electronics and consumer durables retail arm of Infiniti Retail Ltd under the Tata Group, has expanded its retail network with the opening of a new outlet in Tambaram West, Chennai. This becomes the brand's 22nd store in the city and 38th in Tamil Nadu. With increasing demand for premium electronics in the region, the move reinforces Croma's commitment to strengthening its presence in high-growth urban pockets. The newly launched store spans 6,540 sq ft and is part of the RR Shopping Complex on Mudichur Road.Read more

Retail space leasing activity across eight major Indian cities witnessed a 6% year-on-year decline in the April to June quarter, clocking 2.24 million sq. ft. as per Cushman & Wakefield. While high-street locations led with 55% of the share, shopping malls contributed 45%. Cities like Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, and Delhi-NCR recorded steep drops, while Mumbai, Pune, and Chennai showed notable growth. The vacancy in premium malls is easing, and a robust pipeline of around 4 million sq. ft. of Grade A retail space is expected to enter the market in the second half of the year.Read more

Nexus Seawoods Mall in Navi Mumbai has announced the debut edition of the Art of Happyness Utsav 2025, a four-day cultural event curated in collaboration with EkiBeki. Set to take place from July 25 to 28, the celebration will feature over 25 stalls by rural and tribal women artisans, interactive tribal art workshops, and a live painting of a 24-foot chandelier by artist Dhanya Namboothiri. The chandelier will later be installed in the mall atrium as a life-sized art piece in August.Read more

Brigade Hotel Ventures Ltd, a subsidiary of Brigade Enterprises Ltd, raised INR 325 crore from 17 anchor investors just before its IPO opened for public subscription. The price band for the IPO has been set between INR 85 and INR 90 per share, with the offering expected to raise INR 759.6 crore entirely through a fresh issue. The proceeds will primarily be used to reduce debt, purchase land from the parent company, and fund strategic growth. The company operates nine hotels across South India and GIFT City under brands like Marriott, Accor, and IHG.Read more

ITC Hotels Ltd has opened a new property in Prayagraj under its Welcomhotel brand, adding to its expanding portfolio in Uttar Pradesh. The newly launched 60-key hotel brings the company's total footprint in the state to seven operational properties, with six more under development. In a parallel development, TACC Ltd and the National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB) have formalised a partnership to innovate in next-generation construction materials using graphene-based additives.Read more