OYO‘s parent firm Oravel Stays is expanding its footprint into premium accommodation with the launch of self-operated Palette hotels. Following the success of its OYO Rooms brand, Oravel Stays said it aims to replicate a similar model with Palette, starting with its debut property in Morbi, Gujarat.
Palette was initially introduced with 10 hotels in various cities, including Jaipur, Hyderabad, Digha, Mumbai, Chennai, Manesar, and Bangalore. Now, the company plans to take direct operational control of select Palette hotels in promising locations to ensure enhanced guest experiences and service delivery. By the end of the year, Oravel Stays intends to open 12 additional self-operated Palette hotels, expanding its premium hospitality offerings across India.
Morbi, renowned as India’s ceramic capital, emerges as a strategic choice for the debut of Oravel’s Palette brand. Situated in Gujarat, Morbi stands as a crucial economic hub with over 800 tile factories, accounting for a staggering 90 per cent of India’s tile production. The district boasts an annual turnover of approximately INR 50,000 crore and houses one of the world’s largest ceramic clusters, attracting buyers from around the globe.
The Gujarat government’s concerted efforts to attract investments and boost infrastructure have further propelled the development of the ceramics sector. A 425-hectare ceramics park, slated to be operational within the next six months, underscores the region’s potential for exponential growth. This burgeoning economic landscape has resulted in a surge in business travel to Morbi, necessitating high-quality accommodation solutions to meet the escalating demand.
As a prominent player in India’s hospitality sector, the Pride Hotels Group currently operates in 28 destinations nationwide. With an ambitious expansion plan, the group has 40 new hotels in the pipeline, contributing to its substantial inventory of 3500 rooms. Its offerings encompass four distinct brands: Pride Plaza for luxury accommodations, Pride Hotels for upscale services, Pride Resorts for leisure-oriented experiences, and Biznotel by Pride.
Oravel said that its Palette hotel in Morbi is strategically positioned to cater to the needs of discerning business travellers. The property features 48 rooms equipped with modern amenities. Additionally, the hotel offers a range of facilities, including a conference room, common spaces, a swimming pool, restaurant, and round-the-clock complimentary WiFi access.Aditya Sharma, Business Head, Oravel Stays, expressed enthusiasm about the launch of the first self-operated Palette hotel in Gujarat. “We are excited to launch our first self-operated Palette hotel in Gujarat. With its booming economic scene and growing business opportunities, Morbi is an important market for us. We aim to provide business travellers with a premium hospitality experience and look forward to contributing to the growth story of Morbi. We believe the government’s focus on Morbi will turn it into a thriving hub, and we’re thrilled to be a part of this exciting journey.”
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The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has declared a final rule, indicating an increase in premium processing fees for certain visa categories, including H-1B applications.
Immigration attorneys suggest that sponsoring employers should factor the new premium processing fees into their immigration budget planning for the coming year. The usual process involves E-registrations for H-1B applications starting in March, followed by the lottery, and then the final visa application for the selected beneficiaries.
“DHS will use the revenue generated by the premium processing fee increase to provide premium processing services; make improvements to adjudications processes; respond to adjudication demands, including reducing benefit request processing backlogs; and otherwise fund USCIS adjudication and naturalization services,” the USCIS said in a statement.
What is the new fee and when will it come into effect?
The premium processing fees for Form I-129, used for non-immigrant worker applications like H-1B or L1 visas, will be hiked by 12 per cent to USD 2,805. This fee adjustment will be implemented from February 26, 2024.
The fees for premium processing of Form I-539, used by international students, as well as spouses and dependents of H-1B visa holders seeking to extend or change their non-immigrant status, have been raised to USD 1,965 from the previous USD 1,750. Additionally, the fee for Form I-765, used to apply for employment authorization, including F-1 students applying for optional practical training (OPT), has increased to USD 1,685 from USD 1,500.
The full table of adjusted fees is:
| Form | Previous Fee | New Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker | USD 1,500 (H-2B or R-1 nonimmigrant status)
USD 2,500 (All other available Form I-129 classifications (E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-3, L-1A, L-1B, LZ, O-1, O-2, P-1, P-1S, P-2, P-2S, P-3, P-3S, Q-1, TN-1, and TN-2)) |
USD 1,685 (H-2B or R-1 nonimmigrant status)
USD 2,805 (All other available Form I-129 classifications (E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-3, L-1A, L-1B, LZ, O-1, O-2, P-1, P-1S, P-2, P-2S, P-3, P-3S, Q-1, TN-1, and TN-2)) |
| Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker | USD 2,500 (Employment-based (EB) classifications E11, E12, E21 (non-NIW), E31, E32, EW3, E13 and E21 (NIW)) | USD 2,805 (Employment-based (EB) classifications E11, E12, E21 (non-NIW), E31, E32, EW3, E13 and E21 (NIW)) |
| Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status | USD 1,750 (Form I-539 classifications F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, J-2, E-1, E-2, E-3, L-2, H-4, O-3, P-4, and R-2) | USD 1,965 (Form I-539 classifications F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, J-2, E-1, E-2, E-3, L-2, H-4, O-3, P-4, and R-2) |
| Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization | USD 1,500 (Certain F-1 students with categories C03A, C03B, C03C) | USD 1,685 (Certain F-1 students with categories C03A, C03B, C03C) |
What is premium processing?
If a visa application is applied for via premium processing, the case is adjudicated within the shorter timeline as prescribed. For instance, for Form I-539 and Form I-765 it is 30 calendar days. H-1B premium processing is undertaken in 15 calendar days.
The premium processing fees stand increased to reflect the amount of inflation from June 2021 through June 2023. USCIS says that it plans to increase premium processing fees biennially in the future. It is not currently planning to change the timeframes for cases requesting premium service.
American Airlines is increasing bag fees and encouraging customers to buy tickets directly to earn frequent-flyer points. The airline said on Tuesday that checking a bag on a domestic flight will rise from USD 30 now to USD 35 online and USD 40 if purchased at the airport. The fee for a second checked bag will rise from USD 40 to USD 45 both online and at the airport. American last raised bag fees in 2018.
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The Delhi government has approved a scheme for a premium bus service that aims at reducing intracity usage of private vehicles and help reduce pollution, officials said on Monday. The government uploaded the draft of the Delhi Motor Vehicles Licensing of Aggregator (Premium Buses) Scheme, 2023 on its website in August and sought public feedback. The city government hopes to encourage the middle and upper-middle classes to switch to public transport through the scheme.
According to the scheme, a licence holder shall ensure that no premium bus shall be engaged or acquired with a registration date beyond three years from the date of notification of the scheme.
“Subsequently, induction of any new Premium bus, the prevailing emission norms, BS-VI must be compliant, either Air-Conditioned CNG or electric buses. After January 1, 2025 the induction of only electric buses shall be allowed, no CNG-operated bus even if having BS-VI compliance shall be allowed to be inducted under this scheme,” it said.
The scheme mandates that an aggregator shall take measures to ensure the safety and security of women passengers and provide a rapid response mechanism, including a panic button on its mobile and web-based applications that should be functional at all times and have modalities of API-based integration with law enforcement agencies for prompt redressal of complaints.
It permits dynamic pricing provided that the base fare shall not be less than the peak fare of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) air-conditioned buses.
In 2020 the Delhi government had set an ambitious target to register five lakh new EVs within five years and achieve 25 per cent of all newly sold vehicles being electric by 2025.
The Road Transport Ministry has revealed plans to enhance vehicle and passenger safety in India through the introduction of new mandates. The proposal includes mandatory bus body certification and the installation of ‘indirect vision’ devices in buses. The Bus Body Code will require certification from government-recognized testing agencies. The ‘indirect vision’ devices, similar to Blind Spot Detection systems, will improve driver visibility and maneuvering.
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