Expanding its footprint across India’s key spiritual and leisure destinations, Clarks Hotels & Resorts has launched its newest premium property — Clarks Resort Pushkar. The launch also marks the debut of its newly introduced brand, Clarks Resorts, under the larger Clarks Safari Group umbrella.

This strategic expansion reflects the group’s intent to diversify its portfolio and cater to the growing demand for upscale accommodations in religious and culturally rich regions. For this venture, the brand has partnered with Pankaj Group of Hotels & Resorts, a company under the Dreamline Group.

Positioned as a luxury resort, Clarks Resort Pushkar is designed to attract high-end travellers and also serve as a hub for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) events and destination weddings.

The property features a state-of-the-art banquet and conference facility spanning over 10,000 square feet, fully equipped to host weddings, corporate gatherings, and large social events.

Speaking on the occasion, Pankaj Meena, Director at Pankaj Group of Hotels & Resorts, shared:

“To elevate the guest experience, the resort offers a variety of curated on-property experiences. From bird-watching machans and guided nature walks led by local experts, to exploring organic gardens and fruit orchards, our goal is to connect guests with nature. Guests can even handpick produce for their meals, creating a truly farm-to-table dining experience.”

The resort offers 134 rooms, including premium rooms and private pool villas, ideal for families and groups seeking privacy and luxury. The dedicated kids’ zone, along with a host of recreational activities and trained staff, ensures a comfortable and engaging stay for families with children.

The launch of Clarks Resort Pushkar marks a significant milestone in Clarks Hotels & Resorts’ vision to strengthen its presence in India’s spiritual, leisure, and event-driven destinations. With this debut, the group takes a confident step forward in redefining hospitality offerings across tier-two and culturally rich cities.

Whether for a tranquil spiritual getaway, an immersive nature retreat, a grand wedding, or a corporate offsite, Clarks Resort Pushkar promises a blend of luxury, culture, and comfort in the heart of Rajasthan.

In a bold move that blends artificial intelligence with airport retail, Ospree Duty Free, in collaboration with Voiceback Analytics, has successfully piloted India’s first AI-led, digital-only promotional experience at Mumbai International Airport. Conducted on May 29, 2025, this 24-hour trial marks a significant shift in the future of airport shopping.

Instead of the usual clutter of traditional discount signage, the retail space embraced a minimalist, tech-forward setup. Travellers were invited to interact with a single QR code, which unlocked real-time personalized offers powered by Voiceback’s Dynamic Promotion Engine, hosted on Microsoft Azure.

The pilot eliminated printed promotional material and relied entirely on a seamless, digital interaction. Upon scanning the QR code, travellers input minimal information including mobile number and passport ID and were instantly presented with customized discounts based on their preferences and behavioural cues.

The offers were dynamically generated through Voiceback’s AI system, which analyzed shopping patterns and curated real-time deals, bringing e-commerce-level personalization to the offline duty-free environment.

Ospree staff guided passengers through the digital journey, ensuring a smooth and engaging retail interaction. The interactive and clutter-free experience was met with positive traveller feedback, demonstrating a strong acceptance of tech-led innovations in duty-free retail.

Interestingly, sales performance remained steady despite the removal of visual banners, underscoring the effectiveness of AI-driven personalization in enhancing customer engagement and trust.

One insight from the pilot pointed to the need for improved staff training, especially to elevate on-ground assistance and encourage deeper digital participation among hesitant shoppers.

Speaking on the success of the pilot, an Ospree Duty Free spokesperson said:

“This pilot was a test drive and quite a successful one. It marks a new chapter in how we connect with travellers. As India’s first duty-free store to try something so novel, we see great potential in tech-led engagement that’s seamless, personalized, and built for the modern shopper.”

Following this promising response, Ospree Duty Free now aims to scale the digital-first retail system across additional stores and formats, further reinforcing its position as a leader in tech-powered travel retail.

With this initiative, Ospree Duty Free has set a new benchmark for innovation in the Indian retail space, blending AI, personalization, and customer convenience to create a futuristic shopping journey. The pilot is a testament to how technology can enhance value while reducing visual clutter, offering a glimpse into what the future of airport shopping could soon become.

ISKCON Dwarka is gearing up to celebrate Rath Yatra 2025 with a unique and flavorful twist—a grand Mango Festival beginning June 27 at the Sri Sri Rukmini Dwarkadhish Temple in Delhi. This vibrant celebration will blend devotion, tradition, and fruit-filled joy in honour of Lord Jagannath, a deity known for his eternal affection for mangoes.

The highlight of the festival is the sacred offering of 1,100 kilograms of 108 mango varieties—including popular types like Alphonso, Langda, Dasheri, and Safeda—to Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra. This divine offering will be followed by a grand aarti and distribution of mango prasad to thousands of devotees, making it a spiritually rich and community-focused event.

Festivities will begin at 8:00 AM with a spiritual narration of Lord Jagannath’s divine appearance, setting a sacred tone for the day. As evening falls, the temple will come alive with soulful kirtans during a Kirtan Mela, accompanied by traditional Vedic rituals like Yagna.

A Maha Abhishek will also be performed using sacred waters drawn from the divine well of Jagannath Puri, which symbolizes the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers. Traditional Odia bhog offerings and a concluding Maha Aarti will cap the spiritual celebration, followed by prasad distribution.

Visitors will also be treated to a curated mango exhibition, featuring over 108 unique varieties. Adding a touch of fun and community engagement, a mango-eating contest is planned, allowing participants to indulge in the Lord’s favourite fruit in a light-hearted way.

“Mangoes hold a special significance in our tradition and are deeply cherished by Lord Jagannath,” said Shri Gaur Prabhu, Vice-President of ISKCON Dwarka. “Through this festival, we hope to celebrate not just the fruit, but the spirit of offering, joy, and unity it brings.”

The outreach doesn’t stop in Delhi. As part of the wider Rath Yatra celebrations, ISKCON Dwarka will also extend its service to Jagannath Puri, the Lord’s sacred abode. In collaboration with the Adani Group, ISKCON will distribute over 3 million glasses of juice and prasadam to devotees. This builds on their earlier partnership during Mahakumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj, where they jointly served free meals to over 50 lakh devotees.

“The Rath Yatra reminds us of essential values—humility, service, faith, and detachment,” added Shri Gaur Prabhu. “These teachings help us find direction in today's uncertain world.”

The Mango Festival at ISKCON Dwarka promises to be a multi-sensory celebration that captures the spirit of Rath Yatra with a refreshing and meaningful twist, reinforcing devotion through taste, tradition, and togetherness.