Swiggy Joins World Pickleball League as Team Mumbai Owner Ahead of Inaugural Season

Swiggy Joins World Pickleball League as Team Mumbai Owner Ahead of Inaugural Season

By Author

Published on November 26, 2024

Swiggy Ltd (NSE: SWIGGY), India's leading on-demand convenience platform, has officially entered the sports arena as the proud owner of Team Mumbai in the World Pickleball League (WPBL). Co-founded by former Indian tennis players Gaurav Natekar and Arati Ponnappa Natekar, WPBL is India's first franchise-based global pickleball league, with its inaugural season scheduled from January 24 to February 2, 2025. Swiggy becomes the second team owner, following actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu, who owns the Chennai franchise.

Pickleball, a rapidly growing sport globally, is renowned for its accessibility across age groups and its appeal as both a recreational activity and lifestyle trend. With the first WPBL season set to be hosted in Mumbai, Swiggy's ownership of Team Mumbai positions the brand to connect deeply with the city’s sports and lifestyle enthusiasts. The league promises high-energy matches and an electrifying atmosphere as six teams compete to claim the championship title.

Rohit Kapoor, CEO of Swiggy Food Marketplace, expressed the brand's excitement, saying, "Pickleball is a fun, easy-to-play sport that embodies community and joy – values Swiggy champions. With our partnership with WPBL and Team Mumbai, we aim to create a vibrant experience where families and friends come together for food, fun, and sport." This alignment with pickleball reflects Swiggy’s ethos of delivering happiness and connecting with consumers in innovative ways.

WPBL’s Co-Founder and CEO Gaurav Natekar added, "Having Swiggy as a Team Mumbai owner validates the league’s potential to become one of India’s premier sports events in the next few years. Swiggy’s involvement will amplify the sport's reach and foster community engagement, making pickleball a household name." With grassroots initiatives and collaboration with the All-India Pickleball Association, WPBL is poised to revolutionize pickleball in India, setting the stage for a lifestyle sport movement.


Lemon Tree Hotels Expands Presence in Bihar with New Property in Motihari

Lemon Tree Hotels Expands Presence in Bihar with New Property in Motihari

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on November 4, 2025

Lemon Tree Hotels Limited has announced the launch of its latest managed property, Lemon Tree Hotel, Motihari, marking another milestone in the brand’s steady expansion across Eastern India. The opening further strengthens its footprint in Bihar, where the group already operates one property.

Located in the historic city of Motihari in the East Champaran district, the hotel invites guests to experience the region’s rich heritage and cultural legacy. Motihari holds deep historical significance as the birthplace of author George Orwell and the starting point of Mahatma Gandhi’s Champaran Satyagraha, a defining movement in India’s freedom struggle. Its strategic location also makes it a convenient gateway to Nepal and nearby cities such as Patna and Darbhanga, catering to both business and leisure travellers.

The new property features 50 well-appointed rooms and suites across various categories, designed to offer comfort and functionality. In its first phase, 32 rooms have opened along with Citrus Café, the hotel’s signature multi-cuisine restaurant, and a selection of banquet spaces including Tangerine Grand 1, Tangerine Grand 2, and a Boardroom. Guests can also enjoy the hotel’s spa, fitness centre, and swimming pool, which complement its blend of leisure and business amenities.

In the second phase, the hotel will unveil the remaining 18 rooms, along with Kebab Theater, a modern Indian specialty restaurant offering authentic kebabs, tikkas, and regional delicacies, and the final banquet venue, Tangerine.

Commenting on the launch, Vishvapreet Singh Cheema, President, Lemon Tree Hotels, said,

“Motihari stands as a city of deep historical and cultural relevance, marking an important chapter in India’s independence movement. With the opening of Lemon Tree Hotel, Motihari, we are pleased to extend our signature comfort and warmth to travellers visiting this iconic destination, blending modern hospitality with the city’s timeless charm.”

With this new addition, Lemon Tree Hotels continues to build on its vision of creating accessible, high-quality hospitality experiences across emerging destinations in India.


Big Bowl Launches a Spooky ‘Smash Your Hunger’ Campaign This Halloween

Big Bowl Launches a Spooky ‘Smash Your Hunger’ Campaign This Halloween

By Hariharan U

Published on November 3, 2025

Adding a playful twist to Halloween, Big Bowl, one of India’s fastest-growing cloud kitchen brands, has launched its latest campaign — ‘Smash Your Hunger with Big Bowl.’ The digital-first initiative turns everyday hunger pangs into spooky, laugh-out-loud moments, just in time for the festive season.

Launched across YouTube, Instagram, and OTT pre-rolls, the campaign features two short horror-comedy films that hilariously portray hunger as a monster everyone loves to defeat. From late-night study marathons to boring work hours, the films tap into everyday situations that Gen Z can instantly relate to blending humour, horror, and hunger with Big Bowl’s signature desi tone.

Big Bowl once again positions itself as the go-to comfort food brand for young, busy Indians. Its catchy tagline, “Smash Your Hunger with Big Bowl,” perfectly sums up its energetic, bold, and relatable appeal.

Taking the theme further, Big Bowl has introduced new space-inspired packaging, featuring astronauts and aliens to depict how hunger exists everywhere, but only one brand can save the day.

Speaking about the campaign, Aayush Madhusudan Agrawal, Founder & Director, Lenexis Foodworks, shared, “Big Bowl continues to stay at the intersection of value, variety, and convenience  three things that define modern food delivery in India. This campaign is not just about food; it’s about owning that hunger moment in a fun and memorable way. As we expand our offerings and move into outdoor catering, our mission remains simple to make great food accessible and satisfying.”

Adding to this, Vikas Iyer, Marketing Head, Lenexis Foodworks, said, “Every Gen Z consumer has a ‘hunger story’', those unexpected moments when hunger hits hard. With ‘Smash Your Hunger,’ we turned hunger into a character that’s funny, scary, and totally relatable. The Halloween timing gave us the perfect chance to mix spooky visuals with digital-first humour that today’s audiences love.”

The campaign extends beyond films with #SmashYourHungerChallenge on social media, inviting fans to share their funniest or scariest hunger moments. Influencer collaborations and new menu additions across Indian and Chinese bowls further build excitement for the festive season.

Currently present across 240+ locations in 40+ cities, Big Bowl continues to grow rapidly under Lenexis Foodworks, which also operates successful QSR brands like Chinese Wok and The Momo Co. The brand is on track to cross ₹150 crore ARR this financial year, solidifying its place among India’s leading delivery-first food companies.


India Creates History with Maiden Women’s World Cup Win

India Creates History with Maiden Women’s World Cup Win

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on November 3, 2025

India’s long wait for a maiden ICC Women’s World Cup title finally ended as Harmanpreet Kaur and her jubilant teammates lifted the trophy after defeating South Africa in a dramatic final at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday.

Their 52-run victory before a packed crowd marked a perfect conclusion to a campaign that had faced turbulent moments after three consecutive league losses, including one against South Africa. But Kaur’s team staged an inspiring comeback, chasing a record target in the semi-final against defending champions Australia before sealing their historic win in the final.

India’s triumph was powered by a stunning performance from opener Shafali Verma, whose whirlwind 87 set the tone for their total of 298-7, though they looked poised for an even bigger score at one stage. Verma’s all-round brilliance shone through as she also picked up two quick wickets, turning the match decisively in India’s favour after South Africa’s captain Laura Wolvaardt’s fine 101 kept her team in the hunt.

Verma’s heroics earned her the Player of the Match award, an achievement made more remarkable considering she joined the squad only before the knockout stage as a late injury replacement.

Deepti Sharma was equally instrumental, smashing a run-a-ball 58 and claiming a stunning 5-39 with the ball. Her consistent performances throughout the tournament, scoring 215 runs and taking 22 wickets, earned her the Player of the Tournament honour.

South Africa, despite Wolvaardt’s valiant century, were bowled out for 246 in the 46th over. Once Wolvaardt was caught in the deep, India took full control to seal a moment that will be remembered for generations.

Smriti Mandhana, India’s leading run-scorer in the tournament, summed up the emotions in the dressing room after years of heartbreak. “It’s still sinking in. I haven’t been emotional on a cricket field before, but this is unreal. To be champions, it’s beyond words,” she said through tears.

As the final wicket fell, India erupted in nationwide celebration. From metropolitan cities to small towns, streets turned into arenas of joy, echoing with fireworks, drumbeats, and chants of victory. Fans waved the tricolour with pride as the country celebrated not just a sporting triumph but the spirit of perseverance and unity that defines Indian cricket.

This victory stands as more than a win, it embodies the love, resilience, and unwavering spirit of India and its people toward the game that unites the nation.

Stay up-to-date with the latest Hospitality news and trends in the Hospitality industry!

Subscribe to Hospitality news e-magazine for free and never miss an issue.

By clicking subscribe for free you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge our Privacy Policy.

Advertise With Us

We have various options to advertise with us including Events, Advertorials, Banners, Mailers, etc.