Category Archives: Hotels

Everyone deserves a holiday break, but these days, with so much news about the impact of travel on our precious planet, it is hard not to be concerned about our effect on the environment. The good news is that we can still take a hard-earned vacation while minimising our carbon footprint and getting good vibes from our leisure time. It is called ‘travelling consciously’ and Cross Hotels and Resorts have loads of ideas and inspiration for that this month. The Meaningful Travel partnership with Socialgiver is an essential and generous collaboration directly supporting the health and welfare of our precious green resources. By booking packages through the Socialgiver website, half of whatever you spend will be donated to The Big Trees Project to support nature conservation and the protection of green spaces throughout Thailand. This is a feel-good and rewarding initiative. The hotels also have great ideas about participating in World Car Free Day in September. A venture that gives us reflection time about reducing our reliance on motor vehicles. Vehicles are convenient and offer many benefits, but they also contribute to a dangerous amount of pollution. World Car Free Day is great for raising awareness about these concerns and helping to reduce emissions. So, we are suggesting we all take the lead by stepping up, out, and into your day without motor vehicle keys. People are more conscious about what they consume, and the hotels are jazzed about the reopening of the exceptional vegan restaurant, Moreganic, at Away Chiang Mai Thapae Resort. It is nestled beside the hotel’s tropical gardens and offers a relaxed and tranquil ambience. The restaurant serves delectable drinks such as banana, cocoa, and almond milkshakes, …

Ministry of Tourism facilitated the efforts of industry stakeholders and conferred the National Tourism Awards 2018-19 to winners in different categories on the occasion of World Tourism Day at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. The Chief Guest of the prestigious event was Jagdeep Dhankhar, Vice President of India, who honoured the excellence of members in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry, including State Governments. G Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Tourism, Culture and DONER, along with Ajay Bhatt, Minister of State for Tourism, also graced the ceremony. Ministers, representatives of states, travel trade and tourism organisations were in attendance to receive the awards. MOT also commenced its Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) iconic week to celebrate 75 years of independence with the National Tourism Awards.   List of Award Winners 2018-19 States Best State / Union Territory : Comprehensive Development of Tourism (Rest of India) First Prize (Hall of Fame) Uttarakhand Best State / Union Territory: Comprehensive Development of Tourism (Rest of India) 2nd Prize Maharashtra Best State / Union Territory: Comprehensive Development of Tourism (Rest of India) Third Prize Telangana Best State/ Union Territory: Comprehensive Development of Tourism (Rest of India) Hall of Fame Andhra Pradesh Best State / Union Territory: Comprehensive Development of Tourism (Rest of India) Hall of Fame Kerala Best State / Union Territory: Comprehensive Development of Tourism (Rest of India) Hall of Fame Goa Best District Tourism Promotional Council Kozhikode Best Maintained and Differently Abled Friendly Monument Shiv Temple, Bhojpur, Madhya Pradesh Best Tourist Friendly Airport in Class X Cities Kolkata Best Tourist-friendly Railway Station Secunderabad Best Tourist-friendly Airport in other cities Indore Best Heritage City Ahmedabad Civic Management of a Tourist Destination in India (Category …

As Thailand gears up for its first full tourism high-season since 2020, Cross Hotels & Resorts continues to enhance its presence in Bangkok with the signing of a new hotel management agreement (HMA) for a stunning riverfront property with Kene Hotel Bangkok, that is sure to reignite the desire for authentic, community-based travel experiences. The opening of Away Bangkok Riverside Kene, a beautiful 169-key lifestyle property located just steps from the Chao Phraya River, bodes well for the Thai capital as it looks to welcome guests back after a hiatus. A key gateway city for Cross Hotels & Resorts, Bangkok has been consistently ranked among the world’s most popular cities. Colloquially known as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, it was voted the leading capital in the Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index attracting more than 22 million visitors. “I am thrilled to partner with Kene Hotel Bangkok, as Away Bangkok Riverside Kene is without a doubt a strong addition to Cross’ growing and diverse portfolio. By empowering a new generation of travellers, our promise to ‘Transform Hospitality for All’ extends not only to our owners, our business and our people, but also to Alpha Gen adventurers who are seeking stylish hotel choices that perfectly encapsulate Bangkok’s happening riverside communities. Furthermore, our chic and functional meeting spaces are an added attraction for businesspeople and MICE organizers planning their next event,” said Harry Thaliwal, CEO of Cross Hotels & Resorts. One of Asia’s 21st century mega-cities, Bangkok was founded in 1782 as the Thonburi Kingdom and today tourists can still see much of the city’s traditional architecture as well as experience deep-rooted ways of life on the waterfront as they zip along canals aboard …

Spree Hospitality is pleased to announce the signing of new hotel in Ranjangaon. It will be the fifth Spree Hotel in Maharashtra. Spree Hospitality portfolio has more than 20 operating hotels with seven hotels in the pipeline. Commenting on the signing, Sagar Khurana, Vice President of Spree Hospitality, said, “It is a proud moment for us. This is our fifth property in Maharashtra. With the signing of this property, we have strengthened our presence in Maharashtra. We are delighted to partner with Mr. Patil for this hotel.” Spree Hospitality is targeting to commence operations of this hotel from March 2023. A short drive, the newly opened property is conveniently located 45 km from Pune airport, a 5-star Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) Industrial area and a shrine to Mahaganapati which is one of the Ashtavinayaka. The hotel will feature 27 rooms, an all-day restaurant and banquet hall. Ranjangaon MIDC is a premium industrial destination near Pune and home to leading global and national companies. This location is known for its industrial and social ecosystem, superior infrastructure, and talent pool.

The Clarks Hotels & Resorts strengthens its footprints in Sri Lanka by opening The Albatross Golf Resort in Kandy. They are aiming to promote the country to the Indian travellers, and take advantage of the growing Sri Lankan business and leisure travel market. The brand is aggressively looking for expansion in the neighboring country by opening properties in different key locations in Sri Lanka. The Albatross Golf Resort Digana, Kandy by The Clarks, is perched on top of “The Coconut Hill” and has a backdrop of Pidurutalagala Peak. The property is in close proximity to a 18 hole Golf Course with breathtaking views of the hills and the Victoria reservoir. It is centrally located, and is in close proximity to temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy and the Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium. The resort is frequented by many well-known international golfers, celebrities, business tycoons, entrepreneurs, and international test cricketers. This upscale property has 8 modern rooms divided into three categories – The Royal Albatross Suite, The Tee off Suite and Deluxe Rooms catering to guests from all over the globe. The Royal Albatross Suite provides a fascinating wide-span view of the famed Hunnasgiriya, Hanguranketha, Galaha and Piduruthalagala mountain ranges, with the Golf Course, Victoria Waterways and Dam. The magnificent suite boasts of a private balcony, jacuzzi, rain shower, butler service, and equipped with other modern amenities. They have an in-house bar serving strong and exotic mocktails and cocktails. The multi-cuisine restaurant located on the premises offers Indian, Sri Lankan and international cuisines. Further to meet the requirements of MICE and corporate, the property has an arrangement to cater to fifty persons. Rahul Deb Banerjee, Vice President, The Clarks Hotels …

India’s foreign trade policy will offer a slew of incentives for hotels, tourism, transport, education, and healthcare industries, sectors that were the worst hit by the pandemic. “We are mulling a package for the services sector. But we are yet to finalize it, and discussions are still on. We want to support sectors that really require it, like tourism, hospitality, education, etc., and not those unaffected by the pandemic,” revealed a government official. According to estimates by the Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC), shared with the government, travel and transportation services, one of the worst hits during the pandemic, are set to make a strong recovery in the current fiscal.

Oberoi Group plans to invest Rs 1,500 crore in setting up various projects in Andhra Pradesh, thereby directly providing employment opportunities to 1,500 people and 11,000 people indirectly. The group is to build hotels with seven-star facilities.

Souvagya Mohapatra, Managing Director, Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts for India, Nepal, Bhutan & Sri Lanka operation, has said, “In next 3 to 4 years, we aim at acquiring 10 to 12 hotels. Hence, we will have a strong marketing and PR presence in India very soon. Our focus is to explore across the country and wait for the right opportunities.”

Ramesh Arora, Managing Director at The Montcalm Luxury Hotels, will be speaking at the Indo-UK Leadership Summit, scheduled for 27-28 September at Montcalm Hotel Group, London and House of Commons (British Parliament). He will be speaking on the topic Wellbeing, Karma & Happiness. With experience spanning diverse cultures, from Asia, Middle East, Africa, to Europe and the UK, Ramesh has managed hotels from conception to completion and is adept at every aspect of hotel operation, development, management, marketing, and finance most notably with the strategic direction of two upscale brands in the London Market -The Montcalm London and Park Grand London Hotels. With 24 properties between them. It is the largest privately-owned hotel group in London.

Spree Hospitality, the premium all – inclusive hospitality brand announced its newest addition to its portfolio of hotels in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. With the tag of greenest capital city in Asia, with more than 50% of its total area covered in trees, Gandhinagar is the administrative capital of Gujarat. This spacious city houses many places to visit for sightseeing like Akshardham Temple, Sarita Udyan, Adalaj Stepwell, Indroda Dinosaur, Fossil Park and Trimandir Adalaj Spree Hospitality currently operates more than 20 properties across India and now expanding its flagship brand in Gujarat, India. With the opening of hotel in Gandhinagar, Spree Hospitality will offer close to 65 guest rooms along with inbuilt multi – cuisine restaurant. For corporate and social events, adaptable spaces with state-of-the-art facilities will allow for various sizes of meetings. This property is strategically located 14 minutes away from GIFT city Gandhinagar, 10 minutes away from Mahatma Gandhi Mandir and half an hour from the airport. Spree Hospitality is always known for its unique design, satisfied million customers with its properties focusing on modern decor, a full-service, cutting-edge technology, and a deep respect for the environment. Spree Hospitality is targeting to commence operations of this hotel from December 2022, in order to take advantage of the winter season.