NH Hotels to open 151-room hotel in Tashkent in 2027

Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL) announced on Thursday the signing of a multi-hotel operating agreement covering eight hotels offering more than 2000 rooms. These properties will be located in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, and Guwahati.

The hotels will operate under IHCL brands: Taj, Vivanta, Gateway, and Ginger. Among them are planned three Taj hotels, two Vivanta hotels, one Gateway hotel, and two Ginger hotels, catering to luxury, upscale, and mid-range hospitality segments.

Under the terms of the partnership, AAHL will handle the development of the hotels, while IHCL will manage them as part of its multi-brand hospitality portfolio in key aviation hubs. According to informed sources, construction of hotels in Mumbai, Lucknow, and Ahmedabad has already begun, and most properties are expected to be operational within three to four years.

Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and CEO of IHCL, noted that as India's aviation market expands, airport-oriented properties are developing as important commercial and hospitality centers. He added that this collaboration will strengthen IHCL's leading multi-brand presence at key Indian airports, increasing the company's total number of hotels at these airports to 25.

AAHL formed Adani Airport City Limited to create a land bank of over 655 acres across six airports in five locations, including Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, and Guwahati. In the initial phase, the company plans to invest over 20,000 crore rupees to develop approximately 22 million square feet in these locations, including Navi Mumbai.

Jit Adani, Director of Adani Airport Holdings Limited, emphasized that leading airports worldwide are transforming into integrated destinations that act as catalysts for trade, tourism, and urban growth. He also stated that together they aim to strengthen the hospitality ecosystem within their Airport City projects and contribute to the long-term economic development of the serviced regions.

Specific location plans include: a Taj hotel will be built at Terminal 2 of Mumbai Airport in Mumbai; Vivanta and Ginger hotels will appear in Lucknow; Ahmedabad will receive Taj and Vivanta hotels that are in advanced stages of construction; and Guwahati will host Taj, Gateway, and Ginger hotels.

Collectively, the eight properties will offer over 2000 rooms, along with accommodation, dining, meeting and event services, and wellness and recreational facilities. The partnership is expected to expand the hospitality infrastructure around these aviation gateways amid the strengthening role of airport areas due to passenger traffic, tourism, and business travel.

The international innovation week InnoWeek–2026 has started in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The event gathered representatives of the scientific community, technology companies, startup ecosystems, and investment organizations from over thirty countries.

Over three days, participants will demonstrate scientific achievements, advanced technologies, and promising business projects, as well as discuss opportunities for international cooperation. The conference is held under the slogan 'Innovation for a Changing World' and is organized by the Agency for Innovative Development under the Ministry of Higher Education and Science of Uzbekistan.

The opening ceremony was attended by Oibek Yuldoshev, the First Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Science, representatives of state agencies and diplomatic missions, university and research center leaders, scientists, technical experts, young inventors, entrepreneurs, and investors.

Speakers emphasized the significance of InnoWeek in the process of transitioning from research to production, developing value chains, and unlocking the country's innovative potential. Special attention was paid to aligning scientific research with real economic needs, more effective utilization of domestic scientists and research institutions, and the implementation of modern technologies.

This year, the event features broad international coverage. Approximately 200 delegates from more than 30 countries are participating, including Japan, China, South Korea, the USA, Canada, Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Switzerland, India, Singapore, Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

Participants include representatives from about 50 international companies, universities, research centers, venture capital funds, financial institutions, and other partner organizations. The goal of the event is to promote experience exchange, strengthen scientific and technical ties, and seek prospects for joint projects.

One of the key events is the exhibition of innovative developments, covering an area of over 15,000 square meters. It features 265 exhibitors, including 225 local and 40 international participants. The exhibition is divided into 12 thematic sections and includes 240 stands showcasing 750 innovative products.

Universities, research organizations, innovative enterprises, spin-offs, and early-stage startups present their developments alongside the Yashnabad Technopark and regional youth technology parks. Participants of the World Bank project MUNIS, as well as inventors and innovators, are also represented.

Exhibitors from China, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Germany, Hungary, and Kazakhstan are demonstrating their technological solutions. The exhibition provides an opportunity to compare local developments with global practices and establish new business contacts.

The InnoWeek–2026 program includes 21 events in various formats. These consist of six international and national forums, five award ceremonies, three sessions, two Demo Days, two presentations, one conference, as well as two scientific discussions and round tables.

During the meetings, scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors will discuss the practical application of research, technology commercialization, and the promotion of new projects. B2B negotiations will play a significant role, giving local companies a chance to connect with foreign partners, discuss mutually beneficial proposals, and explore joint initiatives.

Such connections are critically important for strengthening the interaction between science and industry, bringing innovative products to the market, and expanding international business relations.

The program includes an initiative to strengthen the technical base of educational and research institutions. It is planned to donate 50 tractors manufactured in South Korea, which run on compressed natural gas, a cleaner fuel.

The event is also focused on supporting scientists, inventors, researchers, and young innovators. Awards will be presented to winners of the contests '100 Best Regional Innovation Projects' and 'Best University Inventor', as well as intellectual activity contests. Recipients of the 'Leader of Innovative Ideas' badge will also be recognized.

These steps aim to stimulate research, popularize invention, and increase youth interest in scientific and technical creativity. Organizers have also prepared interactive zones for visitors: the venue includes a children's area, a virtual reality space with virtual tours, and zones with innovative entertainment games. Thus, visitors can not only learn about modern technologies but also personally experience their possibilities.

InnoWeek–2026 aims to strengthen ties between science, education, industry, and business. Demonstrating new developments, conducting direct negotiations with potential partners, and discussing commercialization mechanisms are intended to help turn scientific ideas into market-demanded products and technological solutions. For Uzbekistan, close interaction between these sectors is crucial for enhancing the competitiveness of domestic innovations, developing innovation-based entrepreneurship, and attracting international partners to joint projects. The International Innovation Week will run until October 29.

Residents of Nazarbek and adjacent territories will find it easier to travel to Tashkent thanks to the planned launch of new bus routes. These routes will provide connections between the Tashkent and Zangiati districts with the capital.

According to information provided by the Main Directorate of Transport and Road Transport Infrastructure Development of Tashkent, the new lines will operate based on a gross contract system that takes into account the actual number of passengers.

New routes and their directions

The following routes have been introduced: Route No. 162, which will run between Kushkundi mahalla and the Chorsu trade center bus station; Route No. 163, connecting Tekstilschiki mahalla with the Chorsu trade center bus station; and Route No. 167, linking the 'Tashkent' collective farm with the Chorsu trade center bus station.

Special emphasis is placed on Route No. 163. It will pass through Tekstilschiki mahalla, Nazarbek, and the Tarnov territory, as well as along Shifobakhsh Suvlar and Beruni streets.

Representatives of the department believe that the introduction of these routes will improve transport accessibility for residents of the Tashkent and Zangiati districts when traveling to the capital. Furthermore, this should contribute to reducing bus waiting times and achieving a more balanced distribution of passenger flow.

To ensure the operation of the new lines, 54 buses manufactured in China by ZHONGTONG are planned for use. These buses are expected to arrive by the end of November 2026. It was previously noted that the coverage rate of mahallas by public transport in Uzbekistan has reached 98.8%.