Shimla Winter Carnival: A Historic Celebration Boosting Himachal's Tourism

Shimla Winter Carnival: A Historic Celebration Boosting Himachal's Tourism

By Author

Published on December 29, 2023

In a significant move to rejuvenate the tourism sector, the Himachal Pradesh government kicked off the inaugural Shimla Winter Carnival, a 12-day celebration aimed at uplifting the spirits of the hill state. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated the event at the historic Ridge, marking a historic moment for the city.

The winter carnival holds special significance as it comes on the heels of a challenging period for Himachal Pradesh's tourism industry, severely impacted by the recent monsoon disruptions. Chief Minister Sukhu, during the inauguration, acknowledged the adverse effects of the monsoon fury but expressed optimism about the state's recovery. He highlighted the influx of 30,000 tourist vehicles in the past days as a promising sign of the tourism industry's revival.

Emphasizing the government's commitment to promoting tourism, Chief Minister Sukhu announced a substantial increase in the budget for the tourism sector, reaching Rs. 3,000 crores from the previous Rs. 50 crores. This financial boost aims to support the recovery efforts and further elevate Himachal Pradesh as a preferred tourist destination.

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To facilitate a seamless experience for visitors, the state government has permitted all restaurants, dhabas, and food shops to remain open 24 hours from December 20, 2023, to January 5, 2024. This move is aligned with the government's focus on providing a warm welcome to tourists and enhancing their overall experience in the state.

The Winter Carnival promises an array of attractions, including cultural parades, folk dance performances like Mahanati, and exhibitions featuring local dishes and cultural programs. The carnival, set to conclude on January 5, 2024, is strategically timed during the Christmas and New Year celebrations, adding to the festive atmosphere in Shimla.

Apart from being a delightful experience for tourists, the carnival aims to celebrate Himachal Pradesh's rich cultural heritage. Cultural programs such as Kullavi Nati and Singtu of Sirmaur district were presented, contributing to the vibrant celebration. The event, graced by dignitaries, including Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh and Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh, is expected to have a positive economic impact on the state.

The Shimla Winter Carnival signifies a turning point for Himachal Pradesh's tourism, ushering in hope, festive cheer, and a promising outlook for the future.


These Women Leaders Are Quietly Reshaping How Indian Businesses Think and Grow

These Women Leaders Are Quietly Reshaping How Indian Businesses Think and Grow

By Hariharan U

Published on March 11, 2026

Something has shifted in how Indian businesses are being led and it's not subtle anymore. Women across industries aren't just entering boardrooms as symbolic additions; they're the ones driving strategy, shaping culture, and making the decisions that define where organisations go next. This Women's Day, we're spotlighting seven women whose leadership is quietly and not so quietly changing things.

Yukti Nagpal, Director at Gulshan Group, is one of the new voices redefining real estate from the inside. Her approach brings together design thinking, sustainability, and a genuine focus on community, building developments that put human well-being first. She's equally intentional about the culture inside her organisation, championing mentorship and inclusive workplace practices in an industry that hasn't always made space for those conversations.

Yamini Agarwal, Director of Marketing & Communications at Nimbus Group, brings over a decade of brand-building experience to a sector where trust and perception matter enormously. She's strengthened Nimbus Realty's positioning through campaigns that combine digital savvy with authentic storytelling  and she's just as vocal about the need for ethical marketing practices and better representation of women in leadership across the real estate world.

Roshy Chhillar, Director at Landmark Group, leads with a global lens, shaped by a strong academic grounding in real estate and economics. Her leadership style balances long-term strategic thinking with a genuinely collaborative approach, building resilient urban spaces while simultaneously focusing on mentorship and people development within her organisation.

Priyamvada Navet, Deputy CEO at Experion Developers, has worked across every stage of the real estate development cycle from business development and project planning right through to execution and asset management. What makes her perspective distinctive is how she weaves personal experience into professional leadership. As a mother of two and a strong advocate for well-being, she believes organisations perform at their best when teams feel genuinely trusted and supported. For her, building capable, motivated teams is just as much a part of strong leadership as delivering on numbers.

Nandini Taneja, CEO of Bhumika Enterprises, brings over two decades of experience in advisory, leasing, and asset strategy to her role. She's known for steering large-scale developments with a clear focus on long-term value creation, combining sharp market intelligence with disciplined execution. But she's equally focused on building leadership pipelines within her teams, reflecting a belief that resilient organisations are ultimately built on empowered people.

Ambika Saxena, Group CEO of TWH Hospitality, leads with entrepreneurial instinct and a strong sense of purpose. Her career spans corporate communications and experiential hospitality, and she's built ventures that place human connection and cultural authenticity at the centre of the business. She's a firm believer that organisations thrive when inclusivity and empowerment are embedded into everyday decision-making, not just stated as values on a wall.

Preksha Singh, CEO of Agrasheel Infratech Pvt Ltd, brings over 15 years of experience across marketing, development management, and business strategy to her role. Currently leading the vision behind Agrasheel's flagship project Aashrayam in Lucknow, she approaches real estate with an analytical, market-driven mindset that's introducing fresh, multidisciplinary thinking to a traditionally structured industry.

What connects all seven of these leaders isn't just their professional success, it's the way they lead. Collaborative, purpose-driven, and deeply people-centric, they represent something that India's corporate landscape genuinely needs more of. As businesses grow more complex and competitive, diverse leadership voices like theirs aren't just good to have. They're essential


DoubleTree by Hilton Gurugram Baani Square Appoints Nikhil Malhotra as Commercial Director

DoubleTree by Hilton Gurugram Baani Square Appoints Nikhil Malhotra as Commercial Director

By Hariharan U

Published on March 11, 2026

DoubleTree by Hilton Gurugram Baani Square has added a strong commercial voice to its leadership team with the appointment of Nikhil Malhotra as Commercial Director.

In this role, Malhotra will drive the hotel's overall commercial strategy, spanning sales, marketing, and revenue optimisation with a focus on growing market share across corporate, leisure, and MICE segments. He'll work closely with the property's leadership team to build strategic partnerships and keep revenue performance consistently strong across key business areas.

Malhotra brings over 15 years of hospitality experience to the role, having worked across some well-regarded international brands Accor, Hyatt, The Zuri Group, and Alila Hotels & Resorts. Along the way, he's built solid expertise in market development, key account management, commercial planning, and team leadership, a combination that sets him up well for the demands of Gurugram's fast-moving hospitality market.

Commenting on his new role, Malhotra said, "The Gurugram market continues to evolve rapidly, and it presents strong opportunities across corporate travel, social events, and emerging lifestyle segments. I look forward to working closely with the team to strengthen our commercial strategy, deepen market partnerships, and drive sustained growth for the property."

It's a well-timed appointment for a hotel looking to sharpen its positioning in one of India's most competitive hospitality markets and Malhotra's track record suggests he's well-placed to make a meaningful impact from the start.


Radisson Hotel Group Signs 150-Key Radisson Hotel in Kishangarh

Radisson Hotel Group Signs 150-Key Radisson Hotel in Kishangarh

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on March 11, 2026

Radisson Hotel Group has announced the signing of Radisson Hotel Kishangarh, marking the brand’s entry into one of Rajasthan’s growing commercial and tourism destinations. With this addition, the group continues to strengthen its presence in the state, where this project will mark its 20th property.

Kishangarh, often referred to as the “City of Marbles,” is widely known for its marble trade and traditional miniature paintings. The city also benefits from its proximity to popular destinations such as Ajmer and Pushkar, which attract steady religious and leisure tourism throughout the year.

The upcoming Radisson Hotel Kishangarh will feature 150 well-appointed rooms and suites. The property will offer contemporary dining options along with flexible meeting and event facilities designed to host business gatherings, social events, weddings and MICE activities. The hotel aims to combine modern comfort with the region’s cultural identity and artistic heritage, creating a memorable stay experience for guests.

Strategically located just off the Delhi–Ajmer Expressway and directly opposite Kishangarh Airport, the hotel enjoys strong connectivity and visibility within an expanding tourism and commercial corridor. The airport connects the city with major domestic hubs including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Surat, Indore and Nagpur. This location is expected to attract corporate travellers, airline passengers and transit guests, while also benefiting from tourism flow to Ajmer Sharif Dargah and Pushkar.

Sharing insights on the development, Nikhil Sharma, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group, said, “Kishangarh is emerging as a high-potential hospitality market driven by a combination of commercial travel, religious tourism, and improving regional connectivity. Located within a 30–45 km radius of Ajmer and Pushkar and adjacent to Kishangarh Airport, the city benefits from steady year-round demand, yet has limited penetration of branded hotels. The signing of Radisson Hotel Kishangarh enables us to establish an early-mover advantage in a market where organised hospitality supply remains significantly underdeveloped. Supported by the region’s strong marble and manufacturing ecosystem, as well as consistent social and pilgrimage-led travel, we see sustainable long-term demand across corporate, leisure, and event segments. This addition strengthens our leadership position in Rajasthan and aligns with our strategy to expand in tier-2 markets with clear demand fundamentals and scalable growth potential.”

The property is expected to benefit from its prime airport-facing location and early entry into the market. The hotel is scheduled to open in Q2 2027.

Speaking about the signing, Davashish Srivastava, Senior Director, Development, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group, said, “This signing reflects our strategy to expand in underpenetrated yet high-growth markets that offer strong fundamentals and long-term value. Kishangarh’s strategic location between Ajmer and Pushkar, improving air connectivity, and strong demand drivers from the marble trade and tourism ecosystem make it an ideal destination for our Radisson brand. We look forward to developing a landmark hotel that combines global standards with strong local relevance, while creating sustained value for our partners and guests.”

Rajendra Gupta, Partner, Cygnus Township LLP, added, “This partnership with Radisson Hotel Group marks an important milestone for our project in Kishangarh. As the city continues to grow as a centre for trade, travel, and tourism, we saw strong value in working with an internationally recognised brand that brings operational expertise and market reach. We are confident that Radisson Hotel Kishangarh will set new standards for hospitality in the region and contribute meaningfully to the city’s economic and tourism development. We look forward to a long and successful association with the Group.”

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