Salil Panigrahi, Co-Founder & Group Managing Director of Atmosphere Core, is bringing the brand’s globally admired hospitality philosophy to India, with Hyderabad set to play a central role in its expansion.

Known for creating some of the Maldives’ most iconic resorts, including THE OZEN COLLECTION, Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts, and COLOURS OF OBLU, Salil has long championed immersive, design-driven hospitality experiences. His philosophy that “hospitality is a soulful craft” has redefined tourism in the Maldives, where he pioneered all-inclusive experiences, sustainability initiatives, and design-led innovation.

With India’s tourism landscape evolving, Atmosphere Core aims to set a new benchmark by weaving local culture, design, and sustainability into every property. “Hyderabad is a city where history, architecture, cuisine, and culture come together beautifully. It reflects the very ethos we want to bring to India, escapes that are authentic, design-driven, and emotionally resonant,” said Salil Panigrahi.

Atmosphere Core’s India plans focus on design-led leisure properties that celebrate the cultural richness of their locations. Each destination will integrate eco-conscious architecture, renewable energy, and waste reduction initiatives while offering Maldives-style all-inclusive experiences from curated wellness retreats to reimagined culinary journeys and authentic cultural immersions.

The move into Hyderabad marks not just a business milestone but also a cultural commitment. By combining sustainability, artistic design, and the brand’s signature Joy of Giving philosophy, Atmosphere Core is positioning Hyderabad as a key cultural hub while shaping the next era of leisure hospitality in India.

In a defining moment for India’s startup ecosystem, Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally engaged with Azimuth’s ‘Business on Wheels’ showcase at the Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show (UPITS 2025). This powerful endorsement validates the company’s vision of reinventing everyday entrepreneurship through modern, scalable, and world-class mobile infrastructure.

Azimuth’s Founder, Puneet Anand, received direct recognition from PM Modi, underscoring the government’s commitment to supporting innovators who are reshaping India’s business landscape. The Prime Minister’s interaction sent a strong message of encouragement to risk-takers and entrepreneurs working to transform traditional models into smart, sustainable solutions.

Azimuth’s mission is clear: moving beyond the outdated, rusty thelas to smart wheels, food trucks, and mobile trailers that redefine how small businesses operate in urban and semi-urban India. This aligns seamlessly with national initiatives like Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, aiming to formalize street food vending, foster mobile entrepreneurship, and create global benchmarks for innovation.

The showcase highlighted how Azimuth’s mobile units from food trucks and retail trailers to marketing vans and container models, are driving easy entrepreneurship. With pan-India operations headquartered in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, and a second unit in Erode, Tamil Nadu, Azimuth is scaling mobility solutions for businesses nationwide.

“From street food to export-ready mobile units, India’s business-on-wheels movement is setting a global standard,” noted PM Modi during the interaction. The endorsement reflects India’s golden path towards building a formal, innovative, and self-reliant street economy where small businesses thrive with modern design and engineering.

As Azimuth continues to expand, its ‘Business on Wheels’ model represents a new wave of Indian entrepreneurship, smart, scalable, and proudly Made in India.

Thomas Cook (India) Limited, India’s leading omnichannel travel services company, has partnered with the Ministry of Tourism (MoT), Government of India, in a strategic initiative to transform the country’s tourism landscape. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Ms. Seema Jain, Director, Destination Development Division, Ministry of Tourism, and Mr. Romil Pant, Executive Vice President & Head – Holidays, Thomas Cook (India) Limited. The event took place in the presence of key dignitaries, including Mr. Suman Bery, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, Mr. Suresh Gopi, Minister of State for Tourism, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr. Suman Billa, Additional Secretary and Director General, Ministry of Tourism, and Mr. Gyan Bhushan, Senior Economic Advisor, Ministry of Tourism.

The collaboration focuses on gathering direct and verified traveller feedback to assess India’s best-performing tourism destinations while identifying areas that need improvement. By leveraging its strong physical and digital presence, Thomas Cook India will integrate a co-branded feedback form, standardised by the Ministry, across its platforms. These insights will capture visitor opinions on cleanliness, safety, accessibility, service standards, and overall experiences.

This MoU, valid for three years, underscores a shared commitment to enhancing domestic tourism through transparency and data-driven decision-making. The anonymised, aggregated data will be shared with the Ministry of Tourism to support interventions aimed at improving infrastructure and services at destinations across India.

Mr. Suman Billa, Additional Secretary & Director General – Ministry of Tourism, said, “We are extremely delighted to sign this Memorandum of Understanding with Thomas Cook India. The idea behind this collaboration is to see how the Ministry of Tourism can collect real-time feedback from users at key destinations across the country. Our aim is to use this data as a foundation to identify and promote destinations that are able to provide great experiences. This marks the first step in a long journey ahead, and we hope this partnership proves fruitful for both of us.”

Mr. Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head, Holidays, MICE, Visa – Thomas Cook (India) Limited, added, “We are delighted to partner with the Ministry of Tourism on this transformative initiative. With our extensive reach and deep understanding of Indian travellers, Thomas Cook India is uniquely positioned to provide valuable insights on destination performance. Our collaboration will focus on gathering authentic feedback from our customers to empower the Ministry’s efforts in enhancing the quality, safety, and sustainability of India’s tourism offerings.”