Iconic Destinations Await: Abhinandan Lodha Group's $240m Plan for India's Premium Hotels

Iconic Destinations Await: Abhinandan Lodha Group's $240m Plan for India's Premium Hotels

By Author

Published on January 10, 2024

In a significant boost to India's luxury hospitality sector, the Abhinandan Lodha Group, a prominent realty developer, has announced an ambitious plan. They're set to invest a staggering Rs20bn ($240.73m) to develop five luxury hotels in key Indian cities, marking a new era in upscale travel and accommodation in the country.

This grand venture will span across Ayodhya, Vrindavan, Benares, Shimla, and Amritsar, introducing an array of opulent hospitality experiences. In a strategic partnership with Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts, the group is poised to redefine luxury in these culturally rich locales.

The highlight of this series is the proposed luxury modern palace hotel in Ayodhya, as reported by The Economic Times. Poised to be an architectural marvel, this hotel will enjoy a scenic location near the upcoming Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, nestled along the lush banks of the Sarayu River.

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Part of the expansive Sarayu project by Abhinandan Lodha Group, this development isn't just about hotels. It encompasses a wider 51-acre area, featuring residential plots, villas, and high-rise luxury apartments. The Ayodhya hotel itself, scheduled to open its doors by March 2028, will boast 100 rooms and is expected to see an investment of over Rs4.5bn.

The other four hotels in this project are equally ambitious, each expected to draw significant investment and attention. What makes the Ayodhya property unique is its joint ownership with Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts, marking the hotel chain's first foray into a joint venture in luxury property development.

Abhinandan Lodha, the group's chairman, elaborated on the collaboration, noting that the partnership with Leela isn't just about design and development. It extends to managing the clubhouse, serviced villas, and luxury apartments, ensuring an all-encompassing luxury experience for both guests and residents.

This move comes as part of a broader strategy by the House of Abhinandan Lodha, which last year outlined plans to invest over Rs110bn in land acquisitions and developments across India. Focused on leveraging the growing demand for premium land and plotted developments, this investment strategy includes an allocation of Rs30bn for Uttar Pradesh, with Rs12bn specifically earmarked for Ayodhya.

The company aims to fund these ambitious projects through internal accruals, indicating a strong financial footing and confidence in the success of these ventures. This series of luxury hotels promises to not only enhance the hospitality landscape in India but also contribute significantly to the regions' economic and tourism sectors.


Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Reports Rs 13 Crore Net Profit in Q1 FY26

Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Reports Rs 13 Crore Net Profit in Q1 FY26

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.


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.

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