Saurabh Wadkar and Teja Chekuri Talk Reforms for Sustainable Growth in F&B

Saurabh Wadkar and Teja Chekuri Talk Reforms for Sustainable Growth in F&B

By Nishang Narayan

Published on January 23, 2025

As the Union Budget 2025 approaches, prominent voices in India’s Food & Beverage (F&B) sector have highlighted key reforms that could transform the industry. Leaders Saurabh Wadkar, Founder of Rooted, and Teja Chekuri, Founder of Full Stack Ventures, shared their insights on the policies they believe are crucial for the sustainable growth of the F&B, restaurant, and food delivery sectors.

Saurabh Wadkar, Founder of Rooted: A Call for GST Reforms and Support for Small Businesses

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"The Union Budget 2025 offers a golden opportunity to uplift India’s restaurant and food delivery sector, especially for small businesses that are the heart of this industry," says Saurabh Wadkar.

He emphasizes the following:

  • Reinstating Input Tax Credit (ITC): This could significantly lower operational costs and improve profitability for restaurants and cloud kitchens.
  • GST Rate Reduction to 12%: Aligning GST rates with global standards would enhance competitiveness, benefiting both restaurants and food delivery services.
  • Infrastructure Status for Ghost Kitchens: Recognizing ghost kitchens and food delivery ventures could pave the way for affordable loans and tax benefits, enabling entrepreneurs in smaller cities to thrive.
  • Incentives for Technology Adoption: Encouraging the use of technology would help small players streamline operations, reduce costs, and achieve sustainable growth.
  • Culinary Tourism Initiatives: Promoting regional cuisines would not only boost local restaurants but also spotlight India’s rich food heritage.

"With thoughtful measures like these, the Budget could transform the sector, creating opportunities for small businesses to flourish and strengthening their role as drivers of jobs, culture, and economic growth," he concludes.

Teja Chekuri, Founder of Full Stack Ventures: A Need for Licensing Simplification

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Echoing the importance of reforms, Teja Chekuri emphasizes the F&B sector’s critical contribution to the economy, stating:
"The F&B, Restaurant, and Alco-Bev sectors are among the highest employment creators in India, promoting consumption, tourism, and economic growth across connected industries."

Chekuri highlights the urgent need for pro-public reforms, such as:

  • Simplifying Licensing Systems: The current multi-layered process creates roadblocks that hinder growth. A single-window process would streamline approvals and foster a more vibrant business environment.
  • Encouraging Investment: Actionable reforms would attract investments, promote innovation, and drive long-term economic growth.
  • Leveraging Technology: With the world becoming increasingly interconnected, technology-driven solutions would support the sector’s sustained growth and improve global competitiveness.

"A futuristic approach to licensing and reforms will not only boost growth but also expose the vibrancy of India’s thriving F&B sector to the world," Chekuri affirms.

A Vision for Sustainable Growth

As leaders like Wadkar and Chekuri voice their expectations, it’s clear that the Union Budget 2025 has the potential to address key challenges in the F&B sector, from simplifying compliance to incentivizing sustainable practices. With these reforms, the industry could unlock its full potential, contributing to India’s economic growth while preserving its rich culinary heritage.


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.

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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.

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