New IRA By Orchid Hotel Opens, Bringing Modern Elegance to Sambhaji Nagar

New IRA By Orchid Hotel Opens, Bringing Modern Elegance to Sambhaji Nagar

By Author

Published on December 23, 2023

Kamat Hotels India Ltd has expanded its Orchid Hotel portfolio with the opening of its fourth IRA outlet in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, formerly known as Aurangabad. This new addition follows the successful launch of IRA in Mumbai, Bhubaneshwar, and Nashik.

As guests enter IRA By Orchid, they are greeted with a traditional ‘Namaskar’ welcome, setting the tone for a stay that combines warm hospitality with modern luxury. The hotel features the city's freshest rooms and a stunning rooftop restaurant, ‘Upper Deck’, providing panoramic views and exquisite dining. It also houses elegant banquets, making it an ideal venue for both corporate and social events.

Strategically located near the city's top attractions and corporate hubs, and just a short 15-minute drive from the airport, IRA By Orchid serves as a perfect base for exploring landmarks like the Ajanta Ellora Caves and Daulatabad Fort.

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The hotel offers a range of meticulously designed rooms, including Deluxe, Premier, and Suite categories. These accommodations blend contemporary design with comfort, catering to all travel needs. Guests can enjoy amenities like centralized air-conditioning, complimentary Wi-Fi, in-room safes, and non-smoking rooms.

Dr. Vithal Kamat, Chairman of Kamat Hotels India Ltd, shared his enthusiasm for welcoming guests to the new IRA outlet. He highlighted the Kamat brand's dedication to exceptional food and banquet services and expressed his vision for IRA as a model for future expansion in the Marathwada region.

Vishal Vithal Kamat, Executive Director of KHIL, further added that in line with IRA's philosophy, the hotel will contribute 1% of its sales to community welfare, focusing on the education of the Girl Child and collaborating with grassroots organizations to positively impact the Sambhaji Nagar community.

This new venture promises to elevate the hospitality experience in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, offering guests a unique blend of modern luxury and traditional charm.


World Turns Its Sights to US–Iran Ceasefire: What It Means for Global Hospitality and Aviation

World Turns Its Sights to US–Iran Ceasefire: What It Means for Global Hospitality and Aviation

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on June 17, 2026

The recently announced ceasefire between the United States and Iran has brought a sense of relief to the global travel industry, with hospitality and aviation stakeholders closely watching its potential impact. While the long-term outcome will depend on the durability of the agreement, the development is already being viewed as a positive step towards restoring stability in key travel and trade corridors.

One of the biggest benefits for the aviation sector is the improved access to air routes connected to the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding regions. During periods of conflict, airlines were forced to adjust flight paths, resulting in longer travel times, higher fuel consumption, and increased operating costs. A stable environment could help carriers gradually restore efficient routes, improve connectivity between Europe and Asia, and reduce some operational pressures.

The ceasefire is also expected to improve market confidence. Airline stocks and travel-related companies often respond positively to signs of geopolitical stability, giving businesses greater confidence to invest, expand schedules, and strengthen operations. Airlines may also find it easier to restore frequencies and bring back suspended services as travel demand improves.

Fuel remains one of the largest expenses for airlines, and the easing of tensions could support more predictable oil and jet fuel supplies over time. While experts caution that fuel prices may not return to pre-conflict levels immediately, a stable supply environment could help reduce price volatility and improve cost planning for carriers worldwide.

The hospitality industry is also likely to benefit from the improved outlook. Travel confidence typically rises when major geopolitical tensions ease, encouraging tourists to resume travel plans and businesses to restart corporate travel. Destinations across the Middle East, as well as markets that depend heavily on international visitors, could see a gradual increase in bookings and visitor arrivals.

Hotels and tourism operators may also gain greater flexibility in planning promotional campaigns, reopening seasonal services, and strengthening staffing levels. As travellers feel more comfortable making advance bookings, hospitality businesses can begin rebuilding momentum that may have slowed during periods of uncertainty.

Another positive outcome could be felt across tourism-dependent economies, particularly in Asia. Improved shipping and air connectivity, combined with reduced pressure on fuel and logistics costs, can support affordability for travellers and help stimulate inbound tourism demand.

In the short term, the industry may witness encouraging signs such as stronger forward bookings, improved investor sentiment, and cautious expansion of airline schedules. However, experts note that a full recovery will take time. Consumer confidence, corporate travel budgets, and international tourism flows typically recover gradually, especially after periods of geopolitical uncertainty.

Challenges also remain. Any temporary or conditional ceasefire may limit the scale of recovery if tensions resurface. In addition, infrastructure disruptions and supply chain pressures could continue to affect fuel availability and operating costs for some time.

Despite these uncertainties, the ceasefire is widely viewed as a positive development for global hospitality and aviation. If stability is maintained, it could create favourable conditions for stronger travel demand, improved airline operations, and renewed growth opportunities across the tourism ecosystem in the months ahead.


Mumbai’s Top Sushi Destinations to Celebrate International Sushi Day

Mumbai’s Top Sushi Destinations to Celebrate International Sushi Day

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on June 17, 2026

International Sushi Day on June 18, 2026, is set to shine a spotlight on Mumbai’s growing love for Japanese cuisine. Across the city, restaurants are celebrating the occasion with unique sushi experiences, ranging from unlimited conveyor belt offerings and live sushi stations to carefully crafted signature rolls and premium nigiri selections.

Leading the celebrations is Harajuku Tokyo Café, which is extending its popular conveyor belt sushi experience for the entire day. Known for its vibrant Tokyo-inspired setting, the restaurant will offer unlimited access to some of its most-loved creations, including the Spicy Salmon Roll, Philadelphia Roll, Prawn Tempura Roll, and Rainbow Roll. The all-day experience is designed to give guests an immersive and fun-filled Sushi Day celebration.

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Another popular destination for sushi enthusiasts is Torii, a restaurant that has earned a reputation for its thoughtful approach to Japanese cuisine. Its signature sushi menu includes favourites such as the Avocado Tempura, Dirty Torii, Katsu Chicken Roll, and Tornado Asparagus. With a strong focus on technique and quality ingredients, Torii offers an ideal setting for those looking to enjoy a refined sushi experience.

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Amaru is taking a different route with a special Sushi Edition of its well-known Sunday brunch. Guests can enjoy freshly prepared maki rolls and nigiri from a live sushi bar while also exploring a live ceviche station, curated cocktails, a dessert bar, and entertainment from a live DJ. The brunch combines Japanese flavours with Amaru’s lively dining atmosphere, making it a unique way to celebrate the occasion.

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For diners seeking an authentic Japanese dining experience, OJU offers a menu centred around craftsmanship and premium ingredients. Located above Neuma in a restored Colaba bungalow, the restaurant features a sushi and maki selection that includes Yasai Maki, Avocado Tempura Sushi, Otoro, Hotate, and the popular Prawn Tempura Maki with spicy red yuzu kosho mayo. The restaurant’s intimate setting and attention to detail continue to make it a favourite among sushi lovers.

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As International Sushi Day arrives, these Mumbai restaurants are showcasing the diversity and creativity of Japanese cuisine, offering everything from casual sushi feasts to elevated dining experiences for enthusiasts across the city.


Kouzina Food Tech Appoints Geetika Anand Gupta as Group Chief Marketing Officer

Kouzina Food Tech Appoints Geetika Anand Gupta as Group Chief Marketing Officer

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on June 17, 2026

Kouzina Food Tech Pvt. Ltd., one of India’s fastest-growing food-tech and cloud kitchen platforms, has announced the appointment of Geetika Anand Gupta as its Group Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). The move comes as the company continues to expand its portfolio of digital-first food brands and strengthen its position in the technology-driven food services space.

Geetika will continue as CEO & Co-founder of MOPP Foods, a Kouzina Food Tech company, while taking on broader responsibilities across the Kouzina ecosystem. In her expanded role, she will oversee brand strategy, consumer marketing, product innovation, customer experience, innovation-led growth, and business excellence initiatives across the company’s brands and partner network.

The appointment marks an important step in Kouzina’s growth journey as it works towards building one of India’s most scalable technology-led food services platforms.

Commenting on the announcement, Gautam Balijepalli, Founder & CEO, Kouzina Food Tech, said: “Geetika brings a rare combination of entrepreneurial grit, deep consumer understanding, operational excellence, and brand-building capability. Over the years, she has demonstrated an exceptional ability to create customer love while building scalable food businesses. As Kouzina enters its next phase of growth, her leadership will play a pivotal role in strengthening our brands, driving innovation, and building a world-class consumer experience across our portfolio."

He further added: "Kouzina has always believed that technology, data, and strong consumer brands together create sustainable competitive advantage. Geetika's proven track record of building differentiated food brands and her passion for excellence make her the ideal leader to help us scale the next generation of food brands across India."

Sharing her thoughts on the new role, Geetika Anand Gupta said: "I am excited to take on the responsibility of Group CMO at Kouzina while continuing my entrepreneurial journey with MOPP Foods. Kouzina has built one of the most exciting food-tech platforms in India, combining technology, operations, and consumer insight at scale. I look forward to working closely with Gautam and the leadership team to strengthen our brands, deepen customer engagement, drive innovation, and contribute towards building category-defining food brands for the future."

Known for building customer-focused food brands and driving product innovation, Geetika has played a key role in the growth of MOPP Foods. Under her leadership, the company has become a well-known name in the Delhi-NCR market through brands such as Mad Over Parathas & Pakodas, with a strong focus on quality, customer experience, and delivery-led innovation.

Founded by Gautam Balijepalli, Mahesh Madiyala, Sumit Gupta, and Rohan Rao, Kouzina has grown into a leading cloud kitchen platform operating multiple food brands across India. Through its technology-enabled operating model and kitchen partner network, the company continues to leverage data, consumer insights, and operational excellence to build scalable food brands.

The appointment further highlights Kouzina’s commitment to bringing together entrepreneurial talent and industry expertise as it continues its expansion across the Indian food services sector.

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