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By Nithyakala Neelakandan
Published on September 29, 2024
Sofitel Hotels & Resorts has announced the opening of the Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa in Benin, marking a significant step in the brand’s growth across Africa. Located on Benin’s scenic coastline, this new addition showcases Sofitel’s blend of French elegance and local Beninese culture. As the brand’s 16th property in Africa, this hotel represents Sofitel’s commitment to expanding its presence on the continent, where the hospitality sector is rapidly growing.
Maud Bailly, CEO of Sofitel, MGallery, and Emblems, shared her excitement about the opening: “A pioneer of French luxury hospitality for 60 years, Sofitel today embodies refined and committed luxury, blending French elegance with a strong local presence. I am delighted to announce the opening of this first Sofitel in Benin, where I hope each of our guests will discover the magic of the French art de vivre, enriched by Beninese culture. I would like to warmly thank everyone who contributed to the opening of this flagship, which also marks our commitment to expanding on the African continent, a market with immense potential.”
Sofitel’s entry into Benin is part of its larger strategy to expand in Africa, a continent experiencing fast-paced urbanization and economic growth. With cities emerging as cultural and economic hubs, Africa is attracting increased interest from the hospitality sector. By 2050, Africa’s population is expected to exceed 2.5 billion, driving growth in tourism and business travel. Sofitel’s new hotel in Benin aligns with the brand’s focus on providing luxury experiences in key African markets.
Benin is positioning itself as a top destination for both tourism and business, with its rich cultural heritage and stable political environment. The Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa is located in the heart of Cotonou, the country’s economic capital, near landmarks such as the Esplanade of the Amazons and the Route des Pêches. The hotel’s prime location, just five minutes from Cotonou International Airport, makes it ideal for business travelers and tourists alike.
The government of Benin has launched the national tourism identity, “Benin: A World of Wonders,” to attract more international visitors. This initiative aims to highlight the country’s natural beauty and cultural significance. Sofitel’s new hotel is set to play a key role in supporting this vision, offering world-class amenities and services that cater to both domestic and international guests.
The Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa features 198 luxurious rooms, including 14 suites and five duplex suites with private pools. Guests can enjoy breathtaking views of the ocean and city, along with top-tier facilities such as five dining venues, a 1,000-square-meter spa, and a state-of-the-art convention center.
Dining options include Vivo, which serves Levantine cuisine, and Corniche, a Mediterranean restaurant and pool bar. For a more refined experience, L’ami offers French-inspired dishes with a Beninese twist, prepared by Michelin-starred chef Georgiana Viou. The hotel’s Pavillon also boasts two cinemas and a casino, adding to the entertainment options for guests.
Business travelers can take advantage of the hotel’s large convention center, featuring nine meeting rooms, including the newly renovated Dôme, Cotonou’s only international conference center, which can host up to 700 guests.
With the opening of this flagship hotel, Sofitel not only strengthens its luxury brand presence in Africa but also supports Benin’s growing role as a cultural and economic hub in West Africa. The hotel will also contribute to the local economy by recruiting 90% of its staff from Benin, reflecting the brand’s commitment to supporting the local community.
Juliette Peron, General Manager of Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa, noted: “Together with our institutional partners, we have been able to recruit 90% of our talent from Benin. The quality and attention to detail that we have developed will make this hotel a unique location that will contribute to strengthening the brand internationally and promoting Benin as a prime destination.”
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By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Published on May 12, 2026
The Westin Pushkar Resort & Spa is emerging as a sought-after destination for luxury weddings in Rajasthan, bringing together scenic landscapes, elegant venues, curated experiences, and premium hospitality under one roof.
Located amidst the peaceful surroundings of Pushkar and close to the town’s spiritual landmarks, the resort offers panoramic 360-degree views of the Aravalli Hills along with stunning sunset backdrops, creating a memorable setting for wedding celebrations.
The property features four outdoor and two indoor venues designed to host multi-day wedding festivities with ease. One of the standout spaces at the resort is its dome-shaped venue inspired by the Shiv Ling, offering a unique setting for sacred pheras. The expansive lawns and smooth baraat processions within the property further add to the grand wedding experience while ensuring convenience for guests.
The resort houses more than 98 rooms and private villas, including pool villas and plunge pool villas, making it ideal for exclusive wedding buyouts. The spacious accommodation setup allows families and guests to celebrate together in privacy and comfort throughout the festivities.
Adding to the experience are the resort’s wellness and leisure offerings, including its premium spa, multiple swimming pools, and the Westin WORKOUT Fitness Studio. Guests can also enjoy a range of indoor and outdoor recreational activities designed for all age groups.
On the culinary front, the resort offers diverse dining experiences ranging from global cuisine at Seasonal Tastes to rooftop dining with panoramic views at Panorama. The hotel also provides customised wedding menus curated to match the style and preferences of each celebration.
Speaking about the wedding experience at the resort, Vijay Chandran, General Manager, said, “Weddings today are about creating immersive, meaningful experiences, and at The Westin Pushkar Resort & Spa, we bring together nature, luxury, and thoughtful service to make every celebration truly personal and memorable. Our aim is to offer couples and their families a seamless, all-in-one destination where every detail is taken care of.”
Combining luxury accommodation, elegant venues, wellness experiences, and personalised hospitality, The Westin Pushkar Resort & Spa continues to position itself as a refined destination for unforgettable weddings in Rajasthan.
By Hariharan U
Hilton Bengaluru Embassy Manyata Business Park has unveiled a specially curated summer series designed for young diners, bringing an immersive and interactive dining concept to the city through the globally acclaimed experience Le Petit Chef.
Timed with the school summer break, the initiative is aimed at families looking for engaging and memorable dining experiences that go beyond traditional restaurant formats. The highlight of the series is Le Petit Chef, a storytelling-driven culinary presentation where animated chefs appear directly on dining tables, guiding guests through a playful, multi-course gastronomic journey.
The experience blends projection mapping technology, narrative storytelling, and curated cuisine to transform dining into a theatrical event. Each course is presented as part of a visual story, where the animated chef “prepares” dishes in real time, offering children a highly interactive and imaginative way to engage with food.
At Hilton Bengaluru Embassy Manyata Business Park, the summer programming is scheduled every Saturday and Sunday, with additional weekday sessions available on special request. The initiative is designed to cater specifically to young diners, encouraging curiosity, engagement, and family interaction through a shared dining experience.
The hotel has positioned this offering as part of its broader focus on experiential hospitality, where dining is not limited to consumption but extended into storytelling and memory-making. The concept is also intended to offer returning guests a refreshed experience, while introducing first-time visitors to a globally recognised format of immersive dining.
For families, the experience provides a unique alternative to conventional summer outings, combining entertainment with cuisine in a controlled, indoor environment suited for children.
With this initiative, Hilton Bengaluru Embassy Manyata Business Park continues to expand its experiential programming, reinforcing its positioning as a destination for innovative family-friendly hospitality experiences in Bengaluru
Opulent Oasis Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. has officially entered the hospitality sector with the launch of its debut experiential retreat, Wild Calm, marking a strategic foray into nature-led and experience-driven travel formats in India.
Founded by hospitality professional Bhavik Sheth, the venture positions itself in the growing experiential tourism segment, aiming to bridge the gap between high-end luxury stays and standardised commercial hospitality offerings. The company’s vision is centred on creating destination-led experiences that prioritise emotional connection, local context, and immersive design over scale-driven expansion.
Located in Sasan Gir, Gujarat, one of India’s most significant wildlife regions, Wild Calm will feature 53 keys, including private pool villas and immersive accommodation formats. The retreat is designed with a strong emphasis on nature integration and experiential living, offering a combination of leisure, wellness, and curated cultural engagement.
The property will include a clubhouse, swimming pool, multi-cuisine restaurant, kitchen garden, and an activity arena for curated programming. Outdoor amenities such as pickleball courts, box cricket facilities, and landscaped green zones including a Miyawaki forest further reinforce the retreat’s nature-first design philosophy.
Guest experiences at Wild Calm are structured around flexible, narrative-driven journeys. These include botanical walks, storytelling sessions, pottery workshops, curated high tea experiences, and slow evening rituals designed to encourage mindfulness and connection with the surrounding ecosystem.
Speaking on the launch, founder Bhavik Sheth said hospitality today has become highly standardised, often losing emotional depth despite operational efficiency. He emphasised that the goal of Opulent Oasis Hospitality is to design spaces that feel intuitive, rooted, and memorable, where experience is embedded into every layer of the stay rather than added as an activity.
Sheth previously worked with Evoke Experiences, where he contributed to the development of large-scale experiential properties such as Rann Utsav, further strengthening his background in destination-led hospitality design.
With Wild Calm as its inaugural project, the company plans a selective expansion strategy across wildlife destinations, eco-tourism circuits, desert landscapes, and culturally rich regions, while also exploring opportunities in Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets as well as emerging spiritual tourism segments.
Rather than pursuing rapid portfolio scale, Opulent Oasis Hospitality has indicated a focus on carefully curated destinations with strong ecological and cultural narratives, aligning with the broader shift in India’s travel industry toward experiential and purpose-driven hospitality
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