As the Union Budget 2025 draws near, Sarthak Sidana, Director of Underdoggs, India’s premier sports bar and grill chain, shares his perspective on the opportunities and challenges within the F&B industry. His insights shed light on the evolving expectations of today’s consumers and the critical policy changes needed to drive innovation and sustainable growth in the restaurant sector.

Sidana highlights the significance of the F&B sector as a resilient economic contributor and substantial employment generator. However, he emphasizes the need for policy interventions to address ongoing challenges:

"The restaurant industry eagerly awaits the 2025 budget announcement and expects it to address the key challenges, enabling long-term sustainable growth and innovation. The F&B industry has been a resilient economic contributor and a substantial employment generator too. However, issues like complex licensing, high GST, and inability to avail of input tax credits are some of the biggest deterrents to the growth of the industry."

Sidana advocates for reforms that streamline compliance practices and promote sustainability:

"This year, we strongly urge the government to consider streamlining the compliance practices and offer tax rebates to restaurateurs adopting sustainable practices such as the use of green energy and innovative waste management practices. This would not only enhance operational efficiency but also empower the sector to align with the country's sustainability goals."

Unlocking the Potential of F&B and Sports Entertainment

With India’s F&B landscape evolving, Sidana stresses the importance of dynamic, community-driven venues like Underdoggs in shaping the future of sports entertainment and dining experiences. He believes that supportive government policies will enable restaurants and sports bars to cater to changing consumer preferences while contributing more effectively to economic growth.

"With the required policies in place, we will unlock the sector's full potential and contribute more effectively to India's economic growth," Sidana concludes.

As the industry awaits the Budget 2025 announcement, voices like Sarthak Sidana’s underscore the need for a balanced approach to innovation, sustainability, and compliance. These measures could pave the way for the F&B sector to thrive in a competitive, consumer-driven environment.

As the Union Budget 2025 approaches, Sanyam Gandhi, Whole-time Director at Chartered Speed, one of India’s leading shared mobility players, has shared his expectations for advancing connectivity and sustainable transportation in India.

"We are confident that the government’s continued investment in developing the road network, especially through initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri e-Bus Sewa Scheme and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), will significantly increase intra-city and inter-city connectivity. These measures will ensure better access to both urban and rural areas while playing a crucial role in strengthening public transportation and infrastructure," said Gandhi.

Highlighting the importance of electric mobility, Gandhi added, "We also anticipate that the government will accelerate the adoption of electric mobility through policies aimed at promoting electric vehicles, such as the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme and the PM E-DRIVE initiative. These policies should focus on incentivizing electric buses, two-wheelers, and three-wheelers, as well as expanding charging infrastructure."

Gandhi emphasized the need for public infrastructure to support electric buses, stating that this would aid electric fleet operators and facilitate the expansion of long-range services. "These efforts have the potential to reduce carbon emissions and contribute to India’s progress toward a greener, more sustainable transportation future," he said.

With India striving for significant strides in connectivity and sustainability, Gandhi’s remarks underscore the importance of robust government policies in enabling a thriving shared mobility ecosystem.

ITC Hotels Ltd, now an independent entity after its demerger from ITC Ltd, is setting its sights on international markets. The hotel chain plans to expand its presence starting with neighboring countries like Nepal and Sri Lanka, as well as West Asia, reflecting its ambition to grow from 140 to over 200 properties.

Chairman and Managing Director Sanjiv Puri highlighted the strategy:
"We have been India-centric, but we are now venturing overseas. We already operate hotels in Colombo and Nepal and have signed up for another in Nepal. Our focus is on proximal markets like West Asia and beyond, with a commitment to leveraging interesting opportunities."

A Transition to Asset-Light Growth

The demerger grants ITC Hotels operational autonomy, allowing it to adopt a more asset-light growth strategy. Currently, 45% of ITC’s 13,000 rooms are owned, while the remaining 55% are operated through management contracts. The company plans to further expand through management agreements and franchise models to increase its global footprint.

Over the past two years, ITC Hotels has opened 26 properties and introduced two new brands - Mementos by ITC for luxury leisure destinations and Storii for boutique leisure properties. This complements its existing portfolio of brands, which includes ITC Hotels, Welcomhotel, Fortune, and WelcomHeritage. 

Sustainability at the Core

ITC Hotels stands out with its unwavering commitment to sustainability. The chain boasts impressive achievements such as:

• Emissions levels below Paris 2030 Agreement targets.

• The world’s first 12 LEED-certified net-zero carbon hotels.

• The world’s first five net-zero water hotels.

"Consumers increasingly prefer greener products and services. Our sustainability credentials and iconic service standards, including globally acknowledged cuisine, position us strongly in the competitive market," Puri emphasized.

Expanding a Unique Legacy

ITC Hotels’ focus on its green initiatives and distinctive culinary offerings, like the famed Bukhara restaurant at ITC Maurya, continues to attract global dignitaries and travelers. These differentiators, combined with its asset-light model and international expansion, align with the company’s vision of creating a more upscale and diverse portfolio.

With an ambitious goal of reaching 200 properties and a renewed focus on upper-upscale segments, ITC Hotels is poised to redefine its legacy, both in India and globally.

For more updates, visit ITC Hotels.