Brands
Le Méridien checks into Mumbai with runway-ready luxury and charm
MUMBAI: Suite dreams are set to land in Mumbai, as Marriott International and The Balwa Group ink a stylish new chapter with the upcoming Le Méridien Mumbai International Airport. Set just two kilometres from the airport, the hotel is slated for a January 2029 debut and promises to blend the city’s creative pulse with the brand’s signature mid-century modern aesthetic. The announcement marks Le Méridien’s grand arrival into India’s financial capital, a destination where tradition tangoes with modernity.
With 161 sleek rooms and suites on the cards, the hotel will cater to global travellers seeking timeless style and curated experiences. Guests can expect a specialty restaurant, patisserie, and the signature Le Méridien Hub, an elegant reinterpretation of the hotel lobby, where espresso meets aperitifs at the Latitude/Longitude Bar.
“Le Méridien has always inspired travelers to explore the world in style and savor the good life through the lens of its creative-minded spirit, and what better city to continue this journey than in the lively, ever-evolving city of Mumbai”, said Marriott International regional vice president for South Asi Ranju Alex. “The brand’s mid-century design, captivating spaces and chic, signature programming will offer a distinct stay experience to world travelers visiting the city. This signing marks a strategic step in expanding Marriott International’s lifestyle portfolio across the region, and we are excited to once again collaborate with The Balwa Group, ensuring delivery of the highest standards of hospitality, in line with our values.”
“We are thrilled to continue our relationship with Marriott International through the signing of Le Méridien Mumbai International Airport,” said The Balwa Group director and vice president Rafiq Balwa. “This marks the third hotel collaboration between the two groups, following the success of Fairfield by Marriott Mumbai International Airport and the soon-to-open The Ballard – A Tribute Portfolio Hotel. This hotel will be a landmark in our portfolio – combining global design sensibilities with the cultural richness of Mumbai. Le Méridien, a brand known for unlocking the charm of each destination through curated experiences and timeless style, will bring a fresh perspective to Mumbai’s hospitality scene. As we continue to expand our hospitality footprint, we are committed to creating iconic destinations that offer exceptional experiences and reflect our unwavering passion for excellence.”
The hotel is the third partnership between Marriott and The Balwa Group, following Fairfield by Marriott Mumbai and the soon-to-open The Ballard – A Tribute Portfolio Hotel.
The hotel will also house a 1,357 sq metre banquet area with expansive lawns and an open-air terrace making it perfect for everything from boardroom huddles to baraats. Leisure seekers can unwind in the open-air pool, spa, or at the fully equipped fitness centre.
As Mumbai’s skyline evolves, Le Méridien’s arrival is poised to add a new layer of elegance to its hospitality map with a brand that believes the journey should be just as beautiful as the destination.
Brands
Rakesh Menon joins Paytm as avp – lending
Fintech product leader takes on new role after building digital lending, payments and credit products across fintech ecosystem
MUMBAI: Rakesh Menon has joined Paytm as assistant vice president – lending, taking on a new role focused on strengthening the company’s lending and credit products.
Prior to this, Menon worked at Profectus Capital Pvt Ltd as chief manager – payments based financing and digital lending.
At Profectus, he designed and launched digital credit products for merchants with variable cash flows, including overdraft-linked and revenue-share lending models. He led end-to-end LOS–LMS API integrations with payment partners and aggregators, enabling real-time underwriting, disbursal and repayment workflows.
He also worked on funnel optimisation initiatives using journey analytics, improving onboarding, KYC and disbursal conversion by 35 per cent. He developed ecosystem partnerships for transaction-data-based credit assessment and automated settlement systems, and collaborated with credit and data science teams to strengthen risk models and early delinquency detection.
Menon standardised partner onboarding and API frameworks, reducing go-live timelines by 40 per cent and improving digital scalability.
Before Profectus Capital, he worked at PayU as senior manager – presales lead – enterprise business from August 2022 to August 2023. He set up a national presales function for fintech and digital commerce clients, aligning solutions such as EMI, BNPL, BBPS and offer engines to merchant requirements.
He also helped improve conversion rates by around 15 per cent through merchant persona mapping, demo frameworks and structured sales playbooks, working closely with product and go-to-market teams.
From April 2019 to July 2022, Menon served as business unit head – SMB – direct acquisitions at Worldline, where he built the SMB online payments vertical from scratch. The business scaled to Rs 2,500 crore in annual transaction volume, growing at 45 per cent year-on-year.
During this period, he introduced paperless onboarding processes including eKYC and eSign, developed partner dashboards and CRM automation systems, and integrated platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce and Tally to expand merchant adoption.
Across roles, Menon has worked across digital lending, payments and merchant financing, with experience in product development, ecosystem partnerships, API integrations and fintech-led growth strategies.
At Paytm, he will focus on scaling lending products and strengthening digital credit infrastructure within the company’s financial services ecosystem.
His appointment comes as fintech firms continue to expand their lending and embedded finance offerings in a competitive market.
