Over 50 years of Tourism Advocacy
Building India's Travel Businesses
BITB Honours
S K Misra: the Icon who blended tourism with heritage
Mr. S K Misra, presently chairman of Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development. He is formerly the chairman of INTACH. Has served in the government, as a Haryana cadre IAS officer. He carries with him a number of firsts in the country.
Pioneered highway tourism by creating the tourist spots across national highways transiting through Haryana onto the capital. On the Delhi Jaipur highway, Delhi-Agra and a string of facilities on the Delhi Chandigarh highway.
Was the first to conceive of Festivals of India, ran them in the US and then France. These were a celebration of Indian art, culture and heritage.
Conceptualized the Suraj Kund Crafts Mela, to bridge the gap between the artist and the buyer.
He has served as secretary, tourism and civil aviation, in the Government of India, and was responsible for opening the Indian skies with a number of bilaterals with foreign governments.
He was also the principal secretary to prime minter Mr. Chandrashekhar.
His passion for the arts, crafts and heritage have remained steadfast in all his career. Now in his early 90s, he remains as passionate as ever, about promoting Indian heritage and culture, his understanding of how tourism can and does deliver.
A Modern Royal with a Vision for Global Progress
Shriji Huzur Dr. Lakshyaraj Singh ji Mewar of Udaipur (Shriji) stands as a proud 77th custodian of a 1500-year-old legacy rooted in valour, tradition, and community service,
embodying the ethos of his legendary ancestor, Maharana Pratap. As a modern royal, he redefines what it means to be a “working royal”- a free-spirited traveler, rational philosopher, and a “scientific sadhu” who balances heritage with contemporary thought. His distinct approach allows him to transform the Mewar dynasty’s values into dynamic actions that shape and uplift society today.
Guided by his motto, “grow through life, not just go through life,” Shriji – seamlessly merges tradition with forward-looking community initiatives. His impact spans education, environmental conservation, heritage preservation, and youth empowerment, building a vibrant vision that is as inspiring locally as it is globally, placing each of his remarkable and innovative endeavours at the service of ‘the greatest good for the greatest number.’
Commended by the Hon’ble President of India, he is a global ambassador for Indian culture and an icon for the youth.
- As a Chairman and Managing Trustee of Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation his work revitalizes historical sites and promotes sustainable tourism while taking Udaipur’s vibrant art and culture to international museums like London’s Victoria & Albert Museum and New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art; among others.
- Through the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation, he addresses issues like deforestation, pollution, and water conservation. His ‘Go Green’ movement and #SaveWater campaigns engage citizens and school children alike, raising awareness for ecological responsibility.
- Through HRH Group of Hotels and as the brand ambassador for the Taj Group of Hotels, he promotes heritage tourism and cultural preservation. His work in hospitality as Chairman and Managing Director of The Lake Palace Hotels and Motels Private Limited merges conservation with community engagement, generating local employment while celebrating Rajasthan’s rich heritage.
Dr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar has been elected for the third time as the President of the Udaipur District Cricket Association. His dream project: world class stadium and sporting infrastructure in Udaipur to be established in the heritage city for the sports culture to thrive here for generations.
- Beyond his public work, Shriji is an accomplished artist, chef, photographer, and aero-modeling enthusiast. He is a collector of diecast car models and formulated a unique perfume which represents the house of Mewar with its fragrance and ingredients.
Rajesh Magow, Co-founder, MakeMyTrip
For Indians today, travel is almost synonymous with MakeMyTrip.
But when MakeMyTrip was born in April 2000, it was at a moment when internet was very new in India and digital ecosystem was non-existent. And yet, a small Founding Team of believers at MMT decided that technology would one day transform how a billion people plan, book, and experience travel.
Co-founder and Group CEO, Rajesh Magow has been at the centre of MakeMyTrip’s evolution through every wave of technological change India has seen. From the dial-up era to cyber cafes, from mobile internet to 4G to 5G, MakeMyTrip did not merely adapt to each inflection point. It led through it.
But what makes this story genuinely remarkable is that technology was never an end in itself. Behind every product innovation was a relationship: with the traveller who needed ease and trust, and equally with the supply side partners who needed to ride the Internet wave to expand their customer reach.
MakeMyTrip understood, earlier than most, the inherent capabilities of Internet and how it can enable partners to grow rapidly and achieve new scale heights with 24/7 reach out to customers to sell their products and services.
It is this conviction, sustained across 26 years that has made MakeMyTrip what it is today: not merely India’s largest travel platform, but its most trusted one.
He leads the organisation’s strategic direction, spearheading growth and shaping the long-term vision across the group’s portfolio.
Over the years, Rajesh has played a crucial role in shaping several defining milestones for MakeMyTrip, including its listing on NASDAQ in 2010, the merger with the Ibibo Group, and steering the company through the pandemic with a contrarian strategy of launching new businesses, laying the foundation for a strong resurgence.
Rajesh serves as the Chairman of the FICCI Tourism Committee and a Non-Executive Independent Director on the board of Info Edge. He was previously on the board of Flipkart.
A believer in India’s digital opportunity and an active supporter of many young Indian tech companies, Rajesh is passionate about transforming businesses and leveraging technology to create disproportionate value for customers.
K.B. KACHRU Chairman, Radisson Hotel Group- South Asia.
Currently, serving as Chairman of Radisson Hotel Group – South Asia, he has spearheaded the development of the group’s hotels and restaurants in India since 1998. One of the largest job creators in the hospitality sector in the last three decades. Starting from zero, he has been instrumental in establishing over 220 hotels (142 hotels open and 80 more currently in various stages of development.
K.B Kachru has had the unique opportunity to have worked equally for the Public sector as well as the Private Sector at key leadership positions. He has been and continues to be an active member of various Tourism and Hospitality bodies at National and State levels.
Industry – Involvement • Currently President of the Hotel Association of India (HAI). • Member of National Tourism Committee of “The Confederation of Indian Industry” (CII). • Chairman of Tourism committees for the states of Delhi, Himachal, UP, Haryana, Uttarakhand & Jammu and Kashmir. • Executive Governing Board Member, Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) established by Government of India. Through this platform already One million students have benefitted with training and job positions. • On the Board of advisors for the Tourism Development Corporation, Jammu & Kashmir Government. • First hotelier to be appointed on the Governing Board/Trust of 2nd most visited shrine (Vaishno Devi) in India (MVDSB) J&K.
Among the many firsts, K B Kachru has: Helped create new Indian food brands like The Great Kabab Factory, Royal Bengal, Casa de Goa with outlets in India, Oman, Dubai Singapore etc to promote modern yet authentic Indian cuisine and its awareness. He introduced casual dining concept in India, by bringing in international restaurant chains like TGI Friday’s and Italianni’s, thus setting new trends for casual dining in India. • Spearheaded the formation of the Institute for International Management and Technology (IIMT) to offer undergraduate and post graduate degrees in collaboration with Oxford Brookes University, UK.
Anil Chadha: ITC Hotels is A Global Exemplar In Sustainability
ITCHL advances environmental stewardship through green infrastructure, resource efficiency, circularity and renewable energy, delivering LEED Platinum® and LEED® Zero certified, climate-resilient properties. This is complemented by an inclusive workforce philosophy and community engagement approach, alongside a structured governance framework supported by established management systems to drive accountability and continuous improvement. Rooted in decades of responsible growth, sustainability leadership is driven by a forward-looking philosophy that anticipates change and invests ahead of the curve. Early, decisive adoption of green building practices has defined its environmental stewardship, embedding sustainability into core operations.
Decarbonisation Performance is superlative: Consistently surpassed 2030 sectoral targets for six consecutive years and sustaining long-term 2050-aligned trajectories. Reduced reliance on volatile fossil fuel supply chains, enhancing operational resilience across properties. Expanded carbon-neutral EV charging infrastructure, supporting lower-carbon mobility for guests and employees.
At ITC Hotels, Responsible Luxury extends beyond operational excellence to fostering resilient communities and thriving ecosystems. During the year, the Company advanced urban ecological stewardship through the upkeep of landscaped public spaces in New Delhi, enhancing green cover, environmental quality, and public wellbeing. Climate action efforts were further strengthened through afforestation initiatives across the Delhi-NCR and Mumbai Metropolitan Region, with a sustained focus on ecological restoration and biodiversity enhancement.
ITC Hotels expanded community initiatives through scholarships at WGSHA Manipal, culinary training at Chhindwara, skill development programmes in Mumbai, apprenticeship training across India, and its rural development programme in Chail, Himachal Pradesh, promoting women-led entrepreneurship, digital learning, and sustainable livelihoods.
ITC Hotels will continue to strengthen Responsible Luxury as a source of competitive advantage, embedding sustainability into guest experiences, asset stewardship, and long-term value creation. Sustainability remains innovation, foresight, and enduring stakeholder value.
An alumnus of the Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Manipal, he joined ITC in 1992. Anil Chadha was appointed as the Divisional Chief Executive of the erstwhile Hotels Business of ITC in 2021, and prior to that he was the Chief Operating Officer since December 2019. He currently serves as a Member of the Executive Committee of the Hotel Association of India and the CII National Committee on Tourism and Hospitality, contributing significantly to industry advocacy and development. Anil Chadha has been widely recognised for his impact and contribution to the hospitality industry. His accolades include the CEO Vision & Impact Award 2025–26 for visionary leadership, the FICCI Excellence in Leadership Award and the VETA 2026 Most Admired Hospitality Leader of the Year.
Other recognitions include the Distinguished ITC Chairman Alumni Award 2022, Best CEO 2022 (WE Global Employees’ Choice Award), Hotelier of the Year by BBC Food Awards (2018) and Hindustan Times Brunch (2014), General Manager of the Year by Business World Hotelier (2016), and Food & Beverage Manager of the Year by FHRAI (2001).
Hugh and Colleen Gantzer
India’s most distinguished pioneers of travel writing, a husband-and-wife team whose work changed the way the country viewed travel and exploration.
At a time when travel literature in India was still finding its voice, the Gantzers showed that a journey was not merely about visiting places, but about discovering people, histories, cultures and the spirit of a landscape.
Hugh Gantzer, a former Indian Navy officer, had already developed a deep familiarity with India through his travels and postings.
Colleen brought energy, curiosity and a natural gift for connecting with people.
Together, they turned their journeys into stories that were informative, engaging and deeply human.
Their professional travel-writing career began in the 1970s, when they were commissioned to write about Kerala.
What made the Gantzers special was their ability to look beyond the obvious. They explored the character of places — the traditions of communities, local legends, forgotten histories, architecture, food and the everyday lives of ordinary people.
Their television programme “Looking Beyond with Hugh & Colleen Gantzer” became a landmark in Indian broadcasting. Through Doordarshan, they brought the wonder of travel into homes across the country.
With over 3,000 articles and 30 books, their legacy remains a celebration of India’s landscapes, its people and the countless stories waiting to be discovered.
Among their earlier encounters with travel, walking down central Kochi, in a bookshop, they came across an issue of Destination India. Their career in this field almost ran concurrent with us at BITB, over our 50 years in travel communications.
Their hall mark was not just travel writing, but also tourism industry reporting and analysis, in which they were forthright, almost irrepressible and never forgiving – they often expressed what others did not dare! They were regulars at attending industry conventions and reporting upon the deliberations with their keen observing eyes.
In recognition of their outstanding contribution to pioneering and elevating travel writing in India, Hugh & Colleen Gantzer were awarded the Padma Shri in 2025. The two passed on in recent years, leaving behind their rich legacy.
On their behalf, their son Peter Gantzer is here to receive the BITB Honours memento. One can safely say, there would not be such a team again in travel and tourism journalism.