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By Author
Published on February 3, 2026
The Union Budget 2026 has drawn strong reactions from leaders across hospitality, tourism, real estate and allied sectors, with a common emphasis on skill development, destination-led growth and improved regional connectivity as critical levers for India’s next tourism expansion phase.
Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets in India (organisers of SATTE), highlighted the Budget’s long-term approach to strengthening tourism fundamentals.
"The Union Budget 2026 lays out a forward-looking roadmap with a clear focus on infrastructure, economic growth, and better regional connectivity. One of the standout announcements for the sector is the plan to set up a National Institute of Hospitality, a move that could really strengthen India's tourism and hospitality ecosystem in a meaningful way. By bringing academia, industry, and government onto the same platform, the institute has the potential to create a skilled workforce that matches the evolving expectations of both domestic and international travellers. For hospitality businesses, this could mean higher service standards, smoother operations, and a more reliable long-term talent pipeline. In the bigger picture, initiatives like this tend to build investor confidence, encourage the development of new hotels, resorts, and tourism infrastructure, and further support India's positioning as a global travel destination. While the industry was also hoping for wider policy measures to make investments easier and simplify operations, this strong push toward skill development still sets a solid foundation for more structured, long-term growth in tourism and hospitality."
A key Budget theme has been the structured development of 50 destinations in partnership with states, supported by enhanced connectivity to regions such as Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir. This, industry leaders note, signals a deliberate effort to decentralise tourism demand beyond saturated metros and established leisure hubs.
Nandini Taneja, Chief Executive Officer, Bhumika Enterprises, sees the Budget as particularly relevant for emerging cities and inclusive growth.
"The proposal to establish a National Institute of Hospitality is a timely step for India's hospitality sector, especially in Tier-2 cities emerging as key travel and business hubs. By bridging academia, industry, and government, the institute can help create a skilled local workforce — critical for the growth of hotels and tourism-led developments. Equally encouraging is the Budget's push for women-led entrepreneurship through community-owned SHE-Marts, which will give SHG-linked women structured retail access and a pathway to enterprise ownership. This strengthens grassroots economic participation while supporting more inclusive local economies."
She added that,
"Together, stronger talent pipelines and inclusive economic initiatives will enhance service standards, improve operational efficiency, and boost investor confidence, accelerating hospitality-led growth in emerging cities and preparing them for rising domestic and international tourism demand."
Framing the Budget through a market-expansion lens, Ambika Saxena, CEO, TWH Hospitality, emphasised tourism’s elevation as a core economic driver.
"The Budget signals a clear shift in positioning tourism as a core economic growth driver rather than a peripheral sector. The structured development of destinations, along with improved connectivity, will expand India's viable hospitality markets beyond established hubs. With stronger destination infrastructure and a more robust talent pipeline, the industry gains better long-term demand visibility, investment confidence, and the ability to scale sustainably."
From a broader travel and enterprise perspective, Mr. Aditya Pande, Group Chief Executive Officer, InterGlobe Enterprises, welcomed the Budget’s alignment with long-term national goals.
"The Union Budget outlines a strong, forward-looking roadmap toward a Viksit Bharat by 2047. We welcome the government's continued focus on strengthening India's travel, tourism, and hospitality ecosystem through improved connectivity, accessibility, and destination infrastructure. The emphasis on skill development, heritage, and ecotourism reflects a deep understanding of the sector's economic potential. These measures will boost demand, support local economies, and strengthen India's position as a global hub for high-quality hospitality and travel."
Beyond hospitality, the Budget’s ripple effects are also being felt in retail and lifestyle sectors. Abhinav Kumar pointed to the alignment between manufacturing, logistics and brand-led growth.
"The Union Budget 2026-27 lays out a forward-looking path for India's retail and fashion ecosystem, reinforcing domestic manufacturing, innovation and brand competitiveness. Initiatives like the integrated textile programme, mega textile parks, MSME support and improved logistics create a stronger, more resilient supply chain for domestic and global brands in our portfolio. By fostering expansion into Tier-II and Tier-III cities, enabling digital and financial infrastructure and supporting high-quality production, the Budget provides the roadmap for Brand Concepts to scale efficiently, innovate responsibly and strengthen India's position as a hub for future-ready fashion and lifestyle businesses"
Taken together, industry reactions suggest that while stakeholders were hoping for deeper policy simplification and faster investment clearances, the Budget’s focus on skills, destination development and connectivity lays a credible foundation for decentralised, sustainable growth across India’s tourism and hospitality landscape.
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By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Published on May 30, 2026
Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Limited (ASPHL) has announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and financial year ended March 31, 2026, reporting steady operational growth supported by strong occupancy levels and continued expansion across key hospitality markets.
The company reported revenue from operations of INR 183.70 crore for Q4 FY26, compared to INR 177.32 crore during the same quarter last year. Operating EBITDA for the quarter stood at INR 52.99 crore, while profit after tax (PAT) was reported at INR 11.88 crore.
ASPHL recorded occupancy levels of 90 per cent during the quarter, reflecting sustained demand across both business and leisure travel segments and reinforcing the company’s position within India’s hospitality sector.
For the full financial year FY26, the company crossed the INR 700 crore annual revenue milestone for the first time, reporting revenue from operations of INR 707.28 crore. Annual PAT for the year stood at INR 65.72 crore.
The company stated that growth during FY26 was supported by expansion into Tier II and Tier III cities along with strategic acquisitions aimed at strengthening its presence in high-potential hospitality destinations.
During the financial year, ASPHL acquired control of Zillion Hotels and Resorts Private Limited, Fisherman’s Grove Resorts Private Limited, and Thali Hotels and Destinations Private Limited. These acquisitions are expected to further strengthen the company’s hospitality presence across Mumbai and Kerala.
ASPHL also reaffirmed its long-term growth plans and said it remains on track to more than double its room inventory to 6,653 keys over the next five years.
The company’s bakery and confectionery brand, Flurys, also continued its expansion during FY26. The brand currently operates 110 outlets and recorded a 29 per cent year-on-year revenue growth during the financial year, supported by new store additions and strong performance across existing outlets.
Commenting on the results, Vijay Dewan, Managing Director, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels, said FY26 marked a significant milestone as the company crossed INR 700 crore in annual revenue for the first time. He added that Q4 reflected resilient operational performance with continued leadership in occupancy and RevPAR metrics.
Dewan further noted that the sale of serviced apartments at EM Bypass, Kolkata, contributed positively to cash flow during the year. He added that the company remains focused on long-term value creation through portfolio expansion, guest-centric experiences, operational efficiency, and margin improvement.
The company also highlighted that recent global recognition received by Ran Baas The Palace, Patiala and The Lotus Palace, Chettinad further strengthens its positioning as a design-led and experience-driven hospitality group.
By Hariharan U
Published on May 25, 2026
India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), the public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, has reported a strong financial performance for FY 2025–26 with a 14 percent increase in profit before tax (PBT) compared to the previous financial year.
The corporation also announced a dividend payout of Rs 22.02 crore to the Government of India, reflecting continued operational strength and improved financial performance despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainties impacting the global hospitality and tourism sector.
According to the company, the growth was driven by enhanced operational efficiencies, strategic initiatives across business verticals, optimal resource allocation, and continued focus on customer-centric service delivery.
Commenting on the performance, Mugdha Sinha said the results reflect ITDC’s ongoing efforts towards strengthening service standards while building on the organisation’s long-standing legacy and institutional trust.
During the financial year, ITDC also introduced three operational manuals focused on procurement of goods and services, sound and light shows, and general clauses aimed at improving governance, standardisation, and transparency across institutional processes.
The corporation further highlighted its increasing focus on technology-enabled transformation through the adoption of AI-based solutions to improve operational agility, customer experience, and business planning capabilities.
FY26 also marked two major milestones for the organisation as ITDC celebrated 60 years of its legacy alongside 70 years of The Ashok, one of India’s most iconic hospitality properties.
The company stated that its future strategy will continue to focus on operational excellence, digital transformation, sustainability, and long-term value creation while strengthening its contribution to India’s tourism and hospitality ecosystem.
The financial performance comes at a time when India’s hospitality and tourism sector continues to navigate evolving global market conditions, changing travel patterns, and increased focus on technology-led efficiencies across public and private sector enterprises.
Quick commerce platform Zepto is reportedly preparing to launch its much-awaited Rs 11,000-crore initial public offering (IPO) in July 2026. According to people familiar with the matter, the Bengaluru-based startup is targeting a stock market debut before July 31.
If the public issue moves ahead as planned, Zepto will join competitors Zomato and Swiggy, which are already listed on Indian stock exchanges.
The company recently received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) for its maiden public issue and is now expected to submit its Updated Draft Red Herring Prospectus (UDRHP). Zepto had earlier filed its IPO papers through the confidential route in December 2025.
Founded by Stanford University dropouts Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, Zepto has built its growth strategy differently from many players in the quick commerce space. A recent report by brokerage Bernstein highlighted that the company has focused more on strengthening existing markets rather than rapidly expanding into newer locations.
According to the report, Zepto currently has the highest concentration of dark stores in the quick commerce category, operating nearly 21 stores per city. In comparison, several competitors operate around nine stores per city.
The report also noted that Zepto currently runs 1,255 dark stores across 61 cities, while rival Blinkit has 2,222 stores spread across 243 cities. Instead of aggressively entering more markets, Zepto appears to be prioritising stronger penetration within the cities where it already operates.
Bernstein further pointed out that Zepto maintains the highest store-to-pincode ratio in the segment, reflecting its strategy of building density in selected urban markets.
The company's network continues to remain heavily focused on metro cities, where factors such as faster delivery timelines, higher order frequency and stronger customer engagement can help improve operations over time.
According to the analysis, rather than pushing growth through large-scale expansion, Zepto appears to be focusing on building stronger usage patterns and operational efficiency within a smaller number of markets.
With IPO plans now moving forward, Zepto is preparing for a major milestone that could further strengthen its position in India's growing quick commerce market.
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