Padma Awards 2025: Honoring Icons of Indian Hospitality

Padma Awards 2025: Honoring Icons of Indian Hospitality

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.

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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 worksVetrikku 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.


Atmosphere Core Unveils ONE Atmosphere, Its Fourth Brand Focused on Extended Living

Atmosphere Core Unveils ONE Atmosphere, Its Fourth Brand Focused on Extended Living

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on December 14, 2025

Atmosphere Core has announced the launch of its fourth brand, ONE Atmosphere, marking a strategic move into the extended-stay segment. The new brand is designed for a new generation of guests who seek the comfort of a home, the structure of a workspace, and the ease of hotel-style services, all brought together under one roof. ONE Atmosphere will offer fully serviced apartments that balance residential freedom with the consistency and reliability of hospitality.

Designed around today’s evolving work–live–travel flow, ONE Atmosphere combines spacious living with branded amenities, seamless concierge services, and thoughtful design elements. The concept responds to changing guest expectations, where travellers are looking beyond traditional hotel rooms and towards flexible living solutions that adapt to different cities, work patterns, and everyday rhythms.

Speaking about the launch, Salil Panigrahi, Managing Director, Atmosphere Core, said, “As travel becomes more fluid and work becomes borderless, guests expect more than a hotel room, they expect a lifestyle solution. They want a space that adapts as they move through different cities, work patterns, and rhythms of everyday life. ONE Atmosphere is designed to meet this shift by offering a reliable model of flexible living that blends the warmth of home with the precision of hospitality. Our spaces will be consistent, functional, design-led, and deeply attuned to how people live today.”

Building on this guest-focused approach, the design of ONE Atmosphere will emphasise efficient layouts complemented by calming materials and curated local art. Each space is planned to feel welcoming, practical, and visually inspiring, while quietly supported by hotel-style services operating in the background. The apartments are created for living rather than short overnight stays, making them suitable for long stays, relocations, project assignments, holidays, and hybrid travel needs.

Across all destinations, the brand will deliver a consistent ‘ONE Experience’, offering guests a portable sense of home regardless of location. This experience will be supported by a comprehensive range of amenities covering leisure, work, and convenience, collectively forming the ‘ONE Promise’. Together, these elements aim to elevate serviced living into a complete lifestyle offering.

Commenting on the brand’s growth potential, Sandeep Ahuja, Managing Director, ONE Atmosphere, said, “the serviced apartment sector is expanding rapidly yet remains highly fragmented. With ONE Atmosphere, we aim to establish a unified standard that can scale with ease while delivering a consistent, comfortable, and efficient experience. By leveraging the operational discipline we’ve developed across our award-winning resorts in the Maldives, we are confident in our ability to set a new global benchmark for extended-stay hospitality”.

ONE Atmosphere’s development pipeline includes a mix of metropolitan, urban, and leisure destinations across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Gulf countries. Additional international markets are also under evaluation as part of the brand’s long-term global expansion strategy.


Thomas Cook India Launches AI-Powered Assistant TACY for Europe Summer 2026 Campaign

Thomas Cook India Launches AI-Powered Assistant TACY for Europe Summer 2026 Campaign

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on December 14, 2025

Thomas Cook (India) Limited, India’s leading omnichannel travel services company, has launched TACY, an AI-generated digital avatar that will serve as both the brand ambassador and a virtual holiday assistant on its official website. The initiative marks a significant step in the company’s technology-led engagement strategy and begins with the launch of its Europe Summer 2026 portfolio.

Positioned as the digital face of Thomas Cook India, TACY offers AI-powered guidance through conversational engagement, helping travellers explore destinations, understand itineraries, and plan holidays with greater ease. The launch reflects the brand’s focus on delivering personalised and interactive customer experiences through next-generation digital tools.

TACY’s debut coincides with the introduction of Thomas Cook India’s Europe Summer 2026 collection, which features over 1,000 guaranteed departures, more than 15 value-led holidays, and curated itineraries across Western and Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, and Scandinavia. The portfolio caters to families, couples, and groups, offering diverse travel options supported by expert planning assistance through the AI avatar.

As part of the campaign, Thomas Cook India has created a series of AI-generated videos featuring TACY across iconic European destinations. These videos showcase the company’s travel offerings, highlight unique experiences, and guide customers through the holiday selection process in a visually engaging and interactive format. The campaign also integrates QR-enabled print and outdoor media, allowing customers to instantly access digital content and videos via mobile devices.

Commenting on the launch, Abraham Alapatt, President & Group Head – Marketing, Service Quality, Value Added Services & Innovation, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, said, “India is among the fastest growing digital economies in the world, with one of the youngest and most dynamic traveller demographics. Our customers are digital-first, curious, and expect interactive engagement that goes beyond traditional marketing. With TACY, we are pioneering a new era of marketing innovation by creating immersive, conversational experiences that resonate with new-age travellers. This initiative is perfectly timed with the launch of our flagship Europe Summer 2026 portfolio and will extend to other destinations as well.”

With the introduction of TACY, Thomas Cook India continues to position itself as an industry innovator by integrating artificial intelligence, storytelling, and personalisation into travel marketing. The initiative reflects the company’s broader vision of using technology to enhance human connection and transform how travellers discover, plan, and experience their journeys.


2025 F&B and Real Estate Insights: Industry Leaders Reflect on Challenges and Opportunities

2025 F&B and Real Estate Insights: Industry Leaders Reflect on Challenges and Opportunities

By Hariharan U

Published on December 12, 2025

As 2025 draws to a close, industry leaders are reflecting on a year that tested resilience, discipline, and innovation across the food & beverage (F&B) and real estate sectors.

According to Pulkit Arora, Director, CYK Hospitalities, “2025 has been a defining year for the F&B sector. Consumers pushed the industry toward more specific menus, higher food hygiene standards, and greater transparency in kitchen operations. It was a year that highlighted how trust is built through discipline rather than decoration.”

Simranjeet Singh, Director, CYK Hospitalities, adds, “The year 2025 proved that resilience and intelligent systems were the main sources of sustainable growth. Rising costs and changing consumer preferences meant that only those brands survived which remained consistent and had clear, efficient processes. This wasn't a year of aggressive expansion; it was a year of strengthening foundations.”

Together, they concluded, “Real progress in F&B isn't about scale; it's about the confidence you serve on every plate.”

In real estate and integrated hospitality developments, Vishal Vincent Tony, Managing Director, Aratt Developers & Ayatana Hospitality Pvt Ltd, highlights the evolving landscape: “The real estate sector is entering a cycle where integrated residential, commercial, and hospitality-led developments are emerging as the strongest contributors to long-term value creation. Across major markets, large-scale townships and mixed-use masterplans are witnessing renewed investor confidence, with developments that seamlessly integrate premium housing, modern office spaces, and quality hospitality assets.”

He further explains, “Rising homeownership sentiment, sustained office absorption, and consistent growth in domestic tourism continue to reinforce this shift. As we move into 2026, the most resilient and future-ready developments will be those that prioritise sustainability, intelligent design, and seamless integration across residential and commercial uses. With lifestyle preferences evolving rapidly, developments that offer both liveability and economic productivity are set to define the next phase of India’s real estate growth.”

The reflections from F&B and real estate leaders underscore a common theme for 2026: steady growth through operational excellence, sustainable practices, and intelligent integration, setting the stage for a more resilient and dynamic business landscape.

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