ITC Hotels is expanding in West Bengal with the launch of its first 'Mementos' brand property in Siliguri, through a management deal with LR Berlia Group. Located near Bagdogra airport, the 180-room luxury hotel targets both business and leisure travellers. This marks the brand's debut in eastern India and reflects ITC's focus on premium offerings. With this addition, ITC now operates six hotels in the state and has six more in development. Once completed, the company will manage 12 properties across West Bengal, totaling 1,540 rooms. The move strengthens ITC Hotels' presence in the region and supports its strategy of blending luxury with strategic locations.Read more

Bengaluru led the way in the first quarter of 2025, when the retail sector in India leased 3.1 million square feet of retail space. The city accounted for 34% of the total leasing activity, followed by Delhi NCR and Mumbai at 14% each. Fashion and apparel were the dominant sectors, comprising 31% of the leasing activity. This quarter also saw five new shopping malls open across key cities, adding 2 million sq ft to the market, surpassing the new retail supply from 2024. These developments signal continued growth in the retail real estate market.Read more

India's top seven cities are set to add approximately 16.6 million sq ft of Grade A retail space in malls by the end of 2026, according to Anarock. Hyderabad and Delhi-NCR will lead this expansion, accounting for 65% of the new supply. The surge is driven by a persistent demand-supply gap, as leasing has consistently outpaced new supply over the past three years. In 2024, only 1.1 million sq ft of new space was added, while leasing hit 6.5 million sq ft. With over 12.6 million sq ft expected to be leased in the next two years, demand remains strong. Growth is also extending to tier II and III cities, highlighting a nationwide retail boom.Read more

Minimalist Hotels, one of India's premier lifestyle hospitality brands, is set to expand its footprint by launching 20 new properties in major urban centers over the next two years. With a goal to raise INR 20 crore, the brand aims to redefine mid-market hospitality through thoughtfully designed spaces and locally rooted experiences. Operating across 200,000 square feet, it will soon scale to nearly 1 million sq. ft. Minimalist has already served over 1.5 lakh guests, reflecting its growing appeal. The brand fosters a profound appeal with today's experience-driven travelers by integrating modern aesthetics, cultural context, local expertise, and carefully crafted community experiences.Read more

OYO has claimed the title of the most profitable Indian startup, achieving a profit after tax (PAT) of INR 623 crore for the financial year 2024-25, according to a recent town hall held by Founder Ritesh Agarwal. The company's PAT surged by 172 per cent from the previous fiscal, while adjusted EBITDA grew by 27 per cent to INR 1,132 crore. Additionally, OYO's earnings per share (EPS) rose by 158 per cent to INR 0.93. The travel tech platform reported a 54 per cent increase in Gross Booking Value (GBV) to INR 16,436 crore, driven by its Company-Serviced Portfolio, including Townhouse Hotels and Sunday Hotels. The fourth quarter of FY25 witnessed a substantial 126 per cent rise in GBV to INR 6,379 crore.Read more

Equity International exited its investment in SAMHI Hotels after a 14-year partnership. The firm began investing in SAMHI in 2011 and helped the company grow into a leading hotel platform in India, operating 34 hotels under international brands with three more under development. The exit was completed in three phases: 49.8% of its stake was sold during SAMHI's IPO in September 2023, 27% in March 2024, and the remaining 23.2%, equal to 8,721,414 shares, was sold in April 2025. The final sale ends Equity International's involvement, in line with its strategy of disciplined monetisation, and SAMHI is now positioned for continued growth.Read more

Phoenix Mills, India's leading mall operator, has announced plans to expand its retail portfolio to over 14 million sq ft by 2027, with a target of 18 million sq ft by 2030. The company aims to achieve this growth by adding new spaces in cities such as Kolkata, Surat, Coimbatore, Thane, and Chandigarh. In the fiscal year 2025, Phoenix Mills invested approximately INR 2,600 crore in acquiring development potential and construction across various projects. The company plans to continue its expansion by investing INR 1,200 crore to INR 1,300 crore annually.Read more

Townhouse Cafe' Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) carts and in-house kitchens are being introduced in OYO's company-serviced hotels as part of its expansion into the food and beverage industry. This initiative follows a successful pilot across 100 hotels and aims to roll out to 1,500 properties in the fiscal year 2025-26. The move is expected to enhance guest satisfaction and contribute an additional 5-10% to hotel-level revenue. The company is also establishing a network of trusted F&B experts in key cities to support this expansion.Read more

The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) is set to finalize the construction of a new shopping complex in Kakkanad, following the demolition of the 50-year-old Kakkanad Commercial Hub. The upcoming five-story building, encompassing 18,000 sq ft, will include retail shops, office spaces, a meeting hall, restrooms, and elevator facilities. The basement will be dedicated entirely to parking, featuring separate entry and exit routes. Temporary accommodations are being arranged for displaced shop owners during the construction phase.Read more

Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC has partnered with Indian hotel asset manager SAMHI Hotels to create a new USD 300 million hospitality investment platform. The collaboration, initiated earlier this week, aims to develop upscale hotel properties across India, starting with a portfolio of five assets in Bengaluru and Pune. GIC will acquire a 35% stake in three subsidiaries of SAMHI, while the investment will be used both to pare down SAMHI's existing debt and finance a new hotel development. This marks a major step towards consolidating premium hotel assets in India's growing hospitality sector.Read more