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Hospitality Industry
Ahead of the Union Budget, MakeMyTrip co-founder and Group CEO Rajesh Magow on Monday said the hospitality sector's long-pending demand for an "industry status and continued focus on infrastructure development to ensure last-mile connectivity are crucial to realising its full potential. In an interview with PTI, Magow shared his wishlist for the Union Budget for 2025-26, to be presented on February 1. "The hope is that it should be growth-oriented budget, which effectively should set the tone for pretty much every sector, including travel and tourism sector for us as well. And within that, you know, the long pending demand of the hospitality sector, on getting the industry status continues to remain, and I think, and it's an important one, for the overall industry," Magow said. Asserting that the government has been doing a "great job" of allocating more funds towards infrastructure development, he said it is important to keep up with the pace of allocation as well as ...
Travel booking major OYO has launched a new check-in policy for partner hotels, starting from Meerut, introducing guidelines effective this year whereby unmarried couples will no longer be welcome to check in. Under the revised policy, all couples will be asked to present valid proof of relationship at the time of check-in, including for bookings made online. OYO has empowered its partner hotels' discretion to decline couple bookings based on their judgment, aligning with local social sensibility, the company said. OYO has given the directive to its partner hotels in Meerut to ensure this with immediate effect. Based on ground feedback, the company may expand this to more cities, people familiar with the policy change said. "OYO has received feedback in the past from civil society groups especially in Meerut urging action to address this issue. Additionally, residents from few other cities have petitioned for disallowing unmarried couples to check-in at OYO hotels," they said. Pawa
As the Indian hospitality industry prepares to uncork the champagne to welcome 2025, it is gearing up to roll out the red carpet to foreign tourists, whose arrivals are likely to cross pre-Covid levels next year while looking to continue its significant contribution to the country's economy and make 'India inevitable'. The sector, which is poised to contribute USD 1 trillion to India's economy by 2047, however, is looking up to the government for policy interventions, such as unified licensing, workforce upskilling, and targeted infrastructure investments to enable the vertical meet demand generated by India's drive towards becoming the world's third largest global economy. "India aims to become the third-largest economy by 2047, and the hospitality sector is set to play a pivotal role in achieving this goal. The sector's multiplier effect on the economy surpasses that of manufacturing and agriculture," Hotel Association of India (HAI) President KB Kachru told PTI. Asserting that th
The Delhi High Court on Friday reserved its verdict on the petitions by restaurant bodies challenging the guidelines prohibiting hotels and restaurants from automatically levying service charge on food bills. "Arguments heard. Judgement reserved," said Justice Prathiba M Singh. Federation of Hotels and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) and National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) moved court in 2022 by filing two separate petitions. The guidelines, issued by Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) on July 4, 2022, were stayed by the high court later that month. The counsel for FHRAI, in his rejoinder submissions on Friday, asserted the CCPA had no power or jurisdiction to impose such a ban, without following the principles of natural justice. "Merely holding a meeting with the industry body is not in compliance of natural justice," he said, "the guideline could only be advisory in nature". He said the service charge was levied on customers for the benefit of th
IPO-bound OYO on Friday announced five additions to its leadership team, with Sonal Sinha being appointed as Chief Operating Officer (COO)? International and Rachit Srivastava as the COO of OYO Vacation Homes in Europe. Besides, Shashank Jain will take over as Head of Technology & Online Revenue; Pankhuri Sakhuja will lead German home listings business Traum & flex-space business Innov8 and Ashish Bajpai has been promoted to Head of Revenue & Global OTA (online travel agency). OYO Founder & Group CEO Ritesh Agarwal said, "As we pursue our growth objectives, agility and decisive action remain at the core of our strategy. "Our leaders are continuously adapting and expanding their roles to stay ahead of evolving market dynamics and drive our business forward. I congratulate Sonal, Rachit, Shashank, Pankhuri and Ashish on their new roles. Having been with OYO for a significant period, they understand OYO and its values and have been critical to our success." OYO's Global ..
Global hospitality major Hilton on Wednesday said it plans to cross 150 luxury hotels in the Asia Pacific region in the coming years, driven by new openings including India. The company, which plans to quadruple its luxury portfolio across the region compared with the end of 2023, is seeking to tap the rising luxury travel trend and a desire among customers to better understand their heritage through travel. "From Tokyo to Maldives, Shanghai to Jaipur '? the luxury segment is growing exponentially and Hilton's luxury brands are poised to capture the significant opportunity across the region," Hilton Asia Pacific President Alan Watts said in a statement. The company said the addition of properties, such as Lanson Place Causeway Bay Hong Kong and Gangtey Lodge, Bhutan from Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Hilton's luxury pipeline in Asia Pacific continues to gain momentum. Recent signings, including Waldorf Astoria Jaipur and Conrad Jaipur in India, and Conrad Yokohama in Japan, ...