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By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Published on January 28, 2025
As India celebrated its 76th Republic Day, the nation honored the recipients of the prestigious Padma Awards, recognizing their outstanding contributions across various fields. Among this year’s awardees are individuals who have left an indelible mark on the Indian hospitality and cultural sectors.
Nalli Kuppuswamy Chetti
Textile industrialist and philanthropist Nalli Kuppuswamy Chetti has been awarded the Padma Bhushan in the trade and industry category. Previously a Padma Shri awardee in 2003, Chetti’s contributions have been pivotal in elevating Indian silk to a global stage.
Taking over Nalli Silks in 1958, Chetti expanded the legacy established by his grandfather, Nalli Chinnasami Chetty, who famously wove a silk shawl for King George V in 1911. Starting with its first showroom in Chennai in 1928, Nalli Silks has grown to include outlets across India and internationally in the US, Singapore, and Canada. Over the years, its clientele has included dignitaries such as Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and legendary Carnatic singer MS Subbulakshmi.
Beyond textiles, He is a patron of Carnatic music in Chennai, supporting venues and Margazhi music festivals. His efforts ensure these festivals remain vibrant celebrations of Chennai’s cultural essence which shapes hospitality sector in the region. Additionally, his Tamil literary works — Vetrikku Moondre Padigal, Needhi Noolgalil Nirvagam, and Thyagaraya Nagar Andrum Indrum — reflect his diverse contributions to society.
Chef Damu
Chef Damodharan Kothandaraman, widely recognized as Chef Damu, has received the Padma Shri, marking him as the third chef in history to achieve this honor after Chef Imtiaz Qureshi and Chef Sanjeev Kapoor. His illustrious career spans 45 years, beginning at Taj Mumbai, and includes numerous accomplishments that have shaped India’s culinary arts.
Chef Damu, a Ph.D. holder in catering science from Madras University, is celebrated for his engaging cookery shows in Tamil and his role as a mentor in hotel management institutes. He is the President of the South India Chef’s Association (SICA) and has organized workshops and events to nurture budding chefs.
Known for his Guinness World Record for the longest single-person cooking marathon, where he prepared 617 dishes over 24 hours and 30 minutes in 2010, Damu’s name is synonymous with culinary excellence. His books and television appearances have made him a beloved figure in households across South India.
Prashanth Prakash
Entrepreneur and venture capitalist Prashanth Prakash has been awarded the Padma Shri for his transformative contributions to India’s startup ecosystem. As a founding partner of Accel India, Prakash has been instrumental in the success of iconic startups like Flipkart, Swiggy, BookMyShow, Freshworks, and Urban Company.
His efforts have not only revolutionized online food delivery with Swiggy but also empowered communities through initiatives such as ACT Grants and Sikshana Foundation. Prakash’s commitment to sustainability and innovation underscores the recognition of startups as a vital force in nation-building.
RG Chandramohan
RG Chandramogan, a pioneering entrepreneur in India’s dairy industry, has been awarded the Padma Shri for his significant contributions to trade and industry. From modest beginnings to steering one of India’s largest private dairy companies, Chandramogan’s journey is nothing short of inspirational.
Starting as a college dropout in 1970, Chandramogan launched a small-scale ice cream venture, which laid the foundation for Hatsun Agro Product. Today, under his leadership, Hatsun Agro stands as a titan in the dairy sector, with its products reaching millions of households across the country.
Hatsun sources milk directly from over 450,000 farmers spread across 12,000 villages, ensuring quality while supporting the rural economy. Its brands, including Arun Ice Cream, Arokya Milk, and Hatsun Curd, have become household names in India. Arun Ice Cream, in particular, enjoys immense popularity for its wide range of flavors and quality offerings, cementing its place as one of India’s favorite ice cream brands.
Beyond business, Chandramogan is known for his philanthropic endeavors, supporting various initiatives aimed at rural development and community welfare. His vision has not only elevated India’s dairy industry but also positively impacted the lives of thousands of farmers and their families.
RG Chandramogan’s recognition with the Padma Shri highlights his role as a trailblazer in the dairy sector, blending business excellence with a commitment to societal upliftment. His story is a testament to the power of perseverance, innovation, and giving back to the community.
These exemplary individuals highlight the diverse contributions to India’s cultural, culinary, and economic fabric, setting benchmarks for future generations. The Padma Awards celebrate their enduring legacies and the significant impact they continue to make on society.
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Published on February 2, 2026
Suba Hotels Limited has reported strong growth momentum and portfolio expansion post IPO, according to its filing with SEBI. The company’s revenue for Q3 FY26 stood at Rs 35.28 crore, supported by the addition of 528 keys following its IPO, the company said in a statement.
The company highlighted that nearly 85 percent of its recent expansion has been asset-light, reinforcing capital efficiency and improving margin visibility. Its portfolio remains balanced across pilgrimage, leisure, business, and tourism-led markets.
For H1 FY26, Suba Hotels reported revenue of Rs 43.79 crore, marking a 49 percent year-on-year increase. EBITDA margin for the same period stood at 20.03 percent, reflecting an improvement of 66 basis points YoY. Profit after tax for H1 FY26 was reported at Rs 5.24 crore, an increase of 69 basis points, the statement added.
On its growth strategy, the company said it is focusing on pilgrimage and religious tourism across the Ayodhya–Ujjain–Vindhyachal belt. Its expansion continues to be driven by high-EBITDA, asset-light models through lease and revenue-share structures. Suba Hotels has also established an international presence in Dubai and is evaluating broader opportunities across the GCC region.
The company is pursuing a dual-market strategy with entry into tier I business hubs such as Hyderabad–Gachibowli, while scaling its presence in tier II and III cities benefiting from infrastructure development and tourism growth. It aims to maintain a balanced portfolio across leisure, industrial, IT, and religious demand, with a clear runway for ARR, occupancy, and EBITDA expansion without putting stress on the balance sheet. Strengthening direct bookings, loyalty programmes, and corporate contracts also remains a key focus to enhance margins.
Commenting on the performance, Mansur Mehta, Managing Director, Suba Hotels Limited, said, “India’s travel and hospitality demand is undergoing a structural shift, with growth increasingly driven by domestic travel, infrastructure-led connectivity, and rising activity in Tier II and Tier III markets. Suba Hotels is strategically positioned at the intersection of these trends, with a portfolio concentrated in high-demand micro-markets across business hubs, pilgrimage circuits, industrial clusters, and emerging leisure destinations. Our location-led strategy, with hotels positioned near airports, SEZs, highways, and key urban nodes, provides strong year-round occupancy visibility and reduces seasonality risk. This, combined with our diversified customer mix across corporate, leisure, MICE, weddings, and religious travel, enables stable cash flows and pricing resilience across cycles.”
Mubeen Mehta, CEO, Suba Hotels Limited, added, “In parallel, we have initiated our international expansion with the successful establishment of operations in Dubai, leveraging the Click Hotels brand in a high-demand, India-linked travel market. This marks an important step in building an asset-light international platform, with a disciplined approach to evaluating further opportunities across the GCC region. By combining domestic expansion in underpenetrated markets with selective international growth, supported by asset-light models, advanced revenue management, and strengthening direct and corporate channels, we are confident in our ability to scale sustainably, enhance returns on capital, and create long-term value for our investors.”
The year 2026 began on a positive note with the signing of the Free Trade Agreement between India and the European Union, a landmark deal widely described as the “mother of all deals” due to its far-reaching benefits for both economies. The agreement aims to address contemporary global challenges while enabling deeper market integration between the world’s fourth- and second-largest economies.
With a combined market size estimated at over INR 2091.6 lakh crore (USD 24 trillion), the FTA opens significant opportunities for nearly two billion people across India and the EU. The agreement delivers unprecedented market access for over 99% of India’s exports by trade value, while carefully preserving policy space for sensitive sectors and aligning with India’s long-term developmental priorities.
India has secured preferential access to European markets across 97% of tariff lines, covering 99.5% of trade value. Of this, 70.4% of tariff lines covering 90.7% of India’s exports will see immediate duty elimination. These include key labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, leather and footwear, tea, coffee, spices, sports goods, toys, gems and jewellery, and selected marine products. An additional 20.3% of tariff lines covering 2.9% of exports will receive zero-duty access over three to five years, while 6.1% of tariff lines covering 6% of exports will benefit from reduced tariffs or tariff rate quotas.
Several labour-intensive sectors including apparel, marine products, chemicals, plastics, rubber, toys, sports goods, gems, and jewellery, together accounting for exports worth over INR 2.87 lakh crore, will gain zero-duty access into the EU. These sectors were previously subject to duties ranging from 4% to 26%, and the agreement is expected to significantly enhance their competitiveness while supporting employment generation.
The agreement also provides preferential market access for agricultural products such as tea, coffee, spices, grapes, gherkins, cucumbers, dried onion, fresh fruits and vegetables, and processed food products. This move is expected to benefit Indian farmers while also enriching hospitality offerings in Europe through greater availability of Indian food products in hotels and restaurants. At the same time, India has safeguarded sensitive sectors including dairy, cereals, poultry, soymeal, and select fruits and vegetables, maintaining a balance between export growth and domestic priorities.
Lower duties of up to 10.5% on wooden, bamboo, and handcrafted furniture are expected to boost India’s presence in the European furniture market. The agreement supports growth in high-value, design-driven segments and is likely to encourage the use of Indian furniture in experiential hospitality spaces across EU member countries.
One of the most anticipated outcomes of the agreement is the expected reduction in prices of imported European products in India. Olive oil and gourmet food products, widely used in hospitality kitchens, are expected to see significant price drops. European chocolates, snacks, wines, and whiskies are also likely to become more affordable, supporting growth in India’s restaurant, bakery, and premium dining segments.
Beyond trade and pricing, the FTA also opens doors for cultural exchange and smoother mobility. Both sides have agreed to modernise Schengen visa processes, with faster processing timelines and joint action on visa fraud, making travel more accessible.
Overall, the India–EU Free Trade Agreement is expected to act as a major trendsetter in global trade relations. By improving affordability, expanding access to quality products, and strengthening hospitality and tourism linkages, the agreement is poised to deliver long-term economic and experiential benefits for both regions.
Etihad Guest, the award-winning loyalty programme of Etihad Airways, has marked a major milestone in India with the addition of five new partners, BOBCARD, The Postcard Hotel, Flipkart, Swiggy and Shoppers Stop India. The launch was celebrated at a grand event in Mumbai, attended by partners, media, and members of the Bollywood fraternity, underlining the importance of the Indian market for the airline.
India has emerged as the fastest-growing country for the Etihad Guest programme, which now has more than 13 million members worldwide. With over 250,000 new members joining every month and six new members added every minute, Etihad is strengthening value for Indian members by linking everyday lifestyle spending with travel rewards across shopping, dining and hospitality.
Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, Etihad Airways, said: “India is one of the most important markets for Etihad, with 185 flights per week to 11 gateways across the country. As a result, we’re investing our efforts into significantly enriching the Etihad Guest programme for the growing number of members across the country and for our members who choose to visit this vibrant nation - and we’re excited to be the first international airline to expand our presence in such a meaningful way.
“We are proud to be partnering with five prestigious and renowned brands across India, including leading credit card BOBCARD, luxury hotel group The Postcard Hotel, major e-commerce marketplace Flipkart, India’s pioneering food and quick commerce platform Swiggy, and department store and retailer Shoppers Stop India. Integrating the programme into our members’ everyday lives showcases the value of the Etihad Guest programme for Indian consumers and makes it even more richly rewarding.”
As part of the expansion, Etihad Guest has partnered with BOBCARD Limited, the credit card subsidiary of Bank of Baroda, to launch a new co-branded credit card for Indian travellers. To mark the launch, new BOBCARD Etihad Guest members joining before 28 February will receive double joining welcome miles. The card is designed to connect daily spending with travel rewards, offering added flexibility and premium travel benefits.
Luxury hospitality brand The Postcard Hotel has also joined the Etihad Guest family, marking a first for a Middle Eastern carrier. Through this partnership, members can earn Miles on stays at The Postcard Hotel properties across India, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. Members staying two or three nights will earn 2,000 Miles, while stays of four nights or more will be rewarded with 4,000 Miles and a complimentary night stay. As part of a launch offer, members staying before 28 February will earn double Miles.
Etihad has further teamed up with Flipkart, India’s leading homegrown e-commerce marketplace. Once live in the coming weeks, Flipkart users will be able to convert Supercoins into Etihad Guest Miles for flight redemptions, while Etihad Guest members can exchange Miles for Flipkart Supercoins to spend across the platform.
Adding everyday convenience to travel rewards, Swiggy has joined the programme, bringing benefits to Etihad Guest members across more than 700 cities in India. Existing members will receive six months of complimentary Swiggy One membership, with plans to soon allow members to earn Miles on all Swiggy spends.
In another first, Etihad has partnered with Shoppers Stop India, one of the country’s largest department store chains. As part of the launch, Etihad Guest members can opt in for one year of complimentary Platinum status in the Shoppers Stop First Citizen loyalty programme until 15 February. Members will also be able to earn Etihad Guest Miles on their shopping spends in the coming months.
These partnerships highlight Etihad Airways’ growing commitment to India, one of its most important and fastest-growing international markets. Alongside collaborations with Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai City FC, locally inspired cuisine, and Hindi-language digital experiences, the expanded Etihad Guest programme reinforces the airline’s focus on building deeper, value-driven relationships with Indian travellers.
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