Planet Hotels and Resorts Introduces Kings Mansion, North Goa’s Upcoming Luxury Landmark

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December 22, 2025

Planet Hotels and Resorts Introduces Kings Mansion, North Goa’s Upcoming Luxury Landmark — Anand Chatterjee, Executive Director, Planet Hotels and Resorts

Planet Hotels and Resorts, established in 2013 with the launch of Planet Hollywood Beach Resort, Goa, has steadily built a distinctive presence in India’s hospitality sector by delivering experiential destinations rooted in design, entertainment, and personalised service.

Planet Hotels and Resorts further strengthened its footprint in 2022 with the launch of Planet Hollywood Thane City, a contemporary lifestyle hotel positioned in Mumbai’s most promising destination. The brand continued its expansion momentum with the launch of its Manali hotel in 2025 under the Beatle branding, reinforcing its growing presence across key Indian markets.

The Group now presents Kings Mansion, an ultra-luxury hospitality venture scheduled to open in early 2026 on the iconic grounds of the former Kingfisher Villa, North Goa. The property will feature 48 ultra-luxury rooms and a carefully curated resort and spa experience that brings together contemporary elegance and immersive travel.

The group also reimagines this legendary address through exotic design, intuitive service, immersive dining, and refined leisure offerings, including a pool, bar lounge, beach deck, gym, salon, and the signature wellness sanctuary Ojas Sva. Every detail is designed to create meaningful experiences defined by comfort, sophistication, and connection.

Anand Chatterjee, Executive Director, Planet Hotels and Resorts, said, “Kings Mansion represents a thoughtful new expression of luxury, focused on personalised experiences that leave a lasting impression.”

Claude Pinto, General Manager, added, “Our vision is to create a stay that feels intuitive, immersive, and unmistakably luxurious, while honouring the legacy of this iconic location.

Planet Hotels and Resorts continues its forward-looking expansion journey with new destinations planned for Tirupati, Udaipur, and Hyderabad in 2026.

Poised to become one of Goa’s most distinguished luxury destinations, Kings Mansion promises a transformative hospitality experience when it opens its doors in 2026.

GABIT acquires clean nutrition brand Näck to expand longevity-focused portfolio

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December 20, 2025

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GABIT acquires clean nutrition brand Näck to expand longevity-focused portfolio — Arpana Shahi & Gaurav Gupta, co-founders, GABIT

GABIT, a longevity-focused, full-stack healthtech platform, has acquired clean nutrition brand Näck for an undisclosed sum, thereby extending its footprint beyond health tracking into supplements and nutrition-driven outcomes.

Through the acquisition, GABIT has integrated Näck’s supplement portfolio into its broader ecosystem, which already includes continuous health tracking, diagnostics, personalised fitness and nutrition programmes, AI-powered health coaching, and longevity-focused skincare solutions.

Following the transaction, Näck’s supplements will become part of GABIT’s platform, enabling users to directly monitor how supplement intake influences measurable health outcomes such as sleep quality, recovery, and metabolic performance.

Founded in 2020 by Malin Petersson, Sahil Marwaha, Philip Göransson, Kelsang Dolma, Anthony Igoe, and Ricky Teja, Näck operates as a Swedish-Indian wellness brand built around transparent, science-backed nutrition.

The brand formulates its supplements in line with recommended dietary allowances where applicable and holds Informed Choice certification. Meanwhile, GABIT, founded in 2022 by Gaurav Gupta and Arpana Shahi, runs a full-stack health platform anchored around four core pillars—fitness, sleep, stress, and nutrition. Its titanium-built Smart Ring continuously tracks health metrics, while its software layer translates this data into personalised insights related to activity, recovery, and dietary choices.

Beyond wearable-based tracking, GABIT also integrates smart scales, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data, and detailed blood tests. As a result, users can track more than 150 health markers and biomarkers covering sleep, recovery, nutrition, metabolism, stress, and long-term health trends within a single platform.

“With this acquisition, we’re bringing nutrition into the same measurable loop as movement, sleep, and recovery,” said Gaurav Gupta.

“Näck stands for nutrition that is simple, transparent, and rooted in science. At GABIT, we’ve always believed that health is interconnected. This acquisition is a natural next step, because the impact of what you put into your body should be just as measurable as how you move, sleep, recover, and live. When supplements, diagnostics, and continuous tracking come together, health stops being vague and starts becoming measurable.”

Arpana Shahi said the unified platform would allow users to clearly connect daily habits with tangible outcomes.

“Good habits feel even better when they show up in your data. Imagine taking a supplement for better sleep and actually being able to measure its effect on your deep sleep. Or adjusting your nutrition through supplements and seeing tangible changes in recovery, energy, or metabolic health. That’s the future of health we’re building.”

Brookfield India REIT taps debt markets with ₹2,000-Cr sustainability-linked bonds

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December 20, 2025

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Brookfield India Real Estate Trust has raised Rs 2,000 crore through its maiden sustainability-linked bond issuance, with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) participating as an anchor investor, according to people with direct knowledge of the development.

In addition, several domestic and international institutional investors subscribed to the bonds. The listed REIT will pay a quarterly coupon of 7.06% on the five-year tenure bonds.

Notably, this marks Brookfield India REIT’s second capital raise in less than two weeks through a combination of equity and debt instruments. Earlier this month, the REIT raised Rs 3,500 crore via a qualified institutional placement (QIP), drawing interest from both domestic and global investors.

Meanwhile, last month, Brookfield India REIT signed an agreement to acquire Ecoworld, a 7.7 million sq ft office campus spread across 48 acres in Bengaluru, for Rs 13,125 crore. The REIT plans to deploy a portion of the QIP proceeds to fund this acquisition, which is the largest transaction announced by an REIT in India to date.

With the latest bond issuance, Brookfield India REIT has raised a cumulative Rs 10,000 crore over the past 12 months. At the same time, Indian REITs are increasingly turning to bond markets to finance acquisitions and development, thereby diversifying their capital structures amid sustained demand for office leasing.

Separately, Brookfield Asset Management recently announced plans to invest $1 billion to develop Asia’s largest global capability centre (GCC) on a six-acre land parcel in Powai, Mumbai. The proposed development will offer 2 million sq ft of leasable space and will serve a multinational bank under a 20-year lease tenure.

US banking major JP Morgan is likely to sign the lease agreement for this facility, said people with direct knowledge of the development. Brookfield declined to comment on the matter.

Brookfield remains one of India’s largest office owners and operators, managing approximately 55 million sq ft of office space across seven cities. Currently, the REIT’s portfolio comprises 29.1 million sq ft of total leasable area, including 24.6 million sq ft of operational space, 0.6 million sq ft under construction, and an additional 3.9 million sq ft earmarked for future development.

Della Resorts redefines experiential luxury hospitality in India

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December 20, 2025

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Della Resorts, the pioneer of India’s first experiential hospitality resort, has redefined leisure, celebration, wellness, and adventure in the country.

Conceived by design futurist Jimmy Mistry, founder and chairman of the Della Group, the resort’s experiential philosophy seamlessly blends luxurious design, personalized service, meaningful storytelling, advanced amenities, and thoughtfully curated experiences across its expansive 50-acre property in Lonavala, strategically located between Mumbai and Pune.

Guests engage in rejuvenating wellness retreats, celebratory getaways, high-adrenaline adventure experiences, and enriching family vacations that reflect the brand’s vision of immersive luxury. This approach has shaped Della Resorts into a fully integrated destination where luxury is deeply experienced rather than merely observed, positioning it at the forefront of modern hospitality in India.

The resort offers an array of upscale accommodations, including designer villas, exclusive suites, and contemporary rooms across six distinct categories, each crafted with exceptional attention to detail and inspired by global design sensibilities and world-class architecture. Rich textures, handcrafted décor, warm lighting, and sweeping views of the Western Ghats enhance a sense of privacy and calm. Whether families are searching for a premier resort in Lonavala or couples are seeking a secluded romantic retreat, every stay combines comfort with refined elegance. The design ethos thoughtfully balances nature, modernity, and emotional resonance, creating spaces that feel indulgent yet personal.

Della Resorts has also established itself as a preferred destination for luxury weddings in India, recognized for its elegance, adaptability, and spectacular celebration settings. Panoramic hill views, dramatic architectural elements, and expansive indoor and outdoor venues come together to create a “European-themed destination wedding experience” that transforms each celebration into a memorable milestone. Couples host intimate ceremonies, elaborate multi-day weddings, and bespoke celebrations, supported by the resort’s convenient location between Mumbai and Pune. Comprehensive planning support, thematic décor expertise, and attentive hospitality ensure every wedding reflects the couple’s individuality, reinforcing Della’s standing among India’s leading luxury wedding venues.

Culinary experiences at Della Resorts unfold as an immersive journey driven by creativity, craftsmanship, and passion. The property houses eight award-winning themed restaurants that present refined global cuisines within distinctive and engaging settings.

Café 24, India’s first 24-hour fine-dining restaurant, continues to set benchmarks by offering gourmet dining at any hour. Guests can also savor premium Italian fare at Villa Bistro, celebrated for its signature dishes infused with Della’s unique flair. From chef-curated tasting menus to theatrical themed dining concepts, each venue strengthens the resort’s reputation as a destination for innovative and memorable gastronomy.

Adventure and entertainment reach extraordinary heights at Della Resorts through Della Adventure, India’s largest extreme adventure park. Featuring more than seventy activities—including dirt biking, sky cycling, rappelling, flying fox, ATV trails, and obstacle courses—the destination appeals to thrill seekers, families, and corporate groups alike. Those seeking relaxation can unwind with rejuvenating spa experiences, while guests looking for distinctive stays can explore India’s first military-themed glamping resort or relax within the country’s first Sky Garden concept. As a dynamic live entertainment destination, the resort also presents curated performances, live music, and themed shows that infuse energy into the overall experience, seamlessly merging luxury with adventure and nightlife.

Central to Della Resorts’ identity is the visionary leadership of its founder, Jimmy Mistry, whose innovative mindset reshaped India’s understanding of experiential hospitality. His emphasis on design, storytelling, and excellence permeates every aspect of the resort, from architecture and landscaping to culinary offerings and adventure concepts. This leadership has enabled Della to grow into a purpose-driven luxury brand that consistently sets new standards within the hospitality sector.

Today, Della Resorts stands as a comprehensive luxury destination where adventure, entertainment, gastronomy, and relaxation exist in perfect harmony. Whether guests arrive for family holidays, luxury weddings, immersive dining experiences, or adrenaline-filled escapes, Della Resorts continues to redefine luxury hospitality for the modern traveller, ensuring that every visit leaves a lasting impression.

Leela Palaces expands portfolio with launch of Leela Luxe and Leela Nirvana

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December 20, 2025

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Leela Palaces Hotels & Resorts is expanding its luxury hospitality portfolio by adding two new verticals under “The Leela” brand, as it accelerates its brand-led growth strategy.

In separate stock exchange filings, the company announced the incorporation of two wholly owned subsidiaries—Leela Luxe Hotels & Resorts Private Limited and Leela Nirvana Resorts Private Limited—both designed to own, operate, manage, and develop premium hotels and resorts across India.

Leela Luxe Hotels & Resorts Private Limited was incorporated on November 28, 2025. The subsidiary has an authorised share capital of Rs 5 lakh and a paid-up capital of Rs 1,000, which Leela Palaces Hotels & Resorts fully subscribed in cash along with nominee shareholders. Subsequently, on December 19, 2025, the company incorporated Leela Nirvana Resorts Private Limited with an identical capital structure, including authorised capital of Rs 5 lakh and paid-up capital of Rs 1,000, entirely held by the listed parent. At present, neither entity has commenced commercial operations.

According to regulatory disclosures, both Leela Luxe and Leela Nirvana operate within the “Hotels and Resorts” industry. The stated primary objective for each subsidiary is to “own, operate, manage, and develop luxury hotels and resorts under ‘The Leela’ brand.”

As a result, the two entities appear positioned as focused vehicles for future luxury developments rather than a move into unrelated business segments.

Leela Palaces Hotels & Resorts, which manages some of India’s most recognisable luxury hotel assets, has increasingly prioritised brand-centric expansion following its ownership restructuring and stock market listing. Therefore, the creation of these subsidiaries aligns closely with the company’s broader ambition to strengthen “The Leela” as a premium hospitality platform. Earlier, in October, the company rebranded itself from Schloss Bangalore Limited to Leela Palaces Hotels & Resorts Limited, further underscoring this strategic shift.

Monday Hotels Launches Monday Premium, Madhapur; Marks Fourth Property in Hyderabad

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December 20, 2025

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Monday Hotels, a new-age hospitality brand catering to modern business and leisure travelers, today announced the launch of Monday Premium, Madhapur, marking its fourth hotel in Hyderabad and strengthening its footprint in one of India’s fastest-growing urban markets.

Located in Madhapur, at the heart of Hyderabad’s HITECH City, the new property benefits from proximity to major IT hubs such as Deloitte, Accenture, Knowledge City, and Mindspace, as well as prominent corporate and social event venues including HICC, T-Hub, and Meydan Expo Centre. The hotel is also surrounded by upscale residential neighborhoods and a vibrant social and lifestyle ecosystem, making it well-suited for corporate and contemporary travelers.

Monday Premium, Madhapur, features thoughtfully designed rooms and suites, modern business facilities aligned with the needs of today’s professionals, bespoke dining experiences, and personalized service that reflects the brand’s customer-first philosophy.

Commenting on the launch, Mitesh Kadam, Co-Founder, Monday Hotels, said, “The launch of Monday Premium in Madhapur represents an important milestone for us in Hyderabad. As our fourth property in the city, it underscores our commitment to offering consistently high-quality hospitality experiences tailored to the modern business traveler.”

About Monday Hotels

Monday Hotels is a chain of business hotels in India with a strong presence across Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. The brand is known for its contemporary design, consistent service standards, and seamless experiences for business and leisure travelers.

For more information, visit www.mondayhotels.com

Resolve AI secures $1 Bn valuation in Series A funding to automate site reliability engineering

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December 20, 2025

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Resolve AI secures $1 Bn valuation in Series A funding to automate site reliability engineering — Mayank Agarwal & Spiros Xanthos, co-founders, Resolve AI

Resolve AI, a startup building an autonomous site reliability engineer (SRE) that automatically manages and maintains software systems, has raised a Series A funding round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, according to three people familiar with the transaction.

The fresh round carries a headline valuation of $1 billion, sources said. However, the company’s blended valuation is lower due to a multi-tranched deal structure. Under this arrangement, investors bought part of the equity at a $1 billion valuation while acquiring the remaining portion—likely the larger share of the round—at a lower price. Notably, investors say this structure has recently gained traction among highly sought-after AI startups.

Meanwhile, two sources said Resolve AI’s annual recurring revenue (ARR) stands at roughly $4 million. However, the exact size of the funding round could not be determined. Resolve AI and Lightspeed Venture Partners did not respond to requests for comment.

Founded less than two years ago, Resolve AI is led by former Splunk executive Spiros Xanthos and Mayank Agarwal, who previously served as Splunk’s chief architect for observability. Importantly, the founders’ partnership spans more than two decades, dating back to their graduate studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This is not their first venture together; earlier, they co-founded Omnition, which Splunk acquired in 2019.

Traditionally, human SREs manually troubleshoot and resolve system failures. In contrast, Resolve AI automates this workflow by autonomously detecting, diagnosing, and fixing production issues in real time.

As software systems grow increasingly complex and distributed across cloud environments, companies continue to struggle with hiring and retaining skilled SRE talent. Consequently, automating reliability engineering tasks helps reduce downtime, cut operational costs, and allow engineering teams to focus on building new features instead of constantly responding to production incidents.

Previously, in October, Resolve AI raised a $35 million seed round led by Greylock, with participation from World Labs founder Fei-Fei Li and Google DeepMind scientist Jeff Dean.

Flipkart acquires majority stake in Minivet AI to boost generative AI–led e-commerce

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December 19, 2025

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Flipkart has acquired a majority stake in Minivet AI, an artificial intelligence startup specialising in e-commerce video generation, as India’s largest homegrown online marketplace accelerates its push toward generative AI–led shopping experiences.

At the same time, e-commerce platforms across the industry are rapidly adapting to changing consumer behaviour that increasingly favours visual, conversational, and AI-assisted product discovery. Although the companies did not disclose the financial details, the transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions.

Founded in 2024, Minivet AI develops technology that transforms static product catalogues into short-form videos, a capability that has become increasingly vital as online retail draws inspiration from social media platforms such as Instagram and YouTube. According to the company, its platform uses advanced model orchestration and performance optimisation to deliver video content at significantly lower costs than traditional production processes.

In parallel, Minivet continues to build AI-driven features such as semantic search and conversational interfaces to enhance how shoppers discover, explore, and engage with products. Ultimately, the company aims to support the transition toward visual-first and AI-powered commerce, where browsing mirrors social media-style feeds rather than text-heavy listings.

Meanwhile, Flipkart stated that the acquisition will allow it to embed core generative AI capabilities directly into its platform, including catalogue videofication, semantic search, and conversational shopping tools. Consequently, these enhancements will drive stronger customer engagement and higher conversion rates as e-commerce becomes more immersive and interactive.

Commenting on the deal, Ravi Iyer, Senior Vice President for Corporate Development at Flipkart, said, “Acquiring Minivet AI is a strategic investment that strengthens Flipkart’s core GenAI capabilities,” while adding that visual-first commerce is emerging as a defining trend for the industry.

For Minivet AI, the transaction opens the door to deploying its technology at scale across one of India’s largest digital commerce ecosystems. Founder Aditya Rachakonda noted that the partnership will accelerate the rollout of generative video and conversational search capabilities to millions of users.

Notably, in September, Flipkart acquired a majority stake in Pinkvilla India, a Mumbai-based digital content platform, as part of a broader strategy to expand its content ecosystem and deepen engagement with younger consumers, particularly Gen Z and millennials. As with the Minivet transaction, the companies did not disclose financial terms, and the deal remains subject to customary closing conditions.

Krafton, Naver and Mirae Asset bet big on India with ₹6,000-Cr investment fund

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December 19, 2025

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South Korean gaming major Krafton, best known for Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), has unveiled a new India-focused technology investment fund in collaboration with Naver and Mirae Asset, targeting a corpus of up to Rs 6,000 crore.

Named the Unicorn Growth Fund, the investment vehicle places India at the centre of its Asia strategy and, consequently, signals Krafton’s intent to deepen its presence beyond gaming into broader technology and innovation sectors.

According to the company, the fund is scheduled to commence operations in January 2026.

Moreover, the announcement builds on Krafton’s strong and growing footprint in India, where the company has invested more than $200 million across gaming and digital startups since 2021. Its Indian portfolio includes hyperlocal community platform Shuru, fintech player Cashfree Payments, and game studio Nautilus Mobile, in which Krafton acquired a controlling stake. In parallel, Battlegrounds Mobile India has further consolidated the company’s market position, registering hundreds of millions of downloads and playing a pivotal role in the expansion of India’s mobile gaming ecosystem.

In addition, Krafton’s broader investment journey in India dates back to August 2023, when the company committed to deploying $150 million into Indian gaming and entertainment startups over a two- to three-year period. At that time, the company prioritised early-stage studios, esports platforms, multimedia content ventures, and allied segments.

Before that, between March 2021 and mid-2023, the company invested approximately $140 million across 11 Indian startups, including Nodwin Gaming, Loco, Kuku FM, and Pratilipi.

With the launch of the new fund, Krafton is now expanding its investment focus to technology companies with scalable innovation potential. Furthermore, the partnership combines NAVER’s platform and content expertise with Mirae Asset’s capital management strengths to create a structured investment vehicle aimed at supporting India’s technology ecosystem and advancing Krafton’s long-term strategic objectives in the country.

AM Hotel Kollection expands Gurugram presence with launch of second Foxtrail property

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December 19, 2025

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AM Hotel Kollection has announced the opening of its second Foxtrail hotel in Gurugram, thereby reinforcing the brand’s focus on delivering thoughtfully curated hospitality experiences in some of India’s most vibrant urban destinations.

The new property is strategically located on Golf Course Extension Road and will operate under a long-term hotel management agreement with AM Hotel Kollection, which is widely recognized for its portfolio of distinctive, independent boutique hotels and resorts.

Furthermore, the addition of this hotel strengthens the brand’s footprint across Delhi-NCR. It complements the existing Foxtrail–AM Hotel Kollection in Sector 42, Gurugram, reflects the asset owner’s growing presence in the hospitality sector, and reaffirms LaRiSa’s commitment to expanding in the upscale business-hotel segment across the region.

Commenting on the expansion, Vijay Kalra, a spokesperson from the asset owner’s family, said, “We are delighted to expand our presence in Gurugram with this second property. Our journey in hospitality has always been driven by a desire to create memorable guest experiences. Partnering again with AM Hotel Kollection ensures our vision is executed with excellence and consistency.”

Meanwhile, Priya Thakur, Director at LaRiSa Hotels and Resorts, highlighted the continued collaboration, saying, “We are excited to continue our partnership with the Kalra family and bring another Foxtrail-AM Hotel Kollection experience to Gurugram. Gurugram is a vibrant location, and this hotel will reflect our brand’s philosophy of thoughtful and warm hospitality.”

In addition, the new Foxtrail–AM Hotel Kollection hotel will offer 42 premium rooms and suites, a signature restaurant, a rooftop bar, and versatile event spaces. Consequently, the property aims to cater effectively to both business and leisure travelers in Gurugram’s rapidly evolving hospitality landscape.

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