Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) has announced the signing of a new Tree of Life resort in Wayanad, Kerala, marking the brand’s debut in the state. The brownfield project reflects the company’s growing focus on expanding its presence in emerging leisure destinations across India.

As travel choices continue to shift towards experience-driven and nature-focused stays, Wayanad has steadily gained popularity among travellers looking for scenic and immersive getaways. Through this new signing, IHCL aims to strengthen its presence in destinations that continue to see rising leisure demand.

Commenting on the development, Suma Venkatesh, Executive Vice President – Real Estate & Development, IHCL, said, "As travel preferences continue to evolve towards more immersive, nature-led stays, Wayanad is emerging as a key destination on India’s leisure map."

"Tree of Life, anchored in authenticity and a deep sense of place, brings its distinctive, experience-led approach to this setting. This signing marks the brand’s debut in Kerala and reflects its focus on expanding in high-potential leisure markets. We are pleased to partner with Mr. Saeed Edavankandy for this project."

Spread across more than four acres, the upcoming 55-key Tree of Life Wayanad overlooks the scenic Banasura Lake and offers expansive views of the surrounding landscape. The resort will feature an all-day dining restaurant and bar along with wellness and recreational facilities including a swimming pool and spa.

Sharing his views on the partnership, Saeed Edavankandy, Chairman, Geeone Exports Pvt. Ltd. and Managing Director, Geeone International LLC, said, "We are delighted to partner with IHCL to bring the Tree of Life brand to Wayanad. We are confident the resort will enhance Wayanad’s positioning as a preferred getaway."

Located in the Western Ghats, Wayanad is known for its lush landscapes and rich biodiversity. The destination attracts travellers with popular attractions such as Banasura Dam, Pookode Lake and the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.

With the addition of this signing, IHCL’s portfolio in Kerala will grow to 23 hotels, including five properties currently under development.

Snabbit has officially entered the beauty services segment with the launch of its instant salon-at-home model, marking a significant expansion for the quick home services platform into one of India’s fastest-growing convenience categories.

The company announced that it has successfully piloted the service over the last six weeks in Bengaluru’s Sarjapur micromarket, completing more than 2,000 beauty service jobs with an average fulfilment time of under 15 minutes.

The move reflects a broader shift in consumer expectations, where categories such as food delivery, groceries, and home services have increasingly transitioned toward instant fulfilment, while beauty services have largely remained appointment-driven. Snabbit is now attempting to redefine this behaviour through hyperlocal, on-demand beauty services delivered within minutes.

Speaking on the expansion, Aayush Agarwal said the beauty category represents a large and high-frequency market opportunity that aligns naturally with the company’s existing quick-service ecosystem. He added that consumers today expect convenience across every aspect of their lifestyle, including personal care services.

The platform currently focuses on high-frequency beauty offerings such as threading, waxing, facials, clean-ups, saree draping, head massages, and hair styling. Unlike conventional salon-at-home models that often require multiple specialists and advance bookings, Snabbit has built an instant-first operational model centred on multi-skilled beauty professionals capable of delivering several services in a single session.

The company has also introduced lightweight service kits and monodose packaging formats aimed at improving hygiene standards, reducing wastage, and streamlining operations. Products from brands such as O3+ and Rica are being used within the service ecosystem.

Currently operating entirely through women beauty professionals, the platform positions itself as a “salon by women, for women,” focusing on convenience, comfort, and trust for female consumers. Service pricing begins at ₹49 with no minimum order requirement.

Dev Priyam said the pilot has witnessed strong organic demand growth through neighbourhood-led word-of-mouth adoption, highlighting changing consumer behaviour around convenience-led beauty services.

Snabbit plans to gradually expand the offering across additional Bengaluru micromarkets before entering new cities in the coming months.

AJIO has launched its first-ever AJIO LUXE store in Delhi NCR at Ambience Mall Vasant Kunj, marking a major step in the brand’s offline retail expansion strategy.

The new store introduces a curated luxury and premium fashion experience, featuring a mix of international and Indian labels across fashion, footwear, accessories, and lifestyle categories. Designed as an immersive retail space, the outlet reflects the growing consumer demand for experience-led and elevated shopping formats in the Delhi NCR region.

The launch further strengthens Ambience Mall Vasant Kunj’s positioning as a key destination for premium and bridge-to-luxury retail in North India. The mall has recently expanded its portfolio with several global and high-end brands, reinforcing its appeal among aspirational and affluent shoppers.

Speaking on the launch, Arjun Gehlot highlighted that luxury retail is increasingly being driven by immersive consumer experiences, and noted that AJIO LUXE aligns with evolving shopping expectations focused on curation and engagement beyond traditional retail formats.

Over time, Ambience Mall has emerged as a leading lifestyle hub in Delhi NCR, housing a strong mix of luxury retail, fashion, dining, and entertainment offerings. Existing premium brands at the mall include The Collective, Brooks Brothers, Kapoor Watch Company, True Religion, Diesel, and Tira, among others.

With this launch, AJIO LUXE aims to bridge digital-first retail sophistication with an in-store luxury experience, targeting fashion-conscious consumers and young aspirational shoppers across the region.