Latest news with #Keswani
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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
What are brokerages saying about this hotel stock after its Q1 results?
Lemon Tree Hotels in focus: Brokerages remain positive on hotel operator Lemon Tree Hotels after the company posted its best-ever first-quarter performance in Q1FY26. Nuvama said the hotel operator's Q1 growth was 'driven by improving average room rates (ARRs) and occupancies across portfolio brands' despite geopolitical tensions and air travel disruptions. While renovation and technology expenses weighed on margins sequentially, the brokerage noted that the major renovation program is expected to conclude by H1FY27. It has tweaked its FY26E/27E revenue estimates by -0.8 per cent/-0.7 per cent and Ebitda by +4.3 per cent/+0.1 per cent, maintaining a 'Buy' rating, with a target price of ₹166, implying a 17 per cent upside. On the other hand, Motilal Oswal highlighted the 'significant improvement' in occupancy to 72.5 per cent (up 590bps Y-o-Y) and a healthy 10 per cent increase in ARR to ₹6,236. It said operating leverage helped expand the Ebitda margin 160bps Y-o-Y despite renovation-related costs. The brokerage expects growth to be supported by the ramp-up of Aurika Mumbai (~72 per cent occupancy in Q1, guided to ~80 per cent in FY26), favorable demand-supply dynamics, renovation-led improvements, the upgraded Infinity 2.0 loyalty programme with 2.1 million members generating 45 per cent repeat business, and retail demand initiatives contributing 45 per cent of Q1 room revenue. Therefore, analysts retained a FY27 SoTP-based target price of ₹185, with a 'Buy' rating. Lemon Tree Q1 results In Q1FY26, Lemon Tree Hotels' total revenue rose 18 per cent Y-o-Y to ₹317.4 crore, while net Ebitda grew 23 per cent to ₹142.1 crore. Net Ebitda margin expanded 178bps to 44.8 per cent. Profit after tax surged 139 per cent to ₹48.1 crore, and cash profit increased 51 per cent to ₹82.3 crore. The company's cost of debt declined to 8.01 per cent, down 79bps from a year earlier. Operationally, gross ARR climbed 9.7 per cent Y-o-Y to ₹6,236, and the occupancy rate improved to 72.5 per cent from 66.6 per cent. This drove revenue per available room (RevPAR) up 19.4 per cent to ₹4,523. Debt was reduced to ₹1,658 crore, down ₹206 crore Y-o-Y. Patanjali Keswani, chairman and managing director, said, 'In Q1, despite the headwinds faced by the industry due to the geopolitical tensions and Covid scare, Lemon Tree recorded its highest-ever Q1 revenue …the occupancy for the quarter stood at 72.5 per cent, an increase of 591 bps Y-o-Y. This translated into a RevPAR of ₹4,523, marking a 19 per cent Y-o-Y increase.' Keswani added that ongoing investments in renovations, technology, business development, and renewable energy – currently about 6 per cent of revenue – will drop to 2-2.5 per cent once upgrades are complete in the next 15-18 months, boosting profitability. The company aims to achieve 50 per cent renewable energy use in its owned portfolio, having already cut power and fuel costs to 6.9 per cent of revenue from 8.7 per cent a year ago. On the asset-light side, Lemon Tree signed 14 new management and franchise contracts in the quarter, adding 1,273 rooms to its pipeline, and operationalised five hotels with 392 rooms. Total inventory now stands at 18,431 rooms in 226 hotels, with 10,661 rooms operational. Management fees grew 29 per cent Y-o-Y to ₹37.4 crore. About Lemon Tree Hotels Lemon Tree Hotels Limited (LTHL) is among India's largest hotel chains, operating across the upscale, upper-midscale, midscale, and economy segments through a mix of owned, leased, managed, and franchised properties. The group offers differentiated yet high-quality service with strong value for money, catering to diverse guest needs through seven brands – Aurika Hotels & Resorts, Lemon Tree Premier, Lemon Tree Hotels, Red Fox Hotels, Keys Prima, Keys Select, and Keys Lite. Starting with a 49-room property in May 2004, LTHL has grown to a portfolio of over 220 hotels, comprising more than 110 operational properties and an equal number in the pipeline, both in India and overseas. Its network spans major metro markets such as NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai, as well as key tier I, II, and III cities including Pune, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Indore, Aurangabad, Udaipur, Visakhapatnam, Kochi, Ludhiana, Thiruvananthapuram, and Vijayawada. The company has also expanded internationally, opening its first overseas property in Dubai in December 2019, followed by hotels in Bhutan in February 2020 and Nepal in April 2024.
Scroll.in
06-08-2025
- Scroll.in
Act against Pune SHO who refused to file FIR after ‘attack on Muslim family', says Bombay HC
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday ordered the Pune Police Commissioner to take 'stringent action' against a station house officer who refused to file a case after two Muslim brothers alleged they were attacked for their religious identity, Live Law reported. The case pertained to an altercation that took place in April when two brothers named Karan and Harsh Keswani were riding a two-wheeler in the Bhawani Peth area. The siblings alleged that a quarrel erupted between them and a man named Shoaib Umar Sayyad after he objected to Harsh honking his vehicle horn. The Keswani brothers alleged that Harsh was severely injured in the attack by Sayyad and his brother, according to Pune Mirror. However, Sayyad also claimed that members of the Keswani family brutally assaulted him and his brother, leaving them injured, Live Law reported. He alleged that they had been beaten up on account of their religion. Sayyad said that when he filed a police complaint, Station House Officer Shashikant Chavan of the Khadak police station refused to file a first information report on the grounds that the Keswani family had already lodged a case against him and his brother for alleged attempt to murder. On Tuesday, a division bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Gautam Ankhad said that despite a clear order passed in the previous hearing, the station house officer said on affidavit that he would not file a first information report on the complaint of the Sayyad brothers. 'Why is the officer taking sides?' Ghuge verbally remarked, according to Live Law. 'He is not supposed to take sides. If he does not know the law in cases where the second or the opposite party comes to lodge FIR, then his senior will have to take some action against him.' The bench said that even a cursory glance at the complaint and photos on record showed that the complainant and the brothers had been badly assaulted. The court directed a first information report to be filed based on the complaint within 48 hours. The court told the Pune Police Commission to issue a show cause notice to Station House Officer Shashikant Chavan and seek an explanation, Live Law reported. If the officer's explanation is not satisfactory, disciplinary action should be taken against him, the bench said.
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.
