Zomato and IRCTC Alliance: Stocks Climb to a 52-Week High

Zomato and IRCTC Alliance: Stocks Climb to a 52-Week High

By Author

Published on October 21, 2023

In a significant business move, Zomato, the renowned food tech giant, has entered into a collaboration with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), setting off a positive rally in its stock prices. This partnership marks Zomato’s venture into the expansive world of Indian railways, offering pre-ordered meal supply and delivery to passengers.

A Strategic Alliance

Initially, the project is set to roll out as a pilot at five major railway stations - New Delhi, Prayagraj, Kanpur, Lucknow, and Varanasi. Travellers can now easily book their meals via IRCTC’s e-catering portal, adding a layer of convenience and expanding food options during their journeys.

This collaboration allows Zomato to broaden its service spectrum, reaching out to the vast number of railway passengers across the country. On the other hand, IRCTC benefits by diversifying the food choices available to passengers, enhancing the overall travel experience.

Stock Market Response

The announcement of this partnership resonated positively in the stock market, with Zomato's share prices soaring to a 52-week high of INR 115. The shares settled at INR 113.90 during Tuesday's session and opened at INR 114.25 on Wednesday, showcasing the investors' positive sentiment towards this strategic alliance.

A Win-Win Situation

This partnership is expected to be a game changer. For Zomato, it’s an opportunity to tap into a new customer base, bringing their quality service to train passengers. For IRCTC, it ensures passengers have access to a variety of quality meals, enhancing their travel experience.

Zomato's entrance into the railway catering sector, combined with the company’s recent profitability, has instilled confidence among investors, reflecting in the surge of its stock prices. As the company navigates through the challenges of maintaining profitability amidst varying macroeconomic factors, collaborations like these play a pivotal role in sustaining growth.

Moving Forward

As both entities step into this promising journey, passengers can look forward to an enriched travel experience, marked by a variety of delectable meal options at their fingertips. The ease of accessing and enjoying a diverse range of culinary delights promises to redefine train journeys in India.

In the world of stocks, investors are keeping a close eye on Zomato, as strategic moves like these can significantly influence the company’s stock performance in the coming days. It underscores the dynamic nature of the market, where collaborations can not only expand business horizons but also create ripples in stock market trends.


Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Reports Rs 13 Crore Net Profit in Q1 FY26

Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Reports Rs 13 Crore Net Profit in Q1 FY26

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 18, 2025

Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Limited (ASPHL) announced its financial results for Q1 FY26, recording a net profit of Rs 13 crore. Revenue from operations stood at Rs 154 crore, a 14% increase year-on-year, while operating EBITDA grew 16% YoY to Rs 45 crore. The company maintained an industry-leading occupancy of 92%, reaffirming its leadership in the hospitality sector.

ASPHL’s growth is fueled by expansion into Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets. The company recently signed an MoU to acquire and manage four leisure properties in Goa, Manali, Shimla, and Dharamshala, adding 138 rooms under its brand. These steps align with ASPHL’s strategy to broaden its presence in high-potential tourism destinations and double its key count to 5,750 over the next five years.

Flurys, ASPHL’s iconic bakery and confectionery brand, now operates 102 outlets nationwide, reflecting the company’s focus on expanding its market presence while integrating modern amenities with rich cultural heritage.

Commenting on the performance, Vijay Dewan, Managing Director, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels, said,

"We have delivered an extraordinary and best-ever Q1, setting a strong momentum for the year ahead. With topline growth of 14% and EBITDA growth of 16%, we recorded India’s highest occupancy of 92% and maintained leadership in RevPAR in the upper-upscale segment. ARR improved by 13% and RevPAR increased by 12%. With nearly 600 new rooms added, including a 41% rise in our asset-light model, and nationwide Flurys rollout, we are poised to scale faster, enhance margins, and deliver exceptional shareholder value."

ASPHL’s strong performance in Q1 FY26 underscores its strategic focus on market expansion, operational excellence, and premium guest experiences.


Marriott Announces Dividend and Expands Share Buyback Plan

Marriott Announces Dividend and Expands Share Buyback Plan

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 10, 2025

Marriott International, Inc. has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 67 cents per share on its common stock, reaffirming its commitment to delivering shareholder value. The dividend will be paid on September 30, 2025, to shareholders who are on record as of August 21, 2025.

Alongside the dividend announcement, the hospitality giant also revealed an expansion of its share repurchase program. The board of directors has authorized the repurchase of an additional 25 million shares of its Class A common stock. This comes in addition to the approximately 7.4 million shares that were still available under previous authorizations as of July 30, 2025.

Marriott has already bought back 6.4 million shares this year, amounting to $1.7 billion. These moves reflect the company’s continued confidence in its financial stability and long-term performance, aiming to strengthen shareholder value through strategic capital allocation.


Chennai Postal Services Still Disrupted: Experts Call for Alternative Systems Amid Software Transition

Chennai Postal Services Still Disrupted: Experts Call for Alternative Systems Amid Software Transition

By Author

Published on August 4, 2025

In what was intended to be a smooth digital transformation, postal services across the Chennai Circle continue to remain disrupted even days after a scheduled upgrade to India Post's new IT 2.0 system. The software transition—part of a broader effort to modernize the nation’s postal network—was implemented on August 2nd and 4th across Chennai North and South divisions. However, officials have now confirmed that technical issues still persist, leaving customers and businesses grappling with delayed or inaccessible services.

Key services such as Speed Post, registered mail, parcel bookings, and money orders have either been significantly slowed or paused altogether in many branches. Despite expectations that systems would normalize post-upgrade, the rollout of the Advanced Postal Technology (APT) system has proven more complex than anticipated.

“We are still working on stabilizing the system. There have been unforeseen glitches post-upgrade, and our teams are actively resolving them,” said a senior postal official who requested anonymity.

The disruption has raised concerns across industries—including the hospitality sector—where timely document dispatch, license renewals, vendor payments, and customer correspondence are crucial to daily operations.

Experts and industry stakeholders are now calling on India Post to introduce alternative operational strategies or backup mechanisms during such large-scale transitions.

“In a digital age where seamless service is non-negotiable, a complete blackout due to a software update is avoidable. A fallback process, whether manual or cloud-based, should be in place to ensure continuity,” said a Chennai-based hospitality consultant.

The hospitality industry relies heavily on postal services for legal documentation, international communication, and procurement logistics. The ongoing delays have caused bottlenecks not just in operations but also in customer experience delivery.

As authorities continue to work toward a resolution, the broader question remains: Should India’s essential public infrastructure be this vulnerable to a single system upgrade? The answer may lie in future-proofing core services with hybrid digital models that include disaster recovery plans and parallel systems.


Hospitalitynews.in will continue to track updates as the situation evolves.

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