Pre-Budget 2025: Vijeta Soni Shares Key Expectations for Travel and Hospitality Growth

Pre-Budget 2025: Vijeta Soni Shares Key Expectations for Travel and Hospitality Growth

By Nishang Narayan

Published on January 23, 2025

As the Union Budget 2025 approaches, Vijeta Soni, Co-Founder & CEO of Sciative Solutions, shares her insights on the measures needed to foster growth in India’s travel and hospitality industry. Her expectations highlight the importance of infrastructure development, tax reforms, and sustainability-focused initiatives.

"As a SaaS company driving dynamic pricing and revenue growth for the Indian travel and hospitality industry, I am optimistic about Budget 2025 and its potential to address critical challenges while fostering growth," says Soni.

Key Budget Expectations for Travel and Hospitality

1. Enhanced Connectivity:
Soni emphasizes the need for investments in air, rail, and road infrastructure, particularly to improve access to tier-2 and tier-3 cities through the development of new airports, railway lines, and highways. Improved connectivity would unlock the tourism potential of smaller cities and foster regional economic growth.

2. GST Reforms for Hotel Rooms:
The hospitality sector is hopeful for a reduction in GST rates on hotel rooms priced above ₹7,500. Soni believes this move would make India a more competitive destination for domestic and international tourism, driving demand across the industry.

image

3. Standardized Regulations for Intercity Mobility:
Soni highlights the need for a national regulatory framework to replace fragmented state-specific rules governing intercity passenger mobility. Standardized regulations would promote fair competition, create a level playing field, and improve the overall travel experience.

4. Support for Electric Mobility:
With a focus on sustainability, Soni calls for subsidies, tax incentives, and infrastructure development for electric buses to facilitate the transition to greener fleets. She emphasizes that this shift would not only reduce emissions but also align the industry with global sustainability goals.

A Vision for Long-Term Growth

"These measures would not only address current challenges but also pave the way for long-term growth and sustainability in the travel and hospitality industry," Soni concludes.

As the industry awaits the Union Budget 2025, voices like Vijeta Soni’s shed light on the critical reforms and investments needed to unlock the full potential of India’s travel and hospitality sectors while championing sustainability and innovation.


Roseate Hotels & Resorts Expands Partnership with M3M for Jacob & Co. Residences

Roseate Hotels & Resorts Expands Partnership with M3M for Jacob & Co. Residences

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 9, 2026

Roseate Hotels & Resorts has expanded its partnership with M3M Group, coming on board as the hospitality and facility management partner for M3M Jacob & Co. Residences. The partnership adds to Roseate's existing association with M3M Trump Towers Gurgaon and expands its role across M3M's luxury branded residences portfolio.

As part of the partnership, Roseate Hotels & Resorts will manage a range of services at M3M Jacob & Co. Residences, including concierge services, housekeeping, engineering, security, restaurants, wellness facilities, club operations and lifestyle management.

The focus will be on bringing Roseate's hospitality expertise into the residential community and creating a professionally managed, hotel-inspired living experience for residents. The partnership comes at a time when India's branded residences market is seeing a shift in what luxury homebuyers expect. Beyond architecture and international brand names, buyers are increasingly looking at hospitality, service standards and the overall long-term living experience. Professionally managed operations are becoming an important part of luxury residential developments, bringing hotel-style services and experiences into premium homes.

image

M3M has built a strong presence in India's branded residences segment through collaborations with global luxury brands including Trump, Jacob & Co. and Elie Saab. Its approach combines international brands with hospitality-led living, curated lifestyle experiences and premium services. The partnership was announced during 'The Circle of Time', an exclusive evening hosted by M3M and Jacob & Co. for the Inner Circle residents of M3M Jacob & Co. Residences.

The event highlighted the shared values of craftsmanship, exclusivity and timeless luxury. It also featured the unveiling of a limited-edition Jacob & Co. timepiece created exclusively for Inner Circle residents as a symbol of their connection with India's first Jacob & Co. branded residential community. Roseate's appointment at M3M Jacob & Co. Residences highlights the growing connection between luxury real estate and hospitality. As the branded residences market develops further in India, such partnerships are expected to place greater focus on design, professional operations and the everyday experience of residents.

M3M has developed a portfolio of branded residences through partnerships with globally recognised luxury brands such as Trump, Jacob & Co. and Elie Saab. Its portfolio includes M3M Trump Towers, M3M Jacob & Co. Residences and M3M Elie Saab Residences, combining global luxury brands with design, hospitality-led experiences and lifestyle offerings.

Founded in 2010, M3M India is one of India's leading real estate developers and among the country's largest privately-held real estate companies. The company has a presence across Delhi NCR in luxury residential, branded residences, retail, commercial, mixed-use developments and integrated townships. M3M has recorded more than ₹1.28 lakh crore of launched GDV, cumulative sales of over ₹81,000 crore, customer collections exceeding ₹47,000 crore and more than 30 million sq. ft. delivered.

The company continues to focus on innovation, design, execution and customer experience across its developments, with branded residences, integrated mixed-use projects and destination retail forming key parts of its portfolio.


United Hospitality Management Signs Three New Hotels with IHG in India

United Hospitality Management Signs Three New Hotels with IHG in India

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 8, 2026

United Hospitality Management (UHM) has announced the signing of three new hotel management agreements with IHG Hotels & Resorts, adding 182 keys to its expanding India portfolio. The new properties include Garner Corbett, voco Kanatal, and Garner Ahmedabad, marking another milestone in the company's growth strategy since entering the Indian market through the acquisition of Rosastays in December 2025.

Scheduled to open between 2027 and 2029, the three hotels are part of UHM's plan to build a balanced portfolio across leisure and business destinations in India.

The upcoming 50-key Garner Corbett will cater to the growing demand for wildlife and nature tourism in Uttarakhand. The 92-key voco Kanatal will offer an upscale mountain retreat in one of North India's emerging leisure destinations, while the 40-key Garner Ahmedabad will strengthen the company's presence in one of western India's fastest-growing commercial hubs. Together, these projects highlight UHM's focus on working closely with hotel owners to develop professionally managed hospitality assets across key markets.

Commenting on the expansion, Carlos Leal, Executive Chairman and Board Member, United Hospitality Management, said:

"India's hospitality sector is entering a new phase of growth, driven by rising domestic travel, improving infrastructure and increasing investor confidence. Against this backdrop, UHM sees India as one of its most strategic growth markets. Our objective is to build a diversified hospitality platform that delivers long-term value for owners while bringing international expertise to the Indian market."

Since entering India, UHM has signed 10 properties and established dedicated commercial, operations, and technical services teams. The company has also strengthened its leadership team while investing in governance and technology platforms to support its future growth.

UHM follows a brand-agnostic, owner-first approach, enabling it to partner with leading hospitality brands such as Marriott, Hyatt, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Accor, Wyndham, and Yotel. The company works with owners to identify the most suitable brand and operating model for each property, helping maximise asset performance while delivering quality guest experiences.

Speaking about the company's operating philosophy, Klaus Assmann, Chief Executive Officer, UHM Middle East, India & Southeast Asia, said:

"Hotel owners today are seeking strategic operating partners who can maximise asset performance while preserving brand integrity. Our role is to combine international expertise with deep local market knowledge to develop the right positioning for every asset and deliver sustainable commercial performance."

UHM currently has a portfolio of 24 operational and pipeline properties in India and aims to manage more than 100 hotels across the country over the long term. According to the company, the latest signings reflect growing confidence among hotel owners in its owner-centric management model.

Highlighting the company's plans for India, Deepika Arora, Managing Director, United Hospitality Management India, said:

"These three signings reflect the confidence owners have placed in our operating model and mark another step in expanding our presence across India. We continue to see strong opportunities across gateway cities, emerging leisure destinations, mixed-use developments and branded residences. Our aim is to remain focused on partnering with the right owners and the right brands."

Looking ahead, UHM said it is in advanced discussions for several hotel management agreements and strategic partnerships across India and Southeast Asia. The pipeline includes luxury and upscale hotels, resorts, mixed-use developments, and branded residential projects.

Beyond hotel management, UHM has also built a diversified hospitality platform with more than 20 proprietary food and beverage concepts, wellness brands including Serenity, The Art of Well Being and Pure by Serenity, the fitness brand Active by Serenity, as well as sports and leisure facilities such as golf and football academies, tennis and padel clubs, and luxury beach clubs.


IHCL Signs 151 Key Gateway Hotel in Raipur, Chhattisgarh

IHCL Signs 151 Key Gateway Hotel in Raipur, Chhattisgarh

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 8, 2026

Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India’s largest hospitality company, has signed a new Gateway hotel in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The 151-key property will be developed as a greenfield project in partnership with Mr. Kanhaya Lal Agrawal of KLA Group.

Commenting on the signing, Ms. Suma Venkatesh, Executive Vice President, Real Estate & Development, IHCL, said, “Raipur has emerged as one of central India’s important economic centres, driven by industrial expansion, infrastructure development and its growing role as an administrative and educational hub. The signing of Gateway Raipur will enable IHCL to cater to the city’s evolving hospitality demand and we are delighted to partner with Mr. Kanhaya Lal Agrawal for this project.”

Gateway Raipur will offer 151 rooms along with an all-day dining restaurant, specialty restaurant and bar. The hotel will also feature a fully-equipped gym, swimming pool and spa for guests.

For weddings, social gatherings and business events, the property will have more than 10,000 sq.ft of banquet space, supported by multiple meeting rooms for conferences and other events.

Mr. Kanhaya Lal Agrawal, KLA group, said, “Raipur continues to witness strong economic and social growth. We are pleased to partner with IHCL and contribute to the city’s evolving hospitality landscape.”

Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, has grown into an important centre for commerce, industry and governance. Its expanding infrastructure and economic activity have also increased demand for quality hospitality options.

Following the addition of Gateway Raipur, IHCL will have four hotels in Raipur, including three under development.

About the Owning Company

KLA Group, promoted by Mr. Kanhaya Lal Agrawal, was established in 2002 and has developed a strong presence in infrastructure development across India. The company has worked on several road infrastructure projects for central and state government agencies.

Over the years, KLA Group has expanded its operations into construction, mining and road development, adding to its presence across the infrastructure sector.

Stay up-to-date with the latest Hospitality news and trends in the Hospitality industry!

Subscribe to Hospitality news e-magazine for free and never miss an issue.

By clicking subscribe for free you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge our Privacy Policy.

Advertise With Us

We have various options to advertise with us including Events, Advertorials, Banners, Mailers, etc.