Awards | Maldives Wins Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination and MMPRC Wins the Leading Tourist Board at World Travel Awards 2021

Maldives has won 4 prestigious awards in the Indian Ocean category in World Travel Awards - the most prestigious honors programme in global travel and tourism, established in 1993 and recognized globally as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence.   

The awards won by Maldives this year includes   

- Indian Ocean's Leading Destination 2021: Maldives   

- Indian Ocean's Leading Beach Destination 2021: Maldives   

- Indian Ocean's Leading Dive Destination 2021: Maldives  

- Along with the awards listed above, Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation has been awarded the Indian Ocean’s Leading Tourist Board 2021.   

On winning the Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination Award and the Indian Ocean’s Leading Tourist Board 2021 for MMPRC, Thoyyib Mohamed, the Managing Director of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation stated, “We are extremely proud to win the Indian Ocean Leading Destination Award from the World Travel Awards. It is a testament to all the hard work, effort, and the dedication of all in the Maldives tourism and travel trade, and I congratulate all stakeholders of the industry for this great achievement. Furthermore, it is a special honor and a matter of great pride that MMPRC has been selected as the Indian Ocean's Leading Tourist Board 2021. I congratulate our team at MMPRC. This is a great reward for the team, for the hard work and dedication they have shown during the extremely challenging times during the last one and half years. Thank you for voting for us. We hope to see you soon in the sunny side of life”.  

Despite the tremendous challenges experienced by the tourism industry during the pandemic, this year’s World Travel Awards is a remarkable testament to the love and extraordinary effort of tourists from around the world - World Travel Awards has reported a record number of visitor traffic and engagement from public voters. This shows that as travel resumes and the tourism sector recovers, the appetite for travel has never been bigger. Tourists are constantly seeking the very best tourism products from across the world. As Maldives has won four categories, these awards have never been more valuable in the marketing of the island nation as one of the safest and top travel destinations in the world.  

These prestigious wins at the 28th World Travel Awards will assist MMPRC in strengthening the brand image and further enhance brand presence globally. Maldives has secured multiple awards in various categories over the years including the World's Leading Airport Resort, World's Leading Beach Destination, World's Leading Honeymoon Resort, World's Most Romantic Resort and World's Leading Luxury Island Resort.  

The destination had also won the famed Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination award 13 times within the past 17 years.  

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Event | The Grape stomping & Cake mixing brunch at Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre

October 2021: Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre today hosted their annual cake mixing & grape stomping brunch at the Hotel. The event was planned to welcome the advent of Christmas and New Year and usher in a season of good tidings and happiness.  The grape stomping began with much enthusiasm, with all guests soaking their feet in the barrels, set against the magnificent outdoor space. The participants were observed singing songs and vigorously stomping the grapes, clearly having a good time.

Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre escorted guests to the mixing table which was beautifully arranged with Black currant, Golden Apricot, Rum Soaked Figs, Drunk Resins, Dates, Candied Orange Peel, Candied Ginger, Dry Cherries, etc. The invitees donned aprons, face masks, gloves, and caps, and armed themselves with bottles of liquor, ready to tackle the colorful mounds of dry fruits, nuts, and spices.

All of the guests enthusiastically joined the chef's crew in mixing fruits and nuts with liquor and spirits in preparation for the impending Christmas dessert. They also ate a delicious brunch prepared by the chefs and danced to the beats of a DJ and a live band.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Manish Dayya, General Manager, Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre said, “We have organized this grape stomping & cake mixing ceremony to usher in the festive season. This is just the beginning of the oncoming eventful festive season & celebrations at Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre.  This is a great opportunity for us to bond with our guests and is always a pleasure to see our guests participating in the festivities and enjoying the sumptuous offerings and having a great time. ”

About Novotel-

Novotel Hotels, Suites & Resorts offers destination hotels designed as comforting and energizing places where guests can ‘press pause’ and take time to enjoy the moments that really matter. The brand’s wide array of hotels, suites, and resorts offer a multitude of services for business and leisure guests alike, including spacious, modular rooms with natural and intuitive design; 24/7 catering with nutritious choices; dedicated meeting spaces; attentive and proactive staff; family zones for the youngest guests; multi-purpose lobbies; and accessible fitness centers. Novotel, which has over 530 locations in more than 60 countries is part of Accor, a world-leading hospitality group consisting of more than 5,100 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries.

Maldives News | Rajeev Kohli Conferred ‘Hall of Leaders’ Award by EIC

Joint-Managing Director, Creative Travel, Rajeev Kohli has been conferred with the prestigious ‘Hall of Leaders’ award by the Events Industry Council (EIC). As the first Indian to be inducted into the EIC Hall of Fame, where the most remarkable leaders are recognized, this new achievement brings great honor to the Indian travel trade.  

The Hall of Leaders award is the premier recognition program considered the "lifetime achievement award" in the events industry. The award recognizes outstanding leaders who have undoubtedly shaped the industry. The defining quality among these leaders is that the industry would not be what it is today without their contributions. The Hall of Leaders consists of pioneers, influential, prolific, and altruistic members.  

With over 26 years of Luxury Travel & Destination Management (DMC) experience, Rajeev Kohli has immensely contributed to the development of the tourism industry, has been appointed to the role of President of Global DMC group, EURO MEC, the oldest DMC alliance in the industry and becoming the first Asian global President of the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE). He previously held the post of Senior Vice President of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) among many other roles.  

He is professionally certified as a Certified Incentive Specialist (CIS), Certified Incentive Travel Professional (CITP), and Destination Management Certified Professional (DMCP). 

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Visit Maldives | MALDIVES IS READY TO WELCOME OVER 1 MILLION TRAVELERS IN 2021

The isles of Maldives are truly beyond compare. Scattered like pearls across the crystalline waters of the Indian oceans, travelers all across the world dream of Maldives. Last year, Maldives was one of the first destinations to open borders for international travelers. We entered 2021 with hope and optimism, and in a few weeks, we will welcome the millionth traveler to visit the Maldives this year.

A Reflection

The Maldive’s success and achievements is a reflection and testament to the perseverance, ingenuity, creativity, and passion of the tourism industry, the health sector, and beyond. As we approach the milestone of welcoming the one-millionth visitor for the year, we at Maldives Marketing Public Relations and Corporation (MMPRC) take a look back at the effort, dedication, and work we have done, with the sincere aim of making this a reality.

We entered 2021 with a difficult task at hand. At a time when people across the world showed increasing reluctance to travel, and with travel restrictions in place across the globe, it was our mission to promote the Maldives and show the world that we are a safe haven.

The blessings of our unique geography, with our scattered islands and our unique ‘one-island-one-resort’ concept, makes us one of the safest destinations in the world. And ultimately, we were responsible for regaining travelers' trust and confidence by promoting the Maldives as a safe haven during those challenging times. Needless to say, it was not an easy feat.

Ever since the onset of the pandemic, our strategy was to maintain destination presence across the globe so that travelers will keep dreaming of the Maldives. We aimed to position Maldives as the top of the mind destination for travelers as soon as borders opened for leisure travel once again in these markets.

The Work of MMPRC

So far in 2021, we have taken part in 25 leading fairs across the world and conducted five physical roadshows and one virtual roadshow. At each of these events, we provided the opportunity for our industry partners to take part along withVisit Maldives to showcase their sought-after products and unique experiences.

The Maldives pavilions are always beautifully constructed - designed carefully to showcase the aesthetics that makes the Maldives so beautiful. It is not rare for us to hear that the Maldives stands out at fairs and events that we have been part of.

So far this year, we have conducted over 39 campaigns with various stakeholders on a variety of platforms. We have conducted campaigns with leading travel agencies across the globe, world-famous publications, major airlines such as Qatar Airways, and on TV channels such as CNN, among many others. These are simply a few of the many countless stakeholders we have conducted campaigns with.

If you have seen pictures of the turquoise waters of Maldives flood social media, part of it is due to the many familiarization trips we have conducted with leading media, celebrities, and so on. In fact, we have conducted 22 familiarization trips so far this year.

We have also conducted six global campaigns this year. We are collaborating with Expedia, InsideFlyer, Skyscanner, Qatar Airways and CNN on these global campaigns. Through these campaigns, we have reached a staggering 59,738,116,794 potential travelers, with an estimated media value of $119,595,365.

Each marketing activity is possible due to the hard-working marketeers, industry partners, stakeholders and others. It is our mandate to provide equal and fair opportunities for all our industry stakeholders in all of the marketing campaigns we conduct. Whichever fair we take part in, we do so with our industry partners. Whichever roadshow we host, we provide the opportunity for our partners to showcase their products and connect with the global travel trade.

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News | Restaurants in Maharashtra must shut at midnight, says govt

A day after two state ministers, Mumbai island city guardian minister Aslam Shaikh and health minister Rajesh Tope, said deadlines for the city's restaurants and eateries would be restored to pre-pandemic timings of 1.30am and for shops up to midnight, the state government issued an order allowing restaurants and eateries to operate till midnight and shops till 11pm.

Business hours of these establishments had so far been curbed to 10pm. With the extension, shop timings are back to pre-Covid times. While pre-Covid closing timing for vegetarian restaurants was 12.30am, restaurants and bar owners, who had hoped the state would restore their 1.30am deadline, were left disappointed."Many sectors like colleges, theatres and amusement parks will reopen this week, and we want to see the impact on cases. We want to give further relaxations, but in a phased manner," an official said. District administrations can curb timings depending on conditions, but cannot give an extension without the disaster management authority's consent.The order issued by the state government said that with the extension of timings, all other guidelines like 50% capacity for restaurants and the need to have fully vaccinated staffers in shops will continue. “The government observed that in light of the upcoming festive season, staggered timings for functioning of establishments like shops, restaurants and hotels will only lead to more crowding, hence a decision was taken to extend the timings,” the official said. District administrations have been allowed to restrict timings considering local conditions, but they cannot give further extension without the consent of the state disaster management authority.

The hospitality industry felt the timings should have gone back to the pre-Covid hours. Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) senior vice-president Pradeep Shetty said, “We welcome the Maharashtra government’s decision of extending the time of operations for restaurants till midnight. The additional two hours will provide much-needed succor to the beleaguered hospitality industry. The sector has been one of those most affected by Covid restrictions. However, we wish an extension had been granted till the pre-Covid deadline of 1.30 am and, considering the onset of the wedding season, it had been accompanied by the lifting of restrictions on banquets, weddings and events. The current limit of a hundred guests for weddings and social events is prohibitive and unviable under present circumstances.”AHAR president Shivanand Shetty said, “We will comply with the order, but it would have been better if timings had been extended till 1.30am as it is festival time and people like to spend time outside with friends and relatives. Restoring timings to pre-Covid days will help the industry recover quickly from the state of disorder it has been pushed into for the past 18 months.”Viren Shah of the Retailers Federation said that although most standalone shops in the city shut by 10pm, the 11pm deadline will help malls do some additional business.

Marriott News | The Spotlight on Iceland’s Capital City Shines Even Brighter with The Arrival of the Reykjavik Edition

With typical élan, Ian Schrager has captured the spirit of Iceland and set a new standard of luxury in its capital city.

A flourishing culinary hotspot with cool cafés, a rollicking nightlife and an epic music scene, the spotlight is shining brightly on Iceland’s hip capital city and, with typical finesse, the arrival of The Reykjavik EDITION further cements EDITION Hotels' uncanny ability to land in just the right place at the right time. “Reykjavik is a really cool, young city -perfect for our brand,” says Ian Schrager, the visionary pioneer of the boutique hotel concept, PUBLIC and EDITION creator. “We think this is Reykjavik’s time and we’re right here at the very heart of it and at the perfect time.”

Opening in preview on November 9th, 2021, The Reykjavik EDITION will set a new standard as the city’s first truly luxury hotel experience, combining the best of the Icelandic capital with the personal, intimate and individual experience that the EDITION brand is known for. The result is a vibrant and sophisticated urban hub with 253 rooms, an outstanding line-up of bars, signature restaurant and nightclub and, in true EDITION style, the introduction of a new kind of modern social wellness concept. In the land of hot springs, mineral waters and natural fjords, this creative innovation, visceral emotional experience and authenticity of Ian Schrager, together with Marriott International’s long-standing operational expertise and global reach, results in a totally distinct offering that further boosts Reykjavik’s growing allure as a world class international cosmopolitan destination.

Iceland is an aspirational destination for many, in-between North America and Western Europe - increased flight routes, and its otherworldly landscape, drawing visitors from far and wide. The Reykjavik EDITION is the first true luxury brand entering the market which has facilities and services like no other. First appearing on the map when American chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer won the World Chess Championship in Reykjavik in 1972, Schrager, who was following the event at the time, says he was taken aback by the country’s unspoiled, natural beauty. Indeed, marooned in the North Atlantic Ocean, just beneath the Arctic Circle, Iceland is quite literally in the making, its constantly evolving landscape the result of rumbling volcanoes, bubbling hot springs, erupting geysers and shifting tectonic plates. All of this has resulted in a spectacular, mystical medley of bright green moss-carpeted lava fields, soaring glaciers and rugged mountains sliced by deep, river-cut valleys. “In Iceland, you’re getting to see things you won’t see anywhere else,” says Schrager. “More so than any other place in the world, it’s a real opportunity to get in touch with earth and nature and we’re proud to further expand the EDITION brand in an incredible place with an incredibly exciting hotel that gives you a true sense of place.”

Using his Midas touch, Ian Schrager has carefully conceived, concepted and programmed the hotel to create alchemy and sense of magic exclusive to this hotel. The Reykjavik EDITION designed in partnership with local architecture firm, T.ark and New York-based studio, Roman and Williams with guidance of ISC (Ian Schrager Company) design, subtly captures the spirit of Reykjavik while avoiding the clichés and remaining firmly rooted in the EDITION brand’s strong sense of refined sophistication and style. On a harborside perch, against glorious mountain views, the hotel is in a flawless location at the heart of the city: adjacent to Harpa, the landmark concert hall and conference center - whose multicolored glass façade was designed by the celebrated Icelandic and Danish artist Olafur Eliasson - and just minutes from Laugavegur, the main shopping street in downtown Reykjavik.

From the outside, The Reykjavik EDITION is a striking addition to this downtown neighborhood. Its ebony façade of shou sugi ban timber has been charred to be blacked using an ancient Japanese technique, and blackened steel frames is a clear nod to Iceland’s dramatic lava landscape. The simple, clean-lines of the building itself have been angled to make the most of the views and its lively harborside setting with a double-entrance lobby accessible either from the pedestrian Harpa plaza, or the Harbor. The latter - in a grand sense of arrival similar to The Times Square EDITION - features a canopy, its underside illuminated by 12,210 glass LED nodes.

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NEWS | Jellyfish Watersports & Kerala Tourism to kickstart Chaliyar River Paddle from 12th November

Jellyfish Watersports & Kerala Tourism to kickstart Chaliyar River Paddle from 12th November

The 7th edition of Chaliyar River Paddle will be held from November 12th to November 14th, 2021 with a message to go ‘plastic negative’.

The three-day paddling event organized by Jellyfish Watersports in association with Kerala Tourism promotes an eco-friendly watersports experience that connects younger and grownups to our waters.

The 68 km paddle will start from Nilambur, located on the foothills of Western ghats in Malappuram, and conclude at Beypore in Kozhikode district, where the river meets with the Arabian Sea.

The Chaliyar River Paddle offers opportunities at various levels from beginners to non-swimmers to well-established water sports enthusiasts, nature lovers, tourists, children, and people from all walks of life. The event naturally promotes our rivers, their beauty, authentic Malabar cuisine, and offers a unique opportunity to meet like-minded individuals. Local music bands will be joining hands to promote their talent and offers a relaxing evening to the paddlers. Food will be catered by the best local restaurants such as Calicut Paragon. 

Covid safety protocols will be followed throughout the event and a Covid vaccination certificate is a prerequisite to participate in the event. This year, given the situation, this event will be promoted as a phoenix event to boost tourism activities in Kerala. The event will offer an expedition, camping, and a source to the sea paddling experience, using Kayaks, SUP's, Raft and this year on 3rd day, the organizers are introducing sculling (rowers) and dinghy sailboats making it a wider range of non-motorized, human-powered watercraft used.

“Chaliyar River Paddle has been focused on saving our rivers from urban pollution and promote recreational kayaking for everyone. It is a plastic negative event, hence the paddlers will help clean the river while kayaking. We have partnered with a local NGO, who will provide the participants a collection bags and carry the waste to their recycling and waste management facility. They will also educate participants on proper segregation, responsible consumption, and waste management. It is all about getting the Kerala tourism sector to bounce back from the Covid pandemic along with spreading awareness about the environment and particularly the rampant plastic pollution in the river,” says Kaushiq Kodithodika, Founder, Jellyfish Water Sports.

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NEWS | Cygnett Hotels & Resorts to add nine new properties to its portfolio

The new properties will come up in Dehradun, Jaipur (2 hotels), Bhiwadi, Dalhousie, Solan, Kolkata, Rajkot, and Goa

Cygnett Group of Hotels and Resorts plans to launch 9 new properties across multiple cities in different regions of India over the next six months. The new properties will come up in Dehradun, Jaipur (2 hotels), Bhiwadi, Dalhousie, Solan, Kolkata, Rajkot, and Goa.

The Cygnett Group is in the process of finalizing another 6 hotels, details of which will be announced soon. Like all Cygnett Group hotels, the new properties will target both business and leisure travelers. “There is a lot of pent-up demand, especially in the smaller cities and towns, and we want to aggressively capitalize on that demand,” said Sarbendra Sarkar, MD & Founder Cygnett Hotels & Resorts.

Speaking about the growth opportunities in India, Sarkar said, “We believe that the disruption created by the COVID-19 pandemic is now behind us and people have begun traveling again. The economy is steadily coming back on track and therefore the demand is accelerating, especially in non-metro cities.”

Pointing out that occupancy rates in Cygnett Group hotels have been going up for the past few months, Mr. Sarkar said that recovery in the hospitality sector has been faster than expected after the devastation caused by the pandemic.

Sarkar added that Cygnett properties are currently running at 70% occupancy as against India's average of 52% occupancy. He also highlighted the challenge of a declining Average Daily Rate (ADR). “ADR has gone down by 30% this season. That’s a little worrying for the industry,”  Sarkar said, adding that it would take another 8-10 months for the ADR to up to the pre-pandemic levels.

Marriott News | Marriott International Announces David Rodriguez to Retire as Global Chief Human Resources Officer

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) announced today that Executive Vice President and Global Chief Human Resources Officer David Rodriguez, Ph.D. will step down from his role at the end of October and retire at the end of 2021 after a distinguished 23-year career with the company. The company also announced that long-time Marriott Human Resources executive, Ty Breland, Ph.D., has been named to succeed Rodriguez.

“David’s impact on Marriott – our business, our associates and our culture – has been significant,” said Anthony Capuano, Chief Executive Officer, Marriott International. “He has partnered with our company’s leaders to take Marriott to new heights, always with a focus on the heart of our business – our people. Among David’s many accomplishments, I think the one that has touched the most lives is his work to build our TakeCare culture. David believes that the surest path to sustainable success is to promote the wellbeing of our people. His intuitive sense of what our associates need, coupled with his work analyzing best human resources practices, is the foundation of Marriott’s award-winning approach to associate wellbeing. David will be sorely missed, but his work will live on in Marriott’s people-first policies and practices, and the genuine care that exists among our associates across the world.”

Rodriguez began his career at Marriott in 1998 as a Senior Vice President, Human Resources, where he played a key role in creating the talent and organizational capabilities to fuel Marriott’s international expansion. In 2003, he was appointed Executive Vice President with responsibility for corporate HR as well as for the human resources function for North America Lodging. Rodriguez was named a corporate officer in 2000, and in 2006, he was named to his current role leading Marriott’s global talent strategy. Rodriguez was instrumental in co-founding Marriott’s Board of Directors’ Inclusion and Social Impact Committee (formerly known as the Committee for Excellence), which oversees efforts undertaken by the company to promote associate wellbeing and inclusion and to address environmental, social and governance issues. Rodriguez also serves as Marriott’s Chief Diversity Officer.

Under Rodriguez’s leadership, Marriott is the only hotel company to be named to Fortune’s 100 Best Places to Work For list every year since its inception in 1998, the first hotel company to be ranked #1 by DiversityInc, and the only hotel company to be named to the organization’s Hall of Fame. During Rodriguez’s tenure, Marriott has been recognized by America’s Best Employers for Women (Forbes), 50 Best Companies for Latinas to Work for in the U.S. (LATINA Style), Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality (Human Rights Campaign Foundation), and Best Places for Disability Inclusion (Disability: IN), among many other accolades.

NEW LAUNCH | After The Cocktail Story, Vidhi Puri to announce a subscription-driven club

The Cocktail Story has evolved and grown from a recognized content platform to a marketplace that connects consumers with brands to help them choose ingredients, mixers, recipes, bar tools, and more. Products listed on their website are available across the country, with more than 95 brands on the platform.

Launched in 2018, The Cocktail Story is a digital platform dedicated to building an ecosystem of the hospitality industry, alco-bev brands and spirit enthusiasts. It is, as of now, the only platform in India promoting the cocktail culture, highlighting bartenders, more so women bartenders with updates of local and international brands in India and the globe.

The Cocktail Story shop was launched with the founder Vidhi Puri’s aim to elevate the drinking experience at home. The e-commerce platform is an extension of The Cocktail Story that is an educational platform on Instagram. The e-commerce platform is a destination for all brands that will provide cocktail-making products and solutions under one roof to its patrons.

NEWS | Corbett Tiger Reserve reopens for night stays, sold out in 48 hours

After staying out of bounds for five and a half months, the Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) has reopened for night stays, with bookings selling out within just 48 hours. This comes even as hill towns of Mussoorie and Nainital recorded heavy tourist influx for the long weekend on Dussehra.

Corbett director, Rahul (who only uses his first name), said the stays inside the reserve were closed for tourists in May, but Bijrani, Jhirna, and Dhela zones have reopened for tourists.

“We were flooded with requests within hours of reopening and because of the long weekend, all accommodation inside the reserve is full until Tuesday,” he said. According to the Corbett administration, 80 bookings were received in just 48 hours after the reopening on Wednesday. While the day safaris were already permitted in other zones, the administration has now allowed tourists to travel into the Bijrani zone, which is popular for tiger sightings.

NEWS | Treehouse Pugmark Resort witnesses increase in weekend occupancies

The resort is running on an occupancy of 30 to 35 percent during the weekdays and 75 to 80 percent during weekends. After the second wave of Covid-19 hit, the Ranthambore National Tiger Reserve has seen moderate footfalls, weekdays saw only around 300 to 400 visitors and around 1,200 on weekends. But the number is steadily increasing The Treehouse Pugmark Resort is running on an occupancy of 30 to 35 percent during the weekdays and 75 to 80 percent during weekends. For the property, MICE is around 25 percent of the business and weddings constitute around 15 percent.

These are, however, pre-Covid figures. “Currently, our market mix is 80 percent domestic leisure and 20 percent weddings. The MICE business is very slowly returning. We have had a few small conferences but certainly, hope that this segment picks up quickly,” Jayant Singh, managing partner, Treehouse Hotels and Resorts said while discussing the revival of the business.

“Weddings have kept the hospitality business alive. Most of the hotels including ours have survived the pandemic because of small weddings. We had spotted this trend very early and started a campaign called classy bespoke weddings at Treehouse. All our hotels really benefited from this campaign,” Singh added.

Appreciation | Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre celebrates “Heartiest Gratitude Week 2021”

Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre celebrates “Heartiest Gratitude Week 2021” 

Hyderabad: October 2021: Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre organized “Heartiest Gratitude Week 2021” with an aim to acknowledge and recognize the employee’s relentless efforts in delivering the highest standards of services, contributing towards the success of the hotel. The Heartiest Gratitude Week 2021 was organized with a sole intention to recognize and appreciate Heartiest who have served selflessly and supported and provided their service during this pandemic. The celebration was done for three long days at Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre from October 12th to October 14th, 2021. The main aim is to recognize Heartiest and take time to appreciate them by saying out loud “We Thank You and Value You”.

For the staff, the hotel has organized many entertainment activities. The management has taken an opportunity for recognizing and address the core human emotion of grief, loss, and anxiety in their personal and professional space due to COVID’19 and thereby living Accor’s Heartiest philosophy of ‘We are One’. The event is a combination of Physical Presence as well Virtual presence for outstation warriors. The event started by welcoming the employees with a red carpet and music followed by the special banthi bhojanam (lunch) for employees.

Hotel have organized a ceremony to pay tribute to Heartiest or their close ones who have lost their lives to Covid’19. Also, the team NHCC had the honour of felicitating the Covid Warriors (Heartiest + Their Family Members), for their relentless efforts. The second day of the event was also packed with various fun-filled events for the employees starting with breakfast, morning tea, and a special food festival during lunchtime also with the interesting games like Anonymous Message Game and Flash Dance Reel.

To encourage the random act of kindness the HOD’s have given creative surprises to their team. Hotel General Member which helped them to get nominated to the Unsung Hero. Overall, it focused on discovering the crisis and celebrating the value of ‘Care Limitless’.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Manish Dayya, General Manager, Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre, said, “We are glad to see the response from the team during the “Heartiest Gratitude Week 2021”.  The three days event is our way to show our gratitude towards our employees who served relentlessly during the COVID’19’ also we are so proud of their efforts that they put in to make our guests feel safe & welcome throughout the pandemic. We have received outstanding service and support from our employees and we are always looking for activities to gather and motivate our team."

NEWS | Carnival Corporation Named by Forbes as one of World's Best Employers

Carnival Corporation Named by Forbes as one of World's Best Employers

World's largest cruise company honored on Forbes' annual list of best global employers of 2021, based on employee rankings and public perception for key factors such as working conditions, salary, potential for growth and diversity

MIAMI, Oct.ober, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL;NYSE: CUK), the world's largest cruise company, today announced it has been named as one of the World's Best Employers of 2021 by Forbes, a leading source of business news worldwide.

Presented by Forbes and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider, the prestigious annual listing honors the best international employers from over 35 major industries, including travel and leisure. In Forbes' fifth annual survey, Carnival Corporation – whose nine popular cruise line brands include namesake Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn in the U.S., along with AIDA Cruises, Cunard, Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises UK and P&O Cruises Australia – was ranked among the best 750 employers in the world based on results and feedback from 150,000 full- and part-time workers at multinational companies and institutions from 58 countries. The full list of the World's Best Employers for 2021 is available on the Forbes website.

"We are honored to be recognized by Forbes as one of the top employers in the world, and we are extremely proud of our talented and passionate team members whose dedication and commitment is the foundation of our success," said Roger Frizzell, chief communications officer for Carnival Corporation. "We fully embrace the importance and value of providing an inclusive and supportive work environment for all of our colleagues, and operating with integrity, trust and respect for each other. We are grateful to see the hard work of our entire team lead to recognition of this magnitude."

Frizzell added: "Our ongoing focus to create one of the best places to work in the world is reflected in our highest responsibility and top priority, which is compliance, environmental protection, and the health, safety and well-being of our guests, the people in the communities we visit, and our shipboard and shoreside personnel."

The Forbes World's Best Employers list was determined through a globally administered independent survey of more than 150,000 employees in 58 countries working full- or part-time. Participants were asked to anonymously evaluate their current employer based on factors such as willingness to recommend their company to family and friends, while also providing recommendations for other employers in their industry. Respondents also ranked their satisfaction with various aspects of the overall employee experience, including working conditions, salary, potential for growth and diversity. Based on these direct and indirect employee recommendations, along with public perception scores, Forbes included only the top 750 companies out of thousands of organizations considered for the recognition.

This latest honor as a top international employer is the most recent in a series of recognitions Carnival Corporation has earned for excellence in the workplace in 2021, including a separate listing from Forbes as one of America's Best Large Employers. Earlier this year, Carnival Corporation was named a Glassdoor Employees' Choice Award Winner honoring the best 100 U.S. places to work and earned a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2021 Corporate Equality Index, designating the company as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality. Carnival Corporation was also recognized for its commitment to corporate social responsibility leadership by Newsweek on its second annual list of America's Most Responsible Companies for 2021. Most recently, the company was named as one of the Best Companies for Latinos by Latino Leaders Magazine.

The recognition for excellence in the workplace underscores Carnival Corporation's commitment to support diversity, equity and inclusion throughout its companywide operations and to provide a positive and empowering corporate culture for all its shipboard and shoreside employees. The company's success is a direct result of its employees, who represent nearly 150 countries across the globe and have helped create a collaborative and dedicated workforce committed to consistently exceeding guest expectations and providing extraordinary vacations for millions of guests around the world.

About Carnival Corporation & plc
Carnival Corporation & plc is one of the world's largest leisure travel companies with a portfolio of nine of the world's leading cruise lines sailing to all seven continents. With operations in North America, Australia, Europe and Asia, its portfolio features Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises (Australia), Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard.

NEWS | St. Regis Hotels & Resorts Plans to Double Its Global Resort Portfolio Over the Next Five Years by Debuting in the World’s Most Glamorous Destinations

Iconic Luxury Brand to Usher in a New Era of Enchantment in the World’s Most Exquisite Leisure Locales in Bermuda, Mexico, Morocco, Aruba, China, the Dominican Republic, Oman and Qatar

Solidifying St. Regis Hotels & Resorts’ position as a leader in luxury, the iconic brand expects to expand its existing portfolio of 15 curated resorts with plans to debut eleven new enchanted escapes by 2025 in some of the world’s most coveted leisure destinations, including locales most desired by the next generation of luxury travelers within the Caribbean, North America, North Africa, Middle East and the Asia Pacific. St. Regis has 49 open hotels and resorts today, with 29 hotels and resorts in its pipeline, representing expected growth of nearly 60 percent over the next five years in both urban and leisure destinations.

“This is a pivotal moment for St. Regis as we expect to nearly double our existing resort portfolio by 2025. Our resorts offer a leisure experience inspired by the glamorous private retreats of St. Regis’ founding family, the Astors, and we cannot wait to bring the brand’s spirit of invention and cherished traditions to some of the world’s most beguiling destinations,” said George Fleck, Vice President and Global Brand Leader for St. Regis Hotels & Resorts. “From Los Cabos to Sanya, and Marrakech to the Riviera Maya, we are thoughtfully expanding the brand while marking a commitment to providing extraordinary resort experiences in the places where we know global luminaries want to travel.”

These highly anticipated new resorts will introduce the brand’s visionary spirit, avant-garde style and bespoke service in some of the most dynamic and compelling markets across the globe. Expanding its footprint in Mexico, St. Regis is expected to debut The St. Regis Kanai Resort in 2022 and The St. Regis Los Cabos Resort in 2023. Located in the captivating Mayan Riviera, The St. Regis Kanai Resort will feature a sophisticated design that boasts breathtaking ocean views from every vantage point, with plans that call for 124 guest rooms and suites, as well as 32 exclusive villas with private pools. The striking St. Regis Los Cabos Resort will be located on 33 pristine acres in Quivira, Los Cabos, featuring 1,200 ft. of panoramic coastal views. The resort is expected to offer 120 rooms and 60 residences, as well as a spa, golf course, beach club and three distinctive dining experiences. In the Middle East, the brand plans to grow its presence in Qatar with the expected early 2022 opening of The St. Regis Marsa Arabia Island, The Pearl, which will feature architecture influenced by the distinct Andalusian and Arabesque style and offer stunning views of the Arabian Gulf.

With a continued focus on the Caribbean in the coming years, in 2024 St. Regis is expected to debut in Aruba with The St. Regis Aruba Palm Beach Resort, as well as in the Dominican Republic with the highly anticipated opening of The St. Regis Cap Cana Resort.

The brand also anticipates celebrating its entry into Oman in 2024 with The St. Regis Al Mouj Resort in Muscat, and in the same year, expects the debut of The St. Regis Sanya Haitang Bay Resort in Sanya, Hainan’s most southern tip, which is often referred to as the “Hawaii of the East”. Additionally, St. Regis is expected to open a property in Africa, with the debut of The St. Regis Marrakech Resort slated for 2025.

St. Regis’ existing resort portfolio touches all corners of the globe, ranging from Bal Harbour to Bora Bora and Aspen to Abu Dhabi. Most recently, in May 2021, The St. Regis Bermuda Resort opened its doors in the historic town of St. George’s. Just steps from the soft white sands of St. Catherine’s Beach, the resort boasts 120 elegant guestrooms including 29 exquisite suites and an ultra-luxury residential development offering two- and three-bedroom residences. Each guestroom is designed to bring the outdoors in, with custom furnishings, marble bathrooms, and a private balcony with breathtaking ocean views. Guests are able to enjoy unparalleled leisure and wellness facilities, including the historic Five Forts Golf Course, St. Regis Spa, and state-of-the-art cuisine. The St. Regis Qingdao debuted in August 2021 and features 233 guest rooms designed to pay homage to the destination and welcomes guests to enjoy one of China’s most beautiful coastal cities. Travelers can experience winding cobbled streets and heritage German architecture, or they can relax at one of the beaches nestled against the Yellow Sea. Additionally, The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort in Puerto Rico recently reopened following a $60 million renovation inclusive of the resort’s 139 guestrooms and suites, seaside pool and esplanade, and the spa.

NEWS | MINT TO BRING NEW LEGAL ACTION AGAINST MARRIOTT

MINT TO BRING NEW LEGAL ACTION AGAINST MARRIOTT

Further to its obligation to keep stakeholders informed of material events, Minor International (“MINT”) makes the following statement:

MINT has filed a legal claim in Thai court against Marriott International, Inc. (“Marriott”) in relation to the JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa (the “JW Marriott Phuket”) which is owned by MINT and operated by the Marriott group. MINT’s claim is for THB 570.6 million and alleges that Marriott has committed a number of offenses under Thai law, including:

·        competing with the JW Marriott Phuket through its operation of competing Marriott portfolio hotels;

·        using the JW Marriott Phuket facilities to promote Marriott’s other competing hotels;

·        misappropriating MINT’s confidential and proprietary information to benefit Marriott’s own interests;

·        operating its loyalty program in bad faith and against the interests of MINT as hotel owner;

·        failing to manage the JW Marriott Phuket in a manner to protect and benefit the owner’s interest; and

·        unduly enriching itself at the expense of the hotel and MINT, through hidden license fee arrangements and supplier rebates and use of monies in the Marriott loyalty program fund.

MINT is pleased to confirm that its legal action in Thailand remains ongoing (although slowed by Covid) and will be pursued until MINT’s claims are fully addressed. Further updates will be provided to the market in due course.

In addition to its legal claims in the Thai courts, MINT is also imminently initiating further legal action against Marriott, claiming breaches by Marriott of its fiduciary duties toward MINT as the owner of the JW Marriott Phuket. MINT expects that this case will have wide-ranging relevance to the hotel market and highlight a number of problematic business practices by Marriott. Further details will be shared with the market in due course, in the interest of keeping MINT’s stakeholders fully informed as this matter progresses.

About Minor International: Minor International (MINT) is a global company focused on three core businesses: hospitality, restaurants, and lifestyle brands distribution. MINT is a hotel owner, operator, and investor with a portfolio of 527 hotels under the Anantara, AVANI, Oaks, Tivoli, NH Collection, NH Hotels, how, Elewana, Marriott, Four Seasons, St. Regis, Radisson Blu, and Minor International brands in 55 countries across the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, the Indian Ocean, Europe, South, and North America. MINT is also one of Asia’s largest restaurant companies with over 2,300 outlets system-wide in 26 countries under The Pizza Company, The Coffee Club, Riverside, Benihana, Thai Express, Bonchon, Swensen’s, Sizzler, Dairy Queen, Burger King and Coffee Journey. MINT is one of Thailand’s largest distributors of lifestyle brands and contract manufacturers. Its brands include Anello, Bodum, Bossini, Charles & Keith, Esprit, Joseph Joseph, Radley, Scomadi, Zwilling J.A. Henckels and Minor Smart Kids.

For more information, please contact Stephen Chojnacki at +34669387385 or visit www.minor.com.

NEWS | Indian cloud kitchen startup Rebel Foods valued at $1.4 billion in $175 million fundraise

Indian cloud kitchen startup Rebel Foods valued at $1.4 billion in $175 million fundraise

Rebel Foods, which operates a large network of dark kitchens in nearly a dozen markets, is the latest Indian startup to attain unicorn status.

The 10-year-old Indian startup said on Thursday it has raised $175 million in its Series F financing round that valued it at $1.4 billion, up from about $800 million last year. Qatar Investment Authority, sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar, led the financing round with participation from existing investors Coatue and Evolvence. Rebel Foods also counts Sequoia Capital India and Goldman Sachs among its investors.

Rebel Foods is the third Indian startup to become a unicorn this week, and 31st to become a unicorn this year as scores of high-profile investors including Tiger Global, SoftBank, Sequoia and Temasek aggressively double down on their bets to back young firms in the world’s second-largest internet market. (And many more are beginning to explore India. A16z made its first investment in an Indian startup this week.)

Rebel Foods operates the world’s largest number of what it calls “internet restaurants” in 10 countries including the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia and Malaysia. Over 45 brands, many of which Rebel Foods owns and also several from partner firms such as Wendy’s and Mad Over Donuts, prepare food exclusively for delivery rather than serving dine-in or takeaway customers. The startup says it operates over 4,000 of these internet restaurants.

The idea behind dark kitchens — also known as ghost or cloud kitchens — is to make food serving operations more economical. Setting up and operating a restaurant is expensive as they are also, after all, pieces of real estate. Setting up cloud kitchens allows partner restaurants and brands to move away from pricey retail locations and also streamlines the business by focusing on just producing food.

“The big disruption that the cloud kitchen model brought about is that you don’t have to put up five real estates [locations] to run five different restaurants,” said Jaydeep Barman, founder, and chief executive of Rebel Foods, in a virtual conference earlier this year. As carmakers produce dozens of models from one factory, “using technology, supply chain, and workflows, you can actually have one kitchen for five restaurants,” he explained.

Many investors say that the cloud kitchen model is also crucial for food delivery firms, restaurants and brands to reach a larger market. In many developing markets including India, the ticket size for a lunch or dinner order is $3 to $5, which makes the existing business models unviable for firms to turn a profit.

This would explain why both Swiggy and Zomato — the two top food delivery firms in India — have made several efforts to explore setting up their own cloud kitchens.

Swiggy, for instance, announced in late 2019 that it had invested in more than a million square feet of real estate space across 14 cities in the country to help restaurant partners of all sizes expand to more locations both within their city and across new cities through cloud kitchens. The firm, which invested over $25 million into its cloud kitchen business, significantly scaled it down last year after the pandemic hit. Like Swiggy, Zomato has also struggled to make inroads with its cloud kitchen efforts.

But the model is here to stay — and investors are buying. “Working in Rebel’s favor is the loss of investor interest in single-brand entities given that these brands don’t have the ability to drive profitable unit economics from just operating one brand. Scaling a single brand across cities requires capital investments far higher than for brands that are part of a larger portfolio, where fixed costs are controlled,” reported Indian news and analysis publication CapTable, which also scooped the fundraise talks last week.

Why have big firms struggled to make inroads with cloud kitchen? TechCrunch spoke with Ravi Golani, the chief strategy officer at Rebel Foods, who said a challenge that he sees with the cloud kitchen model is that there are several different strategies at play and they are yielding different results.

“We are combining the best of both worlds — digital and physical — to understand how to expand a particular brand, to make unit economics work, and to ensure adequate supply chain and leveraging technology. It’s a different ball game altogether,” he said, adding that some of the other firms have only succeeded in achieving some of these. Rebel Foods works with food delivery firms as its delivery distributing partners.

“If you think about cloud kitchens generally, you would imagine five or more different booths in a kitchen. They have their own staff, production material and delivery tie-ups. In our kitchens, what we have done is organize the entire layout by workflows rather than restaurants,” he said.

The startup said it plans to deploy the fresh funds to expand its international footprint and also explore acquisition opportunities. It’s also eyeing becoming a public company within two years, said Piyush Kakkad, the startup’s chief financial officer. Rebel Foods’ current annual run rate is $150 million.

Award | Minor Hotels Sweeps Another Big Win With 38 Accolades In 2021 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards

Minor Hotels, the parent company behind the Anantara, Avani, Tivoli, NH Collection, and Elewana hotel brands, is pleased to announce a total of 38 accolades awarded to its properties worldwide in 2021 Condé Nast Traveler US and UK Readers’ Choice Awards. The trove of prestigious accolades is a resounding vote of confidence in the group’s ability to lead the sector as it emerges from months of disrupted travel.

Leading these great results, two resorts have been named in the overall Top 50 Resorts globally, placing these properties among the most inspirational, trusted and loved hotels in the world. Naladhu Private Island Maldives, the exclusive luxury island resort was voted #4, closely followed by Anantara Chiang Mai Resort in Northern Thailand as #8. Furthermore, two hotels were included in the Top 50 Hotels globally, Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels by Tivoli in Doha as #13 and The Marker Hotel in Dublin ranked #46.

Continuing the top rankings of the world’s most prestigious hotels, the uber-exclusive Naladhu Private Island Maldives was also voted #1 among Top 30 Resorts in the Indian Ocean for the fourth time in five years, while fans of Anantara Chiang Mai Resort helped the serene riverside property retain its #1 ranking in the Top 20 Resorts in Thailand.

Award | Naladhu Private Island Maldives Named #1 Top Resort in Indian Ocean & #4 Best Resort in the World

Naladhu Private Island is excited to share that it has once again been named the #1 Top Resort in the Indian Ocean in the annual Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. In addition Naladhu has been named #4 in the Best Resorts in the World.

The annual Readers’ Choice Awards are the longest-running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry. For the 2021 vote, the readers were asked to draw on their happiest travel moments, spotlighting the places that made those magical moments possible, in a show of support for the travel industry.

Located on the edge of a pristine lagoon in the South Malé Atoll, Naladhu will reopen on November 1st after a complete renovation, revealing an impressive new look and feel, with the public areas and accommodation being redesigned and the resort’s top suite, the Two Bedroom Pool Residence, reopening with its own 20 metre private beach.

The new product will further support the amazing service and experience that the Naladhu team has delivered over recent years, with the resort being internationally recognised as #1 in the Indian Ocean for four of the last five years and two years in a row being named in the top five of the Best Resorts in the World.

New opening | Guggenheim Abu Dhabi set to open by 2025

The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is on track to open by 2025, authorities in the emirate have confirmed. Facing numerous delays over the years, the museum was first announced in 2006.

Joining a collection of Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation museums, including arguably the most famous in Manhattan, the Abu Dhabi museum has been designed by Frank Gehry. When it opens, it will present a range of global modern and contemporary art pieces, with a specific focus on West Asia, North Africa and South Asia.

Gehry commented: “It is truly thrilling to see this project enter into this new phase. I am immensely proud to work closely with our partners, DCT Abu Dhabi and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, to create a home for their ground-breaking cultural program. I hope that this building is embraced by the people of the UAE and that this work will endure as a landmark for the country for many years to come.”

“Guggenheim Abu Dhabi fosters a deeper understanding of how different art perspectives have shaped the interconnected histories and cultures of our time. With both Emirati and regional experts playing a key role in the development of the museum’s collection and programmes, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will provide a first-of-its-kind platform for artists from the UAE and the Gulf,” said The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) in a statement.

H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, continued: “Guggenheim Abu Dhabi advances Abu Dhabi’s position as a dynamic centre for arts and culture. The region’s pre-eminent museum of global modern and contemporary art, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will present an equitable platform for art from all over the world. The museum will also play a civic role through its mission to spark wider interest in global modern and contemporary art, fostering diversity and inclusion in a meaningful cultural exchange.

“As we move forward with our plans, it is crucial to recognise the impact of this museum in realising our vision for the Emirate’s culture and creative industries. Investing in these industries is pivotal to the economic development of our Emirate, and to our contribution to the global art world. Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, along with other cultural institutions such as Louvre Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museum, will undoubtedly contribute significantly to a thriving creative scene.”