The Punjab Weekly

  Chandigarh :   Chandigarh is fast emerging as a new hub of hospitality sector in India after Goa, said Puneet Dhawan, Senior Vice President, Operations, Accor India and South Asia , on Thursday at Novotel Chandigarh Tribune Chowk.  “ Chandigarh being the gateway to Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, has good stopover stays, which is helping City Beautiful in becoming the next best hospitality hub after Goa ,” said Dhawan. Talking about Accor's expansion plans, he said, “We are increasing the footprint of Novotel hotels in India . We are coming up with Novotel New Delhi City Centre, Novotel Mumbai International Airport , Novotel Goa Panjim, Novotel Bhubaneswar and Novotel Bengaluru City Centre. These will be opened by 2023. We will also be unveiling  Novotel Amritsar which is under construction.” He said that occupancy in the hotel industry is improving across India . "While occupancy was 50 per cent in August, in September the same has gon...

Chandigarh : Xelerate North-2021, a day-long virtual summit, was organized by India ’s premier industry body ASSOCHAM. Lauding the efforts of ASSOCHAM in accelerating the pace of development in the Northern states, Himachal Pradesh Industries Minister Bikram Singh said that there is a need to adopt a multi-pronged strategy to take North India ’s economy to the next level. "To further grow its already impressive pharmaceutical industry, the Himachal Pradesh government recently asked the Central government to sanction a ‘ Bulk Drug Pharma Park ’ for the state that will boost industrialization and generate employment for the people of the state. The state aims to be an herbal state by 2025.” added Singh, while speaking as Chief Guest at Xelerate North 2021’s inaugural session on ‘Public-Private Partnership Holds The Potential To Drive Socio-Economic Growth.’ ASSOCHAM President and MD, Transport Corporation of India Limited, Vineet Agarwal shared that factors such as world-cl...

  Mumbai: Pune-based Togethring Media Labs Private Limited has announced the launch of Togethring, a revolutionary Super App, a social entertainment and social commerce platform, where you can do everything online together. It’s an instantaneous, synchronous, real-time and collaborative socio-business platform, which requires no screen/ device sharing. It’s the first ever launch of an Indian communication Super App, that is far and beyond the offerings by the existing world majors. Right from watching media (video/ pictures), watching games, listening to music, shopping, socialising and ordering food to book tickets, study and read together – users can do all at the same time, while chatting or video chatting, but still maintaining privacy. The App is available for Android OS and web browsers. Togethring is the world's first and industry-first unique idea embedded into one application. It's a purely Indian platform, built by Indians for Indians and the world. The Togethr...

Chandigarh : Hotel Novotel Chandigarh Tribune Chowk has appointed Ashish Battoo as its General Manager. Ashish comes with over 19 years of experience in working with several international and Indian brands including The Hyatt and The Oberoi Group of hotels and resorts.   In his most recent assignment, Ashish as General Manager was associated with The Golkonda Hotel, Hyderabad before deciding to pursue his own venture in 2019. He holds a Degree in Hotel Management from Garden City College, Bangalore. Novotel Chandigarh Tribune Chowk, scheduled to open on 1st October 2021, is strategically located in the heart of Chandigarh, offering  proximity to government offices, shopping areas and high-end residences.  The hotel will feature 120 rooms, two food and beverage outlets, banquet halls, event rooms, and recreational facilities including a swimming pool and a fitness centre.  Novotel Hotels, Suites & Resorts offer destination hotels designed as comforting and...

  Chandigarh :  Health Department UT Chandigarh and Karan Gilhotra Foundation (KGF) in association with ASR Foundation and United Sikhs celebrated completion of 5000 Covid-19 vaccinations at Sukhna Lake vaccination camp here today. A cake cutting ceremony was kept to mark the occasion, which was attended by UT Adviser, Dharam Pal and actor Jimmy Shergill. Karan Gilhotra, Founder of KGF, said that 5000 vaccinations were completed in a month at the Sukhna Lake vaccination centre and the target now is 10,000 for this month. Amardeep S Reen from ASR Foundation and United Sikhs, said that the camp aims at 100 percent vaccination in Chandigarh to keep the anticipated third wave of Covid away. The efforts will continue till the whole city is not fully vaccinated. Free vaccination is available at the Sukhna Lake centre between 4 pm to 8 pm every day. The foundation has provided waterproof canopies with seating arrangement for those who visit the centre to take th...

  Chandigarh:  A free limbs camp - Ek Haath Aasha Ka, will be held at the Block 9 of Chandigarh University located on the Ludhiana-Chandigarh Highway (NH 95) in Punjab on 14 th  November, 2021 under the aegis of Rotary club Chandigarh Central in association of Rotary Club Poona Downtown, District Rotract Organisation. A poster of the event was unveiled today by farmers leader Balbir Singh Rajyewal. Ashish Midha, President, Rotary Club Chandigarh Central said, “The free limbs camp will be organized for the children above 10 years of age and elders, who have lost their hands in some accident. We will provide light, durable and functional prosthetic hands to the needy people. The  US  made prosthetic hands, weighing 400 gram only, can be fitted below the elbow. No charge will be taken from the beneficiaries.” This is first such camp in the northern region. The beneficiaries after getting the prosthetic hands will be able to perform various day to day functions ...

Nila Madhab Panda started his celluloid journey with the acclaimed ‘I am Kalam’. His subsequent work focused equally on environmental as well as children's issues. He is excited to steer another project that has a child as a central character. Explaining his recurrent interest in such stories, he says, " India  is a country with a 28.6% children population, and yet we have very few films which are children centric or talking about their issues". Debutant director Anuj Tyagi's Bishwa is based on the life of a blind boy and how he emerges as a hero in a village near the mesmerizing Chilika lake. The film has a highly-skilled cast and has Vinay Pathak, Yagya Bhasin, Sharib Hashmi (Family Man fame) and national-award-winning actress Usha Jadhav in pivotal roles. Bishwa is shot entirely in the mesmerizing beauty of Odisha, right before the lockdown started. Nila Madhab Panda, who is born and brought up in Odisha has always shown his love for Odisha through his films. But...