Himachal Chief Minister Encourages Investment in the State at Hospitality Expo in Greater Noida

Himachal Chief Minister Encourages Investment in the State at Hospitality Expo in Greater Noida

By Author

Published on August 6, 2023

According to a report by HT, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister SS Sukhu inaugurated the sixth edition of the India International Hospitality Expo 2023 at the India Expo Mart in Greater Noida on Wednesday. The expo has chosen Himachal Pradesh as the focus state this year, aiming to boost and advance the hospitality industry in the hilly region.

Rakesh Kumar, Chairman of India Exposition Mart Limited (IEML), announced that over 250 exhibitors from across the country are participating in the four-day B2B expo. These exhibitors, all hospitality professionals, are showcasing the latest trends and innovations in the industry, covering everything from crockery items to architectural designs, horticulture to sanitization.

The expo provides a platform for these exhibitors to showcase their products to more than 20,000 registered buyers attending the event. Himachal Pradesh has recently gained international attention and has seen a surge in tourism, welcoming 1.6 crore visitors as of June 2023.

Addressing the gathering, the chief minister expressed the state government’s commitment to enhancing tourism in Himachal Pradesh. He emphasized the importance of robust infrastructure development, particularly in the Kangra district, to attract tourists and boost the state’s economy.

The chief minister clarified the land laws in Himachal Pradesh, stating that non-residents are generally not allowed to purchase land in the state. However, there is a provision for government approval, enabling investors, especially in the hotel and hospitality sector, to acquire land and property. This presents a significant opportunity for investment in Himachal.

The event witnessed the presence of prominent Himachal Pradesh officials, including Raghubeer Singh Bali, Chairman of the HP Tourism Development Corporation Limited, and Pramod Saxena, Chief Secretary of the Himachal government.

The four-day India International Hospitality Expo 2023 concludes on August 5.


Marriott Announces Dividend and Expands Share Buyback Plan

Marriott Announces Dividend and Expands Share Buyback Plan

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 10, 2025

Marriott International, Inc. has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 67 cents per share on its common stock, reaffirming its commitment to delivering shareholder value. The dividend will be paid on September 30, 2025, to shareholders who are on record as of August 21, 2025.

Alongside the dividend announcement, the hospitality giant also revealed an expansion of its share repurchase program. The board of directors has authorized the repurchase of an additional 25 million shares of its Class A common stock. This comes in addition to the approximately 7.4 million shares that were still available under previous authorizations as of July 30, 2025.

Marriott has already bought back 6.4 million shares this year, amounting to $1.7 billion. These moves reflect the company’s continued confidence in its financial stability and long-term performance, aiming to strengthen shareholder value through strategic capital allocation.


Chennai Postal Services Still Disrupted: Experts Call for Alternative Systems Amid Software Transition

Chennai Postal Services Still Disrupted: Experts Call for Alternative Systems Amid Software Transition

By Author

Published on August 4, 2025

In what was intended to be a smooth digital transformation, postal services across the Chennai Circle continue to remain disrupted even days after a scheduled upgrade to India Post's new IT 2.0 system. The software transition—part of a broader effort to modernize the nation’s postal network—was implemented on August 2nd and 4th across Chennai North and South divisions. However, officials have now confirmed that technical issues still persist, leaving customers and businesses grappling with delayed or inaccessible services.

Key services such as Speed Post, registered mail, parcel bookings, and money orders have either been significantly slowed or paused altogether in many branches. Despite expectations that systems would normalize post-upgrade, the rollout of the Advanced Postal Technology (APT) system has proven more complex than anticipated.

“We are still working on stabilizing the system. There have been unforeseen glitches post-upgrade, and our teams are actively resolving them,” said a senior postal official who requested anonymity.

The disruption has raised concerns across industries—including the hospitality sector—where timely document dispatch, license renewals, vendor payments, and customer correspondence are crucial to daily operations.

Experts and industry stakeholders are now calling on India Post to introduce alternative operational strategies or backup mechanisms during such large-scale transitions.

“In a digital age where seamless service is non-negotiable, a complete blackout due to a software update is avoidable. A fallback process, whether manual or cloud-based, should be in place to ensure continuity,” said a Chennai-based hospitality consultant.

The hospitality industry relies heavily on postal services for legal documentation, international communication, and procurement logistics. The ongoing delays have caused bottlenecks not just in operations but also in customer experience delivery.

As authorities continue to work toward a resolution, the broader question remains: Should India’s essential public infrastructure be this vulnerable to a single system upgrade? The answer may lie in future-proofing core services with hybrid digital models that include disaster recovery plans and parallel systems.


Hospitalitynews.in will continue to track updates as the situation evolves.


IPO-bound Brigade Hotel Ventures Raises ₹126 Crore from 360 ONE, Cuts IPO Size

IPO-bound Brigade Hotel Ventures Raises ₹126 Crore from 360 ONE, Cuts IPO Size

By Nishang Narayan

Published on July 5, 2025

Brigade Hotel Ventures Limited, the second largest owner of chain-affiliated hotels and rooms in South India, has raised ₹126 crore in a pre-IPO placement round, bringing a strategic investor on board ahead of its planned initial public offering.

The company issued 1.4 crore equity shares to 360 ONE Alternates Asset Management Limited (360 ONE) at ₹90 per share (including a premium of ₹80) in consultation with lead bankers. This placement, representing 4.74% of Brigade Hotel Ventures’ pre-offer share capital, effectively trims the IPO size announced in the DRHP from ₹900 crore to ₹774 crore.

The company intends to use approximately ₹481 crore from the IPO proceeds for debt repayment, including ₹412 crore for Brigade Hotel Ventures and ₹69 crore for its subsidiary, SRP Prosperita Hotel Ventures. Additionally, around ₹108 crore is earmarked to purchase an undivided share of land from its promoter BEL, while the remaining funds will support acquisitions, other strategic initiatives, and general corporate purposes.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Brigade Enterprises Limited, one of India’s leading real estate developers, Brigade Hotel Ventures owns and develops hotels across key Indian cities, with a strong focus on South India. The company operates nine hotels with 1,604 keys, holding the second largest portfolio of chain-affiliated hotels and rooms in South India, spanning Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and the Union Territories of Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Pondicherry.

With this pre-IPO boost from 360 ONE, Brigade Hotel Ventures is better positioned to move forward with a leaner public offering, a sharper focus on debt reduction, and strategic expansion in India’s growing hospitality sector.

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