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By Hariharan U
Published on January 30, 2026
As the Union Budget 2026 approaches, India’s travel and hospitality sector is looking to policy support to consolidate the strong demand witnessed across domestic and international travel segments. While occupancies and travel intent remain healthy, industry leaders believe structural reforms are essential to ensure long-term, quality-led growth and global competitiveness.
The hospitality sector continues to benefit from experiential travel, destination weddings and wellness-led stays. However, industry stakeholders point out that high capital costs and limited access to long-term financing continue to put pressure on returns. Granting infrastructure status, offering tax incentives on capital expenditure and improving access to institutional credit are widely seen as critical steps to enable sustainable expansion across destinations.
Digital travel platforms and alternative accommodation providers are also playing an increasingly important role in shaping India’s tourism ecosystem. With demand rising for hotels, homestays and BnBs across Tier-II and Tier-III cities, the industry has reiterated the need for GST rationalisation, especially in the mid-scale segment, to keep travel affordable and ensure price consistency. Support for integrated digital booking platforms and skill development across tourism services is expected to improve transparency and enhance the overall traveller experience.
Outbound travel remains a key focus area ahead of the Budget, particularly as luxury and experiential travel from India gains momentum. Louis D’Souza, Managing Partner, Tamarind Global, says, “As luxury and experiential travel from India continues to gain momentum, the Union Budget can play a pivotal role in shaping both outbound and inbound travel sentiment. On the outbound side, high-spending Indian travellers are increasingly investing in curated, design-led experiences, but policies around TCS and forex costs continue to influence booking timelines and destination choices. Easing these financial frictions would boost travel confidence and encourage travellers to upgrade experiences rather than compromise on quality.”
He further adds, “Equally important is the opportunity to strengthen India's inbound tourism narrative. With global travellers seeking authentic, immersive journeys, India's rich cultural heritage, wellness offerings, luxury hospitality, and emerging experiential circuits are uniquely positioned to attract high-value inbound travellers. Strategic budgetary support for destination marketing, infrastructure upgrades, simplified visa processes, and enhanced connectivity can significantly elevate India's appeal as a premium travel destination.”
Long-haul leisure and island destinations are particularly sensitive to outbound travel costs. Leena Jhugroo, Managing Director, Travel Lounge Leisure & Tours Ltd., notes, “As India's outbound travel market matures, the Union Budget presents an opportunity to unlock sustained long-haul leisure growth. A key expectation from the industry is rationalisation of TCS on overseas tour packages and forex spends, which continues to impact travel affordability and decision-making for Indian consumers.”
She adds, “For island destinations like Mauritius, which are positioned around romance, luxury, wellness, and MICE, easing outbound travel costs would significantly boost bookings. Improved forex policies and incentives for international travel-linked services would further encourage longer stays and higher spends.”
Neighbouring destinations are also closely watching India’s policy direction. Highlighting Sri Lanka’s strong reliance on Indian travellers, Charith DeAlwis, CEO, Unique Lanka Travels, says, “India continues to be one of the most important and consistent source markets for Sri Lanka, driven by strong cultural ties, short travel time, and a growing appetite for nearby international destinations.”
He further states, “As the travel ecosystem evolves, policies that enhance ease of travel, cost transparency, and regional connectivity can play a meaningful role in encouraging more frequent visits and longer stays.”
Within the premium segment, luxury travel operators stress the importance of addressing cost inefficiencies to sustain aspirational demand. Mir Musa Baghirzade, Sales Director, Turalux, says, “The Union Budget is closely watched by the luxury travel sector, as policy decisions directly influence discretionary spending and travel intent. Indian travellers today are aspirational, well-informed, and willing to invest in unique global experiences, but cost inefficiencies, such as high TCS on outbound travel can act as friction points.”
He adds, “Additionally, continued emphasis on digital payments, ease of global banking, and improved forex accessibility would enhance the overall booking experience. Luxury travel is no longer limited to leisure alone; it now extends to wellness retreats, destination celebrations, and immersive experiential escapes.”
Across segments, industry leaders have also called for stronger focus on manpower development, improved aviation connectivity and expansion of air networks to unlock new travel corridors. As the sector enters 2026 with cautious optimism, stakeholders agree that a forward-looking Budget balancing domestic, outbound and inbound tourism priorities could play a defining role in shaping India’s travel growth story
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By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Published on July 22, 2026
Gaur City Mall has achieved a significant milestone by consistently recording over ₹1 billion in monthly retail sales throughout FY 2025-26. The achievement comes as the mall celebrates its seventh anniversary with 'The Billion Celebration,' marking its growth journey alongside retail partners and shoppers.
Spread across 8 lakh sq. ft., Gaur City Mall is part of the larger Gaur City Township and was developed to provide residents with a convenient destination for shopping, entertainment, and lifestyle experiences. Over the years, it has grown beyond serving the local community to become a major retail and lifestyle hub for the Noida-Greater Noida region.
The milestone places Gaur City Mall among a select group of high-performing retail destinations in India, driven by strong consumer demand, a carefully curated brand mix, and consistent operational performance.
The mall currently operates at 100% occupancy and is home to more than 150 national and international brands, including Shoppers Stop, Lifestyle, Marks & Spencer, Decathlon, Adidas, Skechers, Tanishq, Kalyan Jewellers, MAX, Hamleys, PVR, Croma, and Reliance Digital, among others. Its balanced retail mix, growing footfall, and understanding of the local market have played an important role in its continued success.
Speaking on the occasion, Sarthak Gaur, Director, Gaurs Group, said, "This milestone is a testament to the integrated township vision, where retail plays a central role in enhancing everyday life. We are thankful to our brand partners and shoppers for their continued association. We also extend our gratitude to the Noida and Greater Noida administration for their consistent support in building the infrastructure backbone that enables such ecosystems to thrive."
To mark the occasion, the mall hosted 'The Billion Celebration', featuring a large-scale balloon shower and retailer recognition awards that brought together brand partners, shoppers, and stakeholders.
Building on this achievement, Gaur City Mall plans to further enhance its experiential offerings while improving retail productivity, strengthening its position as a leading retail destination in the evolving NCR market.
Published on July 21, 2026
Burger Singh, India's largest made-in-India burger chain, has announced an ambitious expansion plan for Bengaluru, aiming to increase its presence from eight operational outlets to 80. The company also plans to open 100 more outlets across Karnataka, making it the fastest city-level expansion in the brand's history.
The announcement comes as Burger Singh continues to strengthen its national footprint, which now spans more than 200 outlets across over 100 cities. Known for blending Indian flavours with the classic burger format, the brand has built a loyal customer base by offering products tailored to Indian tastes at affordable prices.
According to the company, Bengaluru has emerged as its fastest-growing market. Alongside the existing eight outlets, five more locations are currently under fit-out and are expected to open within the next month.
The city's strong response was evident during Burger Singh's Big Singh Feast campaign in November 2025, where the brand served over 3,300 free meals in a single day across Sarjapur, HSR Layout and BTM Layout. The activation attracted more than 15,000 registrations, with the company describing the turnout as comparable to blockbuster movie releases and major technology product launches.
Commenting on the expansion, Nitin Rana, Co-founder of Burger Singh, said:
"Every market teaches you something about pace, and Bengaluru has taught us to move faster than we've ever moved before. Going from 8 outlets to 80 isn't incremental growth; it's a scale-up unlike anything we've done in any other city, and we're doing it because Bengaluru has earned the speed. This is now officially our fastest-growing market in the country, and with another 100 more outlets planned across Karnataka, we're backing that momentum with real commitment, not just ambition."
As part of its expansion strategy, Burger Singh is also inviting franchise partners to join its growth journey across Bengaluru and the wider Karnataka market. The company said the initiative offers entrepreneurs an opportunity to become part of one of India's fastest-growing homegrown quick service restaurant (QSR) brands.
Customers visiting the Bengaluru outlets can continue to enjoy the brand's signature menu, featuring popular offerings such as Nikku Singh, Churmur Pandey, Udta Punjab 2.0 and Chunky Paneer Pandey, among other favourites.
With Bengaluru now leading its growth story, Burger Singh is betting on the city's strong consumer demand to drive the next phase of its expansion across southern India.
Published on July 19, 2026
MAYFAIR Elixir, the growth and expansion arm of MAYFAIR Hotels & Resorts, has signed a premium hospitality project in Santiniketan, West Bengal, further strengthening the group's presence in Eastern India.
The hotel, scheduled to open in FY2028-29, will become MAYFAIR's fifth property in West Bengal. Located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Santiniketan, the development aims to cater to leisure travellers, cultural enthusiasts and guests looking for intimate celebration venues.
Designed as a premium retreat, the upcoming property will combine modern hospitality with the cultural heritage of Santiniketan, offering personalised experiences that reflect the MAYFAIR brand while embracing the destination's artistic and literary legacy.
The signing was announced during Jagannath Rath Yatra and forms part of the group's long-term strategy to expand across destinations known for their cultural significance and tourism potential.
Speaking on the partnership, Rajendra Chatterjee, CEO & Managing Director of WESTROAD Group, which owns the property, said:
"Santiniketan is more than a destination. It is an emotion that celebrates creativity, learning and Rabindranath Tagore's legacy. We wanted a hospitality partner that understands the importance of preserving this essence while delivering exceptional guest experiences. MAYFAIR Group's expertise, its deep understanding of regional culture and unwavering commitment to excellence made it the natural choice. We look forward to creating a landmark experience in Santiniketan with MAYFAIR Elixir."
Commenting on the signing, Randhir Gupta, Vice President – Commercial & Business Development, MAYFAIR Hotels & Resorts, said:
"Santiniketan has long been one of India's most celebrated cultural destinations. Yet, the market has remained underserved in the premium hospitality segment. This signing is a strategic addition to our growing portfolio, allowing us to introduce the MAYFAIR experience to a destination of global significance. Santiniketan perfectly aligns with our vision of expanding into culturally rich destinations with long-term tourism potential."
Bjorn DeNiese, Managing Director, MAYFAIR Elixir, added:
"This marks an exciting chapter in the growth journey of MAYFAIR Elixir. As we expand our footprint across India, our vision is not simply to add destinations, but to create hospitality experiences that celebrate the unique character and cultural identity of every place we enter. Santiniketan, with its extraordinary legacy of art, literature and learning, embodies the values we believe modern travellers increasingly seek."
He further said the company has several new destinations, hospitality concepts and strategic partnerships in the pipeline as it continues to grow its portfolio across India.
The latest signing reinforces MAYFAIR Hotels & Resorts' focus on expanding into culturally significant destinations while strengthening its presence in key tourism markets across the country.
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