Kalpana Pathak And Swaraj Baggonkar

Stories by Kalpana Pathak And Swaraj Baggonkar

Mumbai fine dining may lose 30% clientele

Mumbai fine dining may lose 30% clientele

Rediff.com   1 Dec 2008

Bookings in five-star hotels and inflow of foreign tourists into the country were already running low due to the global economic meltdown. With Wednesday's terror attack, the hotel industry is expected to see a rise in the number of cancellations and also a substantial reduction in tourist numbers since the terrorists have struck at the peak of the tourist season.

Attack may leave Rs 500 cr bill for Taj

Attack may leave Rs 500 cr bill for Taj

Rediff.com   30 Nov 2008

Restoration of colonial woodwork could take almost an year.

Hotels fear 25-30% loss in business

Hotels fear 25-30% loss in business

Rediff.com   28 Nov 2008

The attack comes at a time when the hotel industry is already suffering from weak demand. Thanks to the credit crunch, companies have decided to curb overseas travels and move to low-cost alternative accommodation. Even though the terror attacks occurred in south Mumbai-based Trident and Taj hotels, tourists in Delhi's Le Meridean , Shangri La and Taj Mahal were seen cancelling scheduled events.

Mercedes to launch 6 AMGs this month

Mercedes to launch 6 AMGs this month

Rediff.com   22 Nov 2008

The models will carry a price tag of Rs 1.25 crore to Rs 3 crore, the most expensive in the company's line-up, and will be custom ordered and delivered directly from Germany. Delivery time may take two or three months depending on what the customer chooses.

B-schools' development programme to take a hit

B-schools' development programme to take a hit

Rediff.com   21 Nov 2008

Revenues from management development programmes expected to slow during the next quarters. On an average, MDPs contribute around 35 per cent to the revenue stream for B-schools. With companies tightening their purse strings, B-schools could see a direct impact on their revenue stream. Companies have confirmed that they are cutting down spending on training programmes.

Society of Jesus applies for central univ status

Society of Jesus applies for central univ status

Rediff.com   18 Nov 2008

Consolidating on its 500-year-old legacy of providing quality education, The Society of Jesus (SJ) (popularly known as Jesuits) has applied for a Central University status with the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).

Car firms gear up for new launches to drive sales

Car firms gear up for new launches to drive sales

Rediff.com   18 Nov 2008

Car companies are hoping to buck the slowdown by launching new models to push sales from January. Industry majors like Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra, Hyundai India have all lined up launches in the next few weeks and months hoping to generate reasonable volumes.

Auto-makers lure buyers with Made-In-India tag

Auto-makers lure buyers with Made-In-India tag

Rediff.com   17 Nov 2008

The move comes close on the heels of growth in developed auto markets such as the US and Europe dipping in the red. Analysts say that global auto companies are now focusing on developing new models for emerging markets like India, their with main focus on containing costs. The cost of development in India is considered to be the lowest in the world.

Output cut by auto companies hits ancillaries

Output cut by auto companies hits ancillaries

Rediff.com   10 Nov 2008

Auto component companies -- especially the mid-size and small ones -- are facing an uphill task to stay afloat as banks have become tight-fisted in giving credit and vehicle makers are cutting orders to combat the slowdown in sales.

Mahindra to launch Scorpio in China

Mahindra to launch Scorpio in China

Rediff.com   10 Nov 2008

The company is evaluating options to launch the Scorpio, Bolero, Xylo and pickup trucks in the Chinese market. However, no firm decision has yet been taken. In China, the company already has a presence in the tractor segment through Mahindra China Tractors, a joint venture company with and Jiangling Motors Company.

Falling Re raises cost of studying in US

Falling Re raises cost of studying in US

Rediff.com   5 Nov 2008

UK, Australia numbers could pick up instead.

Second-hand car rates go down the hill

Second-hand car rates go down the hill

Rediff.com   4 Nov 2008

Second-hand car prices have dropped 15 to 25 per cent following the imposition of stringent Supreme Court norms over repossessing and selling cars of owners defaulting on their loans.

Travel industry pins hopes on new formats

Travel industry pins hopes on new formats

Rediff.com   3 Nov 2008

Travelport has decided to make holidaying an over-the-counter experience, where the customer can plan his travel. It will launch about 150-200 travel solution shops by tying up with malls, multiplexes and retail chains. Online travel company Cleartrip.com tied up with the Indian Railway and Catering and Tourism Corporation in September. SOTC plans to hold a six-day long Great Holiday Bazaar across all its outlets from November 3-8, with discounts between 4 and 20 per cent.

M&M slashes Rs 5k-cr capex

M&M slashes Rs 5k-cr capex

Rediff.com   1 Nov 2008

Mahindra & Mahindra has decided to curtail its capital expenditure of Rs 5,000 crore (Rs 50 billion) in view of the ongoing slump in demand for cars and sports utility vehicles in the domestic market.

BPCL may sell 'purest' water

BPCL may sell 'purest' water

Rediff.com   29 Oct 2008

A refiner embarking on an alternative fuel strategy may end up selling bottled water to quench the thirst of millions.

M&M slots Rs 300 cr for brand promotion in the US

M&M slots Rs 300 cr for brand promotion in the US

Rediff.com   29 Oct 2008

India's biggest utility vehicle player Mahindra & Mahindra will spend close to Rs 300 crore ($60 million) towards brand-building and promotion as it prepares to launch its vehicles in the largest automotive market in the world - the United States.

B-schools woo companies for next summer

B-schools woo companies for next summer

Rediff.com   29 Oct 2008

Wary of the times ahead in the job market, business schools are working on a risk-minimisation strategy and looking at doubling the pool of companies on the campus for the summer placements scheduled in November this year.

US crisis forces car-makers to cut output

US crisis forces car-makers to cut output

Rediff.com   14 Oct 2008

JLR sees job cut if the situation does not improve.

Auto makers woo govt employees to boost sales

Auto makers woo govt employees to boost sales

Rediff.com   13 Oct 2008

Most top car makers are offering discounts, targeted specifically at government employees. About 5 million employees are expected to benefit from the government's move to raise its employees' salary by 70 per cent. The revised pay scales will be effective January 2006, which means they will get their pending salaries in bulk. Auto makers are hoping they will use the lumpsum payment to make a down payment for a car.

Honda banks on brand equity to sell cars

Honda banks on brand equity to sell cars

Rediff.com   13 Oct 2008

The company, which is now moving from being a premium brand to a mass market player through two launches in the small car segment in the next four years, hopes to cash in on Brand Honda's strong presence in the rural and semi-urban markets in India. Experts call it a gradual scaling up of the brand in the minds of the Indian consumers -- a strategy followed by the Japanese major in all parts of the globe.