Crowne Plaza Greater Noida welcomed the festive spirit with warmth, flavour, and togetherness at its much-loved Annual Cake Mixing Ceremony, held on October 31, 2025. Themed “Mix, Mingle & Celebrate the Season,” the event set the tone for the holidays, blending tradition and community joy in a delightful afternoon filled with laughter, music, and festive aromas.

The celebration saw bloggers, content creators, and corporate guests come together, donning aprons and gloves to take part in the age-old ritual of mixing dried fruits, nuts, and aromatic spices, the ingredients that will soon mature into the hotel’s signature Christmas cakes. The vibrant spread of ingredients, beautifully arranged, created a feast for the senses and a perfect backdrop for the season’s first celebration.

The highlight of the afternoon was a heartfelt Christmas carol performance by students of Father Agnel School, Greater Noida. Their cheerful medley filled the air with the warmth of the holidays, perfectly capturing the essence of joy and togetherness that defines the season.

Guests were also treated to an elegant spread of gourmet small plates curated by the hotel’s culinary team. The menu featured Fresh Burrata with Basil Oil and Sundried Tomato on Olive Sourdough, Peri-Peri Corn and Olive Puffs, Cheese and Edamame Dim Sum with Truffle Oil, Smoked Chicken Rolls with Spiced Tamarind Chutney, Tempura Prawns with Mustard Dressing, and decadent desserts like Winter Fruit Tartlets and Five Spice Dark Chocolate Slice.

Speaking on the occasion, Sharad K Upadhyay, General Manager, Crowne Plaza Greater Noida, said “The Cake Mixing Ceremony is a cherished tradition that marks the joyful beginning of our festive season. It’s a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together, share laughter, and create lasting memories. The enthusiasm of our guests and the energy of the young carolers made this year’s celebration truly special.”

Echoing the sentiment, Chef Arun Vats, Executive Chef, Crowne Plaza Greater Noida, added, “This ceremony is the soul of the season for us. Every ingredient we mix carries a wish for happiness, prosperity, and warmth for the year ahead. Our team takes great pride in preparing these festive cakes, which are a symbol of togetherness and a 17th-century-old tradition that began in England, where the community came together to prepare for the harsh winters.”

The freshly mixed fruits and nuts will now be soaked in spirits for the coming weeks, allowing the flavours to develop before being baked into rich Christmas and New Year cakes. Guests can look forward to savouring these festive creations throughout the holiday season at Crowne Plaza Greater Noida.

Lemon Tree Hotels Limited has announced the launch of its latest managed property, Lemon Tree Hotel, Motihari, marking another milestone in the brand’s steady expansion across Eastern India. The opening further strengthens its footprint in Bihar, where the group already operates one property.

Located in the historic city of Motihari in the East Champaran district, the hotel invites guests to experience the region’s rich heritage and cultural legacy. Motihari holds deep historical significance as the birthplace of author George Orwell and the starting point of Mahatma Gandhi’s Champaran Satyagraha, a defining movement in India’s freedom struggle. Its strategic location also makes it a convenient gateway to Nepal and nearby cities such as Patna and Darbhanga, catering to both business and leisure travellers.

The new property features 50 well-appointed rooms and suites across various categories, designed to offer comfort and functionality. In its first phase, 32 rooms have opened along with Citrus Café, the hotel’s signature multi-cuisine restaurant, and a selection of banquet spaces including Tangerine Grand 1, Tangerine Grand 2, and a Boardroom. Guests can also enjoy the hotel’s spa, fitness centre, and swimming pool, which complement its blend of leisure and business amenities.

In the second phase, the hotel will unveil the remaining 18 rooms, along with Kebab Theater, a modern Indian specialty restaurant offering authentic kebabs, tikkas, and regional delicacies, and the final banquet venue, Tangerine.

Commenting on the launch, Vishvapreet Singh Cheema, President, Lemon Tree Hotels, said,

“Motihari stands as a city of deep historical and cultural relevance, marking an important chapter in India’s independence movement. With the opening of Lemon Tree Hotel, Motihari, we are pleased to extend our signature comfort and warmth to travellers visiting this iconic destination, blending modern hospitality with the city’s timeless charm.”

With this new addition, Lemon Tree Hotels continues to build on its vision of creating accessible, high-quality hospitality experiences across emerging destinations in India.

Adding a playful twist to Halloween, Big Bowl, one of India’s fastest-growing cloud kitchen brands, has launched its latest campaign — ‘Smash Your Hunger with Big Bowl.’ The digital-first initiative turns everyday hunger pangs into spooky, laugh-out-loud moments, just in time for the festive season.

Launched across YouTube, Instagram, and OTT pre-rolls, the campaign features two short horror-comedy films that hilariously portray hunger as a monster everyone loves to defeat. From late-night study marathons to boring work hours, the films tap into everyday situations that Gen Z can instantly relate to blending humour, horror, and hunger with Big Bowl’s signature desi tone.

Big Bowl once again positions itself as the go-to comfort food brand for young, busy Indians. Its catchy tagline, “Smash Your Hunger with Big Bowl,” perfectly sums up its energetic, bold, and relatable appeal.

Taking the theme further, Big Bowl has introduced new space-inspired packaging, featuring astronauts and aliens to depict how hunger exists everywhere, but only one brand can save the day.

Speaking about the campaign, Aayush Madhusudan Agrawal, Founder & Director, Lenexis Foodworks, shared, “Big Bowl continues to stay at the intersection of value, variety, and convenience  three things that define modern food delivery in India. This campaign is not just about food; it’s about owning that hunger moment in a fun and memorable way. As we expand our offerings and move into outdoor catering, our mission remains simple to make great food accessible and satisfying.”

Adding to this, Vikas Iyer, Marketing Head, Lenexis Foodworks, said, “Every Gen Z consumer has a ‘hunger story’', those unexpected moments when hunger hits hard. With ‘Smash Your Hunger,’ we turned hunger into a character that’s funny, scary, and totally relatable. The Halloween timing gave us the perfect chance to mix spooky visuals with digital-first humour that today’s audiences love.”

The campaign extends beyond films with #SmashYourHungerChallenge on social media, inviting fans to share their funniest or scariest hunger moments. Influencer collaborations and new menu additions across Indian and Chinese bowls further build excitement for the festive season.

Currently present across 240+ locations in 40+ cities, Big Bowl continues to grow rapidly under Lenexis Foodworks, which also operates successful QSR brands like Chinese Wok and The Momo Co. The brand is on track to cross ₹150 crore ARR this financial year, solidifying its place among India’s leading delivery-first food companies.