Gurugram’s dining scene has a new addition with the launch of Spezia Bistro at Magnum Global Park. The new outlet brings together soulful food, thoughtful design, and a hospitality philosophy that places people at the centre of the experience.

Set against a charming alfresco, fountain-side dining area, the restaurant combines relaxed outdoor seating with Parisian-inspired interiors. The ambience is warm and inviting, making it ideal for early brunches, leisurely lunches, and unhurried evenings filled with conversation.

Founder Abhishek Verma shared the brand’s journey, saying, “From a single inspired moment to a growing brand with multiple locations, Spezia Bistro began with a clear vision to serve an underserved market through people-first hospitality and elevated, experience-driven dining. The idea was validated early on when a guest visited us for brunch, returned later that day with colleagues, and came back again for dinner with family. That moment reinforced everything we stood for.”

At its core, Spezia Bistro believes that while food matters, people matter more. The team draws inspiration from the hospitality philosophy of Danny Meyer, focusing on warmth, consistency, and genuine care for both guests and staff. This approach is supported by operational systems influenced by The E-Myth Revisited, ensuring a seamless and high-quality experience across locations.

With its Gurugram launch, Spezia Bistro continues its mission to create spaces where good food meets meaningful connection - offering diners a place to slow down, savour, and stay a little longer.

Accor has announced the appointment of Amitabh Rai as chief operating officer – luxury, South Asia, strengthening its leadership team at a crucial phase of regional expansion.

In this strategic role, Rai will lead the operational and strategic direction of Accor’s luxury and lifestyle portfolio across South Asia. His mandate includes delivering distinctive guest experiences and driving sustained performance across the group’s marquee brands, Raffles Hotels & Resorts, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Sofitel.

With nearly three decades of hospitality experience across India and Indonesia, Rai is recognised for building empowered teams and navigating complex business environments with consistent results. He began his career with Oberoi Hotels & Resorts after graduating from The Oberoi School of Hotel Management, going on to become one of the youngest general managers of his time.

In 2018, he joined Marriott International as General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore and later oversaw Marriott’s Hyderabad market. Most recently, he served as Multi-Property General Manager for The Ritz-Carlton, Jakarta and JW Marriott, Jakarta, further strengthening his global luxury credentials.

Commenting on the appointment, Ranju Alex, Chief Executive Officer, Accor South Asia, said, “Amitabh’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for Accor’s luxury journey in South Asia. His deep operational expertise, people-first leadership style and sharp strategic lens make him exceptionally well-suited to lead our luxury and lifestyle portfolio. Amitabh has a rare ability to balance brand integrity with commercial excellence, and we are confident he will play a defining role in shaping the next phase of growth for our luxury brands in the region.”

In his new role, Rai will define and execute Accor’s long-term strategic vision for its luxury and lifestyle brands in South Asia. His focus areas include driving financial excellence, strengthening brand differentiation, and fostering a culture rooted in learning, trust, and innovation.

Speaking on his appointment, Rai said, “It is a privilege to join Accor at such an exciting moment for luxury hospitality and Accor’s expansion plans in the region. Accor’s commitment to purposeful growth, distinctive brands, and people-centric leadership strongly resonates with my own values. I look forward to working closely with our teams to craft memorable guest experiences, nurture talent and build future-ready luxury destinations that are both meaningful and sustainable.”

With this appointment, Accor signals its intent to sharpen its luxury positioning in South Asia while accelerating growth across key markets.

In a significant step towards strengthening India’s hospitality workforce, the Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) has been selected as a 2026 grantee by the Hilton Global Foundation.

The annual grants by the Foundation support nonprofit organisations working to enhance travel destinations, create economic opportunities, and advance Hilton’s Travel with Purpose strategy. The focus areas include workforce development, destination sustainability, and community resilience.

THSC has been recognised for its strong track record in delivering industry-aligned skills training and certification for India’s tourism and hospitality sector. With the new funding support, THSC will train more than 1,000 young people through certified hospitality programmes and offer structured placement assistance. The initiative aims to help graduates secure stable employment and build long-term careers in the industry.

“Support from the Hilton Global Foundation is yet another strong endorsement of THSC's mission to build a future-ready hospitality workforce for India,” said Mr. Rajan Bahadur, Chief Executive Officer, Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council. “This partnership will allow us to expand access to quality, industry-relevant training for young people and connect them to meaningful employment opportunities, while contributing to stronger communities and a more sustainable tourism ecosystem.”

Highlighting the importance of collaboration, Katherine Lugar, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Hilton and President, Hilton Global Foundation, said, “Today's announcement highlights the exponential power of partnership. Together with this year's Hilton Global Foundation grantees, we are delivering impact far beyond what any one organization could do alone—expanding access to opportunity and protecting the destinations where people travel.”

Established in July 2014, THSC operates as a not-for-profit organisation under the Societies Act. Its formation was facilitated by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). It is recognised as an Awarding Body under the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India.

Over the years, THSC has enrolled around 2 million candidates and assessed over 1.8 million beneficiaries. With a nationwide presence, 4,300+ training institutes, and 5,000 industry partners, the council continues to build a skilled and employable talent pool for tourism, hospitality, travel, and allied services.

The Hilton Global Foundation, Hilton’s primary philanthropic arm, supports programmes that advance destination stewardship, career development, and community resilience. Since 2019, the Foundation has contributed more than $25 million globally, positively impacting millions of lives.

With this 2026 grant, the partnership between THSC and Hilton Global Foundation is set to open new doors for young Indians aspiring to build meaningful careers in hospitality.