The Leela Palaces, Hotels, and Resorts Expand in Kerala with New Lakefront Resort

The Leela Palaces, Hotels, and Resorts Expand in Kerala with New Lakefront Resort

By Author

Published on July 31, 2023

The Leela Palaces, Hotels, and Resorts have opened their second hotel in Kerala, The Leela Ashtamudi, A Raviz Hotel, showcasing its commitment to the state and enhancing its resort portfolio. Situated on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake, the resort offers a magical backwater experience, combining barefoot luxury with rustic charm. With thoughtful experiences, the resort provides a cultural immersion into Kerala's beauty and heritage.

Mr Anuraag Bhatnagar, CEO of The Leela Palaces, Hotels, and Resorts, expressed delight at the new addition to their brand portfolio, highlighting Kerala as a significant market for their growth. The resort aims to offer transformative journeys that authentically reflect the region's beauty and culture.

Dr Ravi Pillai, Chairman of RP Group, emphasized the unique partnership between Raviz and The Leela, aiming to elevate Kerala's hospitality standards and position the region as a global leisure and wellness destination.

The resort's design pays homage to Kerala's architectural heritage, blending the old and the new seamlessly. It features 93 tastefully appointed rooms, including traditional Nalukettu-style accommodations, suites, and experiential houses, providing a historic charm while immersing guests in nature's breathtaking settings. Guests can also opt for private plunge pool villas or experience the THARAVADU lifestyle in traditional experiential houses with a history spanning over 200 years. For ultimate luxury, Mahayana, the houseboat, offers a tranquil backwater cruise.

The resort's four dining venues - Keraleeyam, Portico Café, Raanthal, and Zirkon - offer mesmerizing views of Ashtamudi Lake and serve a range of regional flavours and authentic Kerala delicacies, including the resort's signature dish, Fish Nirvana.

Favourite Kerala Ayurveda and Spa provide rejuvenating treatments and wellness experiences inspired by traditional Ayurvedic healing. Guests can also enjoy leisure facilities, such as an outdoor swimming pool and a fitness centre with panoramic views.

The Leela Ashtamudi is an ideal destination for events and meetings, offering charming settings and personalized services infused with local traditions.

Overall, this hidden paradise invites travellers to disconnect and embrace quintessential Kerala experiences, from tranquillity and wellness to culinary delights and cultural immersion.


Kaara Hotels Launches Boutique Brand Aayra with First Property in Dehradun

Kaara Hotels Launches Boutique Brand Aayra with First Property in Dehradun

By Hariharan U

Published on July 8, 2026

Kaara Hotels has announced the launch of Aayra, its new boutique hotel brand, with the opening of its first property, Aayra Dehradun. Located on Canal Road in Dehradun, the 18-room boutique urban hotel marks Kaara Hotels’ expansion into the growing experience-led mid-market hospitality segment.

Designed to cater to business travellers, families, groups and leisure guests, Aayra Dehradun combines contemporary comfort with personalised hospitality. The launch introduces Kaara Hotels’ boutique hospitality vertical, focusing on compact urban hotels that offer reliable service, thoughtful design and memorable guest experiences.

The property features well-appointed rooms, Fluid, a rooftop bar and lounge, along with flexible indoor and outdoor spaces designed for intimate celebrations, meetings and social gatherings. Its strategic location provides convenient access to key city attractions while also serving as a gateway for travellers heading towards Mussoorie and other destinations across Uttarakhand.

Positioned as a rooms-first urban hotel, Aayra Dehradun focuses on comfort, convenience and personalised service. The property is designed to meet the needs of modern travellers seeking dependable accommodation for business trips, family holidays, celebrations and weekend escapes.

Commenting on the launch, Puneet Sethi, Managing Director, Kaara Hotels, said that Aayra has been created to reflect changing travel preferences, with guests increasingly looking for intimate, thoughtfully designed hotels backed by professional hospitality standards. He added that Aayra Dehradun represents the brand’s vision of delivering warm and personalised experiences across multiple Indian cities.

Aayra has been developed as Kaara Hotels’ boutique urban hospitality brand, following a rooms-first operating model suited for high-frequency business and leisure travel. The brand aims to create intimate hotel environments that also support small gatherings and social occasions.

Following the launch of Aayra Dehradun, Kaara Hotels plans to expand the brand across India through an asset-light management model, targeting opportunities in Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets.

Founded in 2021, Kaara Hotels has built its presence in India’s mid-market hospitality sector, operating three properties across Gurugram and Dehradun with a combined inventory of 178 rooms, 12 banquet spaces and around five acres of hospitality assets.

The company currently operates through two hospitality brands - Kaara, focused on leisure and destination hospitality, and Aayra, designed for boutique urban stays. Supporting its operations is HOSPINS, Kaara Hotels’ proprietary technology platform integrating pricing, procurement, property management, analytics and customer engagement to improve efficiency and consistency across its portfolio.

With its expansion strategy, Kaara Hotels aims to grow to 120 hotels and achieve ₹500 crore in annual revenue by FY30-31, strengthening its position in India’s evolving hospitality landscape.


Le Méridien Ahmedabad Celebrates One Year of Culture, Creativity and Hospitality

Le Méridien Ahmedabad Celebrates One Year of Culture, Creativity and Hospitality

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on July 7, 2026

Le Méridien Ahmedabad has completed one year since its transformation from Courtyard by Marriott Ahmedabad, marking a year of offering guests culturally inspired hospitality experiences rooted in creativity, design and discovery.

Following its rebranding last year, the hotel introduced Le Méridien's signature approach to hospitality, combining mid-century modern design with a European-inspired philosophy of savouring life's meaningful moments. Located in Ahmedabad, a city known for its architectural heritage, vibrant textiles and evolving culinary scene, the hotel continues to create experiences that connect guests with the city's rich cultural identity.

The property offers a range of thoughtfully curated experiences across its dining and social spaces. Java+, the brand's signature café, serves as a contemporary venue for coffee, conversations and casual gatherings. Drift provides a refined setting for private celebrations and intimate family occasions with bespoke dining experiences and city skyline views, while Bayleaf showcases the flavours of Awadhi cuisine through traditional recipes inspired by regional culinary heritage.

Le Méridien Ahmedabad also continues to enhance guest experiences through wellness offerings, contemporary social spaces and immersive programmes designed to encourage meaningful engagement with Ahmedabad's cultural and culinary landscape.

Signature brand experiences, including La Vie and destination-inspired programmes centred around culture, cuisine and creativity, remain key elements of the hotel's guest experience, reflecting Le Méridien's philosophy of helping travellers discover destinations in a deeper and more meaningful way.

Commenting on the milestone, Prashant Chadha, General Manager, Le Méridien Ahmedabad, said, "Le Méridien has always been a brand rooted in culture, creativity and discovery. Over the last year, our focus at Le Méridien Ahmedabad has been on thoughtfully bringing that philosophy to the city through experiences that feel immersive, contemporary and connected to Ahmedabad's rich cultural identity."

He further added, "The transition to Le Méridien Ahmedabad gave us the opportunity to evolve the guest experience while continuing to build on the strong legacy the property has enjoyed over the years. From coffee culture programmes and destination dining concepts to wellness-led offerings and curated experiences, the focus has been on creating moments that encourage guests to pause, connect and savour the good life."

As it enters its second year, Le Méridien Ahmedabad continues to strengthen its position as a contemporary hospitality destination where culture, creativity and connection come together to offer guests memorable stays in one of India's most vibrant cities.


Novotel Hyderabad Airport Celebrates Bastille Day with Authentic French Culinary Experience

Novotel Hyderabad Airport Celebrates Bastille Day with Authentic French Culinary Experience

By Hariharan U

Published on July 7, 2026

Novotel Hyderabad Airport is set to bring the flavours of France to the city with a special Bastille Day celebration on 14 July 2026 at its signature restaurant, Food Exchange. The evening will be dedicated to showcasing France’s culinary heritage through a thoughtfully curated dining experience.

Designed to reflect the charm of Parisian bistros and the warmth of French countryside cooking, the celebration will feature an extensive selection of artisanal cheeses including Brie, Camembert, Roquefort and Comté, served with traditional accompaniments such as cornichons, Dijon mustard, olives and freshly baked baguettes.

Guests can begin their culinary journey with classic French hors d’oeuvres like Gougères, Salmon Rillettes on Crostini, Pâté de Campagne and Olive Tapenade, setting the tone for an authentic and elegant dining experience.

The menu continues with iconic French dishes such as French Onion Soup, Coq au Vin, Crème Brûlée and Tarte Tatin, each crafted to highlight the depth and richness of traditional French cuisine. The experience is designed to balance comfort and sophistication, offering guests a true taste of France.

No Bastille Day celebration would be complete without desserts, and the evening will conclude with a lavish pâtisserie spread featuring Éclairs, Profiteroles, Madeleines, Crêpes Suzette and Mousse au Chocolat, alongside classic favourites like Tarte Tatin.

Speaking through the concept of the evening, the hotel aims to transport guests into the heart of France through flavours that celebrate both tradition and craftsmanship.

The Bastille Day dinner will take place at Food Exchange, Novotel Hyderabad Airport, from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM,

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