MAM
Marriott ties up with Oswal Group to bring wellness luxury to Punjab
MUMBAI: In a move that signals the rise of Ludhiana as a luxury hospitality hotspot, Marriott International and Vardhman Amrante, an Oswal Group venture, have signed a deal to bring the globally celebrated Westin Hotels & Resorts brand to Punjab.
The 200-key property, to be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 260 crore, will be Ludhiana’s first Westin, a brand known for its wellness-first, rejuvenation-focused philosophy. The signing ceremony took place in Delhi, with senior representatives from both sides sealing the partnership.
Ranju Alex, regional vice president – South Asia, Marriott International, said the Westin Ludhiana would “redefine excellence in guest service” while giving travellers a place to “be the best version of themselves, even on the move.”
Adish Oswal, chairman, Oswal Group, called the project the “crown jewel” in their hospitality vision, aiming to make Ludhiana a luxury destination for both business and leisure travellers.
Situated just 20 minutes from Ludhiana Railway Station, 1.5 hours from Chandigarh International Airport, and within striking distance of the upcoming Halwara Airport, the property is designed for maximum accessibility and upscale indulgence.
Expected features include Westin’s signature Heavenly Spa, WestinWorkout Fitness Studio, a swimming pool, and multiple dining venues, along with a lavish executive club lounge. The hotel will also boast expansive banqueting facilities and a lush outdoor lawn for events.
With Ludhiana’s growing clout in trade, logistics and manufacturing and increasing appetite for elevated experiences, this Westin opening underscores Marriott’s bullish stance on India’s tier-2 growth markets.
Wellness, it seems, is boarding the Shatabdi and heading north.
MAM
Beacon Group appoints Dr Rajesh Patel as Group CEO
36-year healthcare veteran to lead Beacon Diagnostics, Vector Biotek, Biogeny.
MUMBAI: A new chief, a fresh diagnosis and a sharper prescription for growth. Beacon Group has appointed Dr Rajesh Patel as its Group Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1, 2026, signalling a decisive push to scale its presence in the diagnostics and IVD space. Patel steps into the role with 36 years of experience across the healthcare and diagnostics industry, bringing a career shaped by leadership roles spanning sales, marketing, business development and operational strategy. His mandate is both expansive and precise: to steer the group’s overall strategic direction while tightening coordination across its three core entities Beacon Diagnostics, Vector Biotek and Biogeny Diagnostics.
In practical terms, that means driving cross-company synergies, accelerating market expansion and strengthening organisational capability areas increasingly critical as diagnostic players compete for scale in a fragmented yet rapidly evolving healthcare ecosystem. The group is positioning itself to capture unmet demand across chain laboratories, key accounts and standalone labs, segments that remain underserved despite growing diagnostic needs.
The appointment comes at a time when the In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) sector in India is entering a more competitive and innovation-led phase, with companies focusing not just on product pipelines but also on service delivery, integration and customer-centric models. Beacon’s leadership appears to be betting that Patel’s execution-focused approach can help translate ambition into operational momentum.
Welcoming the appointment, Chairman Dr D K Joshi described Patel’s induction as a strategic move aligned with the group’s long-term vision, emphasising the role of leadership depth in navigating the next phase of growth.
For Beacon Group, the message is clear, in a sector where precision matters, leadership is the new differentiator—and this appointment is intended to set the tone for what comes next.
