Loading...
You have Successfully logged In !
Already have an account? Login
By clicking Register you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge our Privacy Policy.
Don't have an account?Register
Enter your E-mail address below, We will send the verification code
Please enter the code send to
Didn't receive the email?Click to resend
Your password has been successfully reset!.
Please login again to access your account.
An OTP has been sent to
Enter the 4-digit code
By Hariharan U
Published on November 11, 2025
McDonald’s India (West & South), under Westlife Foodworld, has announced a new partnership with the Indian Padel Academy (IPA by Game Park Pvt Ltd) to promote and grow the sport of padel across the country.
This collaboration marks a key milestone for Westlife Foodworld, the company that owns and operates McDonald’s restaurants in West and South India. It’s part of the brand’s broader commitment to go beyond restaurants, fostering community development and empowering young India through sport.
Building on McDonald’s global legacy of supporting sports from the Olympics to grassroots programmes this initiative brings that same spirit home, aligning with India’s fast-evolving sports culture.
Padel, a dynamic racquet sport that’s taking the world by storm, has been gaining fans in India for its exciting mix of energy, teamwork, and accessibility. Through this partnership, McDonald’s India aims to strengthen padel’s footprint in the country by improving infrastructure, training, and tournaments, making the sport more inclusive and within reach for all.
Akshay Jatia, Chief Executive Officer, Westlife Foodworld, shared, “At McDonald’s India, we have always believed in the power of bringing people together, whether through food, community initiatives or shared experiences. Sport is a natural extension of that belief. In the same spirit that has connected communities across continents, McDonald’s India is now bringing that global ethos home, using sport as a platform to inspire, include, and uplift. Through our partnership with the Indian Padel Academy, which is one of India’s largest Padel academies, we hope to inspire young people to dream bigger, play stronger, grow together and someday make India proud at a global platform.”
The initiative aims to go beyond courts and restaurants, focusing on creating opportunities for children to access quality padel facilities and learn from top coaches. The goal is to nurture not just strong athletes but well-rounded individuals who embody teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship.
Nikhil Sachdev, Co-founder & Head of Marketing, Brand Development, and Strategy – Padel Park India, added, "India is ready for the next chapter in padel. This goes beyond the courts, focusing on global partnerships and world-class infrastructure. Our collaboration with McDonald’s India (W&S) is a major step forward. We are joining hands with leading international padel academies to build a strong and inclusive community. The goal is to bring the sport to more people, especially children. We aim to enroll students nationwide through school programmes, certified training, and city leagues, and hope to see future world-class padel players emerge from India.”
This partnership perfectly aligns with McDonald’s long-standing philosophy of supporting sports and community growth, extending it locally to nurture grassroots talent. For McDonald’s India (West & South), which continues to back local causes and social initiatives, this collaboration is another meaningful stride toward being not just a restaurant brand — but a catalyst for community and cultural growth.
About Westlife Foodworld:
Westlife Foodworld Limited (BSE: 505533) focuses on setting up and operating Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) in India through its subsidiary, Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt. Ltd. (HRPL). The company operates McDonald’s restaurants across West and South India under a master franchise agreement with McDonald’s Corporation USA.
About Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt Ltd:
HRPL owns and operates over 450 McDonald’s restaurants across 72 cities in India, serving more than 200 million customers annually. With formats like McCafé, Drive-Thrus, McDelivery, and dessert kiosks, HRPL continues to deliver on McDonald’s core values of Quality, Service, Cleanliness, and Value.
Game Park Pvt. Ltd. develops and operates sports infrastructure across India, creating racquet-sport and multi-sport venues, leagues, and grassroots programmes in partnership with schools and brands to boost participation.
An initiative by Game Park Pvt. Ltd., the Indian Padel Academy is India’s largest structured padel academy, building a national pathway from grassroots to elite. It designs training programs, operates high-performance squads, certifies coaches, and hosts tournaments to make padel a year-round sport in India.
Himalayan O₂ – The Tehri Lake Festival 2026 Inaugurated in U...
The Himalayan O₂ – The Tehri Lake Festival 2026 was inaugura...
Iran-Israel War Triggers India's Worst LPG Crisis in Years -...
India is facing a severe shortage of liquefied petroleum gas...
McDonald’s India Recreates Iconic Ad with Sara Arjun for Bud...
McDonald’s India – North and East has announced actor Sara A...
Frill Hospitality Marks 10 Years with New Launches at AAHAR ...
Frill Hospitality, a leading Indian manufacturer and supplie...
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.
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.
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.
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.
Stay up-to-date with the latest Hospitality news and trends in the Hospitality industry!
Subscribe to Hospitality news e-magazine for free and never miss an issue.
By clicking subscribe for free you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge our Privacy Policy.
Advertise With Us
We have various options to advertise with us including Events, Advertorials, Banners, Mailers, etc.
A platform dedicated to showcase the skills and creativity of hospitality professionals. Share your articles, videos and other content related to the industry and get recognized for your unique perspective and expertise. By posting your content and gaining likes from your own community, we'll categorize your talents and expose them to the hospitality world. Join our community of passionate hospitality professionals and let your talent shine!.
Already have an account?Login
By clicking you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge our Privacy Policy.
Subscribe for ₹2,000 and receive our monthly magazine for one year (12 months) from the coming month and save 2 months cost.