Author: Asmita Mukherjee | Hyderabad

 India’s culinary heritage can become one of the country’s strongest tourism assets, but only if it is documented, preserved and integrated into policy and hospitality education, industry leaders said at a panel discussion during the 15th International Heritage Tourism Conclave, organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) at the Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad. The session, ‘Food as a Tourism Asset’, moderated by Chef Thomas Zacharias, Founder, The Locavore, brought together Chef Manjit Gill, President, Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA); Chef Madhu W. Krishnan, President, Bocuse d’Or India; Sanjay Thakur, Principal, Institute of Hotel Management (IHM),…

Luxury hotels today are moving beyond conventional regional food festivals to curate experiences that celebrate India’s lesser known culinary heritage. At Permit to Grill in Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre (NHCC), Forest & Fire is one such initiative. Curated by culinary explorer, food entrepreneur and founder of Prana Superfoods, Chef Harshita Kakwani, the limited period festival shines a spotlight on the indigenous food traditions of Central India. More than introducing diners to unfamiliar dishes, it revives recipes, ingredients and cooking techniques that have nourished forest communities for generations, long before sustainability entered mainstream conversations. The menu celebrates indigenous ingredients, seasonal cooking and…

Asmita Mukherjee | Hyderabad  There was a time when hotels were simply one element within a mixed-use development, sitting alongside retail, offices and residences. Today, that equation is changing rapidly. Hospitality is no longer an add-on. It is becoming the force that shapes how these developments are planned, how people interact with them and ultimately how they perform financially. Across India’s urban centres, developers are rethinking the role of hotels, restaurants, wellness spaces and entertainment. Rather than creating places people visit for a single purpose, they are building destinations where work, leisure, shopping and social experiences blend seamlessly. In Hyderabad,…

In an industry where rapid expansion is often fuelled by external capital, Prajwal Lokesh has charted a different course. As the Founder and CEO of Lokesh Hospitality, he has built one of Bengaluru’s most recognised independent hospitality groups by focusing on sustainable growth, operational excellence and experience-led concepts. From reviving iconic establishments like Chin Lung and Kalinga to creating contemporary destinations that resonate with today’s consumers, Lokesh has successfully blended the city’s rich hospitality heritage with evolving dining preferences. In an exclusive conversation with Asmita Mukherjee, Prajwal Lokesh shares his insights on scaling a founder-led business. What have been the…

Hidden Haven Every city has that one place everyone talks about but very few have actually been to. In Hyderabad, that place is See. At a time when restaurants are busy chasing Instagram reels, influencer collaborations and online reservations, See has quietly chosen the opposite route. Hidden inside TheySee in Jubilee Hills, this intimate 22 seater cocktail bar has no public reservations, no walk ins and no visible social media presence. You get in because someone who has already experienced it believes you should too. The mystery begins with a bright red door, open it and the city disappears. Bathed…

India’s restaurant industry has embraced premiumisation over the past few years. From chef-led tasting menus to experiential dining spaces, consumers are increasingly willing to pay for ambience as much as the food. Yet one category has largely remained outside this transformation: classic North Indian cuisine. Amit Bagga, co-founder and CEO of Daryaganj believes it is time to change that. With the launch of Daryaganj GOLD, the restaurant chain is betting that Butter Chicken, Dal Makhani and Kebabs deserve the same premium setting that diners have come to associate with modern Indian or global cuisines. The move comes as the company…

Asmita Mukherjee | Hyderabad The traditional playbook of filling rooms and maximising occupancy is beginning to lose its dominance in India’s luxury hospitality sector as changing consumer preferences force hotels to rethink how they generate revenue. While occupancy, Average Daily Rate (ADR) and Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) remain the industry’s benchmark indicators, evolving demand for experiential dining, wellness, entertainment, destination weddings and blended business-leisure travel is steadily reshaping commercial strategies. In Bengaluru, one of the country’s most competitive hotel markets, operators are increasingly diversifying beyond room sales, with ancillary businesses emerging as critical profit centres. According to Sushma Khichar,…

As geopolitical uncertainty, rising international travel costs, and the Prime Minister’s appeal to avoid non-essential foreign travel begin to reshape travel decisions, India’s hospitality industry finds itself at a defining inflection point. What may have once been read as a short term behavioural shift is now increasingly being seen by industry leaders as the trigger for a deeper structural change, the rise of a more diversified and resilient domestic tourism economy. Even before this shift gained momentum, the sector was already demonstrating steady underlying strength. According to the HVS ANAROCK Hospitality Monitor, April 2026 saw average room rates holding between…

India’s hospitality sector is in the midst of a defining phase, one marked not by short-term cycles, but by deep structural transformation. Domestic travel demand, evolving consumer aspirations, and rapid infrastructure development are collectively reshaping the industry’s growth trajectory, while new asset classes and investment models are redefining how hospitality is conceived, built, and operated. In this exclusive conversation, Manav Thadani, Managing Director, Hotelivate-Savills, offers a nuanced perspective on the forces powering this momentum and the long-term implications for India’s tourism and hospitality ecosystem. Asmita Mukherjee | Hyderabad India’s hospitality sector is witnessing unprecedented growth. What are the key forces…

Asmita Mukherjee | Hyderabad As India’s urban workforce becomes increasingly mobile and students continue to migrate to education and employment hubs, the managed living sector is undergoing a significant transformation. What was once viewed as an alternative accommodation option is now evolving into a lifestyle-driven category where convenience, community and experience play an equally important role. At the forefront of this shift is Tribe Stays, a managed living platform that is building a hospitality-led ecosystem for students, young professionals and corporate travellers. For Shantam Mehra, Co-Founder of Tribe Stays, the future of managed living extends far beyond providing a bed…