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Jan 6, 2025 | 
luxuryfacts.com | Suman Tarafdar
Coffee and Indore are two words that usually don’t go together. Especially not when the former implies a roastery. Coffee, and especially coffee culture, doesn’t have long antecedents in India. However, in keeping with the increasing interest in quality coffee offerings, a number of new players are coming up with options that cater to discerning coffee drinkers.
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Sep 9, 2024 | 
luxuryfacts.com | Suman Tarafdar
1970s Bollywood. Whatever your opinion on the quality of content, few can argue that it was copious – and very glamorous. New filmmakers gave voice to the growing angst of India’s youth. A new generation of star-actors effectively broke the previous studio system to become ‘superstars’. Music and lyrics became less sugary sweet and more reflective of the social realities.
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Aug 27, 2024 | 
luxuryfacts.com | Suman Tarafdar
LF Says: ★★★★★A getaway suffused with grandeur. As India’s first Raffles completed three years last week, Raffles Udaipur has, in this short time, set the benchmark for luxury hospitality, not just in Rajasthan, but arguably in the country. The luxury brand, whose genesis lies about a century and a half ago in Singapore – but very much rooted in classic Victorian architecture, opened its first Indian outpost in the midst of the pandemic.
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Aug 26, 2024 | 
businessindia.co | Suman Tarafdar
The years 1857 and 1947 are two hugely significant landmarks in the history of modern India. The period within was one of fervent movement, as multiple trends, often contradictory, even hostile, shaped the sub-continent. Wars, famine, infrastructure building, reform and anti-reform movements, transformations in agriculture and trade, myriad cultural expressions – all went along simultaneously alongside a clamour for independence in these nine odd decades.
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Aug 24, 2024 | 
outlookindia.com | Attacks Car |Suman Tarafdar
Legions of fans around the world were devastated as their beloved Crawley residence Downton Abbey is exited primetime after six massively successful season runs. Given the ephemeral nature of a TV series, the closest that Downtonians come to the real thing is when they visit the setting - just as regal and posh as viewed-on-telly - the Highclere Castle, open to visitors in July and August (highclerecastle.co.uk).
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Jul 26, 2024 | 
luxuryfacts.com | Suman Tarafdar
An (estimated) $600 million wedding. One that lasted a few months. One whose coverage was splashed across the media. Why did it cost so much? Reportedly $10 million was paid to fly down just one singer – for an evening performance. Justin Beiber in Mumbai. Undisclosed sums were also paid to Rihanna (who performed in Jamnagar). To Katy Perry (who performed in Cannes). To Backstreet Boys (who performed in Italy).
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Jul 14, 2024 | 
businessindia.co | Suman Tarafdar
Indians are heading forest-wards in unprecedented numbers to spot the elusive fauna that dot protected national parks. The post-Covid era is witnessing a significant spurt in wildlife tourism in India. According to hospitality consultants Hotelivate, at the start of 2022, there were 1,139 branded hotel rooms catering to wildlife tourism. By 2025, this number is expected to reach 2,793 rooms – a 145 per cent growth in four years at a CAGR of 25 per cent per annum.
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Jul 13, 2024 | 
businessindia.co | Suman Tarafdar
Pink cherry blossoms, check. Massive horse at entrance, check. Katana grill and dragon murals, check. Golden arches, abundant. Red, black and gold all over with dim lighting, absolutely. Yes, US headquartered PF Chang’s, with its signature ‘American Asian’ offerings, is firmly on its way to expansion in India, opening a second outlet in NCR’s Gurgaon recently. The first PF Chang’s opened in Mumbai, and now the roll-out plan for India has gathered steam.
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Jul 6, 2024 | 
deccanherald.com | Suman Tarafdar
Vaibhav Industrial Estate, Govandi, in the rather grimy area of Chembur, is not quite the usual jaunt of Mumbai’s swish set. Yet, amid this industrial locale were created a few spectacular blown glass treasures, courtesy of Virginia-based Grant Garmezy who was in India recently to conduct workshops. Garmezy, whose works retail all around the world, is a veteran of the craft.
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Jun 27, 2024 | 
businessindia.co | Suman Tarafdar
Even though the hotel is located in a rather busy urban zone, it functions effectively as a resort, with a range of experiences to engage guests. Yes, there is an ‘experience manager’ at hand to help! The immersive experiences include a variety of entertainment programmes. “This is a Goa vibe, so music is an intrinsic part,” explains Rajpal. “There is an international vibe though.
