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By Author
Published on January 8, 2024
India, a land of diverse landscapes and cultural wonders, has long been a sought-after destination for both leisure and business travelers. The travel and hospitality industry, although impacted by the recent pandemic, is making a robust comeback, presenting significant growth potential for the Indian economy. With a focus on boosting this sector, the Union Budget 2023 laid the groundwork by investing in infrastructure, including airports, railways, roads, and waterways, enhancing last-mile connectivity to remote destinations.
The Hotel Association of India's recent report predicts substantial growth for the Indian hotel market, projecting a contribution of $1,504 billion to the country's GDP by 2047, up from $65 billion in 2022. This growth, however, necessitates strategic government interventions to bridge the gap between room supply and demand.
The industry has long advocated for tax rationalization, incentives, and easier access to finance, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. One critical concern is the restructuring of indirect taxes, especially the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on hotel tariffs and restaurant services within hotels. A reduction in the current GST rate of 18% to a globally competitive rate of 12% is seen as crucial for the global competitiveness of Indian hotels.
Aligning with tax benchmarks observed in competitor countries like Singapore and Thailand, where hotel taxes range between 5-7%, would position India as an attractive destination, especially for inbound travel. Additionally, according hotels the status of an infrastructure industry, similar to highways and ports, could incentivize local investments and reduce operational costs for hotels.
To foster a conducive environment for hotel growth, streamlining the approval process is essential. Reducing the number of licenses and creating a single-window system for approvals would expedite hotel projects and operations. This move aims to cut down on the time and costs associated with acquiring licenses.
Furthermore, investing in skill development within the tourism workforce is crucial for delivering high-quality services. Government support for skill development initiatives ensures direct and indirect employment opportunities, enhancing the overall quality of the sector.
Encouraging sustainable practices within the tourism sector is imperative for preserving India's natural and cultural heritage. Allocating funds to promote eco-friendly accommodations and tourist sites aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, fostering long-term preservation and positive engagement with conscious travelers.
Leveraging the vast potential of hotels can contribute significantly to job creation, economic growth, and the realization of India's vision for 2047 – a 'New India.'
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By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Published on August 18, 2025
Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Limited (ASPHL) announced its financial results for Q1 FY26, recording a net profit of Rs 13 crore. Revenue from operations stood at Rs 154 crore, a 14% increase year-on-year, while operating EBITDA grew 16% YoY to Rs 45 crore. The company maintained an industry-leading occupancy of 92%, reaffirming its leadership in the hospitality sector.
ASPHL’s growth is fueled by expansion into Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets. The company recently signed an MoU to acquire and manage four leisure properties in Goa, Manali, Shimla, and Dharamshala, adding 138 rooms under its brand. These steps align with ASPHL’s strategy to broaden its presence in high-potential tourism destinations and double its key count to 5,750 over the next five years.
Flurys, ASPHL’s iconic bakery and confectionery brand, now operates 102 outlets nationwide, reflecting the company’s focus on expanding its market presence while integrating modern amenities with rich cultural heritage.
Commenting on the performance, Vijay Dewan, Managing Director, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels, said,
"We have delivered an extraordinary and best-ever Q1, setting a strong momentum for the year ahead. With topline growth of 14% and EBITDA growth of 16%, we recorded India’s highest occupancy of 92% and maintained leadership in RevPAR in the upper-upscale segment. ARR improved by 13% and RevPAR increased by 12%. With nearly 600 new rooms added, including a 41% rise in our asset-light model, and nationwide Flurys rollout, we are poised to scale faster, enhance margins, and deliver exceptional shareholder value."
ASPHL’s strong performance in Q1 FY26 underscores its strategic focus on market expansion, operational excellence, and premium guest experiences.
Published on August 10, 2025
Marriott International, Inc. has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 67 cents per share on its common stock, reaffirming its commitment to delivering shareholder value. The dividend will be paid on September 30, 2025, to shareholders who are on record as of August 21, 2025.
Alongside the dividend announcement, the hospitality giant also revealed an expansion of its share repurchase program. The board of directors has authorized the repurchase of an additional 25 million shares of its Class A common stock. This comes in addition to the approximately 7.4 million shares that were still available under previous authorizations as of July 30, 2025.
Marriott has already bought back 6.4 million shares this year, amounting to $1.7 billion. These moves reflect the company’s continued confidence in its financial stability and long-term performance, aiming to strengthen shareholder value through strategic capital allocation.
Published on August 4, 2025
In what was intended to be a smooth digital transformation, postal services across the Chennai Circle continue to remain disrupted even days after a scheduled upgrade to India Post's new IT 2.0 system. The software transition—part of a broader effort to modernize the nation’s postal network—was implemented on August 2nd and 4th across Chennai North and South divisions. However, officials have now confirmed that technical issues still persist, leaving customers and businesses grappling with delayed or inaccessible services.
Key services such as Speed Post, registered mail, parcel bookings, and money orders have either been significantly slowed or paused altogether in many branches. Despite expectations that systems would normalize post-upgrade, the rollout of the Advanced Postal Technology (APT) system has proven more complex than anticipated.
“We are still working on stabilizing the system. There have been unforeseen glitches post-upgrade, and our teams are actively resolving them,” said a senior postal official who requested anonymity.
The disruption has raised concerns across industries—including the hospitality sector—where timely document dispatch, license renewals, vendor payments, and customer correspondence are crucial to daily operations.
Experts and industry stakeholders are now calling on India Post to introduce alternative operational strategies or backup mechanisms during such large-scale transitions.
“In a digital age where seamless service is non-negotiable, a complete blackout due to a software update is avoidable. A fallback process, whether manual or cloud-based, should be in place to ensure continuity,” said a Chennai-based hospitality consultant.
The hospitality industry relies heavily on postal services for legal documentation, international communication, and procurement logistics. The ongoing delays have caused bottlenecks not just in operations but also in customer experience delivery.
As authorities continue to work toward a resolution, the broader question remains: Should India’s essential public infrastructure be this vulnerable to a single system upgrade? The answer may lie in future-proofing core services with hybrid digital models that include disaster recovery plans and parallel systems.
Hospitalitynews.in will continue to track updates as the situation evolves.
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