Soot by O2 Opens Near the Airport, Setting a New Standard in Luxury Hospitality

Soot by O2 Opens Near the Airport, Setting a New Standard in Luxury Hospitality

By Nithyakala Neelakandan

Published on October 1, 2024

Soot by O2, a new luxury hotel next to the airport, has officially opened its doors. The 4-star property spans 75,000 square feet and features 110 elegantly designed rooms, setting itself up as a key destination for those seeking luxury with ease of access. The opening ceremony also marked the launch of a Durga Puja special menu, providing both traditional and modern takes on festive dishes for guests to enjoy.

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The hotel was inaugurated by several notable personalities, including Tollywood actress Rituparna Sengupta, MLA Tapash Chatterjee, Councillor Debraj Chakraborty, and the Loharuka family—owners and directors of Soot by O2.

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During the event, Managing Directors Anisha Loharuka and Shrija Loharuka shared their vision for Soot by O2. "We are thrilled to introduce Hotel Soot as a premier destination for travelers seeking exceptional comfort and personalized service. Our rooftop bar and swimming pool offer magnificent views, including a direct sightline to the airport runway from our terrace, enhancing the overall guest experience. Our team is dedicated to creating memorable experiences through meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to excellence. This launch represents our vision to offer a unique blend of luxury and hospitality that exceeds expectations. We look forward to welcoming guests and making every stay unforgettable," they said.

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Actress Rituparna Sengupta also spoke about her excitement for the opening. "I am excited to inaugurate Soot by O2, ideally located next to the airport. This hotel offers travelers unparalleled convenience without compromising on luxury. It's a perfect retreat for those seeking comfort and exceptional service, right at their doorstep."

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Soot by O2 aims to provide guests with an array of dining and entertainment options. The hotel features multiple restaurants and bars, including:

Venezia: A 56-seater multi-cuisine restaurant.

Caffeine: A cozy café that also accommodates 56 guests, offering diverse dishes.

The Drunken Monkey: An English-style pub with seating for 120.

Aire: A rooftop pool bar offering an impressive view of the airport runway.

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Guests can also enjoy the hotel’s spa and gym facilities.

Soot by O2 also caters to events and celebrations with three spacious banquet halls:

Victoria: A 3,000-square-foot hall with a capacity of up to 300 guests.

Aurum: Also 3,000 square feet and suitable for 300 attendees.

Olive: A smaller, more intimate venue of 1,000 square feet that accommodates 100 guests.

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The launch event ended with a celebratory toast, emphasizing the hotel's dedication to delivering a luxurious guest experience with a focus on sustainability. Soot by O2 aims to redefine hospitality by combining comfort, luxury, and convenience in one unique location.


Gimlet Garden at AER, Four Seasons Mumbai Redefines Cocktail Culture with Culinary Flair

Gimlet Garden at AER, Four Seasons Mumbai Redefines Cocktail Culture with Culinary Flair

By Hariharan U

Published on October 31, 2025

High above Mumbai’s ever-buzzing skyline, AER at Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai continues to set the tone for sophisticated evenings. Adding a refreshing new chapter to its story, the rooftop bar introduces Gimlet Garden, an enchanting hideaway of greenery and understated elegance that invites guests to unwind and savour the art of crafted cocktails.

At Gimlet Garden, cocktails aren’t just drinks they’re culinary adventures in a glass. The new menu draws inspiration from ports and coastal traditions across the world, turning familiar ingredients into bold expressions of culture. Think truffle and basil, tamarind and green apple, or even squid-infused gin paired with shiso leaf  creative combinations that redefine how a cocktail can taste and feel.

Each creation on the menu carries its own story. The Oaxaca Me Margata captures Mexico’s warmth through smoky agave, cacao, and chili, while the Citrus Caravan Paloma sparkles with grapefruit and kokum, a playful nod to global markets. The Siren’s Cove, blending coconut tequila, mulberry liqueur, sloe gin, and black tea, evokes the ocean’s rhythm, while Giloy brings layered complexity through tequila, Martini Extra Dry, Cointreau, D.O.M. Bénédictine, and subtle notes of Islay peat, Penja pepper, cucumber, shiso, and milk oolong. For those who crave something truly unexpected, the Pescadito transforms Peru’s iconic ceviche into a bright, savoury liquid experience.

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The menu extends beyond drinks, pairing each cocktail with globally inspired small plates. Dishes like The Bombay Guac, Salmon Ceviche with Peruvian Tiger’s Milk, and Truffle and Parmesan Fries complement the cocktails perfectly, creating a seamless connection between kitchen and bar.

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“Our new menu at Gimlet Garden is designed to take our guests on a journey,” says Nitesh Gandhi, General Manager, Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai. “Each cocktail and dish is a narrative in itself, crafted with care, creativity, and intention. Whether at golden hour or under a starlit sky, Gimlet Garden offers an experience that is both intimate and inspiring, where every moment lingers long after the last sip.”

With panoramic views, lush ambience, and a spirit that celebrates flavour and artistry, Gimlet Garden at AER is more than a rooftop bar, it’s a sensory escape above the city, where mixology meets gastronomy and every visit turns into a lasting memory.


The LaLiT Mumbai Showcases “Cause of You bvby”, A Celebration of Art and Inclusivity

By Hariharan U

Published on October 31, 2025

The LaLiT Mumbai has once again reaffirmed its status as a beacon of art, culture, and inclusivity with the launch of “Cause of You bvby”, a visually stunning music video collaboration by Rahul Rajkhowa, ICONYK, and UpsideDown. Filmed inside the hotel’s magnificent 96-foot-high atrium, the video beautifully captures the creative spirit that defines The LaLiT Mumbai.

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This collaboration has quickly become the city’s latest buzz, not just for its music but for the space that made it possible. The LaLiT Mumbai, where architecture, sound, and soul meet serves as the perfect canvas for such artistic expressions.

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Some spaces don't just host you they inspire you. Grateful to collaborate with The LaLiT Group, a brand that truly celebrates art, music, and creativity. From the vibe to the vision, The LaLiT became our creative haven for this project,” shares Rahul Rajkhowa, National Award-winning singer-songwriter and one of India’s most versatile contemporary artists.

Rajkhowa has performed across 36 cities spanning India, Thailand, Indonesia, and Bhutan, exploring sounds from Pop and Reggae to Hip Hop and Blues. Known for his global musical outlook, he became the first Indian artist to release an independent Korean collaboration album with RnB star Jimmy Brown. His work has appeared alongside major international artists like Jennie, Jungkook, Coldplay, Bruno Mars, and Rosé on Spotify editorial playlists, while he has shared the stage with icons such as Ne-Yo, Steve Vai, Ronan Keating, and The Lumineers.

Outside of music, Rahul also serves as a History teacher, Visiting Professor at IIM Ranchi, and the founder of Rajkhowa & Arya Aid, a non-profit that has helped over 2,500 flood-affected families in Assam and supported education in rural communities.

Joining forces with him, ICONYK, a Canada-born, India-based producer and composer, adds his signature sonic artistry to the track. Known for blending pop, poetry, and folk influences, ICONYK has modernised Assamese folk music, earned a National Award, composed for Sonakshi Sinha, and produced tracks for Sanjay Dutt’s Bhootni.

The LaLiT Mumbai, known for its grandeur and artistic soul, offers much more than luxury. Home to Asia’s largest atrium lobby, the property features remarkable artworks including Tripathga by Manmohan Bhaskar and Ashwamedha Turang by Satish Gujral. Regular live performances by Zoheb Khan of the Banaras Gharana add a touch of heritage and rhythm to the ambiance.

With collaborations like this, we celebrate creativity in all its forms,” says Rohit Sharma, General Manager, The LaLiT Mumbai. “At The LaLiT Mumbai, we see art as an emotion that connects people beyond boundaries. Our vision is to create spaces where creativity thrives, voices are heard, and inclusivity is embraced.”

With its artistic essence, exceptional hospitality, and inclusive spirit, The LaLiT Mumbai continues to be not just a luxury destination — but a living, breathing space for culture and connection


Ennismore to Open the First Lifestyle All-Inclusive Resort in Ras Al Khaimah

Ennismore to Open the First Lifestyle All-Inclusive Resort in Ras Al Khaimah

By Hariharan U

Published on October 30, 2025

Ennismore, the world’s fastest-growing lifestyle hospitality company, has announced the upcoming opening of SO/ Ras Al Khaimah, marking the brand’s first all-inclusive resort outside Europe and Ennismore’s debut lifestyle hotel in Ras Al Khaimah. The resort is slated to open in November 2025.

Set along Ras Al Khaimah’s spectacular coastline — where desert, mangroves, and mountains meet the turquoise Arabian Sea, SO/ Ras Al Khaimah brings a fashion-inspired aesthetic to a stunning beachfront escape. The property will feature 257 guestrooms and suites across seven categories, each offering uninterrupted sea views and interiors inspired by the region’s natural hues — sunset oranges, ocean teals, and stone neutrals — paired with walnut wood and bronze accents for warmth and elegance.

The resort will feature five distinct dining destinations curated by Ennismore’s Global F&B Platform. Guests can explore diverse culinary experiences at:

  • The Market, a casual all-day restaurant

  • Chiano, serving refined Mediterranean and Italian cuisine

  • Hadaba, offering Levantine-inspired dining

  • Floating World, a Pan-Asian and Japanese specialty restaurant

  • Savant, a high-energy cocktail bar with live entertainment on the 10th floor

Complementing the line-up are two pool bars, Cabini and Bungalow (an adults-only space) — along with an independent beach club. The property will also include event and meeting spaces, including a 345-guest function hall, pre-function area, and flexible workshop zones.

Wellness takes center stage at SO/ Ras Al Khaimah, with a spa featuring treatment rooms, sauna, and a cold-water pool. Guests can enjoy fitness classes, a 24-hour gym, or nearby outdoor activities including golf, horse riding, kayaking, and sunrise dune walks.

Strategically located at the entrance of Al Marjan Island, the resort will be part of a new wave of luxury developments in Ras Al Khaimah — home to cultural landmarks, designer boutiques, and the region’s first casino. According to the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), the emirate recorded 1.28 million overnight visitors in 2024, reflecting a 12% increase in tourism revenue as it moves toward its goal of 3.5 million annual visitors by 2030.

Ras Al Khaimah’s rise as an all-inclusive luxury destination follows the success of Rixos Bab Al Bahr and Rixos Al Mairid Ras Al Khaimah, both of which set new benchmarks for immersive experiences that combine gastronomy, entertainment, and design. Building on this momentum, SO/ introduces a fresh, style-driven perspective to the all-inclusive segment.

The opening underscores Ennismore’s growth in the global lifestyle all-inclusive space, now boasting a portfolio of over 60 resorts representing more than 25,000 rooms worldwide. Recent milestones include Rixos Tersane Istanbul, SLS Playa Mujeres, and Hyde Bodrum, with upcoming projects across Mexico, Egypt, Dubai, and Vietnam.

SO/ Ras Al Khaimah will join Ennismore’s ALL Inclusive Collection, a curated platform that unites leading brands such as Rixos, SO/, Hyde, SLS, and Swissôtel. The collection redefines traditional all-inclusive stays by offering immersive luxury experiences with design, dining, and entertainment at their core.

Cenk Unverdi, COO of Rixos & All-Inclusive Collection - GCC, Central Asia & Europe, Ennismore, said, “Ras Al Khaimah is one of the most exciting and fastest-growing luxury destinations in the region, making it the perfect location to debut the first SO/ all-inclusive resort in the Middle East. Building on the success of Rixos through the ALL Inclusive Collection, we’re delighted to welcome the first lifestyle all-inclusive resort to the emirate. SO/ Ras Al Khaimah will offer a timeless, intimate take on the art of escape — where bold design, exceptional food, and creativity merge into a seamless experience.”

About Ennismore:
Founded in 2011 by entrepreneur Sharan Pasricha, Ennismore is a global collective of entrepreneurial, founder-led brands that embody creativity, community, and purpose. A joint venture with Accor since 2021, Ennismore has grown into a leading lifestyle hospitality group with 16 brands, 180+ hotels, 500+ restaurants and bars, and 45+ branded residences across 40+ countries.

For more information, visit ennismore.com.

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