IHCL Expands its Reach with New Vivanta Hotel in Talegaon, Pune

IHCL Expands its Reach with New Vivanta Hotel in Talegaon, Pune

By Author

Published on December 26, 2023

Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), the country's largest hospitality firm, has announced a significant addition to its portfolio with the signing of a new hotel in Talegaon, Pune. This greenfield project, set to be branded as Vivanta, solidifies IHCL's foothold in Pune, a pivotal commercial city in Maharashtra. Talegaon, renowned for its role in the automobile and manufacturing sectors, is experiencing continued growth due to escalating infrastructure development.

Suma Venkatesh, Executive Vice President – Real Estate & Development at IHCL, expressed enthusiasm for this fifth venture in Pune and the partnership with RMK Infrastructure Pvt Ltd. She highlighted the strategic importance of Talegaon and its proximity to leading multinational companies.

Strategically located on Talegaon MIDC road, the 140-key hotel sprawls over 2.5 acres, offering convenient access to prominent businesses. The hotel boasts an array of amenities, including the all-day diner Mynt, a specialty restaurant, Wink bar featuring over 4,000 sq.ft. of banquet space, and recreational facilities such as a swimming pool, gym, and spa.

Founder of RMK Infrastructure Pvt Ltd., Mr. Ramdas Kakade, expressed pleasure in collaborating with IHCL, acknowledging their leadership in India’s hospitality industry. He emphasized the distinctive experience that the Vivanta brand will bring to Talegaon.

Pune, a dynamic metropolis in Maharashtra, renowned for seamlessly blending modernity with tradition, stands as a major hub for manufacturing, IT, and education. With this new addition, IHCL's presence in Maharashtra will encompass a total of 33 hotels under its SeleQtions, Vivanta, and Ginger brands, with 11 more in various stages of development. This expansion reflects IHCL's commitment to providing exceptional hospitality experiences across key markets in India.


Mirth Bar Opens in Indiranagar, A Nostalgic Yet Modern Tribute to Old Bangalore’s Pub Culture

Mirth Bar Opens in Indiranagar, A Nostalgic Yet Modern Tribute to Old Bangalore’s Pub Culture

By Hariharan U

Published on September 12, 2025

 In a city buzzing with new-age bars and polished lounges, a fresh entrant is raising its glass to nostalgia. Mirth, a 65-seater tucked just off Indiranagar’s 100 Feet Road, is not chasing trends but rewriting them with heart, history, and handcrafted detail.

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Founded by four lifelong friends, Sundeep Reddy, Arsau Elango, Santosh Balan, and Prasanna Govindappa, Mirth is built on twenty-five years of shared pub memories in old Bangalore. Once just an idea in their group chat, it is now a warm, whiskey-rich cocktail bar designed for easy conversations, cosy evenings, and nights that blur seamlessly into laughter.

Once a corporate office, the space has been transformed into a glowing, golden-lit haven with interiors meant to flow as naturally as the drinks. Every corner carries the imprint of the founders’ friendship, creating an atmosphere that feels both personal and contemporary.

 The beverage program, crafted by Dev Narveker (Petisco, Goa) and led by Head Mixologist Omkar Vidhyadhar Parab, leans into bold signatures and refined classics. Highlights include Pour Me A Slice (whiskey infused with gouda and blue cheese, swirled with cherry and hibiscus sake), Martini Revolver (a tequila–mezcal mix with house-made jalapeño brine), and Slow Current (a chilli-spiced highball with Gundu pepper and sumac). For lighter sips, options like Clear Intention and Lavender Line add a fizzy, playful edge.

“Start light and finish strong, move from fizzy and fruity to bold and boozy,” says Omkar, laying down the path through Mirth’s cocktail map. The extensive back bar ensures purists won’t feel left out either.

 At the helm of the kitchen is Chef Baljeet Singh Mehra, whose stints across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, New Zealand, and top Indian kitchens bring “fusion without confusion” to the table. Expect dishes like Sunny Side South (Mirth’s take on Goa’s Ros Omelette stuffed with Asian chicken, served with Malvani curry), East Meets Mezze (a hummus-edamame-sriracha blend), Crackle Theory pork, and Napoli Heatwave spaghetti in chilli oil.

 Each founder brings a unique flavour to the venture, Sundeep Reddy, active partner at Roxie, blends engineering precision with F1 fandom. Arsau Elango, finance professional-turned-nightlife enthusiast, contributes global influences and music sensibilities. Santosh Balan, with 20 years of risk advisory, adds depth alongside his passion for cooking. Prasanna Govindappa, an IT veteran, returned from global assignments to help carve a niche for Mirth.

Together, their shared history is visible in every cocktail, playlist, and plate. Guests may even catch them at the bar, sipping on Mirth’s signature Old Flame (a sherry-whiskey concoction) while digging into wok-tossed chilli basil chicken. In an age of Instagram-driven dining, Mirth is refreshingly old-school, prioritising good music, warm hospitality, bold drinks, and food that comforts while surprising. It’s a neighbourhood bar designed not for flash-in-the-pan trends but for the timeless joy of gathering.

Location:
 Mirth Bar, 2nd Floor, Ashok Terrace, 303, 100 Feet Road, Indiranagar 1st Stage, Bengaluru – 560038


Transforming Hospitality: The Impact of Sustainability on Hotel Operations

Transforming Hospitality: The Impact of Sustainability on Hotel Operations

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on September 12, 2025

Picture a busy day in your hotel. Guests are checking in, the front desk is juggling calls, invoices are stacking up, menus need updating, and someone just asked about your eco-friendly practices. Teams are working hard, yet the pressure never seems to ease. As hoteliers, we know this scene well  and we also know it’s not just about keeping things running, but about creating a future where our operations are smarter, greener, and more guest-focused.

Challenges on the Path to Sustainability

Sustainability is no longer a choice; it’s a mandate, and the time has come. Guests expect it, regulators demand it, and costs make it unavoidable. Running paper-heavy processes, relying on outdated servers, or handling manual stock tracking is more than inconvenient, it holds back growth, impacts profitability, and puts your brand at odds with today’s expectations.

How Technology Supports Sustainability

This is where technology steps in, not as a replacement for hospitality, but as an enabler of it. Cloud-based platforms can eliminate the clutter of paper with digital check-ins and e-receipts, reduce waste with smarter inventory systems, and allow managers to monitor performance in real time, even when away from the property. For staff, this means less firefighting and more time to work together, creating an inclusive culture where every department is connected and updated instantly. For leadership, it means running operations that are leaner, faster, and aligned with the values guests expect from modern hospitality.

But let’s be clear: the goal is not technology for technology’s sake. The goal is to elevate guest experience, ensure seamless operations, and maximize revenue. Whether it’s a boutique hotel making its mark, an aspiring hotel group looking to expand, or a well-established chain managing multiple properties, the right digital foundation can be the difference between keeping up and leading the way.

This is where InnKey comes in. More than just a “cloud PMS,” InnKey unifies hotel operations on a single, enterprise-grade platform,  reservations, F&B, finance, procurement, and guest engagement, all connected and accessible anywhere. It’s proven at scale with leading hotel chains, yet agile enough for independent properties. Built with a mobile-first approach, InnKey empowers teams to work on tablets and smartphones, freeing hotels from printers, static terminals, and even the traditional front desk. Imagine a hotel where guests glide through check-in without queues, where no phones ring, yet every department stays informed in real time, and where operations feel invisible, but flawless.

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And here is what sets InnKey apart: while many solutions promise the cloud, InnKey delivers security, scalability, and clarity. With the highest standards of data protection, open APIs for seamless integrations, and robust architecture, it gives hoteliers the confidence that their business is not just digitized, but future proofed. The hospitality industry doesn’t need to digitize the past. It needs to reinvent the future. The urgency is real, the opportunity is here, and the path is clear. It’s time to rethink hospitality and create sustainable hotels that truly last.

Ready to take the first step? Schedule a conversation with an InnKey expert today  and let’s design the roadmap to make your hotel sustainable, mobile-first, and guest-ready for tomorrow. The future isn’t waiting, and neither should you.

For more info, mail us at: sales@innkeypms.net


Air India and Air Astana Sign Codeshare Agreement to Strengthen India–Kazakhstan Connectivity

Air India and Air Astana Sign Codeshare Agreement to Strengthen India–Kazakhstan Connectivity

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on September 12, 2025

Air India, India’s leading global airline, and Air Astana, the flag carrier of Kazakhstan, have announced a new codeshare agreement to expand flight options and connectivity for travellers between India and Kazakhstan.

Under this partnership, Air India will place its ‘AI’ designator code on Air Astana’s flights between Almaty and Delhi, and Almaty and Mumbai. This enables Air India passengers to conveniently book single tickets and enjoy through check-in for their journey to Almaty, a fast-growing hub for both tourism and business in Central Asia.

Speaking on the announcement, Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Air India, said:

“Our new codeshare partnership with Air Astana creates stronger air links to Kazakhstan, a fast-growing market with immense potential for tourism. Beyond serving leisure travel demand, our partnership will also support trade and cultural exchanges between our two countries, while bringing a new destination in Central Asia closer to our customers.”

Peter Foster, CEO of Air Astana Group, shared:

“We are delighted to have concluded a comprehensive codeshare agreement with Asia’s oldest airline. Air India is an exceptionally well-managed business, which operates a comprehensive network of flights to, from and across India, the world’s most populous country and one of the fastest growing travel markets. India is of key strategic importance to the Air Astana Group as we increase flights from Kazakhstan to Delhi, Mumbai and Goa. The codeshare will accelerate the increasingly strong business, tourist and student traffic flows between our two countries.”

The agreement builds upon an interline partnership signed earlier in 2025, under which Air India passengers already had access to destinations across Central Asia and China via Almaty, including Astana, Bishkek, Tashkent, Dushanbe, and Urumqi. Meanwhile, Air Astana customers gained access to 18 domestic and 9 international destinations through Air India’s network.

With this codeshare step-up, passengers will benefit from greater convenience, a wider destination network, and simplified travel through a single booking and check-in process. Subject to regulatory approvals, the codeshare flights will gradually be made available for booking across Air India’s website, mobile app, and travel agents worldwide.

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