The historic city of Panaji has added a striking new landmark to its cultural landscape with the launch of ‘The Riverfront’, now touted as the state capital’s largest outdoor venue. Stretching 700 feet along the banks of the scenic Mandovi River, the venue offers sweeping sunset views and the capacity to host up to 1,000 guests.
Located near the erstwhile Mandovi Hotel, a well-known city landmark, The Riverfront is designed to host a wide range of events, including weddings, social celebrations, corporate gatherings, pop-up events, exhibitions and cultural evenings. The venue features a private access river jetty, modern infrastructure, dedicated service areas and parking space for 55 vehicles.
Developed by the Bengaluru-based MRG Group, the project reflects the group’s growing footprint in Goa’s hospitality and real estate sectors. The architectural design remains understated, allowing event planners the flexibility to shape the ambience according to their needs while maintaining harmony with Panaji’s architectural and cultural character.
Dr K. Prakash Shetty, Chairman of the MRG Group, said the intention was to create a space that blends seamlessly with Panaji’s identity. He emphasised that the Mandovi is central to the city’s character and that the venue was envisioned to complement its presence rather than overshadow it.
The MRG Group owns several hospitality brands across India, including The Goldfinch Hotel and DoubleTree by Hilton Goa, along with other business ventures. With The Riverfront, Panaji strengthens its position as a vibrant destination for large-scale events set against one of Goa’s most picturesque backdrops.
Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), the country’s leading hospitality player, has delivered a sterling performance in the first half of FY2026—securing 46 new signings and launching 26 hotels across India. Among these are 14 properties added through marketing and distribution partnerships with Brij Hospitality and Clarks Group of Hotels. This growth accelerates IHCL’s trajectory toward its Accelerate 2030 vision and pushes its portfolio past the 250‑hotel mark, with over 25,500 rooms currently in operation in India.
Underlining the growing demand in the mid‑scale to upscale segments, a significant portion of the new signings fall under IHCL’s Gateway, Tree of Life, and Ginger brands. Framework agreements with Ambuja Neotia (for Taj, SeleQtions, Tree of Life) and Madison (for Ginger in South India) further boost the pipeline.
IHCL’s footprint expanded geographically too: new Taj hotels were signed in locations such as Darjeeling, ECR Chennai, Puducherry, Mohali, and even Kruger National Park in South Africa. Meanwhile, new openings and onboarding included Taj properties in Alibaug and Raichak; SeleQtions resorts in Lakshadweep; Vivanta in Thane; a fourth Taj property in Udaipur (Taj Lalit Bagh); Gateway hotels in Coorg and Ahmedabad; a second SeleQtions in Haridwar; and a Ginger in Dehradun.
With over 250 hotels now operating in India and a consistent stream of new projects in the pipeline (totaling 302 globally across 4 continents), IHCL is strongly positioned to lead the next wave of growth in Indian and global hospitality. The company, rooted in the legacy of The Taj Mahal Palace since 1903, continues to blend warm Indian hospitality with world-class service across its brand portfolio including Taj, Claridges Collection, SeleQtions, Tree of Life, Vivanta, Gateway, and Ginger.
Stay tuned as IHCL pushes forward on its mission to create a portfolio of 700 hotels by 2030—bringing new experiences, markets, and stories to life across India and beyond.
Written by Intern Queeny George M.H , Team Allycaral
In a strategic move to further enhance its brand positioning and guest engagement strategies, Exotic Resort & Spa ‘Novotel’, located in the vibrant beachside destination of Candolim, Goa, has appointed Rhythm .K. Gandhi as its new Marketing & Communication Manager.
Rhythm joins the Novotel family with a proven track record in hospitality marketing and communications. Her most recent role was as Assistant Manager – Marketing & Communications at Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal, where she led various initiatives including social media strategy, creative content, online reputation management, and campaign planning.
Prior to this, Rhythm worked with Impresario Handmade Restaurants in Dehradun, contributing to national campaigns and local community initiatives. At Hyatt Regency Dehradun Resort & Spa, she played a pivotal role in repositioning the property as a resort destination and led the execution of the acclaimed “Perfectly Yours – Hyatt India Wedding Campaign.” She was also instrumental in the successful launch of Beyul, the rooftop bar and lounge, overseeing its creative direction, PR, and event planning.
Rhythm’s academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management from IMS Unison University, Dehradun (Class of 2022). She completed her early education at Doon International School, Dehradun, and Convent of Jesus and Mary, Waverley, Mussoorie.
Commenting on her appointment, a spokesperson from Novotel Goa shared:
“Rhythm’s dynamic experience and passion for storytelling align perfectly with our vision to create meaningful connections with our guests. We are confident that her innovative approach will help elevate Novotel’s presence in Goa’s highly competitive hospitality landscape.”
As Goa continues to flourish as a top tourist destination, Novotel’s decision to bring in fresh talent like Rhythm signals its intent to lead with creativity and bold, guest-centric marketing strategies.
In a significant leadership reshuffle, Kuok Hui Kwong has been appointed the Chief Executive Officer of Shangri-La Asia, effective August 1. A prominent name in Asian business circles and the daughter of Malaysian billionaire Robert Kuok, she brings a wealth of experience, academic pedigree, and family legacy to the iconic hospitality brand.
Having joined the company in 2014, Kuok Hui Kwong has been deeply involved in strategic decisions, serving as executive director and chairman since 2017. Her appointment as CEO marks a consolidation of leadership roles that is expected to enhance strategic alignment and operational efficiency across the group.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in East Asian Studies from Harvard University and has served in leadership roles at SCMP Group and Bangkok Post, strengthening her profile in media and management before fully committing to the family’s hospitality empire.
Her employment contract includes a monthly base salary of USD 73,000, along with a discretionary bonus and pension, underlining the high stakes and expectations tied to her new role.
Her father, Robert Kuok, is known as Malaysia’s richest man, with a net worth of USD 12.4 billion (as of July 2023). He founded Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts in 1971, and the group has since grown into a major force in luxury hospitality.
Despite a modest 2% revenue increase in 2024, reaching USD 2.19 billion, Shangri-La Asia’s net profit declined by 12.3% to USD 161.4 million, highlighting the competitive and shifting landscape the new CEO must navigate.
Kuok Hui Kwong’s leadership is anticipated to inject renewed vision and execution strength into the company. As someone deeply familiar with both the operational and familial heritage of the business, she is well-positioned to steer Shangri-La into a new era of global relevance and resilience.
Mumbai, 15th May 2024: Club Mahindra, the flagship brand of Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Limited, has announced a ground-breaking initiative with the transformation of its Acacia Palms resort in Goa into an all-women-run property under its portfolio. This initiative marks a historic milestone as Acacia Palms becomes the first resort of its kind across the Club Mahindra Portfolio.
The transformation of Acacia Palms into an all-women-run resort underlines Club Mahindra’s unwavering commitment to gender diversity, inclusion, and women empowerment in the hospitality industry. From resort operations to the guest services, every aspect of the resort is managed by a team of talented and dedicated women. Many of these employees come from diverse hospitality backgrounds, with several of them stepping into roles for the first time in areas such as security, engineering, general technicians (electrical, mechanical), horticulture, food production and kitchen stewarding. This initiative not only provides them with invaluable opportunities to develop their skills but also empowers them to build meaningful careers and thrive within the hospitality industry. It is also aimed at fostering a more inclusive and equitable workplace while setting a benchmark in the global hospitality industry. Club Mahindra is actively partnering with local women entrepreneurs and artisans to integrate their skills and products into the resort offerings, promoting community upliftment and sustainable development. Speaking about the milestone, Manoj Bhat, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Limited, stated, “We are thrilled to announce that our Acacia Palms Resort in Goa is now an all-women-staff property and is a true reflection of our steadfast commitment to gender diversity, inclusion, and women empowerment.” Tanvi Choksi, Chief Human Resources Officer, Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Limited, added, “At Mahindra Holidays, we believe true inclusion goes beyond intent. By building an ecosystem where women can thrive, grow, and lead across functions—including roles that have traditionally been male-dominated like engineering, security, and kitchen stewarding—we are not only delivering a distinctive guest experience but also reshaping the future of hospitality. The all-women-led transformation at Club Mahindra Acacia Palms is a bold step forward in breaking stereotypes, unlocking potential, and inspiring industry-wide change.
About Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Limited Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Limited (MHRIL), India’s leading leisure hospitality company offers quality family holidays primarily through vacation ownership. MHRIL offers a 25/15/10-year membership along with other products – Bliss, Go Zest, Club Mahindra Fundays for corporates, through its flagship brand Club Mahindra. As of March 31, 2025, MHRIL has 125 resorts across India & abroad and its subsidiary, Holiday Club Resorts Oy (HCR), Finland, a leading vacation ownership company in Europe has 33 Timeshare Properties (Including 9 Spa Resorts) across Finland, Sweden, and Spain. Visit us at http://www.clubmahindra.com and follow us on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook to know more about us.
About Mahindra Founded in 1945, the Mahindra Group is one of the largest and most admired multinational federations of companies with 260,000 employees in over 100 countries. It enjoys a leadership position in farm equipment, utility vehicles, information technology, and financial services in India and is the world’s largest tractor company by volume. It has a strong presence in renewable energy, agriculture, logistics, hospitality, and real estate. The Mahindra Group has a clear focus on leading ESG globally, enabling rural prosperity and enhancing urban living, with a goal to drive positive change in the lives of communities and stakeholders to enable them to Rise. Learn more about Mahindra on http://www.mahindra.com/ X and Facebook: @MahindraRise/ For updates, subscribe to https://www.mahindra.com/news-room
