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Dutch fintech giant Adyen expands India operations as it bets big on UPI and cross-border payments

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Gary Yang, Adyen's Asia-Pacific President

Dutch payments processor Adyen plans to expand its operations in India and hire more employees as it strengthens its focus on the country’s rapidly growing digital payments market and increasing cross-border commerce activity.

The Amsterdam-listed company, which ranks among the world’s largest fintech firms offering payment services and financial solutions, views India as a long-term growth market. The company sees significant opportunities as multinational clients enter India and Indian businesses expand into international markets.

“We’re continuing to hire and grow because we see significant opportunity in the market,” said Gary Yang, Adyen’s Asia-Pacific President, in an interview. However, he did not disclose India-specific hiring or growth targets.

Several global payments companies, including Stripe and PayPal, have faced challenges while expanding their operations in India. Stripe scaled down its India operations in 2024, citing regulatory challenges. Meanwhile, PayPal exited domestic payment operations in India in 2021 and now focuses on cross-border transactions.

Adyen, however, has steadily strengthened its presence in India since receiving payment aggregator and cross-border licences in 2024. The company’s local workforce increased tenfold from 2023 levels to reach 120 employees during the first half of this year.

Furthermore, Adyen’s pre-tax income from India more than doubled to 3.18 million euros ($3.5 million) in 2025, compared with 1.45 million euros in the previous year, according to its annual reports. At the global level, Adyen generated net income of 1.06 billion euros ($1.23 billion) in 2025.

The payments processor works with major global technology companies, including Uber and Microsoft. It is also supporting companies such as software giant Adobe as they expand their payment offerings in India.

At the same time, Adyen is helping Indian businesses expand internationally. Yang said the company is working with clients such as travel platform Oyo as they grow their presence in overseas markets.

The Dutch fintech firm has also adapted its platform to India’s distinct regulatory and digital payments ecosystem. According to Yang, the company has developed solutions that meet data localisation requirements while supporting recurring payment mandates and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) services.

“There is no succeeding in India without UPI,” he said.

India’s UPI has emerged as one of the world’s largest instant payment networks and processes billions of transactions every month. Consequently, Adyen considers UPI a critical component of its long-term strategy in the Indian market.

Additionally, the company is preparing for the growth of AI-powered “agentic commerce”, where software agents can search for products and complete purchases on behalf of consumers. As artificial intelligence increasingly transforms digital commerce, Adyen aims to position its payments platform to support the evolving transaction ecosystem.

Quantum cybersecurity startup QNu Labs raises Rs 350-Cr for India and Global expansion

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Srinivasa Rao Aluri and Sunil Gupta, co-founders, QNu Labs

Deep-tech startup QNu Labs has raised over Rs 350 crore, including Rs 200 crore through a Series A1 venture funding round led by the National Quantum Mission and venture capital firm Speciale Invest. Additionally, the company has received approval for Rs 150 crore in convertible debt under the research, development, and innovation (RDI) fund.

With the latest funding, QNu Labs has secured Rs 375 crore in venture funding so far.

The company will use a portion of the fresh capital to build a 2,000-km live quantum key distribution (QKD) network connecting Bengaluru and Delhi under the National Quantum Mission. Furthermore, the network will aim to secure critical financial systems located along the route.

QNu Labs, an IIT Madras-incubated company, develops cybersecurity and communication hardware and software solutions based on quantum physics. As countries increasingly prepare for the emergence of full-scale quantum computers, organisations are working to protect critical infrastructure and communications from potential threats to existing encryption systems.

“Enterprises and governments worldwide are preparing for the transition to quantum-safe infrastructure, and India’s National Quantum Mission is setting an aggressive timeline of 2029,” said Sunil Gupta, co-founder, QNu Labs.

Speaking on the company’s plans, he said QNu Labs is developing an indigenous quantum security platform for the Indian armed forces to secure forward bases, data centres and tactical communications.

“We are actively engaging with 20 banks, as regulators are increasingly pushing for quantum compliance. We are also targeting and developing partnerships with telecom players, critical institutions and utilities, and manufacturers to deploy chips onto drones and satellites,” he said.

Meanwhile, the National Quantum Mission has contributed Rs 25 crore through its IITM C-DOT Samgnya Technologies Foundation, a quantum communication thematic hub operating under the mission.

Other venture capital participants include Gaja Capital, which invested Rs 35 crore, along with Sony Innovation Fund and Artha Ventures.

QNu Labs plans to use the fresh capital to accelerate product development and expand its sales across domestic and international markets. In particular, the company is focusing on the US and Australia as part of its global growth strategy.

Gupta identified the US as a major focus market and said the company has established an independent entity in the country to address growing regulatory urgency.

Looking ahead, Gupta expects QNu Labs to grow at approximately 40% annually. Furthermore, the company aims to generate Rs 300–400 crore in revenue over the next few years as it expands its quantum cybersecurity and communication solutions across multiple sectors.

Eight Continents Hotels & Resorts enters Mohali with Ocho Homes Sparrow

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Eight Continents Hotels & Resorts has announced its entry into Mohali with Ocho Homes by Eight Continents Sparrow, a residential development designed to cater to individuals, families, and professionals.

The project combines the privacy and comfort of a home with professionally managed services. In addition, it features well-planned residences, modern amenities, and shared spaces designed to encourage both individual use and community interaction.

Ocho Homes Sparrow has been conceptualised around the evolving needs of residents seeking comfort, convenience, and connectivity. The residences feature functional layouts and contemporary design, while thoughtfully planned spaces support both privacy and social engagement.

Meanwhile, Mohali has witnessed growth across key sectors, including business, IT, education, healthcare, sports, and lifestyle infrastructure. Moreover, its proximity to Chandigarh, Panchkula, and Chandigarh International Airport provides convenient connectivity for professionals and families living and working across the Tricity.

The development is also strategically positioned to provide access to commercial, educational, healthcare, entertainment, and lifestyle destinations across Mohali and the surrounding areas.

Richa Adhia, Managing Director, Eight Continents Hotels & Resorts, said, “Ocho Homes by Eight Continents Sparrow has been conceptualised around the changing expectations of today’s residents. People are looking for a living environment that provides comfort, convenience, connectivity, and a sense of community. Our vision is to create a living experience that reflects the changing needs of Mohali.”

With the launch of Ocho Homes Sparrow, Eight Continents Hotels & Resorts is expanding into the residential segment while responding to the evolving lifestyle needs of Mohali’s growing population. By combining thoughtfully designed residences, professional management, modern amenities and community-focused spaces, the development aims to offer residents a convenient and contemporary living experience in the Tricity region.

AI water infrastructure startup DigitalPaani raises Rs 22-Cr to scale AI-powered water infrastructure

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Mansi Jain and Rajesh Jain, Co-founders, DigitalPaani

AI-powered water infrastructure company DigitalPaani has raised Rs 22 crore in a funding round led by Navam Capital. Additionally, Enzia Ventures, Chakra Growth Capital, 3one4 Capital, Momentum Capital, Achieving Women Entrepreneurs Early Growth Fund, and Echo River Capital participated in the round.

With the fresh capital, DigitalPaani plans to expand its presence across industrial and municipal markets, scale its operations, and begin international expansion. At the same time, the company aims to strengthen its business fundamentals to support sustainable, long-term growth.

DigitalPaani is developing an AI-powered operating system for water infrastructure that monitors assets in real time, identifies operational inefficiencies, and automates equipment, maintenance, and inventory management. Through this platform, the company aims to help businesses and municipalities improve wastewater recycling, reduce water losses, and maintain regulatory compliance.

Currently, DigitalPaani operates across more than 95 facilities in India and treats over 150 million litres of water every day. Its customer base includes Britannia, The Leela Hotels, Tata Group, and the Delhi Jal Board.

Moreover, DigitalPaani said its deployments have transformed non-compliant plants into fully operational assets while delivering cost savings of up to 25%. The company has also grown its revenue nearly sixfold over the past two years.

“When we started DigitalPaani, we knew the problem was massive—but the opportunity was bigger,” said Mansi Jain, CEO and co-founder of DigitalPaani. “This funding validates that intelligent infrastructure management is not a luxury—it’s essential.”

Meanwhile, Anjan Ray, Investment Partner at Navam Capital, said DigitalPaani’s strong track record with marquee customers and deep domain expertise positions the company to become an operating system for water infrastructure across India and international markets.

Aliste Hotels & Resorts strengthens India presence with new Vrindavan property

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Aliste Hotels & Resorts has expanded its footprint with the launch of a new property near Prem Mandir in Vrindavan.

With this latest addition, the company continues to advance the vision of Dr. Harmeet Singh Arora and Neha Singh to create memorable hospitality experiences across India.

Furthermore, the new property strengthens Aliste Hotels & Resorts’ growing presence across key destinations, including Gurugram, Amritsar, Vrindavan, and Ranthambore.

The company’s portfolio includes two hotels in Gurugram, a flagship property near the Golden Temple in Amritsar, properties in Vrindavan, and a wildlife resort in Ranthambore. Consequently, Aliste Hotels & Resorts continues to broaden its presence across diverse leisure, spiritual, and hospitality destinations in India.

Going forward, the expansion reinforces the brand’s focus on building a stronger portfolio while delivering distinctive and memorable experiences to travellers across the country.

Tulu Health expands its U.S. presence with Longevity OS, AI-native operating system for the longevity economy

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Dr. Adil Khan, Founder & CEO, Tulu Health

National, 7th September — Tulu Health, an AI-native healthcare company building the operating system for the longevity economy, announced the launch of Longevity OS. The platform turns fragmented clinical, laboratory, wearable, and engagement data into daily actions designed to improve patient retention, engagement, and clinic revenue. The company also announced plans to expand its U.S. presence.

Tulu Health was founded by Dr. Adil Khan, a physician entrepreneur with an MBBS from Delhi University and a fellowship from Stanford-India Biodesign, alongside co-founding engineering team with experience at Innovaccer, a U.S.-based healthcare technology company valued at more than $3 billion. Since inception, the company has been fully bootstrapped and currently supports more than 40 healthcare sites and 500 providers across four countries: the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and India.

The company says its AI systems have automated more than 100,000 healthcare operational tasks, with YoY growth of more than 90 percent. With Longevity OS, Tulu Health is extending this operational expertise to the longevity and preventive health sector.

Longevity and wellness clinics collect significant amounts of clinical, laboratory, wearable, and engagement data but often lack the tools to turn it into timely action. As a result, patients may disengage without the care team identifying the risk until renewal is approaching. Longevity OS creates a unified patient twin and activates that intelligence through AI Voice, SMS, and other channels to identify patients at risk of disengagement before renewal.

“Longevity is the next frontier in healthcare, serving a growing population that wants to live healthier, more active lives. We aim to support more than 30,000 clinics by helping them turn patient data into timely action, stronger engagement, and sustainable revenue growth.” – Dr. Adil Khan, Founder & CEO, Tulu Health.

“What makes it unique is that it operates rather than reports. Most tools tell you what happened last quarter; Tulu turns the same data into a daily work queue. For a practice like mine, that’s the difference between having data and actually acting on it,” says Dr. Luke Sorrell, MD, FACP, founder of SorrellMD, a longevity clinic.

A.S. Pillai, former Group CFO and CEO of banks and hospital chains across the Middle East, said, “Tulu Health is addressing one of the most critical levers for financial sustainability: improving cash flow, reducing revenue leakage, and bringing predictability to financial performance.”

The company’s experience automating healthcare operations for hospitals and health systems forms the foundation for Longevity OS. Tulu Health is preparing for its first institutional financing round to support U.S. market expansion and product development.

Welspun Living Eyes India targets 15% growth in FY27

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Dipali Goenka, MD and CEO, Welspun Living

Welspun Living is positioning its manufacturing capabilities across home textiles, advanced textiles, flooring, and its US pillow business to benefit from the multi-year shift in global sourcing towards India. Moreover, the company expects the India-UK FTA and the India-EU FTA to create significant export opportunities across key international markets.

The company reported a 23.5 percent year-on-year increase in revenue during Q1 FY27, while its profit after tax (PAT) surged 83.6 per cent. Looking ahead, Welspun Living aims to achieve around 15 percent revenue growth and maintain an EBITDA margin of 12-13 percent in FY27.

“We are looking at a growth of around 15 percent and also kind of an EBITDA of lower mid-teens, around 12 percent to 13 percent,” Dipali Goenka, MD and CEO, Welspun Living, said.

With a global top line of approximately $1.2 billion, Welspun manufactures nearly one million units every day across towels, sheets, rugs, bedding, flooring, and advanced textiles. Furthermore, the company continues to maintain significant manufacturing capacity headroom across several product categories.

Welspun’s bath linen business has a capacity of 96,400 MT and operated at 83 percent utilization in Q1 FY27, producing 20,048 MT during the quarter. Similarly, its bed linen business has a capacity of 108 million metres, with production reaching 16.1 million metres and capacity utilisation standing at 60 percent.

The company’s rugs and carpets segment has a capacity of 12 million square metres. During Q1 FY27, Welspun produced 2.2 million square metres and recorded 74 percent capacity utilization.

Meanwhile, Welspun’s advanced textiles business also has considerable capacity available for future growth. Its spunlace facilities have a capacity of 27,729 MT and operated at 48 percent utilization, while its needle punch capacity of 3,026 MT recorded 36 percent utilization. Additionally, its wet wipes business, which has a capacity of 100 million packs, operated at 18 percent utilization.

The flooring business has an effective capacity of 18 million square metres and produced 1.8 million square metres during Q1 FY27, with utilization standing at 40 percent. Similarly, Welspun’s US pillow platform, which operates facilities in Ohio and Nevada, has an effective capacity of 10.1 million pieces. The platform produced 1.4 million pieces during the quarter and operated at 55 percent utilization.

Notably, the Nevada facility fully commenced production on June 15, 2026.

Welspun has also secured board approval for capital expenditure of around Rs 400-500 crore in FY27, primarily to remove production bottlenecks. At the same time, the company continues to evaluate additional expansion opportunities.

“Right now, we are investing around Rs 400-500 crore, which has been approved by the board, to de-bottleneck. As we go forward, and as the opportunities evolve, we have already been contemplating the expansion,” she asserted.

Furthermore, the company believes India’s manufacturing ecosystem can emerge as a major beneficiary of the global China+1 strategy. “It is India’s time to grow and take the opportunity ahead,” Goenka said, highlighting India’s cotton availability, infrastructure, MSME ecosystem, and young workforce.

The India-UK FTA and the concluded India-EU FTA are also expected to strengthen Welspun’s export prospects, particularly in markets where the company already maintains an established presence. For instance, the UK represents an approximately $5 billion home textile market, according to Goenka.

“The FTA will give us a great impetus,” she said.

Meanwhile, the US remains Welspun Living’s largest market and contributes the biggest share of its global business. Over the longer term, the company expects approximately 60 percent of its business to come from the US, while the remaining 40 percent will come from the UK, Europe, India, and other markets. However, Welspun expects the overall market opportunity to continue expanding.

The company is also focusing on premiumisation and product mix improvements to protect and strengthen its margins.

“It’s going to be a mix of cost controls… and also getting into premiumisation of goods,” Goenka said.

Additionally, India is emerging as another important growth engine for Welspun Living. The company’s domestic retail business is growing at around 20 percent, and it currently operates across more than 500 districts. Welspun expects its domestic retail revenue to reach Rs 1,000 crore in the near term.

Globally, Christy, Welspun’s direct-to-consumer brand, is growing at around 25 percent and has established a presence across the UK, the US, and the Middle East.

Looking further ahead, Welspun Living has set a long-term target of achieving Rs 15,000 crore in revenue by 2029 while aiming to maintain a 15 percent EBITDA margin.

Fabric care startup Iztri raises Rs 10-Cr to expand fabric care network

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Rohit Ramesh and Ankit Choudhary, co-founders, Iztri

Fabric care startup Iztri has raised Rs 10 crore, or USD 1.1 million, in a seed funding round led by All In Capital and Suashish Group.

Additionally, the funding round attracted participation from angel investors Anupam Mittal, Kunal Shah, Tanmay Bhat, Gaurav Munjal, Roman Saini, Abhishek Goyal, JK Tyre family office, and Shadowfax founders Abhishek Bansal and Vaibhav Khadelwal. Early investor PedalStart also participated in the round.

With the fresh capital, Iztri plans to expand its operations, strengthen its hub network, and enhance its operational and technology infrastructure.

Furthermore, the company aims to move beyond its existing ironing services by entering dry cleaning and shoe care. Iztri has also set a target of serving more than 100,000 customers over the next six months.

Founded in 2024 by Rohit Ramesh and Ankit Choudhary, Iztri began operations in early 2025. Since then, the company has developed a hyper-local fabric care network through an apartment-hub model that combines neighbourhood infrastructure, workforce operations, and technology systems.

Currently, Iztri provides clothes-ironing services across Bengaluru. The company said it serves more than 25,000 customers in the city and has created employment opportunities for over 200 workers through its hub network.

Rohit Ramesh, co-founder of Iztri, said the company is building infrastructure for fabric care services, beginning with ironing and gradually expanding into additional categories.

Meanwhile, Iztri plans to increase its hub density across Bengaluru before expanding into other parts of southern India over the next two to three years. In the subsequent phase, the company aims to establish a presence in India’s top five metro cities.

Moreover, Iztri operates through a full-stack model that manages neighbourhood hubs, workforce operations, and the customer service process. The startup is also developing backend technology to manage its expanding operations and support the growth of its network.

The latest funding round follows a USD 200,000 pre-seed round led by AJVC in 2025 and a separate USD 50,000 round led by PedalStart in early 2025.

Bookmark Resorts expands in Rajasthan with new 20-key luxury retreat in Jawai

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Bookmark Resorts, the experiential hospitality brand of Onora Hospitality, has announced the launch of Bookmark Resorts Cheetagarh, its newest luxury retreat in Jawai, Rajasthan, on October 1, 2026.

Set amid the dramatic granite hills, lakes, and wilderness of Jawai, the 20-key retreat will join Bookmark Resorts’ growing portfolio of distinctive, experience-led destinations. The brand currently operates properties in Ranthambore in Rajasthan, Manali in Himachal Pradesh, and Kanha in Madhya Pradesh.

Furthermore, Cheetagarh will mark Onora Hospitality’s second resort in the leopard country following the launch of jüSTa Luxe Highpoint Jawai last year.

“The Bookmark Resorts brand is about creating places where travellers can slow down, reconnect, and experience a destination in a meaningful way. Jawai is an extraordinary setting for this philosophy, and Cheetagarh gives us the opportunity to create a truly distinctive experience around its landscape, wildlife, and sense of place. We want our guests to leave feeling not just that they have visited somewhere remarkable, but that they have been genuinely restored by the experience,” said Ashish Vohra, Founder & CEO, Onora Hospitality.

With its intimate scale and distinctive setting, Bookmark Resorts Cheetagarh will offer guests an opportunity to experience Jawai through its wildlife, landscapes, local culture, cuisine, and slower pace of life.

The resort will feature thoughtfully designed chalets and rooms, including private-pool accommodations. Additionally, guests will have access to a swimming pool, spa, wellness facilities, and curated experiences.

Dining will also form an integral part of the guest experience. Rotela Café will offer all-day dining, while a waterside grill overlooking Rotela Lake will provide a relaxed setting for meals against the dramatic Jawai landscape.

Jawai is renowned for its thriving leopard population and the unique coexistence between wildlife and local communities. Consequently, guests will be able to explore the region through jeep safaris, birding experiences, nature activities, and cultural excursions.

Alternatively, visitors can spend time enjoying the surrounding landscape and the tranquillity of the resort.

The addition of Cheetagarh also reflects the evolving philosophy of the Bookmark Resorts brand, which focuses on creating restorative sanctuaries for travellers. At Bookmark Resorts, restoration extends beyond conventional wellness and encourages guests to relax and rejuvenate at their own pace through nature, food, discovery, wellness, and thoughtful hospitality.

With Bookmark Resorts Cheetagarh, the brand will continue to focus on developing properties that remain deeply connected to their destinations while offering travellers experiences that go beyond a conventional resort stay.

Tamara Leisure Experiences launches Rae by Tamara in Kumbakonam

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Tamara Leisure Experiences has unveiled Rae by Tamara, India’s first faith-intelligent hospitality brand, in Kumbakonam, marking a new chapter for faith hospitality in Tamil Nadu. With this launch, the brand has entered the Temple Town with a hospitality experience designed around the needs, rhythms, and expectations of the modern pilgrim, rather than adapting a conventional hotel model to a religious destination.

Commenting on the occasion, Samir MC, CEO, Tamara Leisure Experiences, said, “Tamil Nadu holds a distinctive place in India’s faith travel landscape, home to some of the country’s most significant temples and sacred traditions that have shaped our spiritual and cultural heritage over centuries. The Temple Town of Kumbakonam is a remarkable expression of this legacy, with its magnificent temples, enduring rituals, and vibrant traditions drawing pilgrims throughout the year. For Tamara, bringing Rae to Kumbakonam is an opportunity to bring a more intuitive, place-sensitive approach to the town’s faith travel. Our endeavour is to make the pilgrim’s experience authentic and attuned to Kumbakonam’s culture, communities, and traditions so that the hotel becomes a meaningful part of the pilgrimage, rather than simply a place to stay.”

Meanwhile, Rae by Tamara has entered the market at a time when India’s faith tourism economy is witnessing a new phase of growth and accounts for over 60% of domestic travel. Pilgrimage is no longer defined solely by the destination, as travellers increasingly focus on the experiences surrounding their journeys.

As travellers seek more experiential and immersive hospitality, Kumbakonam offers a natural destination for the brand. The town carries centuries of Chola-era heritage and holds an important place in South India’s cultural landscape through its historic temples, architecture, and artistic traditions.

Furthermore, Kumbakonam is closely associated with the Mahamaham festival, which attracts pilgrims from across the country. Its deep spiritual heritage and evolving visitor profile, therefore, make the destination a significant addition to Rae by Tamara’s growing network of faith-intelligent hospitality destinations.

The Kumbakonam property previously operated under the Lilac Hotels portfolio and has now been reimagined as Rae by Tamara. The transformation reflects a new hospitality philosophy rather than simply a change in brand identity.

At the core of the brand lies the belief that no two pilgrimages are alike, just as no two pilgrims experience a sacred destination in the same way. Rae by Tamara caters to families introducing children to the stories and traditions of sacred destinations, elderly pilgrims seeking comfort and accessibility, solo spiritual seekers, groups, and guests attending temple weddings and religious celebrations.

Consequently, the brand has built its approach around an intuitive understanding of the modern faith traveller and the different ways people experience places of worship. This faith-intelligent model goes beyond standardised services by considering the rituals, rhythms, cultural context, and practical requirements that shape every journey.

From shrine-aligned service design and faith-conscious dining to personalised pre-arrival guidance, locally rooted ‘Mitra’ companions, and carefully curated cultural experiences within the hotel, Rae by Tamara has designed every touchpoint to complement rather than interrupt the purpose of the visit. As a result, the hotel aims to become an extension of the spiritual journey rather than simply operating beside a sacred destination.

“As we build the Rae portfolio, we are actively exploring opportunities across India’s key pilgrimage destinations, alongside upcoming destinations including Velankanni, Tirupati, Palani, and Tiruvannamalai. Our vision is to create a network of hotels that thoughtfully serve faith travellers while reflecting the distinct cultural identity of each destination,” added Samir MC, CEO, Tamara Leisure Experiences.

As the brand expands across India’s pilgrimage circuit, it aims to establish a trusted network of more than 25 properties by 2030. Through this expansion, Rae by Tamara seeks to enrich pilgrim travel while celebrating the distinctive identity of every sacred destination.

Founded by entrepreneur Shruti Shibulal, Tamara Leisure Experiences (TLE) operates with its philosophy of “Responsible and Memorable Hospitality.” The organisation integrates Profit, People and Planet through its signature ‘touch-the-earth-lightly’ architectural philosophy, which aims to ensure that each destination respects its natural surroundings while supporting community empowerment.

The company began with Tamara Coorg, a property located within an organic coffee plantation, and has since grown into a multi-brand hospitality group with a portfolio exceeding 1,000 keys.

Today, TLE’s portfolio spans several hospitality segments. Tamara Resorts offers immersive luxury nature retreats, while O by Tamara serves business and leisure travellers. Lilac Hotels focuses on high-value urban stays, whereas Amal Tamara provides holistic, clinical-grade Ayurvedic wellness experiences.

Additionally, Tamara Leisure Experiences has emerged as one of the few hospitality groups in India to hold Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) certification. The certification reflects the company’s focus on environmental stewardship and authentic cultural storytelling.

As Tamara Leisure Experiences continues its strategic expansion across Indian and international markets, the group remains focused on combining responsible business practices with high-end hospitality.