Cygnett Hotels & Resorts has announced the signing of a 50-key Cozzet hotel at Ringas near Khatu Shyam in Rajasthan, strengthening its presence in the state and expanding its premium economy portfolio across India's growing pilgrimage and regional travel markets.

The upcoming Cozzet Khatu Shyam will be located approximately 18 km from Khatu Shyam Ji Temple, one of Rajasthan's major pilgrimage destinations. The shrine recorded an estimated annual footfall of 2.54 crore devotees in 2025, making it the state's leading religious tourism destination and driving increased demand for organised accommodation and supporting hospitality infrastructure along the Khatu Shyam-Ringas corridor.

The hotel will benefit from its strategic location in Ringas, positioned just 100 metres from Ringas railway station and with direct access to NH-52, which connects the area with Jaipur and other parts of the region. The location is expected to make the property accessible to pilgrims, families, leisure travellers and transit guests.

A brownfield development, Cozzet Khatu Shyam is expected to open in mid-2027. The property will feature 50 contemporary rooms, an all-day dining restaurant, health club and swimming pool.

The hotel will also cater to the local social and events market through a 2,500 sq. ft. banquet venue capable of accommodating approximately 180–200 guests. The combination of accommodation, dining, wellness and event facilities is expected to position the property as a comprehensive hospitality offering for visitors to the destination.

Commenting on the signing, Sarbendra Sarkar, Founder & Managing Director, Cygnett Hotels & Resorts, said pilgrimage travel is emerging as an important driver of hospitality demand across India. He added that destinations attracting millions of visitors require dependable branded accommodation and consistent service standards, making Ringas a strong opportunity for Cozzet.

Cozzet by Cygnett is Cygnett Hotels & Resorts' premium economy and micro-hospitality brand. Built around its "Smart, Safe & Sensible" philosophy, the brand focuses on contemporary accommodation, essential amenities and efficient service for business, leisure and transit travellers.

The signing also advances Cygnett's broader expansion strategy for Cozzet. The brand currently has a development pipeline of approximately 600 keys, with properties under development and in pre-opening stages across destinations including Noida, Ayodhya, Amritsar, Jaipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

Cygnett plans to continue expanding Cozzet through an asset-light and scalable model, targeting pilgrimage centres, transit hubs, business markets and emerging urban destinations where demand for reliable, value-led branded accommodation is increasing.

With its entry into the Khatu Shyam-Ringas corridor, Cozzet adds another pilgrimage-led destination to its growing development pipeline while strengthening Cygnett's Rajasthan portfolio.

Uber has announced the launch of Train Ticket Booking on the Uber app in partnership with ixigo, India’s leading AI-native travel platform. The new feature allows riders to book train tickets, check PNR status and manage their first and last-mile travel connections through a single app.

The launch marks another step in Uber’s growing focus on expanding its intercity travel offerings in India. By combining ixigo’s train booking technology with Uber’s mobility services, the partnership aims to make long-distance travel planning easier and more connected for passengers.

Train travel continues to be one of India’s most preferred modes of transportation, with Indian Railways carrying 741 crore passengers in FY2025–26. As online train ticket booking continues to grow, Uber and ixigo are bringing together train reservations and local mobility solutions to offer a smoother travel experience from the starting point to the final destination.

Commenting on the partnership, Arnab Kumar, Director, Business Development, Uber India and South Asia, said, "Train journeys are an integral part of how India travels. For millions of people, the journey starts well before they board the train and continues long after they arrive at their destination. With Train Ticket Booking on the Uber app, riders can now book their train tickets, check their PNR status, and seamlessly connect to and from the railway station, all within a single app. We’re pleased to partner with ixigo to bring together their expertise in train ticketing with Uber’s mobility platform, making the overall travel experience more seamless and convenient for riders.”

Sharing their views on the partnership, Aloke Bajpai, Group CEO and Rajnish Kumar, Group Co-CEO, ixigo, said, “As India's largest OTA in the train category, our focus has always been on making rail travel simpler, more reliable and stress-free. Beyond booking tickets, we've continued to invest in a seamless post-booking experience, better customer support and innovative features that give travellers greater peace of mind throughout their journey. By partnering with Uber, we're extending that experience beyond the train itself, enabling travellers to plan their journey seamlessly from their doorstep to their destination.”

Uber already has a strong presence at railway stations across India, offering dedicated pickup and drop-off zones at locations ranging from Ahmedabad in the West, Secunderabad in the South and Howrah in the East, with more railway stations expected to be added soon.

With the introduction of Train Ticket Booking, Uber is extending its railway station connectivity services to support travellers throughout their entire journey. The company’s multimodal mobility platform now includes Moto, Auto, Cars, Metro, Intercity Cars, Intercity Buses and Train Ticket Booking.

Through this expansion, Uber aims to become a single platform for different travel needs, helping riders move more conveniently across cities and across the country.

How to Book Train Tickets on Uber:

● Open the Uber app.
● Select ‘Bus & Train’ from the home screen or Services section, then choose train tickets.
● Enter the origin, destination and travel date.
● Browse available trains and select the preferred option.
● Complete the booking through the app.
● Access ticket details and check PNR status directly within Uber.
● Book an Uber ride to and from the railway station for a seamless travel experience.

The 9th edition of Big Cine Expo 2026, Asia and India’s dedicated convention and trade show for the cinema exhibition and theatrical distribution industry, officially began on 18 August 2026 at Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai. The two-day event brings together cinema exhibitors, distributors, technology providers, equipment manufacturers, studios, consultants and key stakeholders from across India and international markets.

The expo serves as a platform for discovery, collaboration and networking within the cinema exhibition industry. It features product displays, live demonstrations, product presentations, studio showcases, seminars, panel discussions, awards programmes, film screenings and B2B meetings, creating opportunities for businesses across the cinema and entertainment ecosystem.

The inaugural ceremony was attended by Shri Devang Sampat, Managing Director, Cinépolis India; Shri Sandeep Mittal, Founder, TheatreWorld; Shri Raghavendra T (Raghav), Director, Big Cine Expo and Editor-Publisher, TheatreWorld; and Shri Yusuf Galabhaiwala, Partner, GTC Industries, as Guests of Honour.

The latest edition of the expo showcases a wide range of cinema technologies, products and solutions while offering opportunities for knowledge sharing, business discussions and networking among industry professionals.

Speaking about the event, Raghav, Director, Big Cine Expo, said, “Remarkable progress has been made by Asian countries, taking the cinema industry by storm. India, in particular, shows their passion through increasing numbers of screens and movie releases every year. There are businesses that are enthusiastic about the technical aspects of the cinematic world, and I am thrilled to say that Big Cine Expo 2026 will be an event that has the ability to bridge the knowledge gap, especially at a time when the industry is in desperate need of a boost. Packed with live discussions and demonstrations from various brands, the two-day event will cover humongous networking opportunities for the cinema exhibition industry. A tradeshow and convention that has a lot in store for everybody, including innovations which overtake the competition to feature every cinema in the world, from a multiplex to a single-screen, moulding it into a premium, affordable and sustainable cinema! You just can’t miss it!”

The first day of the expo featured a strong conference programme focusing on the changing needs and future growth of cinema exhibition. The panel “Reclaiming the Masses: Making Cinema Affordable in the Current Era” discussed ways to improve accessibility through smarter pricing, data-based scheduling, targeted promotions and subscription models while maintaining business sustainability.

Another session, “Beyond the Screen: Leveraging Tech to Elevate F&B and the Cinema Experience,” highlighted how technology can help transform cinema food and beverage offerings into a stronger source of revenue and customer engagement.

The panel “Tech vs. Texture: Does Premium Technology Deliver a Premium Experience?” explored the impact of advanced projection, immersive sound, HDR, LED and next-generation presentation technologies. The discussion also focused on how comfort, design, hospitality and social spaces contribute towards creating a complete premium cinema experience.

Meanwhile, ICTA’s session “Cinema 2030: Operating Model of the Future” focused on the growing importance of artificial intelligence, automation and data-driven analytics in building efficient and future-ready cinema operations.

The first day also featured the Qube Cinema Partner Felicitation and the IMAX Big Cine Awards 2026, recognising achievements and contributions from across the cinema exhibition industry.

The exhibition area at Big Cine Expo 2026 featured leading cinema technology, equipment, services and solutions from Indian and international exhibitors. Visitors explored the latest advancements in projection, display technologies, cinema automation, F&B solutions and other innovations through live demonstrations and interactive experiences.

The second day of Big Cine Expo 2026, scheduled on 19 August, will continue discussions around technology, innovation and audience engagement with Barco’s “Limitless Possibilities, Unlimited Experiences” and the panel “Cracking Audience Engagement: Micro-Targeting India’s Diverse Demographics.”

The sessions will focus on emerging technologies and understanding India’s diverse audience base to create stronger engagement strategies and sustainable cinema businesses.

With its expanded scale, industry participation and focus on the evolving cinema landscape, Big Cine Expo 2026 continues to remain an important platform for collaboration, innovation and the future growth of cinema exhibition in India and Asia.