CYGNETT HOTELS & RESORTS recently launched its sixth five-star hotel in Pernem, Mopa Goa, more than a year after expanding into the upper-upscale segment with the Anamore brand. The company signed a management contract with Delhi-based Yugen Infra to manage the 150-villa property near Mopa airport.
Delhi-NCR-based Cygnett Hotels is led by founder and managing director Sarbendra Sarkar.
“The hotel will be a hybrid, combining elements of a hotel and a wellness center,” said Sarkar. “As part of a golf course township with private villas and residential apartments, a hybrid luxury hospitality product is ideal for the destination.”
The Anamore brand, launched in March 2024, marks Cygnett’s shift from mid-market to luxury hospitality. The company has signed six properties totaling 1,600 rooms under the brand, with plans to make it operational by 2029. The first 250-room Anamore hotel is set to open in Pushkar, Rajasthan, by year-end, with upcoming projects in Karjat, Khalapur, Murud in Maharashtra), and Srinagar in Uttarakhand.
Cygnett, founded in 2012, operates 20 hotels across 18 destinations under the Cygnett Inn, Cygnett Lite and Cygnett Collection brands, with one hotel, Cygnett Inn Krishna, in Nepalgunj, Nepal. The company plans to expand to more than 100 hotels across all brands by 2029, including in new markets outside India.
“Anamore will be positioned as a hybrid luxury brand with a strong focus on both luxury hospitality and wellness,” Sarkar was quoted as saying in the Economic Times.
Anamore Srinagar will feature 80 yacht villas with a helipad.
“Anamore represents a bold vision to cater to discerning luxury travelers, blending elegance with sustainable luxury and world-class service,” he said. “Positioned in prime destinations across India, the brand aims to compete with top-tier global luxury names. With its thoughtfully curated properties, Anamore signals a commitment to raising the bar for luxury travel while maintaining Cygnett’s ethos of offering unparalleled value and hospitality.”
The proposed Anamore Select Resort & Wellness in Mopa, Goa, will feature luxury villas, a 10,000-square-foot lawn, a 6,000-square-foot banquet and meeting hall, a swimming pool, health club, kids’ play area, and clubhouse. The resort will also include a wellness wing, Bluum Mudra by Ayurvyaas, a wellness brand by Cygnett Hotels, offering holistic well-being services.
The five-star property is part of a Rs 3,000 crore, 500-acre integrated golf course township by Yugen Infra, proposed near Mopa International Airport on the Maharashtra-Goa border. Yugen Infra is a joint venture between Gurgaon-based Timespro Consulting LLP, founded by Sheeshram Yadav, and Mumbai-based V K Developers, led by Naresh Shah.
Tata Group-owned Indian Hotels Co. Ltd. signed 85 hotels and opened 40 in 2024, growing its portfolio to 360, with 123 more in the pipeline. The Taj brand added 19 new signings, expanding to 125 properties.
Canadian traveler picks Pakistan’s hospitality over India’s
Pakistan Beats India in Hospitality, Says Canadian Vlogger
INDIA IS KNOWN for “Atithi Devo Bhava,” meaning "The guest is God," but some foreigners disagree. A Canadian man, when asked to choose between India and Pakistan for better hospitality, picked Pakistan without hesitation.
His brief interview with an Instagram user has since gone viral, Hindustan Times reported.
Instagram user @officialnamour, known for vox pop videos, recently asked Canadian traveler Nolan Saumure about "desi" hospitality. Saumure, a Canadian travel vlogger, has visited dozens of countries, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Indonesia, the U.S. and Vietnam.
When asked, “India or Pakistan—which has better hospitality?” Saumure instantly replied, "Pakistan, obviously."
He explained that Indians often see foreigners as wealthy customers, while Pakistanis offer warm hospitality, inviting tourists into their homes and offering food.
"You go to India, and people just see you as a walking ATM," Saumure said. "You go to Pakistan, and people are like, 'Oh, come here, sit. Take this free food. Come sleep at my place.'"
The video has more than 4.4 million views and hundreds of comments, many agreeing with Saumure.
"As an African living in Dubai, I agree with him. Pakistanis are friendlier than Indians. Pakistanis see you as a friend, while Indians see you as a stranger," one user commented. Another added simply, “I agree (I’m Indian).”
“India gets a lot of tourists, so we’re used to it and have built an economy around them,” another Instagram user said. “Pakistan gets only a few hundred tourists a year, so seeing a foreigner is a big deal for them.”
Some criticized Saumure’s opinion, some with racial overtones.
“Why do whites expect princess treatment from Indians after stealing $45 trillion from India?” one user asked.
A whitepaper by the Confederation of Indian Industry and EY projects India’s tourism and hospitality sector will create 6.1 million jobs by 2034. It currently accounts for 8 percent of total employment.