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By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Published on February 1, 2026
With the Union Budget 2026 scheduled for 1st February, voices from the hospitality, travel, and premium lifestyle sectors are sharing their expectations from the upcoming budget. Industry leaders believe the budget presents an important opportunity to strengthen India’s post-pandemic tourism recovery while addressing long-standing structural challenges.
Dr Vikas Katoch, Founder and CEO of Adotrip, noted that India’s travel and tourism industry continues to show strong momentum, driven by rising disposable incomes, better connectivity, and growing interest in domestic, international, and luxury travel. He highlighted that one of the key expectations from Budget 2026 is the rationalisation of the GST framework for the travel and hospitality sector.
According to him, the existing GST structure remains fragmented and cost-intensive in certain areas, impacting both consumer pricing and business margins. A more unified and streamlined tax framework could improve affordability for travellers, encourage higher spending, and create healthier competition, while also enabling companies to reinvest in service quality, technology, and product development.
He further emphasised the need to simplify regulatory compliance, particularly for startups, boutique hotels, and regional properties that currently face complex approval and reporting processes. Dr Katoch shared that the Budget for 2026 must focus on streamlining regulatory systems, including one-window approvals, to allow businesses to concentrate on innovation, expansion, and geographic development.
Access to credit remains another key concern for the travel and tourism industry. Despite its strong potential to generate employment, boost regional development, and contribute to GDP, the sector, largely dominated by MSMEs, continues to face challenges in securing affordable financial support. Dr Katoch suggested that the Union Budget should look at improving credit accessibility through measures such as inclusion under priority sector lending. Improved access to finance could support expansion into new tourism circuits and niche segments such as eco-tourism, wellness tourism, adventure tourism, and heritage tourism.
Speaking on luxury travel, Dr Katoch pointed out that demand for heritage stays, personalised experiences, and ultra-luxury travel is growing rapidly in India. He stressed that continued investment in infrastructure, road connectivity, cleanliness, and air connectivity would help India attract high-spending international visitors as well as discerning domestic travellers. He added that strengthening this segment would not only enhance India’s global positioning but also generate significant employment across the travel ecosystem. He concluded by stating that continued government support for sustainable tourism, heritage circuits, and domestic travel promotion in Budget 2026 could unlock higher economic value, inclusive growth, and employment through tourism.
Sharing views from the premium beverage segment, Aman Swetta, Cofounder of Cristal Azul, highlighted that the imported alcobev sector is seeking clarity and consistency rather than concessions from the upcoming budget. He said, “As the Union Budget approaches, the imported alcobev sector is looking less for concessions and more for clarity, consistency, and transparency.”
He explained that imported spirits currently operate under a fragmented framework, with central tariffs and state-level excise structures varying widely. According to him, greater standardisation of duties and clearer classification norms would improve price predictability, compliance, and ease of doing business for both international brands and Indian partners. He also welcomed recent progress in trade discussions with the European Union, including proposed tariff rationalisation on certain alcoholic beverages, and suggested that similar balanced engagement with other producing regions such as Mexico could further align India with global best practices.
Aman Swetta added that tequila is seeing growing interest in India’s urban markets, driven by premiumisation and lifestyle shifts. He noted that consumers are increasingly seeking transparency in provenance, ingredients, and production, favouring well-regulated and quality-led categories. From a Budget 2026 perspective, he emphasised that policy coherence across tariffs, state duties, and taxation mechanisms, along with predictable regulatory processes, would support responsible sector growth while ensuring sustained government revenue and wider consumer choice.
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Published on March 17, 2026
InterGlobe Foundation, the philanthropic arm of InterGlobe Enterprises, has introduced its first ‘Heritage Dialogue’ while also unveiling the third edition of its annual exhibition, ‘Tangible Conversations, Intangible Heritage’ (TCIH). The initiative marks an important step in encouraging conversations and collaborative efforts around cultural and heritage preservation in India.
The 10-day exhibition is being held at the Sunken Gardens in Sunder Nursery, with AKTC serving as the venue partner. Open from March 13 to March 22, 2026, between 11 am and 7 pm, the exhibition invites visitors to explore India’s living traditions through an engaging and immersive format.
This year’s theme, “Living Archives: Ritual, Performance and the City,” looks at heritage beyond traditional documentation. Instead, it presents heritage as something that continues to live through the rituals, practices, and everyday experiences of communities. By bringing together elements of tangible and intangible heritage, the exhibition highlights the Foundation’s ongoing work with communities to preserve India’s cultural legacy.
Visitors can experience the theme through a mix of photography, films, and installations that showcase three unique narratives. The first documents the Doli Yatra of Lord Rudranath in Uttarakhand, offering a closer look at the sacred pilgrimage and the devotion of the communities involved. The second focuses on Bhand Pather, the traditional folk theatre of Kashmir, presenting the history and cultural richness of this centuries-old performance tradition. The third narrative explores the idea of the city as a living archive through the ‘My City My Heritage’ initiative, showing how neighbourhood life and local communities shape the cultural identity of cities.
The exhibition also serves as the annual showcase of the InterGlobe Heritage Fellowships. This initiative supports individuals who research and document lesser-known aspects of India’s heritage. Since the fellowship began, nine fellows have been recognised for their contributions toward cultural preservation.
The day began with the ‘Heritage Dialogue’, organised by InterGlobe Foundation along with Sahapedia and IndiGoReach. The forum brought together leaders from corporate, cultural, and academic sectors to discuss ways to strengthen support for India’s built and intangible heritage. The platform is designed as a long-term initiative that encourages collaboration and investment in heritage preservation while connecting it to the broader goals of sustainable development and responsible corporate participation.
The evening continued with the formal opening of the ‘Tangible Conversations, Intangible Heritage’ exhibition at Sunder Nursery. Ms. Rohini Bhatia, Chairperson of InterGlobe Foundation, led the inauguration ceremony in the presence of cultural practitioners, institutional leaders, and heritage enthusiasts. The event concluded with a captivating Dastangoi performance at the historic Humayun’s Tomb Auditorium.
Rohini Bhatia, Chairperson, InterGlobe Foundation, said, "The ‘Tangible Conversations, Intangible Heritage’ exhibition reflects our deep commitment to protecting India’s diverse cultural legacy. This year's theme beautifully illustrates how our heritage is a living, breathing entity sustained by communities and their practices. Through the InterGlobe Heritage Fellowships and the new Heritage Dialogue, we aim to foster a deeper appreciation for our vibrant traditions and inspire collective action required to ensure they thrive for generations to come.”
For more than a decade, InterGlobe Foundation has supported several important conservation and heritage initiatives through its partners. These include the conservation and cultural revival of Abdur Rahim Khan-I-Khanan’s mausoleum in Delhi, the cultural mapping and documentation of eighteen cities through the ‘My City My Heritage’ campaign, the restoration of the Indra Kund stepwell in Delwara, the tile restoration of Qutb Shah’s Mausoleum, and the InterGlobe Heritage Fellowships.
By Hariharan U
Migsun Mall in Ghaziabad just added a name to its retail roster that signals exactly where the mall is headed. Calvin Klein has signed a leasing agreement for a 1,114 sq ft space at the mall, bringing one of the world's most recognised fashion brands to a retail destination that has been steadily building its premium appeal.
Calvin Klein's identity, clean aesthetics, modern sensibility, and a design philosophy that has built a global following, fits naturally into what Migsun Mall has been trying to create. The brand speaks directly to urban consumers who value minimalism, quality, and globally relevant fashion, which is exactly the kind of audience the mall is positioning itself to attract.
Rajeev Srivastava, Leasing Head at Migsun Group, put the signing in context. "Retail today is as much about brand alignment as it is about physical space. Calvin Klein represents a global design philosophy that speaks to modern consumers, and we're pleased to have the brand join Migsun Mall. Our approach has been to create a retail ecosystem that feels relevant, uncluttered and experience-oriented rather than purely transactional. Each new signing is evaluated not just on brand strength, but on how well it contributes to the overall shopping journey. Calvin Klein adds a distinct, contemporary dimension to our fashion mix and strengthens the mall's positioning as a destination for refined, modern retail."
The signing also reflects a broader trend playing out across India's organised retail sector. Brands are becoming increasingly selective about the locations they choose, favouring destinations that offer strong footfall potential, a cohesive brand environment, and a shopping experience that feels curated rather than crowded. Migsun Mall's approach of evaluating brands not just on name recognition but on how well they contribute to the overall experience speaks to this shift.
For Ghaziabad, the arrival of Calvin Klein at Migsun Mall is a notable moment, adding a brand with genuine global weight to a retail market that continues to grow in both scale and ambition.
The Aditya Birla Memorial Polo Cup Finals 2026 concluded on an exciting note at the Jaipur Polo Ground, with Rajnigandha Achievers emerging as the champions after a strong performance against Thunderbolts.
The prestigious event was attended by Hon'ble Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who joined as the Chief Guest. Rajashree Birla, Chairperson of Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development, was also present at the finals, adding to the significance of the occasion.
Several notable dignitaries attended the event, including Himanshu Kapania, Managing Director of Grasim Industries; Sanjay Seth, Member of Rajya Sabha; Naveen Jindal, Member of the Lok Sabha and Chairman of Jindal Steel, who also serves as the Captain of the Jindal Panther Polo Team; and Askaran K. Agarwala, Group Advisor, Birla Group Trusts & Special Community Projects.
The final match saw an engaging contest between Thunderbolts and Rajnigandha Achievers. The Thunderbolts team featured Sipahi Mukesh Gujar, Lt Col Vishal Chauhan, Major Mritunjay Chauhan (MS Chauhan), and Simran Singh Shergil. Rajnigandha Achievers fielded Aryaman Singh, a 14-year-old player with 19 tournament wins, along with Syed Shamsheer Ali, Dhruv Pal Godara, and Captain Daniel.
The match was played over four chukkas of 7.5 minutes each and was officiated by professional umpires from the Kingdom. Demonstrating consistent teamwork and control throughout the game, Rajnigandha Achievers secured a convincing 9–5 victory to lift the Aditya Birla Polo Cup 2026 title.
The final match not only showcased competitive polo but also highlighted the sport’s growing prominence in India, bringing together players, dignitaries, and enthusiasts for a memorable sporting evening at the Jaipur Polo Ground.
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