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Hilton Inks Deal with Olive by Embassy to Open 150 Spark by Hilton Hotels in India

Bengaluru, India – November 20th, 2024 – Leading global hospitality company Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced the signing of a strategic licensing agreement (SLA) with Olive by Embassy to open 150 Spark by Hilton hotels across India, marking the brand’s debut in Asia Pacific. The agreement comes as a result of Hilton’s long-standing partnership with The Embassy Group, owners of Hilton Bengaluru Embassy Manyata Business Park and Hilton Garden Inn Bengaluru Embassy Manyata Business Park. This agreement reinforces Hilton’s ambitious growth in South Asia and brings a new premium economy brand to the dynamic Indian market. The first Spark by Hilton hotels will open in Southern India with a focus on Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

This landmark signing with Olive by Embassy underscores Hilton’s bold ambition in and long-term commitment to South Asia,” said Alan Watts, president, Asia Pacific at Hilton. “Spark by Hilton will address a gap in the Indian market, offering affordable stays without compromise, and capturing unmet demand for value and consistency across major and smaller cities. Not only will this partnership set the stage for record-breaking growth, but it also positions Hilton to achieve a commanding presence in one of the world’s largest lodging markets.”

Launched in 2023, with 100 hotels at various stages of development, Spark by Hilton is the fastest launch-to-open brand in Hilton’s history. The conversion-friendly, premium economy brand is aimed at the aspirational and value-seeking traveler and is renowned for delivering reliable essentials and friendly service for every guest at an accessible price point.

Spark by Hilton hotels in India will be characterized by thoughtful simplicity and reliable service. The public spaces will feature multi-functional seating from communal tables to rocking chairs, offering plenty of options for guests to enjoy breakfast, socialize or work throughout the day. Spark by Hilton will add value to the guest experience by offering a complimentary breakfast, featuring local items, so guests can fuel up before hitting the road. The brand will also offer a 24-hour retail market for on-the-go travelers.

As travel demand surges and the middle-class segment in India rises, Hilton plans to scale its focused service brands, such as Spark by Hilton, exemplifying the company’s dedication to bringing hotel brands that cater to every guest and every stay occasion. The brand will join Waldorf Astoria and Curio Collection by Hilton as newly introduced brands into South Asia, expanding the company’s portfolio in the region to eight distinct brands.

We are committed on expanding our presence in South Asia,said Kevin Jacobs, chief financial officer & president, Global Development, Hilton. “Rapid middle-class formation continues to take place across this dynamic region, where we see tremendous long-term growth prospects for Hilton. Following international debuts for Spark in the United Kingdom and Canada, there is a compelling opportunity for the brand’s flexible model, coupled with Hilton’s powerful network and commercial engine, to capitalize on the fast-growing premium economy segment in India. Alongside our longtime partner, The Embassy Group, we look forward to accelerating Hilton’s growth across this key market and welcoming many new guests into our network.”

Jitu Virwani, Chairman & Managing Director, Embassy Group, said, “Today’s agreement marks an important step forward in our partnership with Hilton. Spark by Hilton is the ideal brand to capitalize on the country’s growing middle-class, its infrastructure investment push, and its burgeoning hospitality sector. With Embassy’s deep understanding of the market, and the local expertise of our franchise partners, we believe that this is the beginning of an exciting journey to redefine the premium economy segment.”

Hilton’s recent signings across its luxury, full-service, and focused-service segments underscore the strength of its brand portfolio as the company expands into India’s major states and cities. Notable signings include the introduction of the award-winning Curio Collection in Bengaluru, Jaipur’s first Conrad, and the entry of the Hilton flagship brand into Udaipur and Lucknow. Waldorf Astoria in Jaipur, anticipated to open by 2027, further highlights the appeal of Hilton’s luxury offerings and reinforces the company’s commitment to growth in Tier II and III cities.

Kahraman Yigit, Co-founder & CEO, Olive by Embassy, says, “We are seeing a huge demand in the country for premium economy accommodation and reliable quality stay experiences. This gap is currently unmet. With no other product quite like it in the premium economy segment, Spark by Hilton is a much-needed, consistent brand that will provide an impetus for the overall market to grow. We believe that this disruptive offering is the right one for investors, developers, and owners looking to maximize their returns.”

In 2024 alone, Hilton has made significant strides across South Asia. The company made its debut in Nepal with the opening of Hilton Kathmandu and expanded its full-service portfolio with the opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Whitefield. Hilton Gurugram Baani City Centre, Hilton Garden Inn Surat, and Hilton Garden Inn Jabalpur are also on track to open by the end of the year.

Hilton’s accelerated growth in South Asia is fueled by its award-winning workplace culture, which positions the company as an employer of choice, attracting and retaining top talent in the industry. Hilton was recently recognized as the 1 Company to Work For in India by ‘Great Place to Work’ for the second consecutive year, and remains the only hospitality company in the market to achieve this prestigious recognition in both 2023 and 2024

First-Ever Hotel Innovation Barometer Reveals Key Insights by Les Roches & ILUNION Hotels

November 5th, 2024 – ILUNION Hotels and Les Roches Global Hospitality Education, one of the world’s leading institutions in hospitality management and luxury tourism education, have unveiled the results of the First Hotel Innovation Barometer during the III Global Summit by ILUNION Hotels. This pioneering study, conducted in collaboration between both organizations, provides a comprehensive view of how over 40 international hotel companies of various sizes in Spain and abroad are adopting innovation to enhance their competitiveness and meet future market demands.

The report offers a unique snapshot of the maturity level of innovation within the hotel sector. Moreover, it serves as a benchmark tool for identifying where a hotel company stands in relation to the rest of the market. The study evaluated seven key variables: strategy, technology, structure and processes, ecosystem, culture, competitive intelligence, and communication. The anonymous survey targeted CEOs and directors of Innovation, Technology, and Transformation from medium and large hotel companies, using objective metrics.

Training and Synergies as a Catalyst for Innovation

Nearly 60% of respondents stated that their brand does not allocate any specific budget for innovation. Among those that do have an innovation budget, most initiatives are driven by top executives rather than specialists in the field. The results show that only 25% of companies offer dedicated training programs in innovation.

As the qualitative report highlights, innovation goes beyond just technology; it is a process that creates value throughout the entire production chain, with significant room for improvement. Innovation is emerging as a critical tool for hotels to anticipate future trends, respond to the needs of both customers and employees, and explore new technologies.

Although most participants support collaboration and synergy among companies, the study reveals that about 50% of them are not yet interested in collaborating with startups.

Additionally, more than half of the respondents state that their companies proactively apply innovation, aiming to position themselves as market leaders or pioneers in the hotel industry. However, less than half of the participating companies successfully leverage innovation insights and intelligence from other industries.

Findings and Future Updates

The First Hotel Innovation Barometer demonstrates that while innovation is primarily driven by technology and strategic market alignment, leadership, training, and corporate partnerships are still lacking for further evolution.

“This barometer not only assesses the current state of innovation but also serves as a strategic tool for hotel companies to measure, understand, and improve their innovation capabilities,” said Carlos Bello, Director of Innovation at ILUNION Hotels. “Innovation is a key differentiating factor in such a competitive market, and this barometer shows us the direction we need to take,” he added.

Les Roches also emphasizes the importance of innovation as a driver of competitiveness: “This study encourages hotel companies to take decisive action to improve their processes and services, showing that collaboration with startups, as well as with academic, public, and tech organizations, is essential,” said Susana Garrido, Director of Innovation (Spark X Foundation) and EdTech at Les Roches.

Carlos Díez de la Lastra, CEO of Les Roches, added: “We are in the perfect moment to foster a culture of innovation. Our companies have all the tools they need to develop competitive projects that add value to our market. Two key aspects are crucial here: training and the creation of an innovative ecosystem that draws from other sectors, creating synergies and mutually beneficial agreements.”

EaseMyTrip announces Azadi Mega Sale, giving generous discounts on flights, hotels, holiday packages and more

Mumbai, July 31, 2024: EaseMyTrip.com, one of India’s leading online travel tech platforms has announced the Azadi Mega Sale, a special sale for the upcoming Independence Day. The sale will provide customers with a prolific lineup of discounts on all travel services. This sale will allow travelers to explore different destinations and experiences by providing attractive discounts on flights, hotels, buses, cab bookings, and holiday packages from July 30th to August 6th, 2024.

In order to access these amazing discounts, the customers need to use the promo code ‘EMTAZADI’ while availing the services through the EaseMyTrip app or website. Moreover, the customers can enjoy additional discounts and enhance their travel experience if they make a booking using ICICI Bank and American Express Bank Card using codes ‘EMTAZADI’ and ‘AMEXFEST’ respectively. The offer becomes even more enticing as every transaction during the sale period offers a chance to win gift vouchers from selected brand partners. During the sale period, the top spender will have the opportunity to win a free membership from EazyDiner, free cabin bags from Nasher Miles and exciting surprises from Beardo and Kapiva.

For the upcoming sale, EaseMyTrip has collaborated with reputed airline carriers like American Airlines, Alliance Air, Akasa Air, Air Mauritius, Air Astana, Air France, KLM, Delta Airlines, British Airways, Cambodia Angkor Air, Cathay Pacific Airways, Egypt Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Fly91, Gulf Air, ITA Airways, IndiGo, Japan Airlines, Kenya Airways, Kuwait Airlines,, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Myanmar Airlines, Oman Air, Philippine Airlines, Qantas Airways, Singapore, Saudi Airlines, Spice Jet, Turkish Airlines and Virgin Atlantic..

The selected prestigious hotels teaming up with EaseMyTrip for the sale are Sterling, Spree, Justa, Vits, Brij, Royal Orchid & Regenta, Suba Group, Pride, Club Mahindra, The Clarks, Amritara, Cygnet, Mastiff, Kyriad, Clarks Collection, Citrus, The Clarks, WelcomHeritage, Shrigo, Le Roi, Zone By, The Park, Fern & Beacon, Fab hotel, Byke, Beyond Stay, Inde Hotels, Starlit, Neemrana, One Earth, Tree Of Life, Ramee Group of Hotel, Jain Group, SumiYashree, Mount Group, Moustache, Vesta Hotels and Resort, Ananta Hotels, Swosti Group of Hotels & Resorts, Playotel, Treebo and Fab Hotel.

Mr Nishant Pitti, CEO & Co-founder of EaseMyTrip commented, “As we celebrate the spirit of Independence Day, we’re excited to announce our Azadi Mega Sale. Whether you’re planning a quick getaway or the adventure of a lifetime, our exclusive deals offer unbeatable prices on flights, hotels, and experiences worldwide. At EaseMyTrip, we’re committed to bringing you closer to the world, and there’s never been a better time to start your journey and celebrate the free-spirited wanderer in yourself”

To avail the exciting discounts and participate in the sale, customers need to book their services from July 30th to August 6th, 2024 using the coupon code ‘EMTAZADI’. After each transaction, the customers will receive an email regarding their booking along with the multiple gift vouchers. The gift vouchers can be redeemed by clicking on the “Redeem Now” button against each brand in the received mail.

Embrace the spirit of adventure on this Independence Day from 30th July to 6th August and commence new journeys and create everlasting memories, let this sale be your gateway to wandering to new destinations. This sale provides the opportunity to transform travel dreams into reality and celebrate Independence Day.