The festive season has officially arrived in Noida with a spectacular new attraction. DLF Mall of India has unveiled India’s first-ever 33-foot Longines Christmas Tree, a grand installation that has instantly become the most visited and photographed spot in the mall.

Placed at the heart of the atrium, the glowing installation has filled the space with warmth, colour and festive charm. Ever since its reveal, families, children, and young visitors have been gathering around the tree to take photos and videos, making it one of the most widely shared festive highlights on social media this year. The Longines Christmas Tree is already being celebrated as Noida’s newest ‘Christmas Photo Point’.

The installation will stay open throughout Christmas and New Year, ensuring visitors can enjoy the festive vibe all season long. The mall is also hosting multiple engagement activities including BTS videos, user-generated content drives, and fun interactions to keep the celebrations lively and inclusive.

Sharing his thoughts on the overwhelming response, Shibli Khan, Vice President & Cluster Head, DLF Mall of India, said, “Christmas naturally brings people closer, and we wanted to create something that truly reflects that spirit. The Longines Christmas Tree has given our visitors a festive, welcoming space to enjoy the season. The response has been heartwarming, and it's wonderful to see how much joy this installation has brought to the community.”

As part of this special collaboration, Longines and DLF Mall of India have curated an elevated festive experience that blends luxury, design, and seasonal charm. The installation showcases Longines’ timeless elegance while reinforcing the mall’s reputation for partnering with premium global brands to create memorable festive celebrations.

With its glowing design and immersive festive setting, the Longines Christmas Tree has quickly emerged as the highlight of Noida’s holiday season—drawing large footfalls and becoming the go-to spot for capturing festive memories.

India’s leading hospitality entrepreneurs and short-term rental professionals have announced the launch of ISTHA (Indian Short-Term Rental Host Association), the country’s first national platform dedicated to the short-term rental and alternative accommodation sector. With India seeing strong growth in homestays, boutique stays, serviced apartments, vacation rentals, guesthouses, B&Bs, and experiential accommodations, the industry has long operated without a unified structure or representation. ISTHA has been created to address this gap.

Speaking about the launch, Mr Gaurav Marwah, President of ISTHA, said that India’s short-term rental segment has expanded faster than traditional models but remains largely unorganised. He shared that ISTHA aims to build a credible and structured voice for hosts and operators with a focus on quality, compliance, and community. The platform will work to standardise documentation, hosting practices, and operational frameworks across India while helping hosts with knowledge exchange, compliance support, and collaboration.

ISTHA’s mandate includes establishing best-practice standards for hosts and property managers, engaging with authorities for regulatory clarity, providing training programmes and certification, creating state and regional chapters, encouraging collaboration with OTAs, tourism boards and technology partners, and promoting responsible hosting, safety standards and guest trust across the ecosystem. “Our mission is not just to build a network, it is to build trust. Trust between hosts, guests, and policymakers. ISTHA will champion responsible hosting, safety norms, and a consistently high-quality guest experience nationwide,” added Mr. Gaurav Marwah.

ISTHA is structured as a federal, member-driven organisation led by professionals from hospitality, tourism, real estate, and property management. The leadership team includes:

• Gaurav Marwah, President: Airbnb Superhost and property management professional handling over 50 units across NCR and Jaipur, with active involvement in host representation and regulatory clarity.
  
  

• Tarun Arora, Treasurer: Hospitality entrepreneur with experience in real estate and budget accommodation, overseeing financial and membership operations.
  
  

• Priyanka M, General Secretary:  Hospitality and operations specialist managing communications, documentation and organisational development.
  

Several homestay owners, B&B operators, vacation rental hosts, and property managers from Delhi NCR, Jaipur, Mumbai, Goa, Chennai, Coimbatore, Shimla, and Bengaluru have joined ISTHA during its founding phase. The association will soon introduce its first National Conclave, State Host Councils, and collaborations with OTAs, tourism boards, and technology partners.

About ISTHA (Indian Short-Term Rental Host Association)

ISTHA is a Section 8 non-profit industry body formed to represent India’s short-term rental, homestay, B&B, and alternative hospitality ecosystem. Its mission is to promote responsible hosting, support policy dialogue with authorities, provide training and resources for host development, and strengthen India’s position as a hub for flexible, experiential, and community-driven hospitality.

Cinépolis India is celebrating a major moment for Indian cinema as the iconic film Sholay returns to the big screen for its Golden Jubilee. The classic, known for its unforgettable characters and evergreen storytelling, will be showcased in a digitally remastered 4K uncut version across select Cinépolis cinemas nationwide.

This special re-release holds an emotional note for fans, especially with legendary actor Dharmendra, who played the beloved Veeru, in everyone’s thoughts. Cinépolis joins audiences across the country in wishing him continued strength and good health.

Sharing the significance of this milestone, Devang Sampat, Managing Director, Cinépolis India, said, "Sholay occupies a very special place in the hearts of Indian audiences, and it is a privilege for Cinépolis to bring this landmark film back to cinemas for its Golden Jubilee. We are grateful to be part of this moment that allows families across generations to come together for a story that has shaped our culture for fifty years. We hope this brings back warm memories for many and creates new ones for those watching it for the first time."

For fifty years, Sholay has been deeply rooted in India’s cultural memory. Its dialogues, moments and characters, from Gabbar’s legendary “Kitne aadmi the?” to the timeless friendship of Jai and Veeru, continue to resonate with audiences. The film remains one of the rare classics that every generation instantly recognises. Bringing it back to cinemas allows families to relive the experience together, while introducing younger viewers to the magic of watching it on the big screen.

The re-release also comes at a time when more viewers are returning to theatres to rediscover the joy of watching films collectively. Classic films showing in cinemas have become a meaningful way for audiences to reconnect with stories they grew up with, while new moviegoers enjoy them in a fresh and immersive format.

About Cinépolis India
Cinépolis India is the first international cinema exhibitor in the country and a part of the global Cinépolis group. With a focus on creating memorable moviegoing experiences, the brand operates 487 screens in India under Cinépolis, Cinépolis VIP and Fun Cinemas.

The brand is well known for driving innovation in cinema exhibition, including luxury viewing with Cinépolis VIP and the kid-friendly Cinépolis Junior auditoriums. Its loyalty programme, Club Cinépolis, enhances the overall experience with free registration, reward points, pre-screening invites and access to special events.

Over the years, Cinépolis India has earned several honours, including the IMAX Big Cine Award for India's Top Multiplex Chain of the Year and multiple recognitions at MAPIC India for excellence in leisure and entertainment.