NEWS | Another feather in the cap as one more tourist destination opens its gates after a long covid wait: TAAI

Another feather in the cap as one more tourist destination opens its gates after a long covid wait: TAAI

A significant drop in Covid-19 cases and increased vaccination pace has led to a rise in tourist footfall in the state of Odisha. Industry insiders are very happy that normalcy is returning and hoped for a fast recovery in business.

Expressing her happiness towards the revival of tourism business and congratulating Government of Odisha, Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) President, Jyoti Mayal commented that it is indeed a much-needed step on the government’s part which will encourage other states too in the same direction. “Covid did take a lot from us, now it is time to compensate for all the losses faced during the pandemic,” she said.

“After the prolonged curbs for over 18 months, tourists are showing a strong desire to travel & are registering a month-on-month increase in demand. It is indeed a brilliant start to the tourist season with rooms almost full during the weekend and a sizeable number of domestic visitors flocking to spots. If the current situation continues then the recovery could be done in lesser time,” mentioned Jay Bhatia, Vice President, TAAI.

Bettaiah Lokesh, Hon Secretary General, TAAI stated, “The government of Odisha is leaving no stone unturned and coinciding with the upbeat mood of tourists by organising series of exciting events, including glamping at seven eco-retreat sites. A collective effort is required for the better and early revival of tourism sector which got massively hit during pandemic days.”

Whereas, Shreeram Patel, Hon Treasurer, TAAI went on to thank the Government of India for a successful vaccine drive in the country which has encouraged travellers and has created a sense of safety amongst people of all walks.

NEWS | Emirates plans to issue IPO, prepares for recovery in 2022

The Dubai-based airline Emirates may become a publicly-traded company. Sir Tim Clark, President, Emirates at the Dubai Airshow 2021, said that that it could happen as the city-state tries to boost its local financial market while promising that its fleet of iconic double-decker jumbo jets would soon fly the skies again. This comes after Dudai announced plans to list its state-owned electricity company and other government-backed firms to raise liquidity and expand the local Dubai Financial Market so it can compete with bigger counterparts in the region.

Following the news that Dubai-based airline Emirates could be included in plans to issue initial public offerings (IPOs) on the city’s stock market, Neha Bhatia, Construction & Infrastructure Editor at GlobalData’s MEED, said that Emirates appears to be on the path to recovery, and the airline’s potential listing could further buoy optimism around its post-pandemic growth prospects. “Emirates’ listing – should it proceed – could restore confidence in the airline’s financial position and reiterate its reputation as Dubai’s most valuable asset. However, the company’s significance to the local economy has already been established over the past two years. The contributions could pay dividends as the airline looks to secure post-pandemic growth,” she said.

Net losses of Emirates in April to September narrowed to AED5.7 billion from AED14.1 billion in the first half of 2020-21. The half-year loss in 2020 was Emirates’ first in more than 30 years, and, after having largely weathered the global financial crisis of 2008-10 and the oil price crash of 2014-16, the airline laid off around 30,585 staff in 2020-21.

Emirates received a capital injection worth over AED11 billion from the Investment Corporation of Dubai – the city’s sovereign wealth fund and its ultimate owner – to sustain its operations in the 2020-21 financial year. It was a pivotal development for Emirates, which has historically provided a dividend to the wealth fund. The wealth fund injected a further AED2.5 billion in Emirates during the first half of 2021-22.

NEWS| Sayaji Hotels enters into strategic partnership with majority stake in Intellistay Hotels

With this move, Sayaji Group of Hotels will now operate 2,772 rooms across 41 operational hotels with a series of new hotel launches in the pipeline.

Hospitality brand Sayaji Hotels on Tuesday announced a strategic partnership with a majority stake in integrated asset-light hotel management company Intellistay Hotels that will add 27 hotels to its current collection of 14 properties. The partnership will add 27 hotels in 15 cities to Sayaji Hotels' current collection of 14 properties with its existing brands 'Sayaji Hotels', 'Effotel by Sayaji' and 'Enrise by Sayaji', the company said in a statement.

"We are delighted to welcome Intellistay Hotels with its portfolio of highly successful brands to the Sayaji Hotel family.

"This strategic alliance gives us a significant presence in key leisure and metro markets where Intellistay Hotels has already established its footprints," Sayaji Hotels Managing Director Raoof Dhanani said.

Currently, Intellistay Hotels operates 1,350 rooms and plans to add 1,000 rooms with 20 hotels across the country by the second half of 2022.

With this move, Sayaji Group of Hotels will now operate 2,772 rooms across 41 operational hotels with a series of new hotel launches in the pipeline.

"We will leverage our shared expertise to enhance our market share, expand our product portfolio and provide best-in-class offerings for the guests.

"We believe this partnership will create new avenues for growth and reinforce Sayaji Group of Hotels as one of the fastest-growing hotel chains in the country," Sayaji Hotels Vice-President (Operations and People) Rakshit Sharma said.

NEWS | Top celebrity chefs joins OneRare, the world’s first Food metaverse

Arnold Poernomo, Saransh Goila, & Jaimie Van Heije

Top celebrity chefs joins OneRare, the world’s first Food metaverse

New Delhi,November, 2021- OneRare, the first-ever project to build a metaverse for food, gaming, and NFTs on the blockchain ecosystem have announced their collaboration with top celebrity Chefs Arnold Poernomo, Saransh Goila & Jaimie Van Heije. 

With this collaboration, OneRare’s revolutionary concept of the world’s first Food Metaverse on the blockchain has caught the eye of foodies around the world. OneRare will be tokenizing the Chefs’ signature dishes as NFTs, and players will be able to claim these special artworks by collecting ingredients and playing the game. 

Supreet Raju, Co-founder, OneRare said on the collaboration "We are very excited to collaborate with the best forces in the Food & Beverage industry celebrity Chef Arnold Poernomo, Chef Saransh Goila, and Chef Jaimie Van Heije.  We would like to expand the idea of Foodverse with the help of these pioneers and celebrate their culinary journey as NFTs in the foodverse at a Global scale.

With the rapidly growing reach of the blockchain, the Chefs will get to interact with international audiences for the first time and introduce them to exciting culinary concepts from their part of the world. 

With the recent successful fundraise of $2M from notable angels & the biggest funds in crypto, OneRare is now ready to grow their Foodverse. OneRare’s engaging gameplay brings the global F&B industry onto the blockchain for the first time, and keeping in mind the global appeal of Food, the project is striving to partner with top chefs from various countries to celebrate culinary delights from every corner of the world.

Speaking about the collaboration- Chef Arnold Poernomo said, “The success to my passion for the food industry & is now making his way to the blockchain to explore the new realms of Food. “Food brings people together. Combined with metaverse and Onerare, the possibilities are endless and for sure delicious”. 

Sharing his thoughts on the collaboration, Chef Saransh Golia said, “From being a chef in my home kitchen to teaching and creating recipes virtually I've learned that food really has no boundaries. Super excited to explore this new chapter of food in the metaverse by OneRare. The fact that you can create your favourite recipes in the metaverse and own dish NFTs is fascinating for me. I'm really looking forward to showcasing my favourite dishes on OneRare, and hoping to make the metaverse a delicious space. 

Sharing his thoughts, Chef Jaimie Van Heije said, “I love to create the best dishes out of nearly nothing. “I’m very in love with the idea of OneRare, like there is a connection in my restaurant with the food and the client. There is also a connection between crypto, the food, and the beverage sector. I truly love the idea and I can’t wait to play!”

Distant from the regular noise with a completely different dimension, OneRare is penetrating the blockchain metaverse and it is poised to be a major milestone in this sphere. The project is leveraging the increasing number of GameFi buffs and a growing community of food lovers spread across various parts of the globe to redefine the concept of an existing virtual realm.

With OneRare, the blockchain metaverse will cater to global audiences as food mavens will have an opportunity to come into the Foodverse and monetize it while exploring it to the fullest. Foodies can farm for ingredients, trade them at the Farmer’s Market, or head to the Kitchen to claim Dishes. The Foodverse also features a Playground where users can use their NFTs to battle in mini-games.

NEWS | Accor re-hires one-third of 1,500 employees laid off during Covid in India

Accor re-hires one-third of 1,500 employees laid off during Covid in India

Thanks to a strong recovery following the deadly second wave, French hospitality major Accor Group says it has started re-employing staffers laid off during the pandemic. Based on the bounce-back rate the group, which currently has 55 properties in India, now is banking on October-December 2022 being back at the level of the same period in pre-pandemic 2019. Since international travel still has some restrictions, the bounce back is almost entirely on domestic travelers in the form of holidays, staycations and workations.

"We have 6,000 employees in India. During Covid and either no or very low revenues, unfortunately, 25% of them had to be laid off. We created a fund for employees from the amount that was to be paid as a dividend to shareholders just before the pandemic struck. The recovery following the second wave has been much stronger than anticipated and we have started re-employing the laid-off workforce in India," Marc Descrozaille, Accor's COO for India, Middle East and Africa, told TOI Tuesday.

So far about one-third of those laid back have been invited to join back. Some of those who got this call declined the offer as they had started doing something else during the pandemic, he said.

"While occupancy is looking up, average room rates (ARR) are lagging behind. People are now spending more on hotel stays on other things like food and beverage or upgrading their chosen hotel/room. A large number of guests are these days driving for breaks. Saving on airfares allows them to spend more on hotel stays (not rates which are still low but other amenities)," Descrozaille said.

The ongoing wedding season is bringing some more respite for hotels. "Since there are restrictions on the size of gatherings (200 in Delhi for instance), people are spending more (per guest) due to that," he said.

With pandemic fatigue setting in, hotels have to remind guests to adhere to Covid protocol. Guests walk into restaurants with masks on and a few drinks later the masks are off. Hotels then politely remind them to do so sending masks on a tray as a reminder.

While footfalls are up, revenue overall is still nowhere close to pre-pandemic levels. "We will end the calendar year 2022 at half of CY 2019 levels," Descrozaille said.

Accor has big growth plans for India and it plans to add 20 more hotels to its current portfolio of 55 properties over the next five years. The additions will include its top of the line Raffles in Jaipur and a Fairmont in Mumbai, apart from 6 Novotels and 4 Ibis.

NEWS | Another big tick on the list as Singapore & India reaches agreement on commercial flights: TAAI

Another big tick on the list as Singapore & India reaches agreement on commercial flights: TAAI

Commenting on the proposed resumption of flights between India and Singapore from November 29 under the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL), Jyoti Mayal, President, Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) extended her warm wishes and gratitude to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation on the resumption of scheduled commercial flights between the two countries.

Singapore’s VTL with India will start with six designated flights daily from Chennai, Delhi, and Mumbai. Applications for vaccinated travel passes for short-term and long-term pass holders from India will start from November 29. ‘’Taking such a step-in time of Covid prevalence is indeed a bold move which will not only strengthen the relations between the two countries but will also work as a revival of tourism sector’. I strongly feel that more commercial flights are needed to revive inbound tourism to India,” she further quoted.

Airlines can also operate non-VTL flights between the two countries, although passengers on non-VTL flights will be subjected to the prevailing public health requirements. “We at TAAI have been in constant dialogue with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India. The opening of the skies for international commercial passenger routes highlighting our concerns on ease of doing business,” commented Jay Bhatia, Vice President, TAAI.

Taking positive efforts, TAAI Southern Region in association with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) organised a travel webinar earlier this year in July which witnessed a large participation. “Such productive decisions are always welcomed by tourism sector and travel associations as the good part of the economy is dependent on travel and tourism. Economy everywhere needs a good revival especially after Covid trauma,” Bettaiah Lokesh, Hon Secretary General, TAAI.

“Travel agents continue to be acknowledged as one-stop solutions for customers, guiding and professionally managing all aspects of domestic and/or international travel which now includes complying with Covid requirements of departing and arriving at destinations,” said Shreeram Patel, Hon Treasurer, TAAI as he also extended his thanks to the authorities of both the countries.

Visit Maldives | Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Announces Grand Relaunch in February 2022 Following Multi-Million-Dollar Refurbishment

The first international resort brand to arrive in the Maldives and soon to complete 25 years, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island readies to introduce its next chapter filled newly designed accommodation and experiences with massive multi-million-dollar refurbishment. The relaunch will officially happen in February 2022.  

Renowned for delivering authentic barefoot luxury and leading the way as the ‘Island of Firsts’, the twin-island property is home to the world’s first undersea restaurant Ithaa, first underwater bedroom set within the two-level residence The MURAKA, and first twin-island resort experience in the Maldives, amongst others. 

According to Carla Puverel, General Manager, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, guests can expect “newly-designed water villas, refreshed restaurants, new experiences, brand new Teens Club and various other exciting additions. As the ‘Island of Firsts’ we pride ourselves on remaining innovative and offering a level of personalized service unique to our resort.” 

Conrad Maldives Rangali will offer elevated guests experiences through the enhanced brand-new spaces including Majaa Explorers Hub, Furaavaru Teens Club, adults only gym and the luxurious water villas of Rangali Island. Inspired itineraries offer unique experiences to guests like swimming with whale sharks and manta rays, turtle safari, sunset dolphin cruises and coral planting in the house reef with the marine biologist. 

With the upgraded experiences, the twin-island resort ensures that it continues to offer authentic barefoot luxury that guests have long enjoyed since the resort landed in the shores of the Maldives. 

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NEWS | EaseMyTrip makes 2nd acquisition, buys Spree Hospitality

Online travel platform EaseMyTrip continues to aggressively expand its hotel and holiday businesses by acquiring Spree Hospitality. This is EaseMyTrip’s second acquisition where Spree Hospitality will add a new revenue vertical for the company and enable it to scale up its hotel and holiday portfolios rapidly.

Additionally, customers will be offered exclusive deals and offers on Spree Hospitality while doing bookings from EaseMyTrip, EMT said in a statement. EaseMyTrip’s expertise and data on the evolving travel market will enable Spree Hospitality to efficiently choose new property locations and offer dynamic pricing options, the statement added.

Earlier this month, EaseMyTrip, which announced its listing on the stock market in India earlier this year, acquired B2B travel platform Traviate for an undisclosed sum.

Spree was founded in 2011 by Keshav Baljee, who has more than 15 years of hospitality experience and is also co-promoter of Royal Orchid Hotels (a publicly listed company with a market cap of Rs 252 crore). It has a diversified portfolio across hospitality verticals such as hotels, corporate guest homes and residential clubs. 

The company is debt-free, cash-rich, and follows an asset-light model, which claims to have enabled it to record profitability even during the pandemic. Spree Hospitality has an established footprint of 1220 operational keys across hotels in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Goa, Hyderabad, Kochi, Manali, Amritsar, Dehradun, Coimbatore and Delhi, amongst others.

Prashant Pitti, Co-founder, EaseMyTrip said, 

“There is a synergy between EaseMyTrip and Spree Hospitality where we leverage the asset-light model to build a lean and efficient infrastructure. With this acquisition, we believe that EaseMyTrip is well-positioned to unlock the market potential of a recovering hospitality sector and quickly scale up the business to meet the evolving needs of the modern traveller.”

“We will enable Spree to expand to 200 properties in the next five years becoming one of the biggest names in the Indian hospitality sector,” Prashant added.

During the pandemic, Spree Hospitality had signed 18 new hotels and hired over 250 additional employees to support the expansion. With a team that comes with several decades of hospitality experience, Spree is poised to revolutionise the Indian landscape through its brand of hospitality.

NEWS | Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels collaborates with Laxmi Nivasam Developers They will develop Zone Connect Yadagirigutta, an upscale hotel at the pilgrimage destination in Telangana

Laxmi Nivasam Developers and Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Limited have announced their collaboration for developing Zone Connect Yadagirigutta, an upscale hotel at the pilgrimage destination in Telangana, 60 km from Hyderabad.

Zone Connect Yadagirigutta is being developed by Laxmi Nivasam Developers, a Hyderabad-based real estate company. It will be developed in phases and will feature 400 suites, Café C, an all-day dining restaurant, a speciality restaurant, 10000 sq. ft. of banqueting space, and a host of leisure activities for all age groups.

Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Limited will be managing the property and the first phase with 150 rooms is expected to be operational in 2022. Speaking on the occasion of signing at THE Park Hyderabad, Rajendra Prasad, Chairman, Laxmi Nivasam Developers said, “Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has a special focus on the development of the destination and has been very supportive in guiding and creating world-class facilities for the devotees. We are excited to take this vision forward by developing this property. We are happy to partner with Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Limited which has experience of over 50 years in developing and managing hotels in the country, to manage Zone Connect Yadagirigutta. We are looking forward to taking this relationship to other religious destinations across the country.”

Commenting on the signing,  Vikas Ahluwalia, General Manager and National Head, Zone by The Park Hotels stated, “We are delighted to expand our presence in the state of Telangana and the religious tourism sector, and extremely excited to partner with Laxmi Nivasam Developers. We are thrilled to bring to the city our social-catalyst brand Zone Connect. Zone Connect is conceived as the nucleus of all things social for modern corporate travelers. It is the social catalyst that connects you to the city and to all things urban and modern. We are looking forward to bringing Zone hospitality to the divine destination of Yadagirigutta."

NEWS | FHRAI appeals PM Modi to provide immediate relief to the industry from the abnormal increase in the cost of LPG

India’s apex Hospitality Association - Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) has submitted a representation requesting the Hon’ble Prime Minister – Shri Narendra Modi to provide immediate relief to the Hospitality industry from the abnormal increase in the cost of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG). The Association has requested that the tax rate charged on LPG supplied to standalone restaurants be reduced from the current 18 per cent to 5 per cent. It has stated that since standalone restaurants are not allowed to claim ITC, this move will help reduce the cost burden on restaurants.

The latest price hike is the second highest increase in LPG since January 1, 2014, when the 19-kg cylinder became costlier by Rs.353.50 (in Delhi). Restaurants, especially standalone, do not have any more headroom left to absorb such a steep increase in input costs. FHRAI has stated that LPG being one of the most essential commodities in the restaurant industry, the steep price increase will sound the death knell for hundreds of small restaurants from all parts of the country.

“The unprecedented increase in the cost of diesel has drastically raised the logistic tariff which in turn has led to an abnormal hike in the prices of grains, pulses, edible oil and other essentials raw materials. There has been an exponential increase in the cost of raw materials used in restaurants since the lockdown period. This cost escalation of roughly over 30 per cent is severely affecting restaurants that are trying to resume operations and stay afloat after a turbulent twenty months of lockdown and closures. Add to this, the steep hike in the LPG cylinders. Under these challenging circumstances, the sector is constrained to increase the cost of food items on the menu which will directly affect the working lower and middle class population that have to eat out. We request the Government to reduce the tax rate on LPG at least for standalone restaurants from the present 18 per cent to 5 per cent. Since standalone restaurants cannot claim ITC, this move will help reduce the cost burden on the restaurants which in turn will ensure that it does not burn a hole in the consumer’s pockets,” says  Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, Vice President, FHRAI.

Amongst all the sectors, the hospitality sector in the country has taken the biggest hit due to the pandemic. Business came to a complete standstill after the lockdown came into effect. Since then, 30 per cent of hotels and restaurants in the country have shut down permanently due to financial losses. Close to 20 per cent of hotels and restaurants still haven’t opened fully and the remaining 50 per cent are running in losses with revenues below 50 per cent of the pre-COVID19 levels.

“The debilitating impact of the pandemic has dealt a colossal economic blow to businesses along with millions of job losses in the hospitality sector. The ripple effects of the two successive waves of the pandemic have destroyed the entire hospitality eco-system in the country and even today, when all other sectors in the country are being allowed to function normally, the hospitality sector faces several restrictions in operations. This situation has become more severe due to the steep hike in the LPG cylinders, making hospitality a most unviable business in the country. We, therefore, request the Government for its support on this very serious issue impacting millions in the foodservice industry in the country,” concludes Kohli.

NEWS | ITC Hotels signs 297 keys Mementos property in Shimla

Mementos Shimla sprawls over an area of 10 acres with a total of 297 keys including 40 Villas of four bedrooms each.

Expanding its footprint in the picturesque state of Himachal Pradesh, ITC Hotels has now signed Mementos Shimla.

Mementos Shimla sprawls over an area of 10 acres with a total of 297 keys including 40 Villas of four bedrooms each. The 200 sq. mt. luxurious villas offer a marvelous view of the valley and are ideally suited to house large family and friends’ staycations.

Widely applauded for their versatile Food & Beverage repertoire, ITC Hotels bring the flavours of their cuisine legacy to Mementos Shimla. The food and beverage options at the property include an all-day dining multi-cuisine restaurant, a bar and a specialty rooftop restaurant.

Anil Chadha, Chief Executive-ITC Hotels stated “Himachal Pradesh is one of the key hill destinations that witnessed huge footfalls post pandemic. This state has unsurmountable beauty and is truly everyone’s favourite. From ‘white Christmas’ to green glory, our latest luxury outpost Mementos Shimla brings you the best of all seasons. With demand mainly stemming from road trips to nearby destinations, Shimla is poised to receive high influx of domestic tourism and destination weddings.”

Pankaj Gupta, Owner, Mementos Shimla stated "We are building one of the largest hotels in the hills, in the heart of Shimla and so we had to choose a partner that has the ability and experience in managing large luxury hotels. We are delighted to get ITC Hotels on board with their Mementos brand and are extremely confident that this alliance will deliver an outstanding luxury experience to guests".

Bringing nature’s splendor closer to guests, the hotel offers a great view of the mountains. Uniquely located, Mementos Shimla truly exemplifies the local lush offering all rooms a beautiful view of the rich green forests. Soak in the sunshine, plan a trek or a mountain picnic-each experience promises to be a wonderful memory. The enchanting beauty and serenity of the surroundings create beautiful scenic stories.

Already a much sought-after New Year destination, Shimla is being seen as a preferred ‘all time celebration destination’ , Mementos Shimla displays a massive 7500 sq. ft. pillar less banquet space to cater to the rising demand for destination weddings in the hills. Mementos Shimla is equipped with a state of the art fitness centre overlooking an all-weather swimming pool and spa. Be it business, leisure or bleisure, Mementos Shimla is your home away from home.

Mementos Shimla is situated in the heart of the city and is just a 30-minute drive from the Shimla Airport and 10 minutes’ drive from the Shimla railway station. The famous Shimla Mall Road is just a 15-minute drive from the hotel.

NEWS | Marriott Bonvoy introduces Marriott Bonvoy Moments platform

The platform gives members the chance to use Marriott Bonvoy points earned from travel and everyday activities such as hotel stays at Marriott’s extraordinary hotel brands

Football fans have something to celebrate as exclusive NFL Moments go live on the Marriott Bonvoy Moments platform. These money-can’t-buy packages allow members of Marriott Bonvoy’s award-winning travel program to use their points to access incredible experiences at Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles.

The Marriott Bonvoy Moments platform gives members the chance to use Marriott Bonvoy points earned from travel and everyday activities such as hotel stays at Marriott’s 30 extraordinary hotel brands, co-brand credit card purchases, ride-sharing, or food delivery, to gain VIP access to bucket list experiences all over the globe. Members may redeem their points for either fixed-price experiences or use them to bid on packages through auctions.

The platform will offer multiple exclusive Super Bowl LVI experiences that will give members an unforgettable way to enjoy the biggest weekend in football. This includes the chance to meet NFL Legends, gain field access at Super Bowl LVI and attend Super Bowl LVI in style in the Courtyard by Marriott stadium suite. 

“Our members are passionate football fans excited to take their passion for the game back on the road this NFL season and for the return of in-person football experiences. We’re thrilled to be able to offer these once-in-a-lifetime Marriott Bonvoy Moments at the Super Bowl once again through our longtime partnership with the NFL, giving our members the chance to use their points to make unforgettable memories with friends, family, and new connections,” said David Flueck, Senior Vice President, Marriott Bonvoy.

NEWS | FHRAI appeals PM Modi to provide immediate relief to the industry from the abnormal increase in the cost of LPG

India’s apex Hospitality Association - Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) has submitted a representation requesting the Hon’ble Prime Minister – Shri Narendra Modi to provide immediate relief to the Hospitality industry from the abnormal increase in the cost of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG). The Association has requested that the tax rate charged on LPG supplied to standalone restaurants be reduced from the current 18 per cent to 5 per cent. It has stated that since standalone restaurants are not allowed to claim ITC, this move will help reduce the cost burden on restaurants.

The latest price hike is the second highest increase in LPG since January 1, 2014, when the 19-kg cylinder became costlier by Rs.353.50 (in Delhi). Restaurants, especially standalone, do not have any more headroom left to absorb such a steep increase in input costs. FHRAI has stated that LPG being one of the most essential commodities in the restaurant industry, the steep price increase will sound the death knell for hundreds of small restaurants from all parts of the country.

“The unprecedented increase in the cost of diesel has drastically raised the logistic tariff which in turn has led to an abnormal hike in the prices of grains, pulses, edible oil and other essentials raw materials. There has been an exponential increase in the cost of raw materials used in restaurants since the lockdown period. This cost escalation of roughly over 30 per cent is severely affecting restaurants that are trying to resume operations and stay afloat after a turbulent twenty months of lockdown and closures. Add to this, the steep hike in the LPG cylinders. Under these challenging circumstances, the sector is constrained to increase the cost of food items on the menu which will directly affect the working lower and middle class population that have to eat out. We request the Government to reduce the tax rate on LPG at least for standalone restaurants from the present 18 per cent to 5 per cent. Since standalone restaurants cannot claim ITC, this move will help reduce the cost burden on the restaurants which in turn will ensure that it does not burn a hole in the consumer’s pockets,” says  Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, Vice President, FHRAI.

Amongst all the sectors, the hospitality sector in the country has taken the biggest hit due to the pandemic. Business came to a complete standstill after the lockdown came into effect. Since then, 30 per cent of hotels and restaurants in the country have shut down permanently due to financial losses. Close to 20 per cent of hotels and restaurants still haven’t opened fully and the remaining 50 per cent are running in losses with revenues below 50 per cent of the pre-COVID19 levels.

“The debilitating impact of the pandemic has dealt a colossal economic blow to businesses along with millions of job losses in the hospitality sector. The ripple effects of the two successive waves of the pandemic have destroyed the entire hospitality eco-system in the country and even today, when all other sectors in the country are being allowed to function normally, the hospitality sector faces several restrictions in operations. This situation has become more severe due to the steep hike in the LPG cylinders, making hospitality a most unviable business in the country. We, therefore, request the Government for its support on this very serious issue impacting millions in the foodservice industry in the country,” concludes Kohli.

Visit Maldives | Maldives Participates in An Online Travel Mart Organized By JATA

Maldives participates in an online travel mart organized by the Japanese Association of Travel Agents, JATA.

JATA 2nd Online Mart is organized by the Outbound Travel Promotion Division of JATA. The event consists of online seminars to be held from 16-17th November and business meetings to be held from 25th-26th November.

It connects travel industry professionals from Japan and overseas, allowing exchange of the latest information on border openings, travel restrictions, travel safety protocols and destination attractions. Visit Maldives is representing the country in the online event, while industry partners including CrossRoads Maldives, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo & Grand Park Kodhipparu are taking part in the B2B meetings of the event.

Through this event Maldives is being promoted as a safe haven for Japanese travelers post lifting of travel restrictions in the country. This event is aimed at maintaining and strengthening destination presence and establishing Maldives as the top of the mind destination for Japan travelers. JATA Online Travel Mart provides a platform for industry stakeholders to meet and connect with travel trade partners from the market and create destination awareness on products, experiences and current travel guidelines. Through this online mart we will approximately connect to over 1000 agents from the Japanese market.

Participation in this event comes in line with Visit Maldives’ marketing strategy for the Japanese market, aimed at promoting the destination as a safe haven, emphasizing on the unique geographic advantage of our scattered islands which allow natural social distance for tourists. It helps to promote the Maldivian tourist products, including resorts, hotels, guesthouses and liveaboards, along with experiences unique to the Maldives to travel trade and tourists from Japan. This webinar assists in staying up to date with the latest market and sector trends including travel forecasts and consumer sentiment towards long haul travel in Japan. Such activities are expected to increase future bookings and arrivals from the Japanese market.

In 2019, a total of 44,251 travelers arrived from the Japanese market ranking Japan as the 9th top source market for Maldivian tourism. The Japanese border is currently closed for international leisure travel and therefore the Maldives have witnessed a drastic drop in the number of travelers arriving from Japan.

Visit Maldives aims to maintain destination presence and to place Maldives as the top choice destination to travel to as soon as the Japanese borders open for international travel. Activities in the pipeline for the Japanese market include media and celebrity familiarization trips, and social media campaigns.

NEWS | Goldfinch Hotel taps into food festivals for recovery growth

Goldfinch Hotel taps into food festivals for recovery growth

Food festivals, apart from highlighting the culinary expertise of a restaurant, hold more significance for 5-star hotels and resorts as they help in marketing other facilities of the property.

Successful hotels are not islands unto themselves, partnering with neighbors or others in the area is a popular way to offer something different for guests and draw in locals, as well as build on consumers’ quest for local flavour. Hotels are using this strategy to great effect when it comes to food and beverage.

Goldfinch Hotel in Mumbai has been organising a lot of food festivals at their Banjara restaurant. While The Grand Trunk Road food festival has just ended, the hotel has announced “10 ka DUM,” to promote their dishes in one offer.

The food festivals, apart from highlighting the culinary expertise of a restaurant, hold more significance for 5-star hotels and resorts as they help in marketing other facilities of the hotel apart from just food. Such food promotions are used as a marketing tool to keep a hotel or restaurant on top of a customer’s mental and emotional recall, thus enabling that hotel or restaurant to become a vibrant F&B destination in the city while also using patrons’ visits as an opportunity to highlight other offerings of the hotel.

“The food festival becomes a talking point on all fronts, guests talk about it and the hotel’s social media handle promotes it. Patrons look forward to experiencing something new and more walk-ins are also seen in the restaurant during the festival,” commented Subhadeep Datta, general manager, Goldfinch Hotel Mumbai.

The property witnesses at least a 30 percent increase in footfall during such festivals. For the Grand GT Road festival, inspiration has been to take guests on a culinary sojourn along with one of Asia’s oldest highways, where one could relish traditional fare from Chittagong and Kolkata to Kabul via stopovers at Amritsar, Delhi, and Allahabad.

“We are expecting a good footfall at the food festival. With the reducing number of covid cases and the fact that more and more people have got vaccinated, guests have regained confidence to step out of their homes, especially in hotel brands that are known for their strict adherence to hygiene,” Datta added.

The hotel is nearly back to doing pre-Covid business volumes. Datta states that the hotel expects to see a continued rise in terms of bookings and footfalls during the coming festive and year-end season.

Though food festivals are revenue-centric and organised to add to incomes, they also enable the chefs and culinary staff to explore more ideas and experiment with unusual cuisines which are not found on the regular menu.

NEWS | ITC Hotels announces its second Mementos property in Rajasthan

This luxury property in Jaipur will feature 130 rooms, offering the hotel brand’s signature services.

ITC Hotels has signed yet another property in Rajasthan, with the announcement of Mementos Jaipur. This is the second Mementos property by the group, the first one being in Udaipur, which was signed recently.

Both properties are poised as top-notch wedding destinations. Mementos Jaipur presents a unique venue in “Shahi Bagh”, inspired by the Mughal Gardens. Spread over 2 acre, it offers a picturesque setting for grand weddings, special celebrations and MICE events.

This luxury hotel located in Kukas in Jaipur, celebrates the architecture, art, culture and colours of Jaipur. This new addition will offer guests immersive experiences as it showcases the best of traditional hospitality that Rajasthan is acknowledged for.

Mementos Jaipur will have over 130 rooms spread over 25 acre of land. All rooms have the luxury of space with a minimum room size of 50 sqm, and comfortable sit-out courtyards.

The Food and Beverage options at the property include a multicuisine restaurant, Kebabs & Kurries (the acclaimed north Indian signature cuisine from ITC Hotels) and a bar. There are a multitude of offerings to choose from, including a library, the Kayakalp spa and the Ollies Club for young adults.

Anil Chadha, chief executive, ITC Hotels stated, “ From ‘Mementos Udaipur’ earlier this month to ‘Mementos Jaipur’, we are rapidly adding to the brand’s inventory. Brand “Mementos” helps us deliver unique luxury stays across different destinations through collaboration with asset owners who choose ITC Hotels for its top notch hospitality expertise.”

Mementos is the latest luxury brand by ITC's Hotel Group which brings together a collection of unique hotels, across varied destinations ranging from modern marvels, hidden retreats to historic treasures.

New Opening | Hyatt Place Kathmandu Celebrates Official Opening

Hyatt Place Kathmandu Celebrates Official Opening

153-room Hyatt Place hotel opens in the heart of Kathmandu

  Hyatt Place Kathmandu, the second Hyatt-branded hotel in Nepal, is officially open, expanding the Hyatt Place brand’s footprint globally in markets that matter most to guests and World of Hyatt members. The new hotel features the Hyatt Place brand’s intuitive design, casual atmosphere and practical amenities, such as Free Wi-Fi Everywhere and 24-hour food offerings. Ownership of the hotel includes Akshay Golyan, Executive Director and Shakti Golyan, Chairman of City Hotel Ltd.

Because Hyatt’s efforts are grounded in listening and fueled by care, Hyatt Place hotels combine style, innovation and 24/7 conveniences to create an easy to navigate experience for today’s multitasking traveler. Hyatt Place Kathmandu is located in the lively city of Kathmandu, set in a valley surrounded by the beautifully scenic Himalayan mountains. Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, is steeped in rich history, long associated with ancient traditions and a vibrant culture. The hotel is only a short two-and-a-half-mile (four-kilometer) journey from the bustling city center and its attractions, which include many World Heritage sites like the remarkable ancient temple, Swayambhunath Stupa, and the sacred Hindu temple in Pashupatinath. For those looking for some retail therapy, the hotel is close to several popular shopping centers including New Road, Thamel and Durbar Marg.

“As Kathmandu continues to be a sought-after spot for both business and leisure travelers, we are excited to add to the momentum of the thriving city by welcoming the first Hyatt Place to Nepal in this truly unique capital city, which is bursting with history and cultural traditions,” said General Manager Varun Talwar. “With our smartly designed social spaces and guestrooms with separate work and sleep areas, our multitasking guests can easily accomplish what they need to do while on the road.”

Hyatt Place Kathmandu offers: 

• 153 spacious guestrooms with separate spaces to sleep, work and play, as well as a Cozy Corner sofa-sleeper

• Breakfast Bar featuring an inviting selection of hot and cold items to suit all guests’ needs

• Zing World of Flavors delivers good food, fast, combining local and worldly ingredients with bold tastes from South-East Asia with some Italian-Mediterranean options.

• Zing Sky Bar & Lounge is an energetic poolside venue with breathtaking sunset views, offering curated cocktails and Nepal’s best brews

• The Market serving freshly prepared meals anytime, day or night

• The Bar featuring specialty coffees and premium beers, as well as wines and cocktails

• Necessities program for forgotten items that guests can buy, borrow or enjoy for free

• Free Wi-Fi Everywhere throughout hotel and guestrooms

• Event Spaces offer approximately 5,382 square feet (500 square meters) of flexible, high-tech meeting/function space

• Fitness Center featuring cardio equipment with LCD touchscreens

“Kathmandu is a vibrant city, filled with historic and artistic sites, friendly people, exciting neighborhoods, and an ever-expanding list of places to visit and experience,” said Akshay Golyan, Executive Director, City Hotel Ltd. “Our hotel is central to all of them and we are confident that the Hyatt Place Kathmandu will exceed guest expectations and provide them with everything they need while visiting our area.”

HYATT PLACE KATHMANDU LEADERSHIP

Hyatt Place Kathmandu is under the leadership of General Manager Varun Talwar and Head of Sales and Marketing Achint Rastogi. In his role, Talwar is directly responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the hotel, including overseeing the hotel’s 150 associates and ensuring guests encounter the thoughtful service for which the Hyatt Place brand is known. Rastogi is responsible for providing sales service and support to travelers and meeting planners frequenting the Kathmandu area. 

For more information, please visit HyattPlaceKathmandu.com      

Guided by its purpose of care, Hyatt’s multi-layered Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment further enhances its operational guidance and resources around colleague and guest safety and peace of mind. More information on Hyatt’s commitment can be found here: https://hyatt.com/care-and-cleanliness     

The term “Hyatt” is used in this release for convenience to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates.

For further information:

500 Reasons to Stay Here 

Explore new places and reward your spirit of adventure. World of Hyatt members can earn 500 Bonus Points for qualifying nights at Hyatt Place Kathmandu between November 27th 2021 through February 16th, 2022. Additional participating hotels and their offer stay periods can be found at worldofhyatt.com/newhotelbonus. No registration is required, and members can earn on top of other offers.

Terms & Conditions

Offer valid for 500 Bonus Points for each qualifying night stayed by World of Hyatt members in good standing during a hotel’s offer period at participating hotels and resorts.  Offer valid at participating hotels and resorts for stays with a checkout date during each hotel’s offer period.  For each hotel’s offer period, visit worldofhyatt.com/newhotelbonus.  To be eligible for this offer you must be a World of Hyatt member in good standing at time of reservation and stay, stay at a participating hotel with a checkout date during that hotel’s offer period, provide your World of Hyatt mmbership number at time of check-in, and either pay an Eligible Rate or redeem a free night award.  An “Eligible Rate” and “Ineligible Rate” are defined in the World of Hyatt Terms and Conditions (located at worldofhyatt.com/terms).  Only one point bonus may be earned per member, per stay, regardless of the number of rooms booked.  Only the room occupied by the member will count toward this offer.  Two or more consecutive nights at the same hotel will be deemed one stay.  All points awarded under this offer are Bonus Points.  This offer is subject to the complete terms and conditions of the World of Hyatt program.  Please allow 3-4 weeks after travel is completed for World of Hyatt Bonus Points to be credited to your Account.  To join World of Hyatt, visit worldofhyatt.com.  Qualifying nights will automatically be tracked when you provide your World of Hyatt membership number at check-in.  A limited number of rooms are allocated to this offer; reservations subject to availability. Offer not valid with groups, conventions, other promotional offers, tour packages or special rate programs. Promotional blackout periods may apply due to seasonal periods or special events, and normal arrival/departure restrictions apply. Hyatt reserves the right to alter or withdraw this offer at any time without notice.  The trademarks Hyatt®, World of Hyatt® and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its affiliates. © 2019 Hyatt Corporation. All rights reserved.

About Hyatt Place

Hyatt Place hotels combine style, innovation and 24/7 conveniences to create an easy to navigate experience for today’s multi-tasking traveler. Guests can enjoy thoughtfully designed guestrooms featuring distinct zones for sleep, work and play, and free flowing social spaces that offer seamless transitions from work to relaxation. With more than 385 locations globally, Hyatt Place hotels offer freshly prepared food around the clock, efficient service and differentiated experiences for World of Hyatt members. For more information, please visit hyattplace.com. Join the conversation on Facebook and Instagram, and tag photos with #HyattPlace and #WhySettle.

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company guided by its purpose – to care for people so they can be their best. As of September 30, 2021, Hyatt’s portfolio included more than 1,000 hotel and all-inclusive properties in 69 countries across six continents, and the acquisition of Apple Leisure Group added 96 properties in 10 countries as of November 1, 2021. Hyatt’s offerings include the Park Hyatt®, Miraval®, Grand Hyatt®, Alila®, Andaz®, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt®, Destination by Hyatt™, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt®, Hyatt Ziva™, Hyatt Zilara™, Thompson Hotels®, Hyatt Centric®, Caption by Hyatt, JdV by Hyatt™, Hyatt House®, Hyatt Place®, UrCove, and Hyatt Residence Club® brands, as well as resort and hotel brands under the AMR™ Collection, including Secrets® Resorts & Spas, Dreams® Resorts & Spas, Breathless® Resorts & Spas, Zoëtry® Wellness & Spa Resorts, Alua® Hotels & Resorts, and Sunscape® Resorts & Spas. Hyatt’s subsidiaries operate the World of Hyatt® loyalty program, ALG Vacations®, Unlimited Vacation Club®, Amstar DMC destination management services, and the Trisept Solutions® travel technology platform. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.  

Trends | The Thinnai Jaffna hosted their Christmas Cake Mixing Ceremony

Heralding the oncoming season of Christmas, The Thinnai Hotel Jaffna, hosted its traditional Christmas cake mixing ceremony (November 008, 2021). Led by Mr. Janitha Madawala, the General Manager of the hotel, hotel staff and guests kick started the traditional festivity by mixing the ingredients of the Christmas cake.

Armed with gloves and Santa hats, all came together to celebrate the festivities and merriment of cake mixing. The hotel used premium quality spices and dry fruits to get the best cakes of the season. Guests & Staff were seen pouring wine and mixing the ingredients together with a lot of excitement and gaiety. The event saw a good response as young and old together got into the act under the supervision of the chef’s presence at the event.

Amid Preparations, Mr. Janitha C. Madawala said, "Cake mixing is an age-old tradition around the world, and we are so excited to be hosting this unique ceremony at The Thinnai as we prepare for a festive season filled with joy and we are grateful to all the patrons and guests who participated at the event and are looking forward to hosting you all throughout the next few weeks for a string of celebrations, fun activities, special holiday promotions as well as our trademark year-end dinner gala.”

Marriott News | Marriott inks deal with Wasl for lively W Dubai hotel in Mina Seyahi

W Hotels and Resorts already exist on Palm Jumeirah and Yas Island

The UAE’s third W hotel has been confirmed, this time opening in Dubai’s Mina Seyahi area.

W Hotels and Resorts is one of Marriott’s most luxurious brands and The W Dubai – Mina Seyahi will be no different, with an expected 318 guestrooms, including 26 suites.

Inside, The W Lounge (the brand’s signature take on the hotel lobby) is anticipated to draw inspiration from a Middle Eastern gathering place. Anticipated plans also include a new sunset destination experience by the pool overlooking Mina Seyahi bay, as well as a signature outlet on the 31st floor, with views of Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah.

Marriott’s Candice D’Cruz, vice president – luxury brands, Europe, Middle East & Africa, said: “We are seeing increasing demand for luxury lifestyle brands in Dubai, and with its mix of culture and high-energy lifestyle, the emirate is the perfect destination for the trendsetting W Hotels brand.

“With its unexpected design and iconic, socially-driven ‘Whatever/Whenever service, W Dubai – Mina Seyahi will become a destination within a destination.”

Slated to open in 2022, the new hotel is developed by Wasl.

HE Hesham Al Qassim, CEO of Wasl Asset Management Group, said: “We are pleased to sign this agreement and introduce W Dubai – Mina Seyahi to the renowned Mina Seyahi complex in Dubai Marina. This new property, which is among several other Marriott International hotels that Wasl brought and launched in the emirate, will be an exciting addition to Dubai’s hospitality sector. We continue to look forward to developing further hotels to cement our position as a key player in the hospitality sector.”

Sandeep Walia, COO, Middle East, Marriott International, added: “We are thrilled to strengthen our relationship with Wasl Group to open W Dubai – Mina Seyahi in such an important leisure destination in Dubai. This new hotel underscores our commitment to growing our luxury portfolio in the Middle East, while signifying the demand for the W Hotels brand in the region.”

Event | Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre celebrates Children’s Day with a special brunch “A Child’s Fair”

Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre celebrates Children’s Day with a special brunch “A Child’s Fair”

Hyderabad: 15th November 2021:  Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre organised  a Children’s Day Special Brunch on 14th November 2021 at Food Exchange. The hotel celebrated the National Children’s Day in an innovative way by organizing “A Child’s Fair” with a dream-like setting of perfect weather, fun games, and an array of national and international cuisines .  The event transited the kids on a joy ride and reminded guests of their beautiful childhood memories.  The event was adorned with  with fun-filled balloons, live music band, Face painting, tattoo artists, games jockey along with various kinds of food across the world. The kids enjoyed the colorful desserts counters and they also baked ginger cookie and ginger houses with the help of chefs and their parents.  

To make the big day more memorable a separate kid’s zone was created which was loaded with activities like trampoline, bouncy, X box, caricature painting and Super hero character. Apart from traditional cuisine the buffet will include Asian, Indian, Western delicacies along with Teppanyaki Ice Cream live counter and a unique Egg Station along with chat counters.

According to Mr. Manish Dayya, General Manager, Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre, “We are delighted to organise ‘A child’s Fair’ on the occasion of Children’s Day at Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre . The event was planned to help kids and families unwind and  relax in a beautiful environment. Our team included all elements to take guests on memory lane with an array of fun elements and an amazing spread of foods. We are taking utmost care and will be strictly adhering to all the government-provided norms and regulations.”