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.

Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Reports Q4 FY26 Revenue of INR 183.7 Cr

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on May 30, 2026

Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Limited (ASPHL) has announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and financial year ended March 31, 2026, reporting steady operational growth supported by strong occupancy levels and continued expansion across key hospitality markets.

The company reported revenue from operations of INR 183.70 crore for Q4 FY26, compared to INR 177.32 crore during the same quarter last year. Operating EBITDA for the quarter stood at INR 52.99 crore, while profit after tax (PAT) was reported at INR 11.88 crore.

ASPHL recorded occupancy levels of 90 per cent during the quarter, reflecting sustained demand across both business and leisure travel segments and reinforcing the company’s position within India’s hospitality sector.

For the full financial year FY26, the company crossed the INR 700 crore annual revenue milestone for the first time, reporting revenue from operations of INR 707.28 crore. Annual PAT for the year stood at INR 65.72 crore.

The company stated that growth during FY26 was supported by expansion into Tier II and Tier III cities along with strategic acquisitions aimed at strengthening its presence in high-potential hospitality destinations.

During the financial year, ASPHL acquired control of Zillion Hotels and Resorts Private Limited, Fisherman’s Grove Resorts Private Limited, and Thali Hotels and Destinations Private Limited. These acquisitions are expected to further strengthen the company’s hospitality presence across Mumbai and Kerala.

ASPHL also reaffirmed its long-term growth plans and said it remains on track to more than double its room inventory to 6,653 keys over the next five years.

The company’s bakery and confectionery brand, Flurys, also continued its expansion during FY26. The brand currently operates 110 outlets and recorded a 29 per cent year-on-year revenue growth during the financial year, supported by new store additions and strong performance across existing outlets.

Commenting on the results, Vijay Dewan, Managing Director, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels, said FY26 marked a significant milestone as the company crossed INR 700 crore in annual revenue for the first time. He added that Q4 reflected resilient operational performance with continued leadership in occupancy and RevPAR metrics.

Dewan further noted that the sale of serviced apartments at EM Bypass, Kolkata, contributed positively to cash flow during the year. He added that the company remains focused on long-term value creation through portfolio expansion, guest-centric experiences, operational efficiency, and margin improvement.

The company also highlighted that recent global recognition received by Ran Baas The Palace, Patiala and The Lotus Palace, Chettinad further strengthens its positioning as a design-led and experience-driven hospitality group.

Most Read In News

JW Marriott Appoints Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as Global Brand ...

JW Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of m...

Vestige Marks 22 Years and Sets $1 Billion Growth Vision for...

Vestige Marketing Pvt. Ltd., one of India's leading homegrow...

Jyran at Sofitel Mumbai BKC Unveils a Revitalised North-West...

Jyran, the signature Tandoor Dining & Lounge at Sofitel Mumb...

The Access Group Appoints Saurabh Gupta as Head of Customer ...

The Access Group has announced the appointment of Saurabh Gu...

ITDC Reports Record FY26 Profit Growth Amid Global Uncertainty

By Hariharan U

Published on May 25, 2026

India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), the public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, has reported a strong financial performance for FY 2025–26 with a 14 percent increase in profit before tax (PBT) compared to the previous financial year.

The corporation also announced a dividend payout of Rs 22.02 crore to the Government of India, reflecting continued operational strength and improved financial performance despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainties impacting the global hospitality and tourism sector.

According to the company, the growth was driven by enhanced operational efficiencies, strategic initiatives across business verticals, optimal resource allocation, and continued focus on customer-centric service delivery.

Commenting on the performance, Mugdha Sinha said the results reflect ITDC’s ongoing efforts towards strengthening service standards while building on the organisation’s long-standing legacy and institutional trust.

During the financial year, ITDC also introduced three operational manuals focused on procurement of goods and services, sound and light shows, and general clauses aimed at improving governance, standardisation, and transparency across institutional processes.

The corporation further highlighted its increasing focus on technology-enabled transformation through the adoption of AI-based solutions to improve operational agility, customer experience, and business planning capabilities.

FY26 also marked two major milestones for the organisation as ITDC celebrated 60 years of its legacy alongside 70 years of The Ashok, one of India’s most iconic hospitality properties.

The company stated that its future strategy will continue to focus on operational excellence, digital transformation, sustainability, and long-term value creation while strengthening its contribution to India’s tourism and hospitality ecosystem.

The financial performance comes at a time when India’s hospitality and tourism sector continues to navigate evolving global market conditions, changing travel patterns, and increased focus on technology-led efficiencies across public and private sector enterprises.