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By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Published on December 15, 2024
A historic moment unfolded in India’s crane rental and heavy lift industry on November 24, 2024, with the official unveiling of HEFT Cranes International Pvt. Ltd. The initiative, powered by the collaboration of four industry veterans, represents over five decades of leadership and expertise in heavy lifting. SKIL Events played a pivotal role in orchestrating the event, ensuring a seamless experience with meticulous attention to every detail—from venue arrangements and hospitality to artist performances and technical support.
HEFT Cranes International is the result of a unified effort by Amrik Singh & Sons Crane Services Pvt. Ltd., Barkat Cranes & Equipment Pvt. Ltd., Shethia Erectors & Material Handlers Ltd., and Manoj Chaudhari, a stalwart in the crane industry. This collaboration combines unparalleled strength, infrastructure, and industry knowledge, positioning HEFT Cranes as a formidable force in the sector.
The newly formed entity is driven by an ambitious vision to redefine standards in crane rental services and heavy lifting. Their mission includes supporting transformative projects crucial to India’s development, adapting to the evolving needs of the industry, and offering comprehensive solutions to clients. Notably, HEFT Cranes is the first Indian company to own cranes with extraordinary lifting capacities ranging from 1600T to an impressive 4000T, signaling their intent to lead the industry into a new era.
Ramanpreet Singh, Vice President of SKIL Events, expressed pride in their role, saying, “At SKIL, we are honoured to have partnered with HEFT Cranes for this grand launch. The event showcased our expertise in delivering tailored event solutions that resonate with our client’s vision. HEFT Cranes is poised for extraordinary growth, and it was a privilege to be part of their journey.”
Adding to the sentiments, a Director of HEFT Cranes remarked, “HEFT Cranes International is not just a business endeavor; it’s a bold new chapter for India’s heavy lift industry. SKIL’s dynamic team brought our vision to life with exceptional execution, from innovative storytelling through sand art to the captivating performances by international harp and violin artists. It was a memorable event that set the tone for our exciting future.”
With a commitment to innovation and excellence, HEFT Cranes International is gearing up to revolutionize the crane rental and heavy lift industry in India. As the event marked the beginning of this groundbreaking venture, it also showcased SKIL’s unmatched capabilities in curating impactful and memorable experiences.
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By Nishang Narayan
Published on July 12, 2025
Mews has announced a strategic integration with Salto’s smart locking system, enhancing its Digital Key offering and paving the way for a more seamless, contactless guest experience. Through this partnership, hotels using Salto’s access control can now enable guests to unlock rooms via their mobile devices using the Mews Hospitality Cloud—eliminating the need for physical keys altogether.
This move streamlines the check-in process, reduces manual front desk tasks, and strengthens overall security. Matt Welle, CEO of Mews, said, “Every step of the guest journey should be effortless. With Salto smart access for hospitality compatibility, more properties can reduce the friction around arrival and check-in. Digital Key is a win-win because it’s as much about operational efficiency as it is about improving guest satisfaction.”
Early results from Belgian brand YUST, which operates a hybrid model for short and long stays, show the integration’s impact. At its Antwerp property, 12% of guests checked in using Digital Key in the first month without any promotional push, and 64% of those with an active digital key used it to access their rooms. Dirk Van Gompel, CTO of YUST, shared, “Digital Key makes it easy for guests to go straight to their room, while creating real-time savings for our team, who can then focus on building real human connections.”
Salto’s Nora Urquiza highlighted the value of this collaboration, stating, “Our integration with Mews reinforces our commitment to delivering a seamless, secure, and modern digital experience through strong technology alliances.”
Beyond convenience, the integration also cuts down on environmental waste by removing the need for plastic keycards and supports a fully digital, on-the-go check-in and check-out process. Fully embedded within the Mews Hospitality Cloud, the Digital Key capability allows hotels to customise and automate the guest experience, opening new avenues for upselling and enhanced guest engagement.
Mews has been on a roll with tech enhancements, recently rolling out a Multicurrency feature for customers across Europe.
Hospitality tech firm OYO has entered a strategic partnership with leading online travel platform Yatra, bringing over 500 company-serviced hotels under mid-premium and premium brands to Yatra’s booking platform for the first time. These hotels will cater specifically to the rising demand in the business travel segment across India.
The hotels listed include OYO’s SUNDAY, Palette, Clubhouse, Townhouse, Townhouse Oak, and Collection O brands. The collaboration covers key business hubs like Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad, along with fast-growing industrial and transit corridors.
OYO plans to list 1,000 more company-serviced hotels on Yatra by September 2025, enhancing Yatra’s accommodation offerings in emerging metros, where business travel is expanding due to infrastructure growth and regional economic activity.
India’s business travel sector reached $38.2 billion in 2024, making it the 8th largest market globally and 4th in Asia-Pacific. The OYO-Yatra partnership aligns with this growth by offering curated business accommodation solutions with added benefits such as:
Yatra, with over 800 large corporate clients and 10,000+ SMEs, earns 65% of gross bookings from corporate and B2B travel. This partnership adds substantial value to its users by expanding quality lodging options in previously underserved regions.
Earlier this year, OYO launched Oravel Travel Solutions, a vertical focused on corporate travel, offering end-to-end services like smooth check-ins, meal plans, event support, and custom holiday packages.
Speaking on the development, Varun Jain, COO of OYO, shared:
“While direct demand continues to be our mainstay, contributing nearly 80% of our total business, we are now looking to tap into a niche segment of business travelers who are exploring emerging business hubs. This partnership also opens up opportunities to cater to companies embracing blended travel programs, combining business and leisure.”
According to the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the business travel market is on track to return to pre-2019 levels by 2025, backed by strong corporate earnings and a rise in in-person meetings. This trend suggests a sustained increase in demand for reliable and quality stay options.
With this partnership, OYO and Yatra are set to redefine India’s corporate travel landscape, delivering convenience, flexibility, and consistency for the modern business traveler.
Published on July 3, 2025
XECH is making bold strides in its retail journey with the opening of its latest Experience Centre in Ahmedabad, located at Dhanlaxmi Complex, Ashram Road, Usmanpura. Designed to provide an immersive, hands-on shopping experience, the store caters to walk-in customers, resellers, and corporate buyers alike. This is XECH’s third major retail expansion, following the successful debut of its Hyderabad Experience Centre on 31st May, 2025, at Rudram Towers, PG Road, Secunderabad, and its flagship outlet in Pune which launched on 19th October, 2023.
The Ahmedabad inauguration saw participation from the company’s leadership team and local channel partners, making it a standout moment for tech enthusiasts and the retail community in western India.
Each of XECH’s stores is strategically set in high-growth urban centres, functioning as brand hubs where customers can explore the expanding range of lifestyle tech products, smart gadgets, and premium corporate gifting solutions. With robust expansion plans in place, XECH is targeting a 2X revenue growth this fiscal year, driven by its omni-channel approach, innovative product portfolio, and scalable business model. These Experience Centres are central to XECH’s goal of bridging the digital-physical divide — creating spaces where quality, speed, and tangible engagement meet.
Speaking on the expansion, Mr. Pranay Punjabi, Founder and CEO of XECH Technologies Pvt. Ltd., shared,
“Each city plays a strategic role in our retail vision. Pune gave us our first physical touchpoint, Hyderabad validated our scale strategy in a dynamic tech market, and Ahmedabad will strengthen our presence in western India — connecting us to customers who value smart, dependable tech. These are more than just stores; they’re brand experience hubs where people can interact with our innovations firsthand. We’re focused on making practical, well-designed technology accessible to those who need it — whether at home, work, or in business.”
Shoppers visiting these stores can explore XECH’s entire tech ecosystem, including its bestsellers and upcoming launches, all in an interactive setting. From portable kettles and cordless vacuum cleaners to Bluetooth clocks, eye massagers, tyre inflators, and garment steamers, XECH’s range is sharply focused on addressing real-world needs with intuitive, multi-functional, and thoughtful tech — equally suited for individual users and corporate gifting.
To celebrate the Ahmedabad launch, XECH is offering an exclusive 10% in-store discount throughout July, inviting customers to experience their innovations firsthand.
Looking ahead, XECH plans to continue expanding its retail footprint across India in the coming quarters, building more such immersive spaces that blend tactile experiences with the convenience of modern retail.
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