Alivaa Hotels & Resorts has entered Ayodhya's hospitality market with the opening of The Hoften Raghuvan Ayodhya, expanding its presence into India's spiritual tourism segment. Located in Beniganj along the Panchkoshi Parikrama Marg, the property is positioned to serve pilgrims and leisure travellers visiting the city, including those seeking accommodation close to the Ram Mandir.

The launch marks another step in the group's expansion across business, leisure and emerging spiritual destinations. Alivaa operates through its hospitality brands, including Alivaa, The Hoften and Xenious, catering to different traveller segments and market requirements.

Ayodhya's growing prominence as a spiritual and cultural destination has increased the focus on accommodation and organised hospitality infrastructure. The Hoften Raghuvan has been introduced to address the needs of visitors looking for contemporary comforts while travelling to the city for religious and leisure purposes.

A key feature of the property is its commitment to 100% pure vegetarian dining, with food offerings intended to suit the preferences of pilgrims and families. The hotel also provides well-appointed rooms, modern amenities and high-speed Wi-Fi.

Alivaa's Expansion into Spiritual Tourism

Commenting on the launch, Akash Bhatia, Chief Executive Officer (M&F), Alivaa Hotels & Resorts, said Ayodhya's emergence as a major centre for domestic and international travel makes it an important destination in the group's expansion plans.

He added that The Hoften Raghuvan aims to bring the company's hospitality capabilities to a city where guest experiences are closely connected to faith, culture and tradition, while offering comfortable accommodation that remains sensitive to its spiritual setting.

Inderpal Batra, Co-Founder & CFO, Alivaa Hotels & Resorts, said the Ayodhya entry reflects the group's expansion strategy and its interest in emerging tourism corridors driven by spiritual and cultural travel.

He added that the company intends to build a scalable hospitality portfolio through its brands, supported by owner partnerships, operational efficiencies and disciplined growth.

Shivam Jain, Owner of The Hoften Raghuvan Ayodhya, said the partnership with Alivaa brings The Hoften brand to a destination with growing importance as a spiritual tourism centre. He highlighted the property's location on the Panchkoshi Parikrama Marg, vegetarian dining and accommodation facilities as features intended to serve pilgrims and leisure travellers.

Key Features of The Hoften Raghuvan Ayodhya

• Location: Beniganj, on the Panchkoshi Parikrama Marg, with access to the Ram Mandir and other spiritual landmarks.

• Dining: 100% pure vegetarian food offerings.

• Accommodation: Well-appointed rooms with contemporary amenities.

• Connectivity: High-speed Wi-Fi.

• Market: Alivaa Hotels & Resorts' entry into Ayodhya and the spiritual tourism segment.

About Alivaa Hotels & Resorts

Alivaa Hotels & Resorts is an Indian hospitality company operating through its brands ALIVAA Hotels & Resorts, The Hoften and Xenious. Its portfolio caters to business, leisure and emerging travel segments, with a focus on contemporary accommodation, warm hospitality and locally relevant guest experiences.

The company is pursuing expansion through hotel-owner partnerships and a growing portfolio across business, leisure and tourism destinations in India.

The opening of The Hoften Raghuvan adds Ayodhya to Alivaa's network and marks its entry into a destination where the demand for visitor accommodation is closely linked to religious and cultural travel.

Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Limited (ASPHL) has opened Zone Connect by The Park Mathura, marking the brand's entry into Brij Bhoomi, the land closely associated with the life and legends of Lord Krishna. The new property adds to the company's growing presence in India's religious and pilgrimage destinations.

The hotel features 42 well-appointed rooms across three categories, along with Café C, an all-day dining restaurant offering dining options for guests. It also houses Town Hall, an indoor events space that can accommodate up to 150 guests, making it suitable for social gatherings and other events.

Located on Masani Delhi Link Road, the property offers convenient access to some of Mathura's important religious and cultural attractions. Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi is approximately 3.6 km away, with a travel time of around 15 minutes, while Mathura Junction Railway Station is just 4 km from the hotel.

Speaking about the opening, Vikas Ahluwalia, Associate Vice President & National Head, Zone by The Park, said, “We feel truly blessed to be opening this lovely hotel in Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna. Brij Bhoomi holds immense spiritual and cultural significance, and we are delighted to welcome travellers and pilgrims seeking a comfortable and contemporary hospitality experience. We also look forward to further strengthening our presence in the region with the upcoming opening of Zone by The Park in Vrindavan.”

The opening is part of Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Limited's plans to expand its presence across India's popular religious and pilgrimage destinations. The company already operates hotels in Katra and Prayagraj, while properties in Ujjain and Ayodhya are in the pipeline.

With the addition of Mathura and its upcoming property in Vrindavan, the company aims to strengthen its presence in the region and cater to travellers visiting destinations that continue to attract religious tourism and growing travel demand.

Marriott International has signed an agreement with Vedant Enterprises to develop South Asia's largest Courtyard by Marriott property in Bengaluru. Named Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Hi-Tech Defense and Aerospace Park, the 350-room hotel is expected to open in 2030, adding to the hospitality options in one of the city's growing business destinations.

The property will be located within Bengaluru's expanding Defense and Aerospace Park, a 2,600-acre Special Economic Zone (SEZ) developed by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB). The location is expected to attract business travellers from the region's growing hardware, aerospace and technology sectors. Its connectivity to National Highway 7 and Kempegowda International Airport will also make travel easier for guests.

Speaking about the signing, Kiran Andicot, Senior Vice President, South Asia, Marriott International, said, “The signing of the largest Courtyard by Marriott in South Asia marks a key milestone for Marriott International. It reinforces our commitment to expanding in one of India’s most dynamic cities - Bengaluru. With over 25 Courtyard by Marriott hotels across South Asia, the brand is a key growth driver of our portfolio in the region. This new addition is poised to meet the evolving needs of Bengaluru’s thriving business and MICE sectors, offering an unparalleled stay experience at exceptional price points. We are thrilled to collaborate with Vedant Enterprises on this landmark project as we support the enhancement and diversification of the city’s hospitality landscape,”

The hotel is planned to feature 350 thoughtfully designed guest rooms, a signature all-day dining restaurant with a bar, a fully equipped fitness centre, a spa and a swimming pool. It will also offer approximately 2,000 square metres of indoor and outdoor meeting and banqueting space, making it suitable for large conferences, business meetings and social gatherings.

Sharing his views on the project, N Madhava Raju, CEO and Managing Director, Fairlark, which owns Vedant Enterprises, said, “This signing represents a defining step for the Fairlark Group as we venture into the hospitality sector. Our decision to partner with Marriott International and bring a 350-key Courtyard by Marriott to the market reflects our confidence in Marriott’s established market leadership and the strength of its global distribution network. We believe North Bengaluru, particularly the rapidly evolving Aerospace Park micro-market, is poised for significant growth, driven by its proximity to the international airport and the expanding ecosystem of aerospace, technology and business enterprises. Our confidence in both the location and the brand has encouraged us to take a bold step with what is set to become South Asia’s largest Courtyard by Marriott. This project marks the beginning of Fairlark’s long-term hospitality journey, built on our commitment to quality, customer-centricity and creating enduring value,”

With this agreement, Marriott International continues to strengthen its presence in Bengaluru while expanding the Courtyard by Marriott brand across South Asia. The upcoming property is expected to serve the city's growing business and MICE segments, particularly with the development of the Defense and Aerospace Park and its surrounding commercial ecosystem.