Lemon Tree Hotels has announced the signing of its latest property Lemon Tree Hotel, Gaya, Bihar. The upcoming hotel will feature 56 well-appointed rooms, a restaurant, banquet and meeting facilities, along with a swimming pool, fitness centre, spa, and other public spaces. The property will be managed by Carnation Hotels Private Limited, the management arm and wholly-owned subsidiary of Lemon Tree Hotels Limited.

Strategically located, the hotel offers easy access to both Bodhgaya Airport (14 km) and Gaya Railway Station (6 km), while being well-connected by road for public and private transport.

Commenting on the signing, Kapil Sharma, Executive Vice President, Finance & Chief Financial Officer, Lemon Tree Hotels, said, “With this signing, we further enhance and strengthen our footprint in Bihar, where we operate one hotel and have one more upcoming. This aligns with our strategy of expanding our brand across the country to delight our guests with comfortable options.”

Lemon Tree Hotels has steadily grown since its first 49-room property in 2004. Today, the group welcomes over 1.5 million guests annually across 110+ operational hotels in 75+ cities in India and overseas, with a pipeline of 110+ upcoming properties. Its network spans metro hubs such as Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, along with tier II and III cities like Jaipur, Udaipur, Kochi, and Indore. Internationally, Lemon Tree Hotels is present in Dubai, Bhutan, and Nepal.

With the new signing in Gaya, Lemon Tree continues to build on its reputation for comfort, consistency, and refreshing hospitality — serving both business and leisure travellers alike.

The Westin Goa has announced the appointment of Preeti Mittoo as its new director of sales and marketing. With more than 18 years of expertise across luxury, business, and lifestyle hospitality brands, Mittoo brings a strong track record of leading teams, driving growth, and creating guest-focused experiences.

She began her career with ITC Hotels and The Oberoi Group, where she developed a strong foundation in hospitality sales. Most recently, she served as general manager, sales, North India at Lemon Tree & Aurika Hotels, successfully leading sales strategies for 32 hotels and spearheading the launch of their luxury brand.

This appointment marks her first role with Marriott International. At The Westin Goa, Mittoo’s focus will be on positioning the resort as a destination of choice in Goa while building on Westin’s wellness-infused philosophy and the vibrant spirit of the region. She envisions establishing the property as the benchmark for wellness-driven luxury in India.

Mittoo believes that true success goes beyond filling rooms, it lies in curating soulful, memorable moments that inspire guest loyalty. A strong advocate of teamwork and guest-centric hospitality, her leadership mantra is: “Inspire, empower and stay customer-obsessed, because both teams and guests thrive when genuine care is at the core.”

Welcoming her to the team, Harish Gopalakrishnan, general manager, The Westin Goa, said: “We are delighted to welcome Preeti Mittoo to The Westin Goa family! With her talent and experience, we are confident that together we will curate trend-setting, soulful experiences that position the resort as the benchmark for wellness travel in India.”

Through her new role, Preeti Mittoo aims to blend strategy with empathy, ensuring The Westin Goa remains a leader in Goa’s luxury and wellness hospitality landscape.

Navratri is the season to celebrate food that is both festive and nourishing. With fasting-friendly ingredients and satvik cooking, it’s about enjoying dishes that are wholesome yet flavourful. Two celebrated chefs bring their unique creations to the table this season each recipe blending tradition with a modern touch.

Tarun Sibal’s Makhana Makhani with Kuttu Paratha, Chef and entrepreneur Tarun Sibal, from Street Storyss, presents a rich, comforting dish perfect for Navratri. His Makhana Makhani Gravy combines roasted makhana simmered in a creamy tomato base, flavoured with garam masala, kasuri methi, and finished with a garnish of fresh cilantro. Paired with soft Kuttu Parathas brushed with ghee, the dish makes for a festive indulgence while staying true to fasting traditions.

Pooja Masurkar’s Broccoli Millet Salad, From Pause, Mumbai, founding chef Pooja Masurkar offers a refreshing twist with her Broccoli Millet Salad. A vibrant mix of fluffy foxtail millet, parsley, dates, avocado, and pomegranate, it is topped with lightly spiced broccoli and a zesty lemon vinaigrette. Light, energising, and free from onion and garlic, this satvik salad brings both colour and nourishment to Navratri dining.

Why these recipes are Navratri-friendly

• They use fasting-friendly ingredients like kuttu flour, makhana, and foxtail millet.

• They avoid onion and garlic, keeping the meals satvik.

• They balance flavour and nutrition, perfect for nine days of celebration.

• They celebrate timeless Indian traditions with modern culinary innovation.

Whether you prefer the richness of a traditional gravy or the freshness of a salad, these recipes are designed to make Navratri dining both wholesome and memorable.