Author name: vibrantcoloursmagazine

The 100-key hotel will cater to year-round leisure and business demand in Goa’s capital, Panaji IHG® Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has announced the signing of a management agreement with NCPL for the development of Holiday Inn Goa Kadamba. The 100-key hotel, scheduled to open in Q1 2030, will mark a further addition to IHG’s growing portfolio in India’s key leisure markets. As one of IHG’s most recognised brands globally, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts® is built on a service philosophy centered around helping guests realise the true value of travel. With a focus on creating brighter stays and delivering warm, intuitive service that evokes genuine smiles, Holiday Inn is designed to ensure that every moment, big or small, is meaningful for travellers on the road. Located in Kadamba, Panaji, the 100-key hotel is strategically positioned to offer seamless access to some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, including the Fontainhas Latin Quarter, Mandovi River Promenade, and Dona Paula. The hotel will provide a central base for travellers to experience Goa’s rich cultural heritage alongside its scenic coastal charm, while also being in close proximity to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Churches and Convents of Goa. Commenting on the signing, Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “Goa continues to be one of India’s most sought-after travel destinations, renowned for its unique blend of cultural heritage, scenic landscapes, and strong year-round demand. The signing of Holiday Inn Goa Kadamba aligns with our strategy to expand in high-potential leisure markets across the country, and we are pleased to partner with NCPL to bring this hotel to life. With its prime location in Panaji and strong brand proposition, the hotel is well-positioned to cater to a diverse mix of leisure and business travellers.” Mr. Miket Kankia, Director, NCPL added: “We are delighted to partner with IHG Hotels & Resorts to introduce Holiday Inn Goa Kadamba. Panaji’s distinctive positioning as both a cultural and administrative hub makes it an attractive destination for hospitality development. Backed by IHG’s global expertise and strong brand recognition, we are confident that the hotel will deliver high-quality experiences and become a preferred choice for travellers visiting Goa.” Goa remains one of India’s most prominent tourism markets, supported by strong infrastructure and connectivity, including two operational airports. The state attracts a significant volume of domestic and international visitors, driven by its beaches, heritage precincts, and vibrant lifestyle offerings. Holiday Inn Goa Kadamba will feature a comprehensive range of amenities, including five food and beverage outlets comprising an all-day dining restaurant, specialty restaurant, bar, lobby lounge, and pool bar. The hotel will also offer three meeting and event spaces, including a ballroom, along with a swimming pool, fitness center, spa, and ample parking facilities, catering to both leisure and corporate travellers. IHG® currently has 51 hotels operating across six brands in India, including Six Senses, InterContinental Hotels and Resorts®, Crowne Plaza®, voco™ Hotels, Holiday Inn Resort® and Holiday Inn Express®, and a strong pipeline of 89 hotels due to open in the next 3-5 years.

Udaipur’s largest retail destination, Urban Square Mall, has announced the opening of ‘The Banquet’ at Keys Lite by Lemon Tree Hotels, marking a strategic expansion of its hospitality and experiential offerings. Positioned as a contemporary event venue, The Banquet spans approximately 5000 sq. ft. and has a hosting capacity of 150-200 guests, making it suitable for a wide range of social and corporate gatherings. The space has been designed with a focus on functionality and flexibility, enabling it to accommodate diverse event formats while ensuring operational efficiency and a consistent guest experience. Located on the ground floor of the Hotel, the addition aligns with the asset’s broader vision of integrating retail, leisure, and hospitality into a unified ecosystem. The development comes at a time when Udaipur is witnessing increasing demand for organised, high-quality event infrastructure, driven by both private celebrations and corporate engagements. Commenting on the inauguration, Uddhav Poddar, CMD, Bhumika Group, said, “At Bhumika Group, our approach has been to expand beyond conventional retail into a more integrated mix that includes hospitality and experience-led formats. The introduction of ‘The Banquet’ is part of that broader evolution at Urban Square Mall. We are seeing a clear shift in how consumers engage with spaces today; how they are looking for destinations that seamlessly bring together shopping, dining, and social experiences. With this addition, we are not only strengthening our hospitality footprint but also enhancing the overall relevance of the asset in a way that is both demand-led and operationally sustainable.” Nandini Taneja, CEO, Bhumika Enterprises, added, “Our focus with ‘The Banquet’ has been on creating a venue that is efficient, adaptable, and aligned with the expectations of today’s users. There is a clear shift towards professionally managed spaces that can seamlessly host both social and corporate engagements without compromising on experience. This facility has been planned to deliver consistency across service, layout, and execution, while remaining flexible enough to cater to varied event requirements. It strengthens our broader vision of building destinations that are not only well-designed, but also intuitive in how they function on a day-to-day basis.” With this launch, Urban Square Mall continues to cater as a multi-dimensional destination, addressing not only shopping and entertainment needs but also curated, experience-led interactions.

Marks milestone 31st property; reinforces focus on pilgrimage-led hospitality markets  Grand Continent Hotels Limited has announced the launch of its new property in Rameshwaram, one of India’s most significant pilgrimage destinations, marking the brand’s 31st hotel. Located on Pamban Island, the contemporary four-star vegetarian hotel reflects the company’s continued focus on expanding in high-demand spiritual and leisure travel markets across India. The launch underscores the brand’s strategic emphasis on destinations witnessing consistent year-round footfall driven by pilgrimage tourism apart from key Business Cities. With Rameshwaram attracting a steady influx of domestic travellers, families, and spiritual seekers, the property is positioned to offer a comfortable, hygienic, and well-connected stay experience close to key landmarks. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ramesh Shiva, Founder & Managing Director, Grand Continent Hotels Limited, said, “The launch of our Rameshwaram property marks an important milestone as our 31st hotel and reinforces our focus on high-potential pilgrimage destinations. South India continues to be a strong growth market for us and we see sustained demand in destinations like Rameshwaram where travellers seek reliable, comfortable, and well-located accommodation. Going forward, we are coming up at Somnath, Varanasi and Ayodhya as we aim to expand across key high-demand micro-markets as we work towards building a 3,000-key portfolio over the next few years, while continuing to focus on operational consistency and guest experience.” The launch comes at a time when Grand Continent Hotels has expanded its portfolio to 31 properties across 17+ cities with over 1,850 keys, reflecting steady growth driven by its asset-light model. The company continues to see strong demand across spiritual circuits as well as emerging leisure destinations, which are increasingly driving organised hospitality growth. With a strong foundation in South India and a growing presence across North India, along with international markets such as Dubai and the USA, the company remains focused on building a scalable and sustainable hospitality network. Expansion plans will continue to prioritise high-demand micro-markets, including pilgrimage destinations, business hubs, and leisure-driven locations. The Rameshwaram hotel features 48 well-appointed rooms across categories including Grand Suite Rooms, Premium Rooms with Balcony, Grand Family Rooms, and Deluxe Rooms, designed with contemporary interiors and equipped with essential amenities such as high-speed Wi-Fi, smart TV, tea and coffee maker, electronic safe, and 24-hour hot water, along with wheelchair access for added convenience. The property also houses Flavours, a multi-cuisine pure vegetarian restaurant with 48 covers, offering Jain and Satvik meal options suited to the preferences of pilgrimage travellers, along with a dedicated play zone for families. Strategically located, the hotel provides easy access to key landmarks including Ramanathaswamy Temple (1.9 km), Rameshwaram Railway Station (within walking distance), Agnitheertham (2.9 km), and Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam National Memorial (5 km), making it a convenient choice for both religious and leisure visitors. Founded in 2011 by Mr. Ramesh Shiva, a hospitality professional with over three decades of experience, Grand Continent Hotels Limited has grown from a single 54-room property in Bengaluru to a 31-property portfolio with over 1,850 keys. The company has scaled through a disciplined, asset-light, lease-led model and achieved a consolidated topline of ₹73 crore. It was successfully listed on the NSE SME platform in March 2025 and is now targeting a 3,000-key portfolio across key domestic and select international markets.