New Holiday Inn & Suites Property in Budapest and IHG Re-Entry into Swedish Market with voco Stockholm Kista

New Holiday Inn & Suites Property in Budapest and IHG Re-Entry into Swedish Market with voco Stockholm Kista

By Author

Published on February 2, 2024

IHG Hotels & Resorts, a global hospitality leader, recently announced exciting developments in Europe during the HOTCO conference. The company signed agreements for two significant properties—Holiday Inn & Suites Budapest Centrale in Hungary and voco Stockholm Kista in Sweden.

Holiday Inn & Suites Budapest Centrale:

Scheduled to open in late 2026, this 170-room property will be located in Budapest's XIV district, directly above the Puskas Ferenc Stadion metro station. The strategic location places it amidst Budapest's main sports, entertainment, and cultural hub, with attractions like the Puskas Arena, Papp Laszlo events hall, and more nearby.

The hotel, part of a mixed-use development, will offer 25 long-stay suites with kitchenettes, an Open Lobby, restaurant, lobby bar, meeting room, and fitness center. Holiday Inn & Suites Budapest Centrale will also feature IHG's signature offerings, such as Kids Stay and Eat Free. IHG is proud to collaborate with trusted partners, Chain Bridge Ventures Kft. and Mogotel Hotel Group, on this project.

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Mrs. Willemijn Geels, VP Development, Europe, IHG Hotels & Resorts, expressed her delight, saying, “We’re delighted to have signed Holiday Inn & Suites Budapest Centrale – an agreement that brings our first '& Suites' offer to Europe for our Holiday Inn brand, offering a longer-stay option in the heart of the capital. The hotel will be located in a very popular area of Budapest and will provide guests with the perfect base from which to enjoy everything the Hungarian capital has to offer.”

voco Stockholm Kista:

IHG is making a strong comeback to the Swedish market with the signing of voco Stockholm Kista. Expected to open in the second half of 2024, this 201-room property is situated in Kista, known as Sweden's Silicon Valley. It will be adjacent to the Nordic Forum, a significant office redevelopment.

The voco brand, characterized by its individual charm and character, has gained momentum since its 2018 launch. The Stockholm Kista property will feature five personalized meeting and event spaces, a restaurant, lobby bar, fitness room, rooftop spa with an indoor swimming pool, and a rooftop garden.

Mrs. Willemijn Geels highlighted the growth of the voco brand, stating, “We have seen significant growth momentum with our voco hotels brand since it launched in 2018 and this signing reinforces that we are on our way to reaching the brand’s global ambition of 200 properties in leading urban and leisure locations by 2028.”

Both developments align with IHG's commitment to providing unique and memorable hospitality experiences. These properties, each with its distinctive offerings, contribute to IHG's diverse portfolio and showcase the brand's continuous expansion in key European markets.


The Westin Pushkar Resort & Spa Redefines Luxury Destination Weddings in Rajasthan

The Westin Pushkar Resort & Spa Redefines Luxury Destination Weddings in Rajasthan

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on May 12, 2026

The Westin Pushkar Resort & Spa is emerging as a sought-after destination for luxury weddings in Rajasthan, bringing together scenic landscapes, elegant venues, curated experiences, and premium hospitality under one roof.

Located amidst the peaceful surroundings of Pushkar and close to the town’s spiritual landmarks, the resort offers panoramic 360-degree views of the Aravalli Hills along with stunning sunset backdrops, creating a memorable setting for wedding celebrations.

The property features four outdoor and two indoor venues designed to host multi-day wedding festivities with ease. One of the standout spaces at the resort is its dome-shaped venue inspired by the Shiv Ling, offering a unique setting for sacred pheras. The expansive lawns and smooth baraat processions within the property further add to the grand wedding experience while ensuring convenience for guests.

The resort houses more than 98 rooms and private villas, including pool villas and plunge pool villas, making it ideal for exclusive wedding buyouts. The spacious accommodation setup allows families and guests to celebrate together in privacy and comfort throughout the festivities.

Adding to the experience are the resort’s wellness and leisure offerings, including its premium spa, multiple swimming pools, and the Westin WORKOUT Fitness Studio. Guests can also enjoy a range of indoor and outdoor recreational activities designed for all age groups.

On the culinary front, the resort offers diverse dining experiences ranging from global cuisine at Seasonal Tastes to rooftop dining with panoramic views at Panorama. The hotel also provides customised wedding menus curated to match the style and preferences of each celebration.

Speaking about the wedding experience at the resort, Vijay Chandran, General Manager, said, “Weddings today are about creating immersive, meaningful experiences, and at The Westin Pushkar Resort & Spa, we bring together nature, luxury, and thoughtful service to make every celebration truly personal and memorable. Our aim is to offer couples and their families a seamless, all-in-one destination where every detail is taken care of.”

Combining luxury accommodation, elegant venues, wellness experiences, and personalised hospitality, The Westin Pushkar Resort & Spa continues to position itself as a refined destination for unforgettable weddings in Rajasthan.


Hilton Bengaluru Embassy Manyata Business Park Unveils Summer Series for Kids with Le Petit Chef Experience

Hilton Bengaluru Embassy Manyata Business Park Unveils Summer Series for Kids with Le Petit Chef Experience

By Hariharan U

Published on May 12, 2026

Hilton Bengaluru Embassy Manyata Business Park has unveiled a specially curated summer series designed for young diners, bringing an immersive and interactive dining concept to the city through the globally acclaimed experience Le Petit Chef.

Timed with the school summer break, the initiative is aimed at families looking for engaging and memorable dining experiences that go beyond traditional restaurant formats. The highlight of the series is Le Petit Chef, a storytelling-driven culinary presentation where animated chefs appear directly on dining tables, guiding guests through a playful, multi-course gastronomic journey.

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The experience blends projection mapping technology, narrative storytelling, and curated cuisine to transform dining into a theatrical event. Each course is presented as part of a visual story, where the animated chef “prepares” dishes in real time, offering children a highly interactive and imaginative way to engage with food.

At Hilton Bengaluru Embassy Manyata Business Park, the summer programming is scheduled every Saturday and Sunday, with additional weekday sessions available on special request. The initiative is designed to cater specifically to young diners, encouraging curiosity, engagement, and family interaction through a shared dining experience.

The hotel has positioned this offering as part of its broader focus on experiential hospitality, where dining is not limited to consumption but extended into storytelling and memory-making. The concept is also intended to offer returning guests a refreshed experience, while introducing first-time visitors to a globally recognised format of immersive dining.

For families, the experience provides a unique alternative to conventional summer outings, combining entertainment with cuisine in a controlled, indoor environment suited for children.

With this initiative, Hilton Bengaluru Embassy Manyata Business Park continues to expand its experiential programming, reinforcing its positioning as a destination for innovative family-friendly hospitality experiences in Bengaluru


Opulent Oasis Hospitality Debuts with ‘Wild Calm’ Gir Retreat, Enters Experiential Hospitality Space

Opulent Oasis Hospitality Debuts with ‘Wild Calm’ Gir Retreat, Enters Experiential Hospitality Space

By Hariharan U

Published on May 12, 2026

Opulent Oasis Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. has officially entered the hospitality sector with the launch of its debut experiential retreat, Wild Calm, marking a strategic foray into nature-led and experience-driven travel formats in India.

Founded by hospitality professional Bhavik Sheth, the venture positions itself in the growing experiential tourism segment, aiming to bridge the gap between high-end luxury stays and standardised commercial hospitality offerings. The company’s vision is centred on creating destination-led experiences that prioritise emotional connection, local context, and immersive design over scale-driven expansion.

Located in Sasan Gir, Gujarat, one of India’s most significant wildlife regions, Wild Calm will feature 53 keys, including private pool villas and immersive accommodation formats. The retreat is designed with a strong emphasis on nature integration and experiential living, offering a combination of leisure, wellness, and curated cultural engagement.

The property will include a clubhouse, swimming pool, multi-cuisine restaurant, kitchen garden, and an activity arena for curated programming. Outdoor amenities such as pickleball courts, box cricket facilities, and landscaped green zones including a Miyawaki forest further reinforce the retreat’s nature-first design philosophy.

Guest experiences at Wild Calm are structured around flexible, narrative-driven journeys. These include botanical walks, storytelling sessions, pottery workshops, curated high tea experiences, and slow evening rituals designed to encourage mindfulness and connection with the surrounding ecosystem.

Speaking on the launch, founder Bhavik Sheth said hospitality today has become highly standardised, often losing emotional depth despite operational efficiency. He emphasised that the goal of Opulent Oasis Hospitality is to design spaces that feel intuitive, rooted, and memorable, where experience is embedded into every layer of the stay rather than added as an activity.

Sheth previously worked with Evoke Experiences, where he contributed to the development of large-scale experiential properties such as Rann Utsav, further strengthening his background in destination-led hospitality design.

With Wild Calm as its inaugural project, the company plans a selective expansion strategy across wildlife destinations, eco-tourism circuits, desert landscapes, and culturally rich regions, while also exploring opportunities in Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets as well as emerging spiritual tourism segments.

Rather than pursuing rapid portfolio scale, Opulent Oasis Hospitality has indicated a focus on carefully curated destinations with strong ecological and cultural narratives, aligning with the broader shift in India’s travel industry toward experiential and purpose-driven hospitality

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