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By Nithyakala Neelakandan
Published on July 21, 2024
Hyatt Hotels Corp. is reportedly close to finalizing a deal to acquire boutique hotel operator Standard International.
Negotiations between Hyatt and Standard International are in advanced stages, according to sources familiar with the matter. Standard International, known for its chic and upscale properties in locations such as London, Ibiza, the Maldives, and Melbourne, would bring a new dimension to Hyatt’s offerings. However, it's important to note that no transaction has been finalized, and the deal could still fall through.
A Hyatt spokesperson declined to comment on the specifics but reiterated the company's commitment to "asset-light growth through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions." Standard International also did not provide immediate comments on the ongoing discussions.
Hyatt, under the leadership of CEO Mark Hoplamazian, has been actively acquiring brands in recent years. The company has added Alila, Thompson Hotels, and Apple Leisure Group to its portfolio. These acquisitions have helped Hyatt transition to a model focused on licensing brands to third-party investors, enriching its system with high-end properties that attract loyal customers.
The Standard brand, originally developed by hotelier Andre Balazs, is renowned for its vibrant nightlife and trendy appeal, particularly in cities like New York, where it operates a notable property on the High Line.
Hyatt's interest in Standard International follows a broader strategy to compete with industry giants like Marriott and Hilton by acquiring niche brands. This potential deal could further enhance Hyatt's luxury and lifestyle offerings. The acquisition would include high-profile properties like Mont Rochelle in South Africa, The Lodge in Switzerland, and Mahali Mzuri in Kenya, among others.
James Bermingham, CEO of Virgin Hotels Collection, which also has a strategic partnership with Hyatt, emphasized the alignment of this acquisition with Hyatt's growth strategy. "We are excited to introduce our unique Virgin Limited Edition retreats into Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ prestigious Legend Collection, further strengthening our successful partnership," Bermingham said.
If the deal goes through, all Standard International properties will benefit from Hyatt's extensive expertise in leisure, corporate, and group sales travel sectors. They will also participate in the I Prefer Hotel Rewards program, which boasts over five million travelers enrolled. This program helps attract repeat guests by offering points redeemable for various benefits, including cash-value Reward Certificates and Titanium status.
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By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Published on August 18, 2025
Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Limited (ASPHL) announced its financial results for Q1 FY26, recording a net profit of Rs 13 crore. Revenue from operations stood at Rs 154 crore, a 14% increase year-on-year, while operating EBITDA grew 16% YoY to Rs 45 crore. The company maintained an industry-leading occupancy of 92%, reaffirming its leadership in the hospitality sector.
ASPHL’s growth is fueled by expansion into Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets. The company recently signed an MoU to acquire and manage four leisure properties in Goa, Manali, Shimla, and Dharamshala, adding 138 rooms under its brand. These steps align with ASPHL’s strategy to broaden its presence in high-potential tourism destinations and double its key count to 5,750 over the next five years.
Flurys, ASPHL’s iconic bakery and confectionery brand, now operates 102 outlets nationwide, reflecting the company’s focus on expanding its market presence while integrating modern amenities with rich cultural heritage.
Commenting on the performance, Vijay Dewan, Managing Director, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels, said,
"We have delivered an extraordinary and best-ever Q1, setting a strong momentum for the year ahead. With topline growth of 14% and EBITDA growth of 16%, we recorded India’s highest occupancy of 92% and maintained leadership in RevPAR in the upper-upscale segment. ARR improved by 13% and RevPAR increased by 12%. With nearly 600 new rooms added, including a 41% rise in our asset-light model, and nationwide Flurys rollout, we are poised to scale faster, enhance margins, and deliver exceptional shareholder value."
ASPHL’s strong performance in Q1 FY26 underscores its strategic focus on market expansion, operational excellence, and premium guest experiences.
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.
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.
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