26 minute read
UPFRONT
AIR MILES
Business Traveller India talks to Parinitaa Rajgarhiaa, founder of Zero Latency, Mumbai about her journey into the V.R gaming industry, her insights on the expansion of this sector and her advice for budding entrepreneurs.
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How did you begin your journey in the world of Virtual Gaming?
I love travelling and trying new experiences. I was in Bangkok in early 2019 and experienced zero latency there. I was blown away by the experience and amazed by how it transported me to a different world. I had never tried anything like this before. I then thought that India definitely is the right market and needs experiences like this for people to enjoy on weekends and a change from the usual monotonous office dinners and off-sites. It is something revolutionary and VR is the future, so why not? That’s how the idea of getting this to India cropped up and here we are – with the mind-blowing revolutionary experience. On a lighter note, the avid gamer my husband is added to my confidence that the concept is required and will have a fantastic market in India, and which better city to start from than Mumbai!
What do you think the future of V.R is going to be like in India?
In spite of the potential that VR has, the pace of growth for VR had been lacklustre since its invention in the 1960s. According to reports, it was predicted to be mainstream by 1994 but it never really took off then. However, the growth in VR gaming in 2019 was spectacular at 25 per cent and going ahead, it is expected to grow to 30 per cent from 2020 to 2027. The Asia-Pacific region dominates the global VR gaming market with a 40 per cent share of global revenue and is expected to do so for the next five to seven years. Within this region, South Korea and India are expected to witness a remarkable demand for VR games driven further by the higher disposable income of these countries and technological advancements in the gaming and entertainment industries. After overcoming the drawbacks of traditional VR which restricted the VR experience to be stationary, isolating and expensive, the onset of the “Free Roam VR” experience is driving the launch of VR arcades. Furthermore, the active and immersive experience that these arcades provide, forces the gamers to keep coming back.
What’s next for Zero Latency?
Zero Latency has come a long way since its launch in August 2019 in Mumbai. It has revolutionised the concept of gaming in the city and made VR gaming synonymous with Zero Latency. There is already a second location at Hyderabad too (since December 2021) that we are managing and that has also witnessed a great response. So now of course, with the pandemic behind us, we want to take Zero Latency across the country and God willing by early next year you should see a few more across the country!
What are a few things that we would always find in your carryon luggage?
Few very essential things (for me) which will always find a place in my carry-on luggage are a book, my airpods, my small medicine kit with the basic pills, my iPad and my vanity!
What’s your go-to travel destination and why?
It has to be Goa! It's relaxing, it's chilled. There are innumerable flights at all times from Mumbai and it never disappoints you! Whether it’s a family vacation or party time with friends, it’s the easiest go-to choice for me
What advice would you like to impart to fellow entrepreneurs?
My advice to fellow entrepreneurs would be- think out of the box and be persistent in what you choose. There are a plethora of career options which are witnessing a robust growth such as gamers, Youtubers, streamers or digital content creators. Gaming which was completely male-dominated now has females matching up the numbers! Hence, we need to break that glass ceiling and be resilient and pursue unconventional career choices because India needs that! Yes, entering an industry comes with high stakes, but also high rewards! So, take the leap and let's all strive to give India a mark up on the world map!
THE ST. REGIS NEW YORK
HOTEL
OFTHE MONT H
THE ST. REGIS NEW YORK on Fi h Avenue has been lauded as one of Manhattan’s most luxurious hotels. e hotel embodies an extravagant spirit with a resplendent grand roo op ballroom that o ers stunning views of the cityscape. e hotel features designer suites, like e Dior suite, which is meticulously designed to t the French aesthetic. e Milano suite is embellished with opulent Italian furnishings, while the Bentley Suite o ers a more contemporary design inspired by Bentley’s motorcars. Experience royalty with lavish amenities, including the classic St. Regis Butler Service. Astor Court, the hotel’s ne-dining lounge prepares the choicest seasonal dishes with extremely fresh, locallysourced ingredients. An iconic location on Fi h Avenue, the hotel's King Cole Bar is known for its specialty cocktails and canapés. e St. Regis New York is indeed a haven of imperial luxury. marriott.com
MODERN ELEGANCE AWAITS AT THE WESTIN GRAND MUNICH
A luxury property that can fulfill all your event based needs
At The Westin Grand Munich, an ideal setting is provided for every travel experience. From restorative relaxation, dynamic gatherings to revitalising retreats. The hotel is nestled in Munich's Bogenhausen district, around the corner from the English Garden and minutes away from the city centre by subway. One can unwind in the hotel's spectacular indoor pool, steam bath or in one of three different saunas. Treat yourself to an indulgent experience at the 1,500-squaremeter ISAR Spa.
Along with numerous worldrenowned sights and attractions. The bavarian capital enchants visitors with its traditional charm combined with modern style. The location of The Westin Grand Munich is ideal for discovering
the Bavarian metropolis as it is just a few minutes from the city center, so there's absolutely nothing to keep guests from going on an exploratory tour. The English Garden right around the corner of our hotels is bigger than New York’s Central Park.
The Westin Grand Munich's meeting spaces are anchored by the 850-squaremeter ballroom, an elegant setting for any event. Regardless of what requirements you have for your conference in Munich, their large selection of conference rooms can offer you the right space for your meeting or dinner. From small meeting rooms with fixed seating to spaces that can be divided or combined, all the way to a magnificent ballroom, the hotel features a range of individually customisable options. At the Westin Grand Munich, everything is designed to support the guests' well-being and enhance productivity. From healthy dining options to enriching amenities, The Westin Grand Munich ensures all event attendees leave feeling empowered and recharged.
CUISINE
Catering plays a key role in the success of an event. We offer a variety of options to suit every taste. Traditional Bavarian restaurants or international cuisine, stylish bars or delicious baked goods – the hotel has an expansive offering of delicious food. There are additional spaces available designated for private dining, or one can rent out the restaurants exclusively for the event.
DISCOVER #BEMUNIQUE
With #bemunique The Westin Grand Munich promises their customers unprecedented flexibility when it comes to choosing the right hotel for their meeting and event needs in Munich. Together with the Four Points by Sheraton Munich Arabellapark, located just across the street the hotels form a large conference center with 21 meeting rooms and 1073 rooms.
LOCATION
Located close to the English Garden one can reach the city centre and the main train station in ten minutes using the subway. Munich trade fair grounds are directly reachable by bus within 25 minutes. Whether you’re just arriving or continuing onward, Munich Airport is a quick 22 miles away.
The Westin Grand Munich conference packages are all about the comfort and well-being of your guests. Total relaxation, excellent meals, and healthy snacks for in between.
SPECIAL OFFERINGS:
l Exclusive restaurant spaces and ballrooms available for private breakfasts and gala dinners for up to 800 guests l Possibility for approved Indian caterers to take over the kitchen l Minimum of 2 Indian Breakfast items
50 YEARS OF THE WESTIN GRAND MUNICH
2022 marks the 50th anniversary of Munich’s iconic The Westin Grand Munich hotel located at the Arabellapark. 50 years of memories, exciting changes throughout the decades, unforgettable guests and employees but most of all 50 years of a successful journey. Walk in the footsteps of the many who have celebrated their most important moments with us, one of the leading convention hotels in Europe.
TO CELEBRATE 50 YEARS OF THE WESTIN GRAND MUNICH WE HAVE CURATED A FEW SPECIAL OFFERS:
l Receive double Marriott Bonvoy points l Complimentary Welcome Drink l Cumulatively every paid 50th DDR is on us l Cumulatively every paid 50th room is on us and will be upgraded l Rewarding your repeat business: receive 5% of the total invoice, if your second event takes place within the next 6 months
munich-meetings.com
THE UNBOUND COLLECTION BY HYATT BRAND TO DEBUT IN INDIA WITH THE NOOR-US-SABAH PALACE IN BHOPAL
HYATT ANNOUNCED PLANS for the debut of e Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand in India with the signing of a management agreement for Bhopal’s Noor-UsSabah Palace. One of Bhopal’s oldest and most sought-a er hotels, Noor-Us-Sabah Palace will undergo extensive refurbishment to join e Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand as a 60-room heritage hotel and is expected to open in 2025. Spread across 18 acres, the hotel was originally built as a royal residence in the 1920s by Bhopal’s erstwhile ruler, Begum Sultan Jehan and it was subsequently converted into a hotel in 1998. e hotel will be completely renovated to bring alive the history and legacy of the Nawab’s royal residence through its interior design, and its storied past will be harnessed to deliver unique and authentic experiences. e hotel will also provide a distinctive and unique location for weddings and events, in addition to catering to premium business and leisure travellers. hyatt.com
IHG STRENGTHENS PORTFOLIO IN RAJASTHAN WITH A CROWNE PLAZA RESORT SIGNING IN PUSHKAR
IHG HOTELS AND RESORTS has signed a management agreement with SRDF Ventures Private Limited to develop a new Crowne Plaza Resort in the city of Pushkar – a key tourism destination in Rajasthan. Crowne Plaza Resort Pushkar will be a new-built property featuring 125 rooms and is expected to be operational by early 2026. With currently two operating hotels and two under development in Rajasthan, Crowne Plaza Resort Pushkar will be the h hotel from IHG to open in the state, along the NH8 highway. ihg.com
VISTARA INAUGURATES NON-STOP FLIGHT BETWEEN MUMBAI AND JEDDAH
VISTARA AND SINGAPORE AIRLINES have successfully inaugurated non-stop ights between Jeddah and Mumbai. e inaugural ight departed from Mumbai on August 2, 2022 at 1805 Hours (IST) and landed in Jeddah at 2050 Hours (AST). e airline now ies thrice a week between the two cities on its Airbus A320 Neo aircra . e airline will y the route on Tuesday, ursday and Saturday, with the ight taking o from Mumbai for Jeddah at 1805 Hours on these days and reaching Jeddah at 2050 Hours (local time). e return ight will y from Jeddah on Tuesday, ursday and Saturday at 2150 Hours and reach Mumbai at 0530 Hours (local time) the next morning. e inaugural ight from Jeddah to Mumbai was operated on August 3, 2022. airvistara.com
THE LEELA BHARTIYA CITY BENGALURU LAUNCHES AMARIS, THE SPA
THE LEELA BHARTIYA CITY BENGALURU has opened its doors to Amaris e Spa. e word Amaris means ‘Promised by God’ in Hebrew and so the spa seeks to deliver luxurious rejuvenating experiences that live up to its name. Overlooking the Bhartiya City Central Park, Amaris e Spa has a calm and soothing aura that instantly makes one feel relaxed and at ease. e spa features ve spacious treatment rooms including a couple treatment room, steam and sauna. A wide range of exclusive massage therapies like e Swedish Spirit and Balinese Massage, to traditional techniques of Aromatherapy and Abhyanga have all been de ly curated for guests to choose from. e spa menu has been thoughtfully curated to keep changing lifestyles and needs of the present audience, with holistic therapies that o er the best of traditional healing and cooling ingredients. A er availing the services at the spa, the guest is taken to the beautiful lounging area of Amaris e Spa where hanging couches li your feet o the ground in a mini foot dipping pool. theleela.com
PALACE ON WHEELS TO START AGAIN BY SEPTEMBER
THE RENOWNED LUXURY
train, Palace on Wheels, will be back on the tracks by September. Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation’s chairman Dharmendra Rathore stated that Rajasthan’s famous luxury train will run on the tracks from September in all likelihood. He added that the state government and the Tourism Development Corporation are keen to bring the most loved train back on the tracks on a publicprivate partnership for which meetings with the company are now at an advanced stage. As per the reports, the luxury train was not operational for the past two years due to the pandemic. e luxury train has been operating since 1982.
BRITISH AIRWAYS TO RETURN TO DOUBLE-DAILY ON HEATHROW-SINGAPORE ROUTE
BRITISH AIRWAYS IS to resume its second daily ight between London and Singapore this winter.
In a short statement provided to Business Traveller the carrier con rmed that ights BA11 and BA12 would restart for the winter 2022 schedules from October 30, 2022. For the rst few days of operation the BA11/BA12 ights are showing as being served by a B777 aircra , before switching to a B787 in early November. ba.com
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Finnair launches flights to Mumbai
ON AUGUST 6, FINNAIR launched new direct ights from Helsinki to Mumbai in India. Flights to the Indian city will initially operate three times a week, increasing to four times weekly in November. Customers will experience Finnair’s state-of-the-art A330, which o ers a choice of ying in Business Class or Economy Class. e new route to Mumbai marks the start of Finnair’s second service to India, with the carrier already ying daily to the capital, New Delhi. To mark the celebrations, the inaugural ight from Helsinki departed following a joint ceremony between Finnair and Finavia, the Finnish airport operator. As a sweet treat, customers onboard were served specially cra ed chocolates from renowned Finnish confectionist - Fazer.
nnair.com
ANANTARA BRAND TO DEBUT IN SOUTH AMERICA
ANANTARA HOTELS, RESORTS AND SPAS has announced plans to open its rst property in South America, located in the Brazilian state of Bahia. e Anantara Mamucabo Bahia Resort will be situated around 150 kilometres from the city of Salvador, overlooking the ocean and protected sandbank reserves. e 500,000 sqm development will begin construction next year, with an opening date slated for 2025. Facilities will include 116 rooms, suites and pool villas ranging in size from 70 to 163 sqm, as well as two outdoor swimming pools, a beach club, tennis and paddle tennis courts, tness centre, spa, yoga terrace, water sports area and kids club. F&B venues will include a restaurant and bar serving regional dishes, a signature restaurant o ering contemporary international and Brazilian cuisine, and an Asian restaurant with views of the Mamucabo River. anantara.com
IHCL ANNOUNCES THE OPENING OF ITS FOURTH GINGER HOTEL IN MUMBAI
IHCL ANNOUNCED THE
opening of Ginger, Goregaon in Mumbai. With this, the Ginger brand strengthens its presence in the nancial capital of India. With 102 rooms, the re-imagined Ginger Goregaon is strategically located o the Western Express Highway, with easy access to NESCO IT Park, the NESCO Exhibition Centre (Bombay Exhibition Centre) and Film City. e hotel features Ginger’s newly designed signature rooms, a tness centre and an all-day diner. A key business and residential hub in Mumbai, Goregaon comprises of major corporate and IT parks, shopping malls and industrial zones. With the addition of this hotel, IHCL will have 13 hotels in Mumbai, including three under development.
ihcltata.com
AIRASIA INDIA COMMENCES OPERATIONS WITH DAILY DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM LUCKNOW
ON AUGUST 5, AIRASIA INDIA commenced its operations from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, making Lucknow the 18th airport in the Airasia India network. e airline operates daily direct ights from Lucknow to Bangalore, Goa and New Delhi and to its other two hubs, Mumbai and Kolkata from September 1, with a total of 112 weekly direct ights connecting Lucknow to these cities. e ights will also connect Lucknow through convenient one-stop itineraries to other airports on its network, such as Srinagar, Kochi, Hyderabad, and Guwahati. Celebrating the launch of Lucknow as the latest destination in the airline’s network, Airasia India also added a regional favourite ‘Galouti Kebab with Ulte Tawa ka Paratha’ to its in- ight dining menu,‘Gourmair’. airasia.co.in
QMIN DELIVERS OVER 57,000 MEALS TO ASSIST FLOOD AFFECTED COMMUNITIES IN ASSAM
JAMSETJI TATA HAD once said, “In a free enterprise, the community is not just another stakeholder in business, but is in fact the very purpose of its existence”. is ethos has been said to be the guiding force for IHCL. In line with its values and focus on community as de ned by its ESG + framework, Paathya, IHCL has extended a helping hand to ood a ected families in Assam with Vivanta Guwahati o ering over 57,000 meals from its culinary platform, Qmin, across 17 a ected villages. With over nine lakh people a ected by the oods in Assam in addition to expansive destruction of crops, livestock and property, the local community has united to provide key resources and amenities to those adversely impacted. ihcltata.com
AZERBAIJAN AIRLINES RESUMED direct ights between Baku and New Delhi as of August 9, in partnership with Zeal Global Group. Azerbaijan is currently seeing an increase in the number of travellers from India. With daily ights between Baku and New Delhi, the number of arrivals from the country is expected to grow further. “Right before the pandemic, India was among the top 10 countries we received travellers from. Since the opening of international borders between the countries, India is once again placed at the top of this list. Azerbaijan is ready to welcome Indian travellers to enjoy picturesque places surrounded by breathtaking nature, rich gastronomy, great venues and services for MICE events as well as weddings” said Florian Sengstschmid, Chief Executive O cer of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board. Direct ights between the capitals of Azerbaijan and India will be operated twice a week: ights from Baku on Tuesdays and Fridays, and ights from New Delhi on Wednesdays and Saturdays. azal.az
LE BRISTOL PARIS TO PRIVATISE SIGNATURE SUITE FOR A SURREAL DINING EXPERIENCE
STARTING SEPTEMBER, LE
BRISTOL PARIS will welcome diners for an intimate, once-ina-lifetime experience. e palace hotel will host a combined private art viewing, and a three-course dinner, custom-created by triple Michelin starred Executive Chef Eric Frechon. e guest of honour are Marc Chagall and his masterpiece Les Mariés au coq. A decidedly rare and quintessentially Parisian experience, the pairing of Les Mariés au coq by Marc Chagall with Chef Eric Frechon’s delicate menu brings together the talent and expertise of a triple-Michelin-starred chef and of one of the most in uential artists of the 20th century. is exclusive dinner is the perfect occasion to celebrate and enjoy a moment suspended in time. e exquisite three-course meal, the glamorous ambiance of the Paris Suite and the presence of an original Chagall set the tone for an unforgettable evening marked by French elegance and excellence.
oetkercollection.com
INDIA EMERGES AS THE GLOBAL LEADER IN TRAVEL IN 2022 AS PER TRAVEL LIFESTYLE NETWORK SURVEY
INDIA LEADS ASIA-PACIFIC in its intent to travel in the second half of 2022 with 50 per cent Indians expressing the desire to spend more money on booking a vacation in the survey conducted by Travel Lifestyle Network in a post-pandemic setting. While international travel still remains a point of contention among many, with only 15 per cent respondents willing to travel abroad, 29 per cent people are planning to vacation in India. India emerged as the global leader in domestic travel with 24 per cent people undertaking at least one vacation every month, for which the global average stands at 11 per cent. e country is also way-ahead of its global counterparts in business travel with almost 18 per cent Indians travelling for work within the country once a month.With participation from 179,446 people across 28 countries, the survey provides insight into the state of travel across the 28 relevant markets including travel behaviour patterns.
BOEING RESUMES B787 DREAMLINER DELIVERIES
BOEING HAS RESUMED delivery of its B787 aircra , a er approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration. Dreamliner deliveries had been suspended since May 2021, following concerns over production aws and inspection processes, but the FAA con rmed that “Boeing has made the necessary changes to ensure that the 787 Dreamliner meets certi cation standards”. e administration said that it would inspect each aircra before an air-worthiness certi cate is issued and cleared for delivery. AA currently has 47 B787s in its eet, with another 42 on order, and hopes to take delivery of a total of nine Dreamliners this year, followed by four in 2023, and 12 in 2024. Boeing is understood to have built up a backlog of over 100 constructed B787 aircra which are awaiting delivery to customers and has temporarily reduced production of the twin-aisle plane. boeing.com
JW MARRIOTT MUSSOORIE turns another chapter by inviting another notable author for Between the Covers – e Himalayan Book Club. More than a marketing phenomenon, the book club pays homage to Mussoorie’s own rich literary heritage. As a vast experiment, the hotel continues to spark conversations and interactions between hotel guests and writers from across the country. From celebrated authors to shining a light on new-age novelists, the hotel’s agenda extends beyond increasing literacy because it wants to expose individuals to books, that not only matter but in some ways are also relatable to guests. e second author in residence on the roster was Durjoy Datta. e in ux of writers and creativity that has come alive in Mussoorie is de nitely noteworthy. In fact, it is said that, for every reader in town, there are at least three writers. Now, JW Marriott Mussoorie aims at inviting even more inspired minds, making it the perfect rendezvous spot and platform to continue building Mussoorie’s literary heritage while empowering guests with some of the nest works in writing and storytelling. marriott.com
JW MARRIOTT MUSSOORIE WALNUT GROVE RESORT AND SPA’S ‘HIMALAYAN BOOK CLUB’ INVITES ANOTHER BESTSELLING AUTHOR
OBEROI HOTELS AND resorts announces e Oberoi Concours d’Elegance. Over its 90-year history, Oberoi Hotels and Resorts has been committed to promoting and preserving Indian heritage and hosting prestigious classic and vintage car rallies around its award winning properties. In keeping with this tradition, e Oberoi Concours d’Elegance will set a new benchmark to showcase the nest vintage and classic automobiles and motorcycles from India and abroad. e Oberoi Concours d’Elegance will be hosted at e Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, in February 2024. Set against the majestic backdrop of Lake Pichola and traditional domed architecture of the resort, e Oberoi Concours d’Elegance will celebrate the remarkable design and cra smanship of the world’s most sought a er and distinctive vehicles. Owned by Indian royalty and private collectors, the Concours will be a unique opportunity to view some of the rarest and most historically signi cant automobiles restored and preserved over many generations. e event will be curated by India’s leading automotive historian, Manvendra Singh Barwani. In addition, a distinguished panel of classic car cognoscenti from across the globe will judge cars and motorcycles in di erent classi cations. Ms. Sandra Button, Chairman of the prestigious and globally renowned Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, will serve as Chief Judge. oberoihotels.com
Priority Pass o ers members access to tness app WithU
PRIORITY PASS HAS added a new bene t enabling members to access audio-based workouts in partnership with the tness app WithU. Customers who purchase memberships through prioritypass. com can now redeem free access to over 1,000 workouts “led by world-class coaches”, in what Priority Pass is calling “a rst-of-its-kind for a travel experiences programme”. e group said that the workouts are designed for all tness levels, and “incorporate the use of a 3D avatar to help guide members on their form”. In recent years, Priority Pass has been gradually expanding its portfolio beyond a pure lounge access provider, with the addition of options including dining and spa experiences . In 2019 they also trialled a new scheme giving members access to express lanes at security and passport control at select airports. prioritypass.com
EMIRATES TO INTRODUCE A380 ON DUBAIBENGALURU ROUTE
EMIRATES HAS SAID that it will start deploying its agship A380 on its Dubai-Bengaluru route for the rst time beginning October 30. e airline will become the rst carrier to operate an A380 service to Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International airport. e daily A380 ights will operate as EK568/569 with an aircra in a three-class con guration, o ering seats in economy class, in addition to premium cabins, in business class and rst class. Bengaluru will be only the second city in India to be served by Emirates’ A380 aircra – the airline began operating an A380 to Mumbai in 2014. Emirates started operations to India in 1985 with its scheduled services to Mumbai and Delhi and has been ying to Bengaluru since 2006. e airline at present provides access to nine points in India. Emirates says that it has been deploying its agship A380 aircra to an expanded list of destinations worldwide “to meet high customer demand on routes popular amongst global travellers”. e A380 helps boost capacity on a single ight by up to 45 percent compared to a Boeing 777 aircra . As of this month, the Emirates A380 aircra ies to over 30 airports across six continents, with a total of over 130 destinations in the airline’s global network.
emirates.com
ST REGIS HOTELS AND RESORTS UNVEILS CHAMPAGNE SABRAGE MASTERCLASSES
HONOURING ST REGIS HOTELS AND RESORTS’ long-standing tradition of sabrage, the brand has announced the launch of private champagne sabrage masterclasses at all properties across North America. Launching this summer, guests and locals alike will have the opportunity to book a private champagne sabering masterclass led by an expertly trained St Regis butler at e St. Regis Atlanta, e St Regis Aspen Resort, e St Regis Bal Harbour Resort, e St Regis Deer Valley, e St Regis Houston, e St Regis New York, e St Regis San Francisco, e St Regis Toronto, and e St Regis Washington D.C. e art of sabrage has an illustrious history that stretches back more than 200 years. For St Regis Hotels and Resorts, the ritual dates back to 1904 when hotel founder John Jacob Astor IV would nightly have a bottle sabered on-property to celebrate the transition from day to night. Astor was inspired by the glamour of sabrage, an act which had been made famous by Napoleon Bonaparte, who opened champagne with his sabre and notably said, “Champagne: in victory, one deserves it; in defeat, one needs it.” Today, St. Regis Hotels and Resorts around the world continue the tradition with nightly and celebratory sabering rituals performed regularly across the global portfolio. st-regis.marriott.com
MUMBAI'S NEWEST JAPANESE RESTAURANT AKINA INTRODUCES WARAYAKI COOKING TO THE CITY
TRANSPORTED FROM THE heady bylanes of Kochi prefecture – on the southern coast of Shikoku – to the bustling streets of Bandra, the ancient warayaki cooking method is the shining star of the new Japanese dining establishment, Akina. e restaurant, with its bold approach on modern Japanese cuisine, aims to instil a sense of excitement and wonder through an innovative dining experience.
INDIA HANDS OVER DORNIER MARITIME SURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT TO SRI LANKA NAVY
SRI LANKAN PRESIDENT RANIL WICKREMESINGHE was present at the handover ceremony which took place on a day when India celebrated its 75th Independence Day and a day before a high-tech Chinese missile and satellite tracking ship docks at the island nation’s Hambantota port. Vice Chief of Indian Navy Vice Admiral S N Ghormade, who was on a two-day visit to the country, accompanied by Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Gopal Baglay, handed over the maritime surveillance aircra to the Sri Lanka Navy at the Sri Lanka Air Force base in Katunayake, adjoining the Colombo international airport. “Security of India and Sri Lanka is enhanced by mutual understanding, mutual trust and cooperation. Gi ing of Dornier 228 is India’s latest contribution to this cause” High Commissioner Baglay said at the handing over event. e aircra is being provided to Sri Lanka from the inventory of the Indian Navy to help the country meet its immediate security requirement, sources in New Delhi said. Furthermore, the Indian Navy has already provided extensive training to a team from Sri Lanka’s Navy and the Air Force to operate the maritime surveillance aircra .
