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By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Published on December 24, 2024
As Christmas 2024 approaches, the festive spirit sweeps across Delhi-NCR, turning bustling malls into magical havens of holiday cheer. Adorned with glittering lights, extravagant decorations, and an array of engaging activities, these destinations promise joy and excitement for visitors of all ages. This year, renowned venues like Spectrum Metro, World Street by Omaxe, Reach 3Roads, DLF Mall of India, Ambience Mall (Gurgaon and Vasant Kunj), Vegas Mall Dwarka, and EDM Mall are hosting spectacular Christmas carnivals, making the season truly unforgettable.
World Street by Omaxe brings festive joy with its Happiness Carnival, a grand celebration from December 20 to 26. This week-long extravaganza features twinkling lights, vibrant décor, and a cheerful ambiance that sets the perfect holiday mood.
The highlight of the carnival is a special performance by renowned comedian Gaurav Gupta on December 21, ensuring an evening filled with laughter. Tickets for this unmissable event are available on BookMyShow. With activities for all ages, the carnival promises fun, laughter, and festive delight.
Starting December 21, Vegas Mall unveils its lavish Christmas Ville, a central piazza filled with festive attractions. Visitors can experience:
VR Sledge Rides and Interactive AR Photo Booths
Donut-Making Workshops and the entertaining Pick the Candy Activity
Heartwarming Meet & Greet with Santa and a vibrant Christmas Parade
The festive atmosphere is further elevated with moving Christmas Choir performances and picturesque photo spots, making Vegas Mall the perfect place to capture holiday memories.
Reach 3Roads presents Winter Wonderland 3.0, a month-long celebration ending on December 25. This festive extravaganza offers:
Crafting Workshops: Tinsel & Twigs, Lanterns of Light, and Santa’s Hat Craft Party
Special Appearances by Santa Claus on December 21, 22, and 25
Live Music and captivating Christmas Carols
Families can enjoy magic shows, kids’ ramp walks, and performances by whimsical elves and clowns. Culinary delights at Bon Mama and The Spice Plate add a delicious twist to the celebrations.
DLF Mall of India celebrates the season with its Christmas Fiesta, running from December 10 to 31. Visitors can explore handmade crafts, traditional treats, and carol singing sessions. Key highlights include:
Secret Santa Surprises for nearby RWAs from December 20 to 31
Santa Visits and Carol Singing in collaboration with Hamleys on December 24 and 25
A 25km Christmas Run across Noida on December 25
The Late Night Shopping Campaign from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM offers exciting promotions and festive shopping opportunities with over 100 participating brands.
Ambience Malls in Gurgaon and Vasant Kunj embrace the season with grand celebrations:
Ambience Mall Gurgaon: A majestic Christmas tree, dazzling lights, and a special Santa Meet and Greet hosted by Hamleys. LEGO’s Winter World from December 20 to 29 adds creative fun for kids.
Ambience Mall Vasant Kunj: A vibrant Christmas Carnival featuring thrilling activities, festive décor, and exclusive offers from top brands.
Both malls create a magical winter wonderland experience for shoppers and families.
EDM Mall spreads Christmas cheer with breathtaking aerial decorations and vibrant celebrations. Highlights include:
Creative Workshops: Christmas Card Making, Rock Painting, and Snowman Decorations
A lively Christmas Parade and thrilling Magic Show
Cookies and Chocolate Workshops and kid-friendly rides
Shoppers can enjoy seasonal treats at the Chat Corner and explore festive gifts at popular stores. The Gift of Warmth Initiative, in collaboration with an NGO, embodies the true spirit of Christmas by distributing winter clothes and toys to those in need.
From interactive workshops to dazzling performances and festive shopping, Delhi-NCR's top malls are pulling out all the stops to make Christmas 2024 a season of joy, warmth, and unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re creating memories with loved ones, indulging in holiday treats, or soaking in the festive spirit, these malls offer something special for everyone.
Plan your visits today and immerse yourself in the magic of Christmas!
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Published on September 4, 2025
Skyscanner has named Indian cricketer Suryakumar Yadav, popularly known as ‘SKY’, as its first brand ambassador in India. This marks the company’s most significant consumer outreach initiative in the Indian market so far.
The partnership builds on the rising trend of sport-led travel in the country, with research showing that nearly half of Indian travellers are willing to travel specifically to watch live cricket. By joining hands with a cricketer of Yadav’s popularity and cultural influence, Skyscanner aims to strengthen its presence among Indian travellers and inspire them to explore new destinations with ease.
Known as ‘Mr. 360’ for his versatile cricketing style, Yadav will now extend his influence off the field by encouraging travellers to experience the joy of discovery with Skyscanner. The collaboration begins with a digital contest on Skyscanner India’s and Yadav’s social media channels, where fans can create personalised travel itineraries for the cricketer using Skyscanner’s features. Selected winners will get the chance to meet Yadav in person, offering unique engagement opportunities between the brand and its community.
Speaking about the partnership, Suryakumar Yadav said: “Travel has always been something that excites me as much as cricket, whether it is exploring new places during tours or discovering hidden gems on break. Partnering with Skyscanner feels natural because it’s about making travel simple, smart, and full of possibilities. I’m looking forward to inspiring more fans to combine their love for cricket with the joy of discovering the world.”
Neel Ghose, Country Manager & General Manager, Travel Expert, Skyscanner, India, added: “We are really excited to welcome SKY to the Skyscanner family. His connection with people across India makes him the perfect partner to help us show travellers just how simple, affordable and joyful planning a trip with Skyscanner can be. With him alongside, we aim to make travel not just more accessible, but a source of inspiration and connection for every Indian traveller. Last year, we inaugurated our first office in India and today marks yet another special occasion with SKY as the face of our brand.”
Through this collaboration, Skyscanner hopes to encourage Indian travellers to see travel as both accessible and aspirational, combining their love for cricket with the excitement of exploring new places.
Zomato has raised its platform fee on food delivery orders to ₹12 from ₹10, as demand is set to surge during the festive season. The fee is charged per order and does not include goods and services tax (GST).
The hike comes shortly after rival Swiggy raised its platform fee to ₹14 (inclusive of GST) in select pin codes, citing growing order volumes. Both Zomato and Swiggy had introduced the platform fee in 2023 and have steadily increased it over time.
The move reflects growing financial pressures on the two food delivery giants as they continue to invest heavily in quick commerce, even as growth in their core food delivery business has moderated. For the April–June quarter, Zomato’s parent company reported a 16% year-on-year growth in gross order value at ₹10,769 crore, slower than the over 20% growth it had recorded until recent quarters.
Despite a 70% jump in revenue, Zomato posted a sharp 90% decline in consolidated net profit at ₹25 crore compared to ₹253 crore a year earlier. Swiggy, meanwhile, saw its quarterly losses widen to ₹1,197 crore, largely due to investments in its quick commerce vertical Instamart, even as its operating revenue rose 54% to ₹4,961 crore.
Industry experts believe platform fee hikes will continue to support profitability. “The strategy of raising platform fees ahead of the festive season and retaining the higher rate later has been in place since last year, when the fee was increased from ₹6 to ₹10. The platform fee has increased six times since its introduction on Zomato. For every rupee of platform fee added, Zomato’s take rates improve by 22 basis points,” said Karan Taurani, Executive Vice President at Elara Capital.
Meanwhile, new competition may test the duopoly of Zomato and Swiggy. Rapido has recently launched its food delivery service, Ownly, in Bengaluru, positioning itself as a lower-cost alternative with commissions ranging from 8–15% for restaurants, compared to the 16–30% charged by Zomato and Swiggy. Currently, Ownly is operational in Koramangala, HSR Layout, and BTM Layout.
With platform fees rising and competition heating up, India’s food delivery landscape is poised for a dynamic shift in the months ahead.
The Indian government has announced a significant reform in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure, introducing two primary slabs of 5% and 18%. The decision was taken at the 56th GST Council meeting and will take effect from 22 September 2025, coinciding with the beginning of Navaratri.
Under the revised system, essential food items such as bread and paneer will be exempt from GST, while agricultural and food products will attract only 5%. This move is expected to reduce costs for consumers and the food service industry alike. Sin goods, including gutka, tobacco products, and carbonated drinks, will face a higher rate of 40% GST.
For the hospitality industry, the changes bring notable relief. GST taxation on rooms in hotels are also comes under the new GST slabs.
Hotel rooms with tariffs of less than or equal to Rs 7500 per day will be taxed at 5% without input tax credit (ITC) from 12% with inputs tax credit (ITC), as per recommendations made by the 56th GST Council. This move will enhance both the hospitality and tourism industry, with hotel stays now becoming more affordable.
This system continues to simplify hotel accommodation taxation, while the reduction of GST on essential goods and appliances used in hotels, such as air conditioners and televisions, paves the way for operational cost savings. Additionally, milk products and butter now fall under 0% from 5%, that means no tax for these products, creating the potential for reduced prices of dairy-based dishes and desserts like ice creams and pastries in hotel restaurants.
Mr. Varadharajan, Chartered Accountant and Hotel Tax Consultant, welcomed the move, stating that the revised GST will help bring down costs for both hotel operators and guests, making hospitality more accessible.
The GST 2.0 reform signals the government’s intent to balance affordability with economic growth, offering a direct benefit to hotels, restaurants, and consumers. With its timing aligned with the festive season, the initiative is expected to boost travel, dining, and overall demand in the hospitality sector.
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