Niraamaya Retreats Backwaters & Beyond, Kumarakom has been awarded the title of ‘Most Luxurious Spa Resort’ at the Global Spa Awards 2025. The recognition highlights Niraamaya Life’s continued focus on offering wellness experiences built around authenticity, sustainability, and refined hospitality.

The award was presented on 22 April 2026 at JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu, in the presence of key figures from the wellness and hospitality sectors, along with members of the film fraternity. Allen Machado, Chief Executive Officer, accepted the award on behalf of the organisation.

This marks the fourth time Niraamaya Life has been recognised at the Global Spa Awards, reflecting its consistent approach towards holistic wellbeing and guest-focused experiences. The brand’s philosophy centres on preventive wellness, with therapies and programmes designed to support long-term health and balance. The recognition also highlights the property’s curated spa journeys, inspired by nature-led treatments and the principles of Ayurveda.

Commenting on the recognition, Allen Machado stated:

“We are honoured to receive this recognition at the Global Spa Awards. It reflects the collective commitment of our teams to deliver preventive wellness experiences that support holistic wellbeing. We remain focused on advancing wellness hospitality through authenticity, personalisation, and consistency in delivery.”

Niraamaya Life continues to expand its presence in the wellness hospitality space, with plans to grow across both domestic and international markets over the next two years. This growth is supported by a clear focus on thoughtful programme design, calm environments, and intuitive service.

With this recognition, Niraamaya Life further strengthens its position as a leading wellness-focused hospitality brand, staying aligned with its vision of offering meaningful and immersive guest experiences.

SOCIAL has launched ‘Voices from the Hood’, a first-of-its-kind cultural report offering a detailed look into the evolving lifestyles, behaviours, and aspirations of urban youth in India.

Developed using insights from over 10,000 respondents across multiple cities, the report reflects a generation that is experience-driven, digitally connected, and culturally fluid, balancing ambition with lifestyle, and tradition with modern influences.

Backed by Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality Pvt. Ltd., SOCIAL has long positioned itself as a hub for communities, creators, and young professionals. With this report, the brand extends its role from a cultural space to a cultural observer and documenter of youth trends.

Commenting on the initiative, Riyaaz Amlani, Founder and Managing Director, Impresario, said the report aims to capture the everyday rituals, ambitions, and cultural moments that define young India. Divya Aggarwal, Chief Growth Officer, added that the findings serve both as a cultural lens and a strategic tool to stay aligned with evolving consumer realities.

Key Insights from the Report

Lifestyle & Entertainment
Entertainment for young India is no longer passive. It blends digital and real-world experiences, from streaming and gaming to live events and travel. Cinema remains the most popular outing, while adventure activities and live performances continue to gain traction. Platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video dominate home entertainment, reflecting strong digital engagement.

Aspirations & Beliefs
The report highlights a generation that is ambitious yet introspective. Financial success is a key priority, while perspectives on relationships and traditions continue to evolve. Entrepreneurship is emerging as a strong aspiration, alongside growing awareness of challenges such as education, mental health, and employment.

Dining Trends
Dining out has become a core social ritual, with restaurants functioning as modern social spaces. Discovery is largely digital, led by word-of-mouth, social media, and platforms like Zomato. Spending patterns indicate a balance between affordability and indulgence, with frequent dining emerging as a norm among urban youth.

Nightlife Behaviour
Nightlife is increasingly experience-led, centred around music, community, and social interaction rather than just drinking. While a majority consume alcohol, a significant segment prefers non-alcoholic experiences, reflecting diverse preferences. Premiumisation trends are also visible in beverage choices.

Delivery Habits
Food delivery is now a daily lifestyle behaviour, driven by convenience and variety. Platforms like Swiggy and Zomato dominate usage, highlighting the role of digital ecosystems in shaping consumption.

Beyond data, ‘Voices from the Hood’ positions itself as a cultural snapshot of contemporary India, capturing how young consumers interact with food, entertainment, travel, and social spaces.

As India’s youth continue to influence both cultural and economic trends, the report offers valuable insights for brands, creators, and the hospitality industry, helping them better understand and engage with the next generation.

Otherland Hotels has announced its entry into Sri Lanka with the upcoming launch of Otherland Galle, a 66-key oceanfront property set to open in June 2026. Located near Galle Fort on the southern coast, this marks the brand’s first international project and a key step in its expansion across South Asia.

Founded in 2023 in Bengaluru by Rishi Sreedharan and Samarth Gowda, the brand was created to offer a fresh take on lifestyle hospitality. With its first property in Galle, Otherland Hotels aims to position itself within a space that connects local culture, travel, and creative communities. The location has been chosen for its surf culture, growing tourism appeal, and evolving creative scene.

The upcoming property is designed to go beyond a traditional hotel stay, focusing on experiences that feel connected to the destination. The brand’s approach is built around four key ideas: fluid experiences, rooms as basecamp, human hospitality, and differentiated F&B. Through this, Otherland aims to create spaces that are both functional and engaging for modern travellers.

Speaking on the launch, Rishi Sreedharan, Founder & CEO, Otherland Hotels, said: "South Asia is loud, alive, dripping with culture and taste, and deserves a hospitality brand that can speak its language without putting on a costume. Otherland is our vision to achieve this. We want to be unmistakable somewhere, and then somewhere else, and then again , each time earning our place with a distinctive lifestyle language, built for the modern traveller who wants more than just an accommodation. Galle, with its excellent surf culture, evolving tourism landscape, and exciting creative subcultures, is exactly the kind of place where we want to be."

The project is being developed with the vision of Emanuel Sidhartha as Co-Founder, bringing in local insight from Sri Lanka’s hospitality and cultural ecosystem.

Adding to this, Samarth Gowda, Co-Founder & COO, Otherland Hotels, said: "The choice of Galle as our first location felt like the truest version of what Otherland could be, layered, alive, and completely its own. For us, going international didn't mean going global in the conventional sense. It meant finding a place in our own backyard that the world hadn't fully discovered yet, and building something there that belongs. Independent hotels, at their best, don't just reflect a destination, they amplify it. That's the only way we know how to do this."

With this launch, Otherland Hotels is setting the foundation for a wider presence across the region. The brand has outlined plans to build a network of experience-led hotels, restaurants, and beach clubs across South Asia, with Galle being the first step in this journey.