Three disappointing experiences with Tata companies made me question whether the group's historic values of customer focus and accountability are slowly fading, notes Dr N Ravichandran.
As temperatures rise, travellers are increasingly gravitating towards cooler climates, driving demand for hill stations such as Mussoorie, Munnar, Varkala, Ooty and Kodaikanal.
ITC Hotels on Friday reported nearly 74 per cent rise in consolidated net profit for the second quarter ended September at Rs 133.29 crore, on higher revenue from operations. The company, which listed on the stock exchanges earlier this year post its demerger from ITC Limited, had posted a net profit of Rs 76.63 crore a year ago.
The Republic Day long weekend beginning Saturday is driving a surge in travel with hotels and resorts witnessing an increase in bookings led by high demand, reflecting a decisive shift in traveller behaviour and the rise of micro-getaways, industry players said. The increasing preference for short, experience-led holidays is emerging as a strong trend shaping the country's leisure travel market.
While it's still winter temperatures in many parts of the world, these destinations quietly enjoy 10 to 12 hours of sunshine a day, warm temperatures and an inviting holiday pace.
The atmosphere in Ahmedabad ahead of the T20 World Cup final between India and New Zealand is markedly different from the previous final, with Indian fans confident of victory. New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner acknowledges the overwhelming support for India while rallying Kiwi fans back home.
Through its cloud kitchens, ITC is building a portfolio of shorter shelf-life offerings and selling them through quick commerce platforms.
Driven by a boom in domestic tourism, a record number of weddings in November and December, and a surge in extended weekend vacations.
'India has not faced a major terrorism loss since the Mumbai terrorist attacks in 2008.'
Travel firms expect package prices to rise by 5 to 10 per cent, depending on destination and inclusions.
Financial services giant HDFC Bank, carrying a brand value of $44.9 billion, has surged past IT consulting behemoth Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to reclaim its crown as the country's most valued brand, according to the 2025 Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable Indian Brands report.
'The upcoming long weekend has ignited strong travel intent, with robust bookings across leisure, spiritual and wellness destinations.'
'...than by the calendar.' Indian travellers are no longer restricting their getaways to summer or winter holidays.
Red Square and VDNKh easily rank among the most striking places I've visited -- both for their historical significance and architectural splendour.
My admiration for Russian culture, vision and ambition grew with every step as I clocked the miles, Nitin Sathe tells us after a visit to Moscow and St Petersburg.
'It's clear that fans are eager to be part of the live stadium experience, reflecting a growing trend of travel driven by marquee sporting events.'
During this summer, Indian travel buffs are opting for destinations that provide an escape from the ominous heat, along with coastal regions within the country and countries offering visa-free travel.
Diversified entity ITC Ltd on Monday said it will demerge its hotels business by incorporating wholly-owned subsidiary ITC Hotels Ltd, paving way to attract appropriate investors and strategic partners. With the company's hotels business maturing over the years, the company said the vertical is ready to chart its own growth path as a separate entity in the fast-growing hospitality industry. "The Board of Directors of ITC Ltd at its meeting held on July 24, 2023, evaluated and discussed various alternative structures for the hotels business.
As several premium hotels such as ITC, Taj and Oberoi reopen after the lockdown in cities such as Bengaluru, Kolkata and Hyderabad, many changes have been made for the safety of guests and staff including temporary closure of spas, bars, gyms, and swimming pools.
With Valentine's Day falling on a Friday, travel is picking up as people look for quick getaways.
With the spate of businesses turning their attention to Ayodhya, land rates have shot up, in some pockets by as much as 10 times. Whether one walks into a hotel lobby or sits down for a meal, land deals are being discussed at every other table -- one on one or among groups.
Mementos, the new brand, would be aimed at addressing the need for boutique luxury hotels across various destinations.
With demand drying up, hotels are surviving on quarantine centres and isolation facilities.
Fight the high season and ridiculous prices with these simple and easy travel hacks.
Hospitality chains are hosting dual brands on one property, looking for operational efficiencies without diluting their brands, says Shivani Shinde Nadhe.
With Onam and Raksha Bandhan just around the corner, the festival season is ready to kick off in full swing. As people embrace the celebratory spirit, companies anticipate a surge in sales this year. Consumer durables firms are expecting strong growth of 40-50 per cent in the premium segment during the upcoming season. Appliance makers also foresee increased demand for cooling appliances - refrigerators and air conditioners - which were impacted by unseasonal rainfall.
Since home-delivered meals from five-stars are cheaper by 15 to 20 per cent as compared to eating at the destination outside, food delivery has emerged as an important part of every restaurant's service portfolio.
'What's sad today is that there are so many people who cannot find work, not because the country is devoid of that opportunity, but because we are not doing enough in the country.'
'Jin Jiang had invested in Louvre Hotels.' 'Louvre, a couple of months ago, took a majority in Sarovar hotels.' 'So they are coming in now.' 'Look at the Chinese -- two quarters ago they took 25 percent in Hilton.' And then HNA also took majority in Carlson (Radisson).'
OYO is also planning to set up some premium restaurants post the launch of The French Press. In recent months, the company has started four cloud kitchen brands - Adraq, O Biriyani, Paratha Pandit and Master of Momos.
To avoid season pricing, keep a close eye on the calendar and begin planning travel at least 60 to 90 days in advance keeping tentative dates in mind.
Unlike global majors like Lindt and Godiva no standalone Indian chocolate boutiques have expanded into a national chain yet. ITC plans to change that with its luxury chocolate brand Fabelle, says Avishek Rakshit.
Because from June 1, 2015, you will have to fork out 14 per cent service tax instead of 12.36 per cent
The future of travel is increasingly shifting to focus on experiences that positively impact one's overall wellness.
Mumbai-based culinary expert, recipe developer and food curator Gita Hari shares recipes for Kamala Harris.
Set up by three former NDTV executives, the company is targeting premium restaurants in Delhi-NCR
Mahindra launches e-mobility platform 'Glyd' to take on Ola, Uber. Targeted at office-going executives, it offers web-conferencing, curated entertainment and music content from selective partners.
The packaging is new and so is the way it talks to customers. Plus the brand has been extended into hair oil, shampoo and body wash, products that appeal to the young.
Star earned ad revenues of around Rs 30 billion during last year's IPL. Whether it hits last year's figure will depend on how the economy picks up during the festival season.
If you are looking for a true wireless stereo experience at a budget price, Ashish Narsale says you can certainly try the pTron Bassbuds Urban.
