Reliance Retail has introduced Swadesh, a premium-to-luxury store in Hyderabad, dedicated to promoting India's traditional arts and crafts. Spanning 20,000 to 30,000 sq.ft., Swadesh offers handmade textiles, handicrafts, agricultural products, jewellery, and more. The store emphasizes preserving India's artistic heritage and plans to collaborate with a million artisans by 2025. Swadesh aims to establish ten stores in Indian cities and expand internationally to the US and Europe, integrating with JioMart. As the ethnic handicrafts market grows, Swadesh's entry provides consumers with a unique, upscale shopping experience, celebrating India's diverse artistic traditions.Read more

Mumbai's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has intensified inspections, leading to the closure of 18 restaurants, including Burn-Bar and Kitchen, for hygiene violations. The FDA's crackdown highlights the importance of adhering to food safety regulations for public health. Violations at Burn-Bar and Kitchen included expired goods, synthetic food colour use, and inadequate segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian items. The FDA's vigilance, despite manpower challenges, emphasizes the city's commitment to stringent food safety standards. In a separate operation, the FDA collaborated with the police to dismantle a milk adulteration racket, reinforcing the agency's dedication to food integrity.Read more

Fortune Hotels, a part of ITC's hotel group, has inaugurated Fortune Park in Aligarh, marking its fourth establishment in Uttar Pradesh. The hotel boasts 65 well-designed rooms with modern interiors and top-notch amenities. The hotel features spacious banquet areas, cutting-edge facilities, and gourmet options, catering to diverse events. Located conveniently near key landmarks, the hotel ensures easy access to prominent attractions and business centres. With this launch, Fortune Hotels expands its presence in Uttar Pradesh, complementing its existing hotels in Lucknow, Noida, and Ghaziabad.Read more

Kamat Hotels India Ltd has recently launched a new addition to their upper mid-segment hotel chain, 'IRA by Orchid Hotels,' in Nashik. This strategic expansion follows the successful establishment of two IRA hotels in Mumbai and Bhubaneswar. The new Nashik hotel is ideally situated along the bustling Nashik highway, offering 32 well-appointed rooms with modern amenities. It features two restaurants, 'Makeba' for outdoor dining and 'Crossroads' for formal dining, serving a variety of Indian and continental cuisine. It also provides electric vehicle (EV) charging stations for eco-conscious guests.Read more

Accor, a global hospitality leader, has strengthened its foothold in India with the launch of the Novotel Jaipur Convention Centre (NJCC), its 24th property in the country. NJCC serves as a pivotal milestone in Accor's expansion strategy, catering to the booming business and conference travel market. The hotel, strategically located near Jaipur International Airport and major attractions, offers 226 modern rooms and exceptional amenities. It distinguishes itself as a versatile MICE facility, spanning 42 acres with 13 meeting rooms, a grand ballroom, and a vast lawn for events. This move enhances Accor's presence in India's hospitality sector and elevates Jaipur as a prime destination for large-scale events and conventions.Read more

Olive by Embassy, a leading multi-brand hospitality management firm, is excited to announce its entry into the realm of hybrid hospitality and leisure, driven by the changing landscape of hospitality. Olive introduces four distinct brands aimed at meeting the diverse requirements of today's travelers. This approach is built on a "hospitality first" ethos and integrates various elements like hotels, co-living, coworking spaces, members' clubs, wellness amenities, and dining options within one location. Olive aims to expand its presence across India, with plans for premium resorts and luxury stays in key leisure destinations, along with an employment boost for various cities.Read more

Roostels India, the master licensee for Roadies Rostel, plans expansion into diverse travel segments, including backpackers and co-living accommodations. With the flagship Roadies Rostel Leisure brand expanding to holiday destinations, Roadies Rostel Backpackers targets budget-conscious backpackers, and Roadies Rostel Co-living caters to short and long-term stays, including corporate guests. Roostels India's strong social media presence, coupled with its franchise model and strategic approach, positions it as a significant player in the evolving hospitality landscape, with plans for expansion in key cities and holiday destinations.Read more

Beyond Green, a global hotel portfolio focused on sustainability, has added two palace hotels from The Leela Group: The Leela Palace Bengaluru and The Leela Palace Udaipur. Beyond Green, by Preferred Hotels & Resorts, focuses on aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals related to nature, culture, and community. Currently comprising 38 hotels, mostly upper upscale and luxury properties, Beyond Green plans to expand to 42 by year-end. Around 50% of Beyond Green member hotels are not Preferred Hotel members, indicating its growth beyond the Preferred brand. This initiative aims to set higher sustainability standards beyond typical green practices.Read more

Reliance Industries is set to unveil Jio World Plaza, India's largest luxury shopping destination, on November 1. Located in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex, the 750,000 square feet mall will host prestigious luxury brands like Bulgari, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, and many more. Notably, Bulgari will make its debut in the Indian market through this venture. The mall will provide exclusive services such as personal shoppers, VIP concierge, wedding concierge, and porter service, enhancing the luxury shopping experience in India. With the country's evolving luxury retail landscape and increased demand, this launch marks a new era in luxury retailing.Read more

The Indian hospitality industry is witnessing a surge in investments from family offices and high net worth individuals (HNIs). In the first nine months of 2023, family offices have invested Rs 900 crore in hotels, which is two-thirds of the total investments of Rs 1,400 crore made in the industry. This marks a substantial increase compared to 2022 when family offices invested Rs 190 crore out of the total Rs 600 crore in the hotel sector. The investment momentum is expected to continue, reaching Rs 2,000 crore in 2023, driven by robust average daily rates (ADR) and occupancy levels in hotels across the country. Emerging markets like Ayodhya, Varanasi, Haridwar, and Rishikesh are also attracting investment.Read more