Union Budget 2026 reactions from hospitality leaders

Union Budget 2026: What Hospitality and F&B Leaders Are Saying

By Hariharan U

Published on February 3, 2026

As expectations around Union Budget 2026 give way to industry analysis, voices from hospitality, food services, QSR and alco-beverage sectors are largely aligned on one message: talent development, destination-led tourism and access to long-term capital are welcome moves, but structural reforms remain a work in progress.

Pranav Rungta, Co-Founder & Director, Nksha Restaurant and Vice President, NRAI Mumbai, called the Budget a constructive step for hospitality while highlighting lingering gaps for restaurants.

"Budget 2026 is a positive step for India's hospitality sector. Announcements like the first-ever National Institute of Hospitality and structured skill development for tourist guides will strengthen service standards and prepare our workforce to meet growing domestic and international demand.At the same time, restaurants continue to face structural challenges such as GST on commercial leases, access to export incentives like SEIS and easier SME support. Addressing these challenges alongside rising tourism and dining demand is key to building a resilient, sustainable and globally competitive hospitality sector"

From the experience-led hospitality and brewing space, Teja Chekuri, Managing Partner – Ironhill, emphasised the Budget’s focus on people, destinations and capital as a meaningful combination.

"What stood out for me in today's Budget is the clear recognition that hospitality growth depends as much on people as it does on places. The focus on structured skill development programmes directly addresses one of the industry's most persistent challenges of finding and retaining trained talent across brewing, service, and operations.

Equally significant is the decision to develop the top 50 tourist destinations in a challenge mode, while bringing hotels in these locations under the harmonised master list. Easier access to long-term, lower-cost financing is a real unlock for hospitality and alcobev brands looking to expand responsibly.

For companies like ours, operating at the intersection of craft beer, dining, and experience-led hospitality, this creates the right conditions to scale with better talent on the floor, stronger destinations to grow into, and capital that supports quality, not shortcuts. If executed well, these measures can meaningfully elevate India's hospitality ecosystem and its global appeal."

Speaking from a food entrepreneurship lens, Pranavi Chekuri, FullStack Ventures & Co-Founder, Bhojanam, highlighted the Budget’s connection between agriculture, skills and hospitality retail.

"As a founder, building a hospitality retail brand rooted in traditional food and native grains, this Budget feels deeply personal. The government's focus on strengthening native crops from coconut, cashew, and cocoa to horticulture and region-specific produce, directly impacts farmers, and in turn, brands like ours that depend on resilient, local value chains. When farmers earn better and produce improves in quality and consistency, it elevates the entire food ecosystem.

Equally encouraging is the emphasis on upskilling across hospitality. Upgrading national institutions, strengthening apprenticeships, and targeted training programmes will help create a workforce that is more industry-ready and confident. For emerging brands, this is critical and not just for smoother operations, but for thoughtful expansion.

Taken together, these measures connect the soil to the storefront. They create opportunities to scale responsibly, generate jobs, and build food brands that are proudly Indian, sustainable by design, and globally relevant in ambition."

For emerging café and food brands, Meenakshi Kumarr, Chef & Founder of Anahata Cafe (Formerly Roots Cafe), pointed to inclusion, skilling and SME funding as strong signals.

"The Budget's focus on strengthening the hospitality and food & beverages ecosystem is a welcome step for emerging brands like Anahata Café. Upgrading the National Council for Hotel Management into a National Institute of Hospitality will help create a stronger talent pipeline by aligning academia with industry needs something the F&B sector has long required. The Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana is especially encouraging, as hospitality and food processing offer meaningful, task-oriented roles that can enable dignified and inclusive employment when supported by customised training. Additionally, the creation of a ₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund, along with the Self-Reliant India Fund, will help to nurture SMEs. For women-led F&B and FMCG startups, access to equity capital and risk funding is critical to scaling operations and building resilient supply chains."

From the alco-beverage industry, Vidhatha Annamaneni, Co-Founder, Ironhill, viewed the Budget as a signal of gradual but inevitable competition.

"From the alcobev industry perspective, this Budget reinforces a reality the industry understands well that structural reform in alcohol will continue to be gradual, not dramatic. Keeping alcoholic liquor outside GST maintains the status quo, but the real signal lies elsewhere. The India–EU FTA and phased tariff reductions across spirits, wine, and beer point to a more competitive, globally aligned market over the next decade.

For Indian brands, this is both an opportunity and a wake-up call. Lower duties will raise the bar on quality, consistency, and brand-building, especially as premiumisation accelerates. The proposed reduction in TCS on alcohol sellers is also a practical relief, easing working capital pressures across the value chain.

What the industry needs next is predictability with rationalised customs structures and faster resolution of legacy disputes. As India's alcobev market scales toward ₹5.3 lakh crore, the winners will be brands that think long-term, invest in craft and compliance, and compete confidently on a global stage, not a protected one."

Looking at quick-service restaurants and mass expansion, Aayush Madhusudan Agrawal, Founder and Director, Lenexis Foodworks, highlighted the importance of infrastructure and tiered growth.

“The Union Budget 2026 reflects a strong commitment to sustainable growth, infrastructure-led development, and ease of doing business. For the QSR industry, the focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, logistics efficiency, and skilling creates a powerful foundation for the next phase of expansion. At Lenexis Foodworks, we see this as an opportunity to deepen our presence, strengthen our supply chains, and deliver greater value to consumers across India.”

Collectively, the responses reflect cautious optimism across hospitality and allied sectors. While skill development, tourism infrastructure and financing reforms are widely welcomed, industry leaders agree that GST rationalisation, regulatory clarity and predictable policy frameworks will be critical to sustaining long-term growth.

Roseate Hotels & Resorts Expands Partnership with M3M for Jacob & Co. Residences

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 9, 2026

Roseate Hotels & Resorts has expanded its partnership with M3M Group, coming on board as the hospitality and facility management partner for M3M Jacob & Co. Residences. The partnership adds to Roseate's existing association with M3M Trump Towers Gurgaon and expands its role across M3M's luxury branded residences portfolio.

As part of the partnership, Roseate Hotels & Resorts will manage a range of services at M3M Jacob & Co. Residences, including concierge services, housekeeping, engineering, security, restaurants, wellness facilities, club operations and lifestyle management.

The focus will be on bringing Roseate's hospitality expertise into the residential community and creating a professionally managed, hotel-inspired living experience for residents. The partnership comes at a time when India's branded residences market is seeing a shift in what luxury homebuyers expect. Beyond architecture and international brand names, buyers are increasingly looking at hospitality, service standards and the overall long-term living experience. Professionally managed operations are becoming an important part of luxury residential developments, bringing hotel-style services and experiences into premium homes.

M3M has built a strong presence in India's branded residences segment through collaborations with global luxury brands including Trump, Jacob & Co. and Elie Saab. Its approach combines international brands with hospitality-led living, curated lifestyle experiences and premium services. The partnership was announced during 'The Circle of Time', an exclusive evening hosted by M3M and Jacob & Co. for the Inner Circle residents of M3M Jacob & Co. Residences.

The event highlighted the shared values of craftsmanship, exclusivity and timeless luxury. It also featured the unveiling of a limited-edition Jacob & Co. timepiece created exclusively for Inner Circle residents as a symbol of their connection with India's first Jacob & Co. branded residential community. Roseate's appointment at M3M Jacob & Co. Residences highlights the growing connection between luxury real estate and hospitality. As the branded residences market develops further in India, such partnerships are expected to place greater focus on design, professional operations and the everyday experience of residents.

M3M has developed a portfolio of branded residences through partnerships with globally recognised luxury brands such as Trump, Jacob & Co. and Elie Saab. Its portfolio includes M3M Trump Towers, M3M Jacob & Co. Residences and M3M Elie Saab Residences, combining global luxury brands with design, hospitality-led experiences and lifestyle offerings.

Founded in 2010, M3M India is one of India's leading real estate developers and among the country's largest privately-held real estate companies. The company has a presence across Delhi NCR in luxury residential, branded residences, retail, commercial, mixed-use developments and integrated townships. M3M has recorded more than ₹1.28 lakh crore of launched GDV, cumulative sales of over ₹81,000 crore, customer collections exceeding ₹47,000 crore and more than 30 million sq. ft. delivered.

The company continues to focus on innovation, design, execution and customer experience across its developments, with branded residences, integrated mixed-use projects and destination retail forming key parts of its portfolio.

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United Hospitality Management Signs Three New Hotels with IHG in India

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 8, 2026

United Hospitality Management (UHM) has announced the signing of three new hotel management agreements with IHG Hotels & Resorts, adding 182 keys to its expanding India portfolio. The new properties include Garner Corbett, voco Kanatal, and Garner Ahmedabad, marking another milestone in the company's growth strategy since entering the Indian market through the acquisition of Rosastays in December 2025.

Scheduled to open between 2027 and 2029, the three hotels are part of UHM's plan to build a balanced portfolio across leisure and business destinations in India.

The upcoming 50-key Garner Corbett will cater to the growing demand for wildlife and nature tourism in Uttarakhand. The 92-key voco Kanatal will offer an upscale mountain retreat in one of North India's emerging leisure destinations, while the 40-key Garner Ahmedabad will strengthen the company's presence in one of western India's fastest-growing commercial hubs. Together, these projects highlight UHM's focus on working closely with hotel owners to develop professionally managed hospitality assets across key markets.

Commenting on the expansion, Carlos Leal, Executive Chairman and Board Member, United Hospitality Management, said:

"India's hospitality sector is entering a new phase of growth, driven by rising domestic travel, improving infrastructure and increasing investor confidence. Against this backdrop, UHM sees India as one of its most strategic growth markets. Our objective is to build a diversified hospitality platform that delivers long-term value for owners while bringing international expertise to the Indian market."

Since entering India, UHM has signed 10 properties and established dedicated commercial, operations, and technical services teams. The company has also strengthened its leadership team while investing in governance and technology platforms to support its future growth.

UHM follows a brand-agnostic, owner-first approach, enabling it to partner with leading hospitality brands such as Marriott, Hyatt, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Accor, Wyndham, and Yotel. The company works with owners to identify the most suitable brand and operating model for each property, helping maximise asset performance while delivering quality guest experiences.

Speaking about the company's operating philosophy, Klaus Assmann, Chief Executive Officer, UHM Middle East, India & Southeast Asia, said:

"Hotel owners today are seeking strategic operating partners who can maximise asset performance while preserving brand integrity. Our role is to combine international expertise with deep local market knowledge to develop the right positioning for every asset and deliver sustainable commercial performance."

UHM currently has a portfolio of 24 operational and pipeline properties in India and aims to manage more than 100 hotels across the country over the long term. According to the company, the latest signings reflect growing confidence among hotel owners in its owner-centric management model.

Highlighting the company's plans for India, Deepika Arora, Managing Director, United Hospitality Management India, said:

"These three signings reflect the confidence owners have placed in our operating model and mark another step in expanding our presence across India. We continue to see strong opportunities across gateway cities, emerging leisure destinations, mixed-use developments and branded residences. Our aim is to remain focused on partnering with the right owners and the right brands."

Looking ahead, UHM said it is in advanced discussions for several hotel management agreements and strategic partnerships across India and Southeast Asia. The pipeline includes luxury and upscale hotels, resorts, mixed-use developments, and branded residential projects.

Beyond hotel management, UHM has also built a diversified hospitality platform with more than 20 proprietary food and beverage concepts, wellness brands including Serenity, The Art of Well Being and Pure by Serenity, the fitness brand Active by Serenity, as well as sports and leisure facilities such as golf and football academies, tennis and padel clubs, and luxury beach clubs.