Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass Wins Forbes Five-Star Awar

Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass Earns Forbes Five-Star Honors for Kai and Aji Spa

By Nishang Narayan

Published on February 24, 2025

Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass continues to shine in the luxury hospitality scene, with both Kai Restaurant and Aji Spa receiving Forbes Travel Guide’s prestigious Five-Star rating in the 2025 Star Awards. The resort itself maintains its Recommended status, reaffirming its excellence in service and cultural authenticity.

This marks the 17th consecutive Five-Star win for Kai, solidifying its place as the only restaurant in Arizona with this distinction. Additionally, Aji Spa earns its sixth Five-Star rating, recognizing its commitment to providing a unique Native American-inspired wellness experience.

A Legacy of Excellence

Located on the Gila River Indian Community in Phoenix, Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass is renowned for its deep connection to indigenous heritage. The resort’s recent multi-million-dollar renovation has further elevated its luxurious offerings, while maintaining its commitment to cultural authenticity.

Expressing his pride, Bunty Ahamed, General Manager, Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass, shared:
"Receiving Five-Star recognition from Forbes Travel Guide once again for Aji Spa, and for the seventeenth consecutive year for Kai, is an incredible honor. Our commitment to providing every guest with a personalized and exceptional experience is unwavering, and these accolades are a testament to our team’s outstanding efforts."

Kai: Arizona’s Culinary Crown Jewel

With only 79 restaurants worldwide receiving a Five-Star rating this year, Kai’s achievement is particularly remarkable. A James Beard 2025 semifinalist in the Outstanding Hospitality category, Kai merges contemporary flavors with time-honored Native American culinary traditions, featuring locally farmed ingredients from the Gila River Indian Community.

Aji Spa: An Authentic Native Sanctuary

Aji Spa, meaning "sanctuary" in the Pima language, provides a holistic wellness experience deeply rooted in the traditions of the Pima and Maricopa tribes. Offering signature Indigenous treatments curated by Cultural Caretakers, the spa reflects the area’s rich history through art, architecture, and storytelling.

A Resort Steeped in Heritage

Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass is more than a luxury resort—it is a living representation of Native American culture, offering:

36 holes of championship golf at Whirlwind Golf Club
Guided equestrian experiences through the 1,000-acre Koli Equestrian Center
Four swimming pools and a waterslide inspired by ancient ruins
Water activities along the scenic Gila River

Maintaining its Recommended status in 2025, the resort meets Forbes’ rigorous 900-point evaluation, ensuring world-class service and hospitality.

As Forbes Travel Guide’s esteemed Five-Star list continues to set the global benchmark for luxury, Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass proudly represents Arizona with its unparalleled culinary, wellness, and cultural experiences.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Sees Big Wins on the Pitch as U.S. Travel Surge Remains Gradual

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on June 19, 2026

The FIFA World Cup 2026 continued to deliver excitement on the field, with England, Ghana, and Colombia recording important victories in their respective group-stage matches. At the same time, hospitality and tourism stakeholders across the United States are closely watching travel trends as the world's biggest football tournament unfolds across North America.

In Group L, England produced a dominant performance against Croatia, securing a convincing 4-0 victory. The result strengthens England's position in the group and highlights the team's strong start to its World Cup campaign.

Group K witnessed a closely contested encounter between Ghana and Panama, with Ghana edging past its opponents by a single goal to claim a valuable win and boost its chances of progressing to the next stage.

Meanwhile, Colombia delivered an impressive display against Uzbekistan, registering a 3-1 victory. The South American side showcased attacking efficiency throughout the match to secure all three points.

Beyond the action on the pitch, attention has also turned to the tournament's economic and tourism impact across the United States. As the largest FIFA World Cup in history gets underway, industry experts believe the expected travel boom is developing at a slower pace than initially anticipated.

While FIFA has projected that the tournament could contribute up to $17.2 billion to the U.S. economy, tourism and hospitality businesses are seeing mixed results so far. Travel demand appears to be varying significantly between host cities, depending on the teams playing, match schedules, and fan interest levels.

According to travel industry observations, many international supporters are still finalising their travel plans, leading to a gradual increase in bookings rather than an immediate surge. Cities hosting later-stage knockout matches are expected to benefit more as the tournament progresses and fan interest intensifies.

The New York-New Jersey region, which will host several matches including the final, is projected to receive more than 1.2 million visitors and generate an estimated $3.3 billion in economic impact. Other major host destinations such as Dallas, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami, Houston, Boston, Seattle, Philadelphia, Kansas City, and the San Francisco Bay Area are also expected to experience increased visitor activity throughout the competition.

However, the American Hotel and Lodging Association recently noted that several host cities have reported softer-than-expected demand, citing factors such as rising travel costs and travel-related barriers. Industry observers believe the true impact on hotels, restaurants, transportation services, and local businesses may become clearer as the tournament advances into its knockout rounds.

For the hospitality sector, FIFA World Cup 2026 remains a major opportunity, but the anticipated economic gains are likely to be distributed unevenly across destinations, depending on match schedules, visitor preferences, and overall travel patterns.

Otherland Galle Appoints Jazib Husain as General Manager Ahead of Opening

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on June 18, 2026

Otherland Hotels has announced the appointment of Jazib Husain as General Manager of Otherland Galle, the brand's first international property, which is set to open soon on Sri Lanka's southern coast. The appointment marks an important milestone for South Asia's first independent lifestyle hospitality collective as it expands its footprint beyond India.

With nearly two decades of experience across leading international hospitality brands, Husain brings extensive expertise in hotel operations, business development, food and beverage management, public relations, infrastructure planning, and financial performance management. Throughout his career, he has built a strong reputation for operational excellence, service quality, and driving business performance in dynamic hospitality environments.

A Master's graduate in Hospitality Management from Hotelschool The Hague in The Netherlands, Husain has developed a comprehensive understanding of hospitality leadership across multiple functions. His experience spans restaurant operations, staff development, general administration, and guest experience management.

Originally from Lucknow, a city celebrated for its rich culture and hospitality traditions, Husain's background continues to influence his leadership style and approach to guest service. His blend of international exposure and hands-on operational expertise is expected to play a key role in shaping the vision and guest experience at Otherland Galle.

Commenting on the appointment, Rishi Sreedharan, Founder & CEO, Otherland Hotels, said, “as one of South Asia’s first lifestyle hospitality leaders of his calibre, Jazib pairs a calm, composed demeanour with genuine passion for service and process. His years across the world’s most respected brands give him the instinct to channel that into a bold, experience-led product like ours with steadiness to earn guest trust and affirm a brand.”

Sharing his thoughts on the new role, Jazib Husain said, “I am deeply grateful for the trust and confidence Otherland Hotels have placed in me. It is both an honour and a privilege to lead what I believe will become the benchmark for lifestyle hospitality in South Asia. Together with an exceptional team, I look forward to creating a destination defined by genuine warmth, memorable experiences, and uncompromising operational excellence. My commitment is to build a place that leaves a lasting impression on every guest."

Located in Galle, the 66-key oceanfront property will serve as Otherland's debut international address and a significant addition to the region's lifestyle hospitality landscape. The hotel is built around four key pillars: fluid experiences, rooms as basecamp, human hospitality, and differentiated food and beverage offerings. Designed for modern travellers seeking immersive local experiences, surf culture, and authentic destination connections, the property aims to redefine lifestyle hospitality in South Asia.

Otherland Galle is being developed in partnership with Emanuel Sidhartha, Co-Founder and a well-known name in Sri Lanka's hospitality and cultural sector. The hotel is the first in a larger pipeline of hotels, restaurants, and beach clubs that Otherland Hotels plans to introduce across South Asia in the coming years.

FIFA 2026 Highlights: Messi’s Hat-Trick Powers Argentina as Mexico’s Hospitality Sector Reaches New Heights

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on June 18, 2026

Lionel Messi delivered a memorable performance as Argentina began their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a convincing 3-0 win over Algeria in Group J. The Argentine captain scored all three goals, registering the first World Cup hat-trick of his illustrious career and equalling Miroslav Klose’s record as the tournament’s all-time leading goalscorer.

Playing at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a superb left-footed strike that curled beyond goalkeeper Luca Zidane. He added a second goal in the 60th minute before completing his hat-trick with another trademark finish from his favoured left foot. The three goals took his World Cup tally to 16 goals in 27 matches.

The match also marked a significant milestone for Messi as he made his 200th appearance for Argentina. Although two early goals, including one from Messi, were ruled out for offside during the opening minutes, Argentina remained dominant throughout the contest and comfortably secured all three points.

Elsewhere in Group J, Austria defeated Jordan 3-1 to strengthen its position in the standings. In Group I, Norway delivered one of the biggest wins of the round, defeating Iraq 4-0. France also enjoyed a successful outing, overcoming Senegal with a 3-0 victory to begin its World Cup journey on a positive note.

Beyond the action on the pitch, the FIFA World Cup 2026 is creating a major impact on the hospitality industry, particularly in Mexico. Host cities across the country have witnessed a remarkable increase in demand, with hotel bookings rising by 173% since the tournament preparations gained momentum.

Hotel room rates have also seen significant growth following the World Cup draw. Across host cities, average hotel prices increased by 14.75%, reflecting the surge in travel demand. Guadalajara emerged as one of the strongest-performing destinations, recording a 385% increase in bookings and a 33.51% rise in room prices during the monitored period.

Mexico City has also experienced substantial growth, accounting for 29.43% of room price increases from pre-draw to post-draw periods during the group stage. As the tournament progresses, demand continues to build across key host destinations.

Industry data further indicates that Guadalajara and Mexico City in Mexico, along with Toronto in Canada and Houston in the United States, were still witnessing accelerating hotel prices during the final stages of the recorded booking period. This suggests that demand is expected to remain strong as the competition advances toward the knockout rounds.

With 104 matches scheduled across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, FIFA World Cup 2026 is not only delivering thrilling football moments but also creating significant opportunities for the hospitality and tourism sectors across North America.

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Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass Earns Forbes Five-Star Honors for Kai and Aji Spa

A Legacy of Excellence

Kai: Arizona’s Culinary Crown Jewel

Aji Spa: An Authentic Native Sanctuary

A Resort Steeped in Heritage

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FIFA World Cup 2026 Sees Big Wins on the Pitch as U.S. Travel Surge Remains Gradual

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Otherland Galle Appoints Jazib Husain as General Manager Ahead of Opening

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FIFA 2026 Highlights: Messi’s Hat-Trick Powers Argentina as Mexico’s Hospitality Sector Reaches New Heights

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