The Retailers Association of India (RAI) convened the first Visakhapatnam Retail Summit at Novotel to highlight Andhra Pradesh's fast-evolving retail sector. The event gathered top industry leaders and brands such as Neeru's, CMR, Kankatala, and BigBasket to discuss profitability beyond metro markets, tech integration, and customer shifts in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Speakers explored how Andhra's pro-business policies and rising consumer aspirations are transforming Visakhapatnam into a strategic retail hub. Key themes included localisation, digital access, and the balance between tradition and modernisation.Read more

Monsoon travel is gaining momentum among Gen Z and Millennials, with bookings up 46%, as young travellers embrace scenic getaways during the off-season, say industry experts. Thomas Cook and SOTC note rising interest in weekend breaks, spiritual circuits, and nature trails, especially from Tier II and III cities. Cleartrip's PeekABoo data shows 24-30-year-olds opting for 70-hour monsoon breaks over workweeks, with short hotel stays and longer flights becoming popular. Despite increased demand, hotel prices rose just 3%, and airfares 13%. Ixigo reports 25-30% growth in flight bookings to emerging destinations like Port Blair and Dehradun, spurred by pent-up demand, last-minute deals, and geopolitical concerns.Read more

OYO's European holiday home brand, DanCenter, plans to add 250 vacation homes in India this fiscal amid growing demand for premium getaways. After launching in Goa in February 2025, DanCenter added 50 homes in Q1 and aims to add 200 more by year-end. The portfolio includes luxury villas and serviced apartments across locations like Lonavala, Kufri, Ramgarh, Chennai, Jaipur, and more. New expansions are planned in Telangana and the North-East. Founded in Denmark in 1957 and acquired by OYO in 2019, DanCenter's Indian growth reflects its strategy to tap into the country's rising appetite for upscale, professionally managed vacation stays.Read more

Mahindra Holidays & Resorts, through its Finnish subsidiary Holiday Club Resorts Oy, has fully acquired Keskin in Kiinteistö Oy Salla Star (KKOSS) for INR 2.35 crore in an all-cash deal. The acquisition transitions Mahindra from a lessee to the outright owner of a holiday property in Märkäjärvi, Salla, Finland—previously leased since 2012 under a share purchase arrangement. KKOSS is now a wholly owned unit, with no related-party involvement. This move strengthens Mahindra's footprint in Europe's leisure market, particularly in the scenic Lapland region. The company now gains full control to upgrade or integrate the resort into its broader Holiday Club portfolio across Finland.Read more

Anant Raj Ltd is entering India's booming data centre space with a INR 18,000 crore ($2.1 billion) investment to build two new facilities in Haryana, targeting 300 MW total capacity by 2032. The move builds on its initial 2023 entry, when it began converting IT buildings into data centres. This expansion aligns with India's digital surge, as JLL predicts a 77% rise in national data centre capacity by 2028. Backed by state incentives like land and power support, Haryana is emerging as a hotspot for hyperscale and edge centres. Anant Raj aims to tap into growing demand driven by AI adoption and data localisation policies.Read more

Radisson Hotel Group has added a new property to its portfolio with the opening of the 91-key D Square Statue of Unity Kevadia in Gujarat. Operated under the Radisson Individuals brand, the hotel is positioned to serve the rising demand in emerging leisure destinations. The group stated that this expansion aligns with its strategic plan to reinforce its presence in key tourism locations, particularly in Gujarat where travel-linked infrastructure is expanding rapidly.Read more

Vardhman Amrante Pvt Ltd, the real estate arm of the Oswal Group, has committed an investment of INR 260 crore to develop a 200-key five-star hotel in Ludhiana, Punjab. The project will be operated under the 'Westin Hotels & Resorts' brand by Marriott International. The hotel will form part of a seven-acre commercial complex spanning 17 lakh sq ft, with construction expected to begin in the coming year and the hotel slated to open in the final quarter of 2030. This initiative marks a key milestone in the company's continued expansion in Punjab's real estate market.Read more

India's retail sector recorded a 7% year-on-year sales growth in May 2025, according to the Retailers Association of India's latest survey, signalling revived consumer confidence and rising discretionary spending. South India led with a 9% increase, followed by the West (7%), North (6%), and East (4%). Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) topped category growth at 10%, while electronics and furniture both saw 8% gains. RAI CEO Kumar Rajagopalan noted this as a shift from recent modest growth trends, with a positive outlook for the festive season. Retailers are optimistic that strong category and regional trends will continue in the coming months.Read more

Liebherr Appliances India has launched its first-ever Made-in-India range of Fully Integrated refrigerators, freezers, and combination units, manufactured at its Sambhajinagar plant. This marks India as the only country outside Europe producing these luxury appliances. Designed for high-end modular kitchens, the new range blends German engineering with features tailored to Indian climate needs. With immediate product availability, BIS compliance, and strong after-sales support, Liebherr aims to drive local adoption of built-in kitchen solutions. The launch was celebrated in Mumbai and aligns with India's growing demand for stylish, performance-driven home appliances-particularly in urban markets where modular kitchens and luxury housing are on the rise.Read more

IHG Hotels & Resorts, in partnership with Samhi Hotels, has launched its second Holiday Inn Express in Kolkata with a 113-room property developed for INR 40 crore. This brings the total number of Holiday Inn Express hotels in India to 18, with Samhi owning 12. IHG now operates 52 hotels across six brands in India and foresees potential for up to 20 Holiday Inn Express locations in Kolkata alone. The group is eyeing expansion into West Bengal's emerging destinations. Samhi, operating 32 hotels nationwide, views eastern India as a growth hotspot. Meanwhile, 84 IHG-affiliated hotels are currently under development across India.Read more