Vivo and Andaz Delhi have collaborated to launch a new phone-free dining programme called ‘Switch Off’. The event, which began on 16 April 2026 at the Soul Pantry restaurant, asks guests to put their mobile phones away in a wooden box so they can focus on real-life connections. Diners are invited to build their own meals at a live food station and enjoy their food without digital distractions. To encourage this healthy break from daily screen time, tables that manage to stay completely offline for thirty minutes are rewarded with a free dessert.
Research shows that 72% of people check their phones when they are with family and friends. This happens very often during meals. Friends scroll through social media while chatting, and families look at notifications between bites of food. Because of this habit, genuine human moments are often lost to screens.
As per the brand, at first, many guests feel a bit strange or hesitant without their devices. However, this feeling changes very quickly once they start cooking and talking. Without the constant ping of notifications, people begin to make more eye contact. Conversations become longer and deeper. The simple activity of making food turns into a fun, shared experience. Guests have noted that the evening feels much lighter and more engaging when they are not distracted by technology.
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Geetaj Channana, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Vivo India, said, “At Vivo, we believe technology should strengthen real relationships, not replace them. Through Switch Off, we are encouraging people to use technology mindfully, to build deeper connections with the people sitting right in front of them. Partnering with Andaz Delhi, by Hyatt, brings this idea to life at the most natural setting we could imagine: the dining table. It was genuinely heartening to see how setting a phone aside for an hour could lead to warmer, more present interactions.”
Hardip Marwah, Cluster General Manager, said, We live in an age of endless connectivity, yet genuine togetherness has never felt more elusive. When we came together with Vivo on Switch Off, the idea resonated immediately, because at Soul Pantry, we have always believed the best meals nourish more than just the body. Watching guests set down their phones, roll up their sleeves at the pizza station, and simply laugh together is a quiet but powerful thing. It reminds us why we do what we do: to create moments worth being fully present for
