Latest news with #Keswani
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
India's Nom Nom Express targets 500 outlets in expansion
Aspect Hospitality has announced plans to expand its pan-Asian quick service restaurant (QSR) chain, Nom Nom Express, to 500 outlets by July 2026. Nom Nom Express is a delivery-only kitchen under the umbrella of Aspect Hospitality and Aspect Global. The brand's planned expansion strategy includes more than 50 outlets in the city of Mumbai, offering authentic Pan-Asian flavours directly to consumers' homes. Its menu includes dumplings, wok-tossed stir-fries, sushi rolls and ramen bowls, all made using quality ingredients and adhering to traditional recipes. Aspect Hospitality managing director Hitesh Keswani told Press Trust of India (PTI): "Opening another 25 stores by 31 July 2025 will take the total number of outlets to 50. 'In five years, the company aims to be a pan-India powerhouse in the F&B [food and beverage] space - with over 1,000 Nom Nom Express outlets, over 50 premium restaurant formats and at least two international cities in our portfolio.' According to the move is set to significantly increase the brand's footprint, which currently operates across the Indian cities of Pune, Mumbai and Hyderabad. Aspect Hospitality has also initiated a marketing campaign in Mumbai to promote the expansion. Asked about financial commitment for the expansion, Keswani stated: 'We are committing substantial investment to our expansion, confident in both our brand and the dynamic Indian QSR market. 'With the sector poised to reach over $27bn by 2025, fuelled by evolving consumer lifestyles and digital adoption, our strategic resource allocation will establish new outlets, upgrade infrastructure and refine operations.' The diverse offerings at Nom Nom Express draw inspiration from the Asian cuisines of China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. "India's Nom Nom Express targets 500 outlets in expansion" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Mint
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Your views on their content are taking Influencers places
Followers' views on influencers' social media posts are becoming their tickets to global events such as Wimbledon, Coachella and the F1 premiere. Companies such as JioStar, Warner Bros and Heineken are roping in creators to attend and promote these events. Take Sakshi Keswani, a comedy content creator with over 2 million followers on her Instagram handle @_beingsuku_. JioStar has flown Keswani to London for the second time to create content around the ongoing Wimbledon matches at the central court. Previously, the streaming platform sponsored her to attend the English Football League in May 2024. Keswani highlighted that the content she created at both these events performed well on social media and recorded a surge in her followers. 'I gained 30-60% new followers with the content I created at these events. That is because my content usually revolves around light-hearted humour, but at these sporting events, especially at the time they were happening and being talked about, my videos got pushed to new users, especially those interested in the sports or curious about them. I also created a video with footballer Bukayo Saka last time that went viral," she highlighted. Manav Chabra, a lifestyle creator who is also at Wimbledon through his collaboration with JioStar, said that the best part about shooting content at such events is the rawness and unpredictability. 'The biggest difference in the content created at these events is that it is around the experience rather than just filming a planned piece. As it is immersive, and we are figuring things out in real time, we must be on our toes and think quickly about how to capture it in our own style," Chabra said. The other events he has travelled to in the past through brand sponsorships include Coachella, the Champions League, the F1 Race, and Tomorrowland. A single Wimbledon Debenture ticket can cost up to ₹1.2 lakh. But it is not just about the cost; the access they get is a bigger advantage. In most cases, the event and access are considered the main compensation for the collaboration, as it is a fully sponsored trip, said Priyanshu Goel, associate manager for growth and talent partnerships at influencer marketing agency Clout. 'However, there are times when mega influencers with millions of followers charge the brand a fee over and above the sponsorship. These collaborations are mostly offered to bigger creators with a pan Indian followership, and the views and followers are thus an important metric considered for the partnership," he said. Goel added that since the brand's goal is to create awareness about the event, it also looks for creators who create content or have a large audience interested in that event. This trend has become prevalent after covid and picked up pace in the past 2-3 years, he said. Exclusive access Shubham Gaur, who created content around comedy and cricket, attended the International Cricket Council T20 World Cup in partnership with Meta. 'At such events, we don't just get the best spot at the stadium but also the pitch and the players. Being among the only five influencers who attended the match, I got the chance to spend a lot of time with both Indian and international cricketers at breakfast and practice matches. There were dedicated time slots for us to shoot content with the players, besides that," Gaur said. Similarly, Anshu Bisht, popularly known as Gamerfleet, attended the premiere of F1 in partnership with Warner Bros in New York. 'I started creating videos as a side hustle in 2017 while working small jobs such as a tuition teacher and working at a biscuit depot in Haldwani. My last job, which I quit to pursue full-time content creation in 2020, was at a stock brokerage firm. From there to attending an event with celebrities like Lewis Hamilton and Brad Pitt was a dream come true. For young gamers that watch my content, this becomes an aspirational story that brings them closer to both my content and the movie I promoted," Bisht said. 'This trend of inviting the creators to events is most common among broadcasters, OTT platforms, beauty and lifestyle brands and tourism boards," said Ayush Guha, business head of talent management agency Creator18. 'They perceive the return on investment in terms of earned media value, which is the monetary worth of media coverage a brand receives, because their ultimate aim is to increase awareness about an event, more than selling anything per se." Clout's Goel added that international creator trips tend to perform 30-70% better than standard influencer campaigns, thanks to multi-format storytelling, higher engagement on travel-led content and the aspirational value they build around the brand. Hype for event For the companies sponsoring creators to such events, their content creates hype about the event within their audiences. 'By collaborating with content creators, we're able to connect with fans in more real and personal ways. These creators, all addressing their unique audiences, bring the storied competition to life in real time, capturing the atmosphere, the emotion, and the moments that often go unseen," a spokesperson from JioStar said, replying to queries shared by Mint. 'This helps us deepen fan engagement while also reaching new viewers with lesser-known facets of the event, amplifying our reach in a way that feels organic and relatable. Fans get fresh, behind-the-scenes access, while we build a stronger, more vibrant community around the sport at the same time," the JioStar spokesperson added. Platforms such as Meta and YouTube sometimes act as a bridge between the organizers of such events and the creators on their platforms. Their aim is to ensure mutual benefit where creators get more engagement in the form of likes, views and comments by creating exclusive content at such events and the organizers get marketing benefits with better return on investment than regular content. 'As a platform used by hundreds of creators, our goal is to empower them with the creative freedom to achieve their full potential. To support this objective, we strive to provide creators with access to unique opportunities that align with their ambitions. In some cases, we collaborate with ecosystem partners to facilitate access to events in a mutually beneficial way for all parties involved," a Meta spokesperson said in reply to queries shared by Mint. Apart from the ICC Champions Trophy in UAE in 2025 that Gaur attended, Meta has also facilitated creator presence at other events like the Olympics in France in 2024, ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023 in South Africa and the Cannes film festival.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
UAE expands Golden Visa to attract top global talent in AI, climate and tech sector
Dubai issued 158,000 Golden Visas in 2023, increasingly granted to professionals in AI, climate tech, and cloud computing as the UAE shifts focus to innovation-driven growth. (Representative Image) The UAE's widely-recognised Golden Visa programme, once a magnet primarily for foreign capital and real estate investment, is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Initially introduced in 2019 to attract long-term foreign residents through investment-led pathways, the programme is now zeroing in on specialised talent, especially in artificial intelligence, climate tech, and advanced digital sectors. This evolution reflects a larger strategic ambition: not just to host wealth, but to cultivate a workforce aligned with the country's economic and innovation goals. The shift became especially pronounced post-2023, when the government moved beyond its pandemic-era push for capital influx and began empowering key federal entities, including the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Sports, and the Abu Dhabi Residents Office, to identify and attract high-value individuals worldwide. Rather than focusing solely on monetary investments, authorities are now increasingly evaluating applicants based on their capacity to contribute to local ecosystems, whether through technical expertise, entrepreneurial leadership, or sector-specific knowledge. Rising Numbers and Strategic Talent hunt According to industry observers, among them Gaurav Keswani, founder and managing director of JSB, a Dubai-based advisory firm specialising in company formation and visa services, the UAE is now actively targeting professionals in emerging technology and sustainability sectors. Speaking to local news outlet Khaleej Times, Keswani noted that the Golden Visa programme has shifted focus from purely investment-led entry to attracting individuals who can contribute long-term value. Data from 2023 reveals that 158,000 Golden Visas were granted in Dubai alone, underscoring both the scale and strategic success of the initiative. Among these recipients: 40% were investors 60% came from other high-value categories 22% were professionals from banking and non-banking sectors, including those in AI and climate change roles including a growing segment of individuals working in AI, IoT, cloud computing, and environmental solutions. This approach mirrors the UAE's parallel push to become a hub for global finance and innovation. Over the past few years, eight of the world's top 20 hedge funds have set up offices in the UAE, collectively managing an estimated $48 billion in business. But this influx of capital has created an equally urgent demand for executive talent, from CEOs and CTOs to AI consultants and infrastructure architects, capable of scaling these operations. 'The government has realised that investment alone doesn't build a sustainable economy,' Keswani explained. 'There's now a visible focus on people who can actively shape and grow industries, not just fund them.' Expanding Eligibility, Rising Demand Originally aimed at investors and property buyers, the Golden Visa's scope now includes a broad array of profiles: scientists, outstanding students, coders, private wealth managers, and graduates of globally top-ranked universities. As new industries become national priorities, the visa programme is swiftly adapting to accommodate professionals who can advance them. Keswani's firm, which has helped over 250 individuals secure Golden Visas in just the last six months, reports a surge in applicants from niche sectors such as AI ethics, green finance, and climate engineering. Many of these candidates are either driving large-scale innovation projects or are themselves investors bringing both capital and expertise into the region. 'The last five months alone have seen a jump in shortlists for cloud specialists, private bankers, and AI developers,' Keswani noted. 'These are people often behind billion-dollar strategies, not just jobseekers.' According to a local news agency report, the programme will likely continue diversifying, with more categories expected to be added, particularly around digital economy domains, including decentralised technologies and energy transition roles. Built-In Flexibility for Global Professionals What truly sets the UAE's Golden Visa apart from similar long-term residency schemes is its structural flexibility. Professionals are not tied to a single employer and can freely transition into entrepreneurship or independent consultancy without losing their residency status. This flexibility, paired with residency terms of up to ten years, has made the programme especially attractive to senior global talent. Another key feature is the decoupling of investment from residency rights. For instance, a resident can liquidate their original investment and reallocate assets into different sectors without jeopardising their visa status. This legal separation allows for greater asset mobility, a major draw for high-net-worth individuals and top-tier executives. Targeting the Asia-Pacific talent pool has also become a strategic priority. As the UAE continues to position itself as a nexus between East and West, it is not just pulling in capital or companies, it's bringing in the people behind them.
Mint
09-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
India's hotel industry eyes double-digit growth in FY26 despite geopolitical headwinds
Even as geopolitical tensions tempered the first quarter of FY26, India's hotel industry is confident of steady growth in the full fiscal year. Many listed hotel players expect double-digit growth supported by improving consumer incomes, expanding infrastructure, and disciplined pricing strategies. This follows a strong FY25 that saw most hotel companies reporting strong revenue and profit gains, driven by rising travel demand from both business and leisure travellers. In the current year, too, the industry sees robust overall demand, with new hotel openings and increased investor interest signalling confidence in the sector's future. Also read | India's organised hotel industry has recovered to pre-pandemic levels: Report According to Chander K. Baljee, managing director of Royal Orchid Hotels, Q1 of FY26 saw some challenges in the North and West due to tensions with Pakistan, but overall the impact was limited. 'Most of our hotels are managed properties in the south, which were less affected because of geography," he toldMint. Baljee said Royal Orchid added 40 hotels in FY25 and plans to open about 30 more this year. Profits from these new hotels and renovations are expected to show up in the second half of FY26. Meanwhile, profitability in existing hotels remained strong, he added. Patanjali G. Keswani, chairman and managing director of Lemon Tree Hotels, had earlier toldMintthat both business and leisure travel across the industry slowed down after the Pahalgam attack in Kashmir and a brief rise in covid cases. 'Despite that, we are still on track to grow in mid-teens for the entire fiscal," he said. Keswani said with the country's economy growing at 6-7% in real terms (after adjusting for inflation) and 10-11% in nominal terms, and with more Indians earning around ₹3 lakh a month, a new group of travellers is entering the market each year. He also pointed out that better transport connections and more people owning SUVs is encouraging drive vacations and hotel stays. Attracting investments Keswani added that hotel companies that have recently gone public have attracted serious investors who want clearer and more transparent business information. In FY25, Schloss Bangalore (parent of The Leela), ITC Hotels (post demerger from ITC Ltd), Ventive Hospitality, and Brigade Hotels went public or filed for IPOs. A number of companies are likely to follow this year as well. Mandeep Lamba, president & CEO (South Asia) at hotel consultancy HVS Anarock, toldMintthat while geopolitical uncertainty may continue to cast a shadow globally, domestic demand remains strong enough to support growth in India's hotel sector. 'I don't foresee any major pressure on hotel rates. Compared to global benchmarks, pricing of hotel rooms in India is still relatively reasonable," he said. While a few overheated markets may see minor corrections in FY26, Lamba pointed to a noticeable shift in industry behaviour post-pandemic, where hotel operators are no longer reacting to short-term demand dips with deep rate cuts. Also read | Hotel industry's double-digit growth to continue this fiscal, says ICRA report 'There's a far more mature understanding that the market can sustain higher rates," Lamba said. 'Over the past two to three years, hotel operators have gained the confidence to hold pricing. Any rate corrections or adjustments today are a part of planned revenue strategies, rather than reactive pricing cuts." Prashant Biyani market analyst at Elara Capital toldMintthat for FY26, they expect a healthy double-digit growth for the industry driven by both average room rates and occupancy, He also expects more hotel companies to go public and international hotel chains to ramp up their presence in India. He said the April-June quarter of FY26 will likely do well, though not as well as earlier projected, as tensions between India and Pakistan in end-April and early May marred air travel. That said, the impact may be limited, since many north-western tourist spots enter a lean season in peak summer anyway. Lamba of HVS further added that supply in most Indian markets continues to lag demand. 'India has emerged as one of the top 8-10 global markets in terms of demand, but new supply isn't keeping pace," he said. 'With infrastructure development progressing rapidly, there's no real reason for rates to decline—unless triggered by an unforeseen macro disruption." Strong FY25 In FY25, most large hotel chains showed strong revenue growth. Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), which runs the Taj brand, saw revenues rising 23% to ₹8,335 crore. ITC Hotels' revenue jumped 60% to ₹3,559 crore. Other chains like Lemon Tree, Chalet Hotels, Schloss Bangalore (The Leela), and Juniper Hotels grew 15-25%. EIH, which operates Oberoi Hotels, grew its revenues 9%, and Royal Orchid Hotels, 8.7%. Looking at profits, EIH and ITC Hotels both reported steady profit growth in FY25, with ITC's net profit rising from ₹424 crore to ₹638 crore. Vikram Oberoi, MD & CEO of EIH Ltd, in the company's recently concluded earnings call, said the company will have more opportunity to drive average room rate growth within the Oberoi Hotel ecosystem. 'With strong demand, with everything that's happening in India, over the medium to long term, we'll be able to drive greater premiums in Oberoi," he said. Meanwhile, IHCL saw net profit rise 53% to ₹2,038 crore. Lemon Tree's profit grew by 34%, and Juniper Hotels' profit nearly tripled. Schloss Bangalore turned a small loss in FY24 into a ₹47.66 crore profit in FY25. Samhi Hotels also moved from an ₹80 crore loss in FY24 to a ₹20 crore profit. Also read | Indian hotels saw a tepid Q1. Will the next quarter bring cheer? Chalet Hotels, the owner of several Marriott and Taj branded properties in India, saw its profit drop by nearly half, due to a non-cash adjustment but remained Ebitda positive. Its revenue grew 22% on the back of higher average daily room rates being charged and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation —a measure of operating efficiency—increased 28%, and profit before tax rose 61%. The one-time ₹202 crore non-cash accounting adjustment lowered net profit. Excluding that, profit after tax was up 24%. Royal Orchid's revenue from operations increased steadily but profit slipped marginally by ₹3.3 crore. Baljee said profits were slightly lower last year partly because the company bought a partner's stake in its Bangalore hotel and paid upfront costs for renovating its flagship hotel in Mumbai. 'India's hotel industry RevPAR grew by 13-15% in FY25, largely due to strong room rate growth of 11-13%," said Elara's BIyani, adding that growth could have been even better if not for the dip in travel during the April-June quarter because of the general elections. RevPAR, or revenue per available room, is a simple way hotels measure how much money they're making from all their rooms, whether they're booked or not.
Time of India
31-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Hospitality IPO: Travel and hospitality companies prepare for IPO amid rising domestic tourism
ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT New Delhi|Mumbai: About half a dozen travel and hospitality companies are preparing to go public buoyed by favourable demand-supply dynamics, rising domestic tourism, and bullish macroeconomic fundamentals. Those in the queue include Oyo, Pride Hotels Group, and boutique brand LaRiSa Hotels & Resorts. Lemon Tree Hotels plans to list unit Fleur Hotels in the next two years, Patanjali Keswani, chairman and MD, told ET. Last year, Keswani had said that the chain will be debt-free when the listing reported on Thursday that hospitality chain Oyo approached five investment banks for a meeting with key shareholder SoftBank in London next month that could determine the company's way forward for an initial public offering (IPO). Also, Pride Hotels Group, which has a presence in Delhi's Aerocity area, and recently expanded its footprint in Gujarat, through new signings in Gandhinagar and Surat, has begun initial groundwork for an IPO, said people familiar with the company declined to comment. Pride Hotels Group has over 60 hotels comprising over 5,500 keys across hospitality chain LaRiSa Hotels & Resorts is also aiming to go public, director Randhir Narayan told ET. The chain operates about 32 hotels comprising around 1,100 brands include LaRiSa Resorts, AM Hotel Kollection and 8fold by LaRiSa. The chain also does third-party hotel property management through its AM Hotel Kollection brand."The business is profitable, cash flow is there, and every month, we are trying to bring to the market a rebranded or a conversion hotel from our portfolio," said Narayan. "The plan is to (launch the) IPO and our timeframe is as soon as possible. We are hopeful that sometime this year it should come to fruition."Brookfield Asset Management-owned The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, which concluded its IPO on May 28, will get listed on June April, Prestige Hospitality Ventures Ltd, a wholly-owned unit of property developer Prestige Estates Projects Ltd, filed a draft prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to raise up to Rs 2,700 crore through an IPO, while Travel Food Services, with a strong presence in India's airport food and lounge sector, secured Sebi nod in April for a Rs 2,000 crore November, Brigade Hotel Ventures, a wholly-owned unit of Brigade Enterprises, submitted a draft prospectus to Sebi for a Rs 900-crore IPO. The company aims to cut debt with the share sale proceeds besides considering inorganic growth are also enthused by promising returns of already-listed hotel stocks in the past year."With India's tourism industry booming, there is likely to be a strong demand for hospitality stocks among domestic investors. The sector is benefiting from rising travel, increasing disposable incomes, and a post-pandemic resurgence in both leisure and business travel," said Dharmesh Mehta, MD and CEO, DAM Capital. "Moreover, listed hotel stocks are currently trading at reasonable valuations, making the sector attractive from a pricing perspective. As a result, hotel companies coming to the market with sensible valuations should be able to attract healthy investor interest in the primary market," he such as Ventive Hospitality and Samhi Hotels have risen more than 18% and nearly 52% respectively from their IPO price."Indian hotel companies are tapping public markets to fuel their next phase of growth, reduce debt, and scale operations," said Amrendra Singh, head of equity capital markets at SBI Capital.
