Industry Leaders Share Expectations Ahead of Union Budget 2026

Industry Leaders Share Expectations Ahead of Union Budget 2026

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on January 30, 2026

With the Union Budget 2026 set to be presented in the first week of February, expectations are building across the hospitality, tourism, and food services sectors. Industry leaders are looking to the upcoming budget for measures that can strengthen travel infrastructure, support sustainable tourism, ease operational pressures, and recognise the sector’s role in employment generation.

Sharing her views, Shruti Shibulal, Executive Vice Chair of the Board of Directors at Tamara Leisure Experiences, highlighted the opportunity for the budget to further strengthen India’s travel and tourism ecosystem. She said, "The approaching Union Budget has a strong opportunity to further strengthen India's travel and tourism ecosystem through focused interventions that promote ease of access, visibility and local employment."

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She emphasised the need to identify and promote new destinations, particularly across North India and the North East, to attract new traveller segments and ensure balanced regional growth. Improved connectivity under the UDAN scheme, she noted, could also help ease pressure on overcrowded destinations by redirecting tourist flows. On sustainable tourism, she pointed to India’s potential in nature-centric travel and suggested that a calibrated relaxation of wildlife sanctuary guidelines, while maintaining strict conservation norms, could support future-ready tourism development.

Shruti Shibulal also underscored the importance of simplifying visas for health and wellness tourism, extending the PRASAD scheme to more destinations with timely execution, and giving a focused policy push to cruise tourism along India’s coastline to enhance global competitiveness. Stressing safety and ease of travel, she called for a dedicated focus on tourism police under police modernisation schemes. She further added that support for rural cooperatives, along with sustained investment in skill development and local employment generation, especially in rural and emerging destinations, would help create participative tourism models that benefit local communities.

From the food services perspective, Pranav Rungta, Cofounder and Director of Nksha Restaurant and Vice President of NRAI Mumbai, spoke about the financial pressures facing the sector. He said, "The hospitality and food services sector is at a critical inflection point. Revisiting the GST notification on commercial leases under the Reverse Charge Mechanism would provide much-needed relief to operators already managing tight cash flows."

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He also highlighted the need to reintroduce support mechanisms such as SEIS to strengthen restaurants that contribute to foreign exchange earnings. According to him, the sector requires targeted subsidies, easier access to debt for SMEs, and formal industry status, given its significant contribution to employment. He further added that a dedicated food services ministry, along with structured employee welfare initiatives, would play a key role in building a more resilient and sustainable hospitality ecosystem.

As the industry awaits the Union Budget 2026, these expectations reflect a broader call for policy clarity, financial relief, and long-term structural support to help hospitality and allied sectors continue their growth momentum.


InterGlobe Foundation Launches Heritage Dialogue and Opens TCIH Exhibition

InterGlobe Foundation Launches Heritage Dialogue and Opens TCIH Exhibition

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on March 17, 2026

InterGlobe Foundation, the philanthropic arm of InterGlobe Enterprises, has introduced its first ‘Heritage Dialogue’ while also unveiling the third edition of its annual exhibition, ‘Tangible Conversations, Intangible Heritage’ (TCIH). The initiative marks an important step in encouraging conversations and collaborative efforts around cultural and heritage preservation in India.

The 10-day exhibition is being held at the Sunken Gardens in Sunder Nursery, with AKTC serving as the venue partner. Open from March 13 to March 22, 2026, between 11 am and 7 pm, the exhibition invites visitors to explore India’s living traditions through an engaging and immersive format.

This year’s theme, “Living Archives: Ritual, Performance and the City,” looks at heritage beyond traditional documentation. Instead, it presents heritage as something that continues to live through the rituals, practices, and everyday experiences of communities. By bringing together elements of tangible and intangible heritage, the exhibition highlights the Foundation’s ongoing work with communities to preserve India’s cultural legacy.

Visitors can experience the theme through a mix of photography, films, and installations that showcase three unique narratives. The first documents the Doli Yatra of Lord Rudranath in Uttarakhand, offering a closer look at the sacred pilgrimage and the devotion of the communities involved. The second focuses on Bhand Pather, the traditional folk theatre of Kashmir, presenting the history and cultural richness of this centuries-old performance tradition. The third narrative explores the idea of the city as a living archive through the ‘My City My Heritage’ initiative, showing how neighbourhood life and local communities shape the cultural identity of cities.

The exhibition also serves as the annual showcase of the InterGlobe Heritage Fellowships. This initiative supports individuals who research and document lesser-known aspects of India’s heritage. Since the fellowship began, nine fellows have been recognised for their contributions toward cultural preservation.

The day began with the ‘Heritage Dialogue’, organised by InterGlobe Foundation along with Sahapedia and IndiGoReach. The forum brought together leaders from corporate, cultural, and academic sectors to discuss ways to strengthen support for India’s built and intangible heritage. The platform is designed as a long-term initiative that encourages collaboration and investment in heritage preservation while connecting it to the broader goals of sustainable development and responsible corporate participation.

The evening continued with the formal opening of the ‘Tangible Conversations, Intangible Heritage’ exhibition at Sunder Nursery. Ms. Rohini Bhatia, Chairperson of InterGlobe Foundation, led the inauguration ceremony in the presence of cultural practitioners, institutional leaders, and heritage enthusiasts. The event concluded with a captivating Dastangoi performance at the historic Humayun’s Tomb Auditorium.

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Rohini Bhatia, Chairperson, InterGlobe Foundation, said, "The ‘Tangible Conversations, Intangible Heritage’ exhibition reflects our deep commitment to protecting India’s diverse cultural legacy. This year's theme beautifully illustrates how our heritage is a living, breathing entity sustained by communities and their practices. Through the InterGlobe Heritage Fellowships and the new Heritage Dialogue, we aim to foster a deeper appreciation for our vibrant traditions and inspire collective action required to ensure they thrive for generations to come.”

For more than a decade, InterGlobe Foundation has supported several important conservation and heritage initiatives through its partners. These include the conservation and cultural revival of Abdur Rahim Khan-I-Khanan’s mausoleum in Delhi, the cultural mapping and documentation of eighteen cities through the ‘My City My Heritage’ campaign, the restoration of the Indra Kund stepwell in Delwara, the tile restoration of Qutb Shah’s Mausoleum, and the InterGlobe Heritage Fellowships.


Calvin Klein Signs at Migsun Mall Ghaziabad and the Fashion Mix Just Got a Lot More Interesting

Calvin Klein Signs at Migsun Mall Ghaziabad and the Fashion Mix Just Got a Lot More Interesting

By Hariharan U

Published on March 17, 2026

Migsun Mall in Ghaziabad just added a name to its retail roster that signals exactly where the mall is headed. Calvin Klein has signed a leasing agreement for a 1,114 sq ft space at the mall, bringing one of the world's most recognised fashion brands to a retail destination that has been steadily building its premium appeal.

Calvin Klein's identity, clean aesthetics, modern sensibility, and a design philosophy that has built a global following, fits naturally into what Migsun Mall has been trying to create. The brand speaks directly to urban consumers who value minimalism, quality, and globally relevant fashion, which is exactly the kind of audience the mall is positioning itself to attract.

Rajeev Srivastava, Leasing Head at Migsun Group, put the signing in context. "Retail today is as much about brand alignment as it is about physical space. Calvin Klein represents a global design philosophy that speaks to modern consumers, and we're pleased to have the brand join Migsun Mall. Our approach has been to create a retail ecosystem that feels relevant, uncluttered and experience-oriented rather than purely transactional. Each new signing is evaluated not just on brand strength, but on how well it contributes to the overall shopping journey. Calvin Klein adds a distinct, contemporary dimension to our fashion mix and strengthens the mall's positioning as a destination for refined, modern retail."

The signing also reflects a broader trend playing out across India's organised retail sector. Brands are becoming increasingly selective about the locations they choose, favouring destinations that offer strong footfall potential, a cohesive brand environment, and a shopping experience that feels curated rather than crowded. Migsun Mall's approach of evaluating brands not just on name recognition but on how well they contribute to the overall experience speaks to this shift.

For Ghaziabad, the arrival of Calvin Klein at Migsun Mall is a notable moment, adding a brand with genuine global weight to a retail market that continues to grow in both scale and ambition.


Rajnigandha Achievers Win Aditya Birla Memorial Polo Cup Finals 2026 at Jaipur Polo Ground

Rajnigandha Achievers Win Aditya Birla Memorial Polo Cup Finals 2026 at Jaipur Polo Ground

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on March 17, 2026

The Aditya Birla Memorial Polo Cup Finals 2026 concluded on an exciting note at the Jaipur Polo Ground, with Rajnigandha Achievers emerging as the champions after a strong performance against Thunderbolts.

The prestigious event was attended by Hon'ble Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who joined as the Chief Guest. Rajashree Birla, Chairperson of Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development, was also present at the finals, adding to the significance of the occasion.

Several notable dignitaries attended the event, including Himanshu Kapania, Managing Director of Grasim Industries; Sanjay Seth, Member of Rajya Sabha; Naveen Jindal, Member of the Lok Sabha and Chairman of Jindal Steel, who also serves as the Captain of the Jindal Panther Polo Team; and Askaran K. Agarwala, Group Advisor, Birla Group Trusts & Special Community Projects.

The final match saw an engaging contest between Thunderbolts and Rajnigandha Achievers. The Thunderbolts team featured Sipahi Mukesh Gujar, Lt Col Vishal Chauhan, Major Mritunjay Chauhan (MS Chauhan), and Simran Singh Shergil. Rajnigandha Achievers fielded Aryaman Singh, a 14-year-old player with 19 tournament wins, along with Syed Shamsheer Ali, Dhruv Pal Godara, and Captain Daniel.

The match was played over four chukkas of 7.5 minutes each and was officiated by professional umpires from the Kingdom. Demonstrating consistent teamwork and control throughout the game, Rajnigandha Achievers secured a convincing 9–5 victory to lift the Aditya Birla Polo Cup 2026 title.

The final match not only showcased competitive polo but also highlighted the sport’s growing prominence in India, bringing together players, dignitaries, and enthusiasts for a memorable sporting evening at the Jaipur Polo Ground.

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