Ananta Spa & Resort Jaipur has introduced helicopter arrivals for wedding couples, adding an aerial experience to its destination wedding offering in Jaipur.

Managed by Black Rock Hotels & Resorts, the 40-acre resort features 351 rooms along with extensive indoor and outdoor event spaces. The new offering gives couples the option to include a helicopter arrival as part of their wedding itinerary, turning their entry into a memorable part of the overall celebration.

The move comes as India's luxury destination wedding market continues to see a growing demand for personalised experiences. Families are increasingly looking beyond décor and traditional hospitality, focusing on creating memorable moments throughout the wedding, from guest experiences and entertainment to the couple's arrival.

For destination wedding resorts, this has also changed the way celebrations are planned. Instead of simply providing accommodation and event spaces, properties are increasingly building complete wedding experiences that can adapt to the specific requirements of each family.

Ravindra Pratap Singh, Chairman, Ravi Surya Group and owner of Ananta Spa & Resort Jaipur, said, "Destination weddings have become much more personal. Families are no longer looking only for a beautiful venue; they want to create moments that feel specific to them and that guests will remember. An aerial arrival is one such experience. At Ananta Jaipur, our scale gives us the flexibility to think beyond conventional wedding formats and work with families on how the entire celebration unfolds, from the arrival to the ceremonies and experiences in between."

Destination weddings and MICE remain key demand segments for Ananta Spa & Resort Jaipur. The resort has 12 venues, including multiple indoor banquet spaces and large outdoor lawns.

One of its key event spaces is the 70,000 sq. ft. Suijin Lawn. The resort also features a dedicated 16-pillared, Vastu-compliant ceremonial Pagoda, designed for traditional wedding rituals including ghudchadi, baraat, and jaimala. The wedding offering is supported by accommodation across five categories, along with wellness and leisure facilities, landscaped areas and multiple dining experiences. This allows families to host multi-day celebrations largely within the resort.

With Jaipur already established as one of India's leading destination wedding markets, Black Rock Hotels & Resorts expects personalised and experience-led celebrations to play a larger role in how luxury wedding resorts plan and deliver destination weddings.

Davanam Sarovar Portico Suites, Bengaluru, Madiwala has conducted its CSR initiative ‘Clean India, Green India’, supporting the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the Government of India's nationwide mission focused on cleanliness, hygiene and responsible waste management.

The initiative brought together hotel associates, volunteers, members of the local community and police officers for a community cleanliness drive aimed at encouraging people to take greater responsibility for their surroundings.

Built around the themes ‘My City, My Responsibility’, ‘Together for a Cleaner Madiwala’, and ‘One Step Towards a Swachh Bengaluru’, the campaign included litter collection and the segregation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste. The participants also engaged with local vendors to create greater awareness around cleanliness and responsible waste disposal.

The initiative also included a greener touch, with the hotel distributing saplings to encourage greener surroundings. Volunteers who took part in the campaign were also recognised with appreciation certificates for their contribution. A Public Cleanliness Pledge was administered during the event, encouraging citizens to follow responsible waste disposal practices and take an active role in promoting cleanliness and sustainability within their communities.

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Kashif Masood, General Manager, Davanam Sarovar Portico Suites, Bengaluru, Madiwala (Sarovar Hotels), said:

“At Davanam Sarovar Portico Suites, Bengaluru, Madiwala we believe that hospitality extends beyond serving our guests; it also means caring for the communities and environment around us. Through our ‘Clean India, Green India’ initiative, we were proud to support the Government of India’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and witness the enthusiastic participation of our community In the occasion of Independence day. Every individual effort contributed towards building a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable Bengaluru, and together we took another meaningful step towards a healthier nation.”

The cleanliness drive reflects the property's focus on responsible hospitality and community welfare, while encouraging collective participation towards creating a cleaner and greener Bengaluru.

The Hari London, The Hari Hong Kong and the forthcoming The Hari Singapore are set to join IHG Hotels & Resorts' Vignette Collection later this year, extending a strategic relationship between IHG and the Harilela Group that spans more than five decades.

The repositioning will bring three properties from The Hari portfolio into IHG's collection of independent luxury and boutique hotels while allowing the brand to retain its distinctive identity, design philosophy and locally rooted guest experiences.

The partnership will extend the relationship between the Harilela Group and IHG to six hotels across Asia and Europe. When The Hari Singapore opens in spring 2027, it will become the first Vignette Collection property in Singapore, marking a new market for the collection.

Vignette Collection is designed for independent luxury and boutique properties that wish to maintain their individual character while gaining access to IHG's global scale and loyalty programme. Participating hotels are required to meet criteria focused on design, guest experience and positive community impact.

For The Hari, the partnership aligns with the brand's focus on creating distinctive stays connected to the culture, art and communities of their respective destinations.

Dr Aron Harilela, Chairman and CEO of Harilela Group and founder of The Hari brand, said the brand reflects a longstanding hospitality philosophy centred on genuine service, design and local connections. He added that joining Vignette Collection will preserve The Hari's character while connecting it with a wider global community of travellers seeking individuality and authenticity.

Designed by British interior designer Tara Bernerd, The Hari properties feature layered interiors and rotating art collections showcasing established and emerging local artists. The hotels also offer destination-focused experiences designed to take guests beyond conventional sightseeing.

In London, insider guides to Belgravia help guests explore the neighbourhood, while experiences such as The Hari Neighbourhood Guide Audio Tour provide further insight into the destination. In Hong Kong, Wan Chai By Night introduces guests to local stories, traditions and lesser-known experiences.

The brand's community focus is also reflected through initiatives such as the annual The Hari Art Prize, which supports emerging artistic talent, alongside EarthCheck certifications and ongoing charity partnerships.

The Hari London opened in 2016, followed by The Hari Hong Kong in 2020. The Hari Singapore is currently scheduled to open in spring 2027.

Commenting on the partnership, Rajit Sukumaran, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, East Asia & Pacific, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said Vignette Collection currently has more than 80 open and pipeline hotels and is progressing towards its ambition of exceeding 100 hotels within its first decade. He added that welcoming The Hari portfolio will mark the collection's Singapore debut while strengthening its presence in London and Hong Kong.

The addition of The Hari properties further expands Vignette Collection's presence in key international destinations while giving the independent luxury brand access to IHG's broader distribution and loyalty ecosystem.