MAM
DriveX rides ahead with new CEO Devesh Taparia
MUMBAI: DriveX is revving up for its next big ride. The pre-owned two-wheeler brand has appointed Devesh Taparia as its new chief executive officer, signalling a fresh phase of technology-led growth, retail expansion and customer-focused innovation.
A mobility enthusiast with a flair for transformation, Taparia brings over a decade of leadership experience from Mahindra & Mahindra, Peugeot Motocycles and TVS Motor Company. At TVS, he spearheaded strategic initiatives across global markets, driving innovation and business transformation, qualities that make him a perfect fit for DriveX’s next lap of growth.
At the heart of his new mandate lies a clear goal, to make DriveX the most trusted tech-enabled mobility brand in India. Taparia will focus on scaling DriveX Direct, the company’s direct-to-customer model, and strengthening its omnichannel retail network across the country.
“Devesh joins DriveX at a defining moment in our journey,” said DriveX director on the board Sharad Mohan Mishra. “His deep understanding of mobility, technology and customer behaviour aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver trust, transparency and innovation.”
Expressing his excitement, Taparia said, “DriveX represents the future of pre-owned mobility, where intelligent technology, data insights and customer trust come together. I look forward to scaling our presence through DriveX Direct and next-generation retail experiences.”
With plans to boost its AI-driven operations, expand refurbishment centres and open new stores across key cities, DriveX is clearly in top gear, ready to steer India’s pre-owned two-wheeler market into a smarter, faster and more trusted future.
MAM
Agoda honours over 200 Indian hotels with Gold Circle Awards
Platform celebrates top performers as international searches for India surge.
MUMBAI: When it comes to rolling out the red carpet for hotels, Agoda clearly knows how to make the awards feel golden especially when over 200 Indian properties are shining bright this year. Agoda has awarded more than 200 hotels across India in the 17th edition of its Gold Circle Awards, placing the country fourth globally in the number of awardees. The annual honours recognise properties that deliver consistently high guest standards, strong digital engagement and operational adaptability. This year’s winners were heavily concentrated in India’s top business-and-leisure hubs such as Mumbai, New Delhi and Bengaluru.
Interest in travel to India has grown significantly among international travellers, with accommodation searches experiencing a 24-fold year-on-year increase. Searches from the United Arab Emirates rose 81 per cent compared with the previous year, while travellers from Malaysia, the United States and Singapore recorded 40 per cent growth.
This momentum coincides with the Government of India’s announcement at the South Asia Travel and Tourism Exhibition to double airport capacity, a move expected to strengthen international connectivity and unlock further hotel and tour demand as infrastructure scales up to meet tourism growth that is currently outpacing supply.
Agoda country director for the Indian Subcontinent and Indian Ocean Islands Gaurav Malik said the rising interest is a win for both the market and hoteliers. “It’s encouraging to see how quickly the ecosystem and its partners are rising to meet that demand. As connectivity improves and airport capacity expands, India is well positioned to welcome even more travellers and to showcase the incredible depth and variety of experiences the country has to offer,” he noted.
2025 Gold Circle Awards ranking by market (number of winners):
Globally, the 17th edition of Agoda’s Gold Circle Awards recognised over 3,000 hotel partners for excellence in operational performance and guest experience. Insights from Agoda’s “Tailored to Win” report further highlight that nearly 98 per cent of Indian hotels using advanced localisation strategies reported a positive impact on revenue, underscoring the importance of tailored content, payments and guest touchpoints in capturing both international and domestic demand.
In the race for travellers’ attention, it seems Indian hotels are not just keeping pace, they’re earning gold medals while doing so.
