The first business session set the tone by asking a deceptively simple question: Should India’s heritage merely be protected—or should it be working for the people who live around it?

Converting Heritage into Economic Assets? 

The discussion quickly moved beyond monuments and museums to explore how forts, historic precincts, traditional crafts and cultural landscapes can become thriving economic assets without sacrificing authenticity. Delegates heard compelling perspectives on sustainable tourism, adaptive reuse, community participation and responsible development, making it one of the day’s most engaging conversations. Speakers on this panel included: 

• Rakesh Mathur, President, Responsible Tourism Society of India (Moderator)
• Tarun Thakral, Founder and CEO, National Heritage Transport Museum
• Jayant Sanyal, former ADG, Ministry of Tourism and principal Secretary tourism, WB
• Arvind Singh, former Secretary Tourism, GOI and Senior Advisor, Mitsui and Co
• Navina Jaffa, Cultural Strategist and Sustainability Advocate
• Prof. A.G. K Menon, Vice Chairman, ITRHD

Without missing a beat, the conclave shifted from centuries-old heritage to the cities shaping tomorrow’s visitor economy.

The session on Cities as Visitor Experiences challenged delegates to rethink what makes a destination memorable. Is it iconic landmarks—or the neighbourhoods we wander through, the public spaces we enjoy, the ease of mobility, the local food, the street culture and the stories that unfold between the attractions? Panellists painted an exciting picture of Indian cities evolving into immersive visitor experiences where thoughtful planning, innovation and authenticity come together to create destinations people genuinely want to return to. Speakers on the panel included: 

• Suresh Kumar, Founder, KUE Consulting (Moderator)
• Ashwani Lohani, Director, PMML
• Rakhee Gupta Bhandari, Principal secretary, Government of Punjab
• Ranbir Saran Das, Chairman, Fairwood Group of Companies
• J.B. Singh, President and CEO, InterGlobe Hotels 

Is Experiential the New Luxury? 

By the afternoon, the conversation turned to one of tourism’s hottest debates—has experience become the new definition of luxury?

The consensus was impossible to ignore. Today’s luxury traveller is increasingly searching for something money alone cannot buy: authenticity, meaningful encounters, culture, wellness, time and unforgettable stories. Far from replacing luxury, experiential travel is redefining it, creating exciting opportunities for India’s hospitality and tourism sectors to innovate like never before. Speakers included: 

• Navin Berry, Founder, BITB (moderator)
• Rohit Khattar, Founder, Old World Hospitality
• Rajiv Kaul, Founder, Kaul Consulting
• Vikram Madhok, MD, A & K India
• Deepak Joshi, former CEO, Nepal Tourism Board

Hospitality as the New Engine of Tourism Development

Hospitality took centre stage next, with industry leaders making a compelling case that hotels are no longer simply supporting tourism—they are creating destinations in their own right.

The discussion explored how hotel investment stimulates infrastructure, creates employment, attracts further private investment and transforms emerging destinations into thriving tourism economies. As India continues to expand its tourism footprint, hospitality is rapidly becoming one of the country’s most influential growth engines. Speakers present on this panel included: 

• Ashish Gupta, CEO, FAITH (Moderator)
• Zubin Saxena, MD, Hilton Hotels India
• Nikhil Sharma, MD, Radisson Hotels, India and South Asia
• Ajay Bakaya, MD, Sarovar Hotels
• Rahul Pandit, MD, Aventis Hotels Limited
• Yummi Talwar, CEO, VFS Global, South Asia

The Challenge of Promoting Lesser-Known Destinations

Perhaps one of the day’s most exciting discussions focused on the destinations that rarely make the front page.

India’s next tourism boom, delegates heard, may not come from places we already know—it could come from the hundreds we have yet to discover. The session explored how responsible planning, stronger infrastructure, destination branding and community participation can unlock the extraordinary potential of India’s lesser-known destinations while preserving the very qualities that make them unique. Session speakers included:

• Mandeep Lamba, President and CEO, HVS Anarock (Moderator)
• Vishvapreet Singh Cheema, President, Lemon Tree Hotels
• Suman Billa, Additional Secretary and DG Tourism, Government of India
• K.B. Kachru, Chairman, Radisson Hotels, India and South Asia
• Rajeev Kohli, Joint MD, Creative Travel
• Rajiv Mehra, immediate past president, Indian Association of Tour Operators

India’s Success Stories in Tourism: Transforming the Industry

The finale brought together some of the industry’s biggest success stories, beginning with a fascinating fireside conversation featuring Shriji Huzur Dr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, who shared the remarkable journey behind Udaipur’s emergence as one of the world’s most admired heritage destinations. This was followed by an insightful discussion examining the businesses and destinations that have successfully transformed bold ideas into enduring tourism brands—offering delegates lessons that extended far beyond the conference hall.

The celebrations concluded with the BITB Honours, recognising individuals whose vision has shaped Indian tourism across generations. From the pioneering travel journalism of the late Hugh and Colleen Gantzer, to Rajesh Magow’s digital revolution through MakeMyTrip, as founder and CEO, the sustainability leadership of Anil Chadha, MD, ITC Hotels and K.B. Kachru’s extraordinary contribution to Indian hospitality, the honours served as a reminder that the industry’s greatest achievements are built by people willing to think differently. The leadership in the national discourse in tourism, culture and heritage so eminently held high by S K Misra, now chairman of Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development, was the other recipient. 

Of course, no BITB Conclave would be complete without the conversations between sessions, spontaneous networking over coffee, new partnerships being forged, old friendships renewed. In terms of content, which remains uppermost, they had participated in a conversation about India’s future.

For everyone who was in the room, the 22nd BITB Conclave reaffirmed why tourism has become one of India’s most powerful instruments of transformation.

For everyone who wasn’t… we’ll see you at the 23rd.