Galeries Lafayette Haussmann Revolutionizes Customer Experience with UPI Payments

Galeries Lafayette Haussmann Revolutionizes Customer Experience with UPI Payments

By Nishang Narayan

Published on July 9, 2024

Galeries Lafayette Haussmann has recently announced the integration of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system, introducing a new level of convenience and security for its customers. This initiative is part of the store’s continuous efforts to modernize and streamline the payment process for its customers.

The Unified Payments Interface, a revolutionary payment technology developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has transformed the digital payment landscape in India. Since its inception in 2016, UPI has enabled instant and interbank money transfers via mobile applications, allowing users to link multiple bank accounts to a single app using unique virtual identifiers.

Established in 2008, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and developing India’s payment infrastructure. Through innovations like UPI, NPCI has played a crucial role in digitizing the Indian economy, making digital payments more accessible and inclusive for millions of citizens. This transformation has facilitated everyday transactions and significantly advanced financial inclusion on an unprecedented scale.

To celebrate the launch of UPI payments at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, a cocktail event was held on Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024. The event was honored by the presence of H.E. Jawad Ashraf, Ambassador of India, and Nicolas Houzé, CEO of Galeries Lafayette. This exclusive gathering provided a unique opportunity to strengthen ties between the Parisian department store and the Indian diplomatic community, highlighting the importance of international relations in the store’s commercial and cultural endeavors.

"We are delighted to be the first department store in Europe to offer the UPI payment solution at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann. By introducing UPI, we facilitate seamless and secure transactions for our Indian customers and strengthen cultural and economic ties between France and India. As the number of visitors from India is growing, we are proud to offer this innovative payment option, ensuring a convenient and memorable shopping experience. With the opening of our first Indian store in Mumbai in 2025, followed by New Delhi, this initiative becomes even more significant, symbolizing our commitment to reinforcing the ties between our two countries," declared Vincent Sénéquat, Director of Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann.

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The integration of UPI payments by Galeries Lafayette Haussmann marks a significant milestone for both customers and the store, highlighting their dedication to leading technological innovation and continuously improving the shopping experience, thereby strengthening customer trust. This initiative cements the department store’s position as an industry leader and underscores their commitment to simplifying transactions by providing payment solutions that meet the demands of today’s consumers.

About Galeries Lafayette: Famous the world over, Galeries Lafayette is France’s leading department store brand. It has dominated the fashion and retail event stage for the past 130 years, offering each visitor a unique shopping experience and ensuring that French and international customers can choose from a constantly fresh range of classic as well as more exclusive brands. Home to fashion & accessories, beauty, lifestyle, as well as a food hall and dining spaces, Galeries Lafayette enjoys a global reputation thanks to a network of 67 stores in France and worldwide, its e-commerce site, galerieslafayette.com, and its factory outlet business Galeries Lafayette L’Outlet.

About NPCI International:

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) was incorporated on April 3, 2020, as a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). As NPCI’s international arm, NIPL is devoted to deploying NPCI’s indigenous, successful real-time payment system—Unified Payments Interface (UPI)—and card scheme (RuPay) outside of India. NPCI has successfully developed and proved its products and technological capabilities in the domestic market by transforming the payment segment in India. Currently, there are several countries that seek to establish a real-time payment system or a domestic card scheme. NIPL, with its knowledge and experience, can offer these countries technological assistance through licensing and consulting for building real-time payment systems to meet the rapidly evolving needs of fast-growing global businesses. NIPL focuses on transforming payments across the globe through technology and innovation. It will not only enable payments for Indians but also support other countries by enhancing their payment capabilities using technological assistance, consulting, and infrastructure.

Indulge in a seamless shopping experience at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann with the newly integrated UPI payment system, marking a new era of convenience and innovation.


Papa Johns India Celebrates Father’s Day with Interactive Pizza-Making Experience

Papa Johns India Celebrates Father’s Day with Interactive Pizza-Making Experience

By Hariharan U

Published on June 21, 2026

Papa Johns India marked Father’s Day with a unique and interactive celebration, hosting a special pizza-making experience for fathers and their children at its Hennur and Kasturi Nagar outlets in Bengaluru on June 21, 2026.

Designed to encourage meaningful family bonding, the event brought together registered father-child duos for a hands-on culinary session where participants created their own pizzas under the guidance of Papa Johns chefs. The initiative aimed to transform a traditional dining experience into an engaging activity centred around togetherness and shared memories.

During the event, participants wore branded aprons and caps while learning the art of pizza-making from scratch. The experience also featured Father’s Day-themed games, instant photography sessions, Polaroid keepsakes, and interactive activities designed to make the celebration memorable for families.

Commenting on the initiative, Prashant Mehta, Director of Papa Johns India, said the brand views Father’s Day as an opportunity to celebrate family connections and create meaningful experiences beyond dining. He noted that the event was designed to bring families together through teamwork, creativity, and shared moments in the kitchen.

The sessions concluded with pizza tasting, trivia activities, and group photographs, allowing participants to enjoy the creations they made together.

Through this experience-led activation, Papa Johns India continues to strengthen customer engagement while showcasing the craftsmanship, quality ingredients, and preparation techniques that define its pizzas. The initiative reflects the brand’s growing focus on creating memorable in-store experiences that connect customers with the food and the people they share it with.

Operated in India by PJP Foods India Private Limited under the Ambrosia QSR platform, Papa Johns India continues to expand its presence through dine-in, takeaway, and delivery formats while staying true to its global promise of “Better Ingredients. Better Pizza.”


Summit Hotels Begins FY2026-27 with Nearly 40% Growth, Driven by Sikkim and Darjeeling Demand

Summit Hotels Begins FY2026-27 with Nearly 40% Growth, Driven by Sikkim and Darjeeling Demand

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on June 14, 2026

Summit Hotels & Resorts has started FY2026-27 on a strong note, reporting nearly 40% growth in business during April and May. The company attributes the performance to continued demand for leisure travel in the Eastern Himalayas and the growing preference among travellers for established regional hospitality brands.

During the first two months of the financial year, the hospitality group sold more than 37,000 room nights, with occupancy across its portfolio reaching 78.9%. Average room rates also crossed ₹6,000, highlighting stronger pricing power across several key destinations.

The growth comes despite a temporary slowdown in travel activity in parts of eastern India during the West Bengal Assembly election period. According to the company, destinations across Sikkim and the Darjeeling Hills were the strongest contributors to performance, supported by repeat guests and rising demand for premium mountain getaways.

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Commenting on the performance, Sumit Mitruka, CEO, Summit Hotels & Resorts, said, "We entered the year expecting healthy demand, but the pace of bookings has been stronger than anticipated. What stands out is not just the occupancy but the ability of travellers to continue choosing these destinations despite temporary disruptions. The appetite for experiential leisure travel remains strong, and we are seeing that translate into both room revenue and higher spending within our hotels."

Alongside room revenues, the company also reported healthy growth in food and beverage sales during the period. Guest review scores remained among the highest across its operating markets, reflecting strong customer satisfaction levels.

Building on this momentum, Summit Hotels is now expanding its business model beyond its owned and managed properties in the Eastern Himalayas. The company is actively seeking partnerships with independent hotels, boutique resorts, heritage properties, wildlife lodges, and spiritual retreat destinations across India.

The initiative is designed for hotel owners looking to benefit from organised distribution channels and professional revenue management while retaining ownership and operational control of their properties.

Unlike conventional affiliation models that often require significant upfront investments, Summit's partnership approach focuses on shared growth. Partner properties can maintain their individual identity while gaining access to the company's central reservation system, revenue management expertise, digital marketing support, technology platforms, and hospitality manpower network.

Having completed 18 years in the hospitality industry, Summit believes significant opportunities exist within India's large independent hotel sector, where many properties have strong local appeal but limited access to organised brand support and distribution systems.

With booking momentum continuing into June and advance reservations already nearing last year's levels, the company remains optimistic about sustained demand across leisure and destination travel markets in the coming quarters.


Suba Hotels Ltd Reports Record ₹115.89 Cr Revenue in FY26, Expands to 100+ Hotels

Suba Hotels Ltd Reports Record ₹115.89 Cr Revenue in FY26, Expands to 100+ Hotels

By Hariharan U

Published on June 12, 2026

Suba Hotels Limited (NSE – SME: SUBAHOTELS) has announced its audited financial results for the year ended March 31, 2026, reporting its strongest-ever annual performance alongside significant expansion across its hotel portfolio.

The company’s total revenue rose to ₹115.89 crore in FY26, marking a 45% year-on-year growth. EBITDA increased by 13% to ₹26.82 crore, while Profit After Tax (PAT) stood at ₹18.01 crore, reflecting a 19% rise compared to FY25.

Commenting on the performance, Managing Director Mansur Mehta said FY26 has been a landmark year for the company, driven by strong execution and expansion across markets. Suba Hotels expanded its presence to over 102 operational hotels, 4,660+ keys, and 73 destinations during the year.

He highlighted that one of the company’s key strengths lies in its ability to operate across all five hospitality business models management contracts, revenue sharing, franchising, asset ownership, and hybrid structures, making Suba Hotels one of the few hospitality players in India with such a diversified operational framework.

This flexibility allows us to partner with hotel owners effectively and accelerate expansion across segments,” he said.

CEO Mubeen Mehta noted that the scale achieved in FY26 reflects the strength of the company’s operating platform and execution capabilities. He added that revenue growth was supported by network expansion and improved business volumes across brands.

He also pointed out that EBITDA and PAT margins were impacted due to changes in the GST framework, which led to the loss of input tax credit benefits on certain operating expenses, increasing the overall cost base.

Looking ahead, the company plans to continue expanding through asset-light models, improving operational efficiency, and strengthening its presence in high-growth markets. With a strong pipeline and over 100 hotels already operational, Suba Hotels remains confident of sustaining its growth trajectory.

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