Today’s Traveller Summit & Awards 2026 marked a legendary 29th Anniversary with an influential gathering of business leaders, investors, hotel owners, designers, entrepreneurs and industry voices at The Taj Palace, New Delhi
On 7 October 2026, the Durbar Ballroom at The Taj Palace, New Delhi, brought together some of the most influential names shaping India’s travel, hospitality, investment, design and tourism landscape for the Today’s Traveller Summit & Awards 2026 – 29th Anniversary and Awards.
Nearly three decades after Today’s Traveller began its journey in 1997, the 29th Anniversary edition looked firmly ahead. Over an afternoon of leadership conversations, investment debates, design perspectives, technology discussions, and dialogue on India’s long-term opportunity, the Summit examined where the industry goes next and the people, ideas, and enterprises shaping its direction.
The evening culminated with the Annual Today’s Traveller Awards 2026, the launch of the latest Today’s Traveller Collector’s Issue, and a gala evening celebrating 29 years of relationships, ideas, milestones and achievements.
Hon’ble Justice Vikramajit Sen, Former Judge of the Supreme Court of India and Former Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, graced the occasion as Chief Guest.
Joining the celebrations as Guests of Honour were Shri V.K. Duggal, Former Union Home Secretary and Former Governor of Manipur and Mizoram, and Mr Nakul Anand, Former Executive Director, ITC Limited and Mentor, FAITH.
Red Carpet Welcome and High Tea
The afternoon began at 2:00 pm with the Red Carpet Welcome, guest photo-shoots, media interactions and High Tea.
The opening set the social rhythm for an afternoon that brought together decision-makers from across travel, hospitality, tourism, real estate, investment, design, technology and allied sectors. Industry leaders, dignitaries, speakers and award recipients gathered before the formal Summit proceedings began at 2:45 pm.
The Welcome Address formally opened the 29th Anniversary Summit, setting the context for a programme built around the forces shaping business and industry over the next decade.
The opening proceedings also featured a showcase by Ecolab, Sustainability Partner, highlighting the growing importance of responsible practices and operational sustainability, followed by a special Radisson Brand Showcase.
Today’s Traveller extends its sincere appreciation to Ecolab, our Sustainability Partner; VFS Global, our Mobility Partner; IIM Sirmaur and The LaLiT Suri Hospitality School, our Knowledge Partners; and OptiMICE Events Pvt. Ltd., our Event Partner, for their invaluable support and contribution to the success of the Today’s Traveller Summit & Awards 2026.
Opening of the Event with Welcome Address
The Summit opened with a welcome address by Ms Kamal Gill, Executive Editor, Today’s Traveller, and Managing Director, Gill India Group, who reflected on the publication’s 29-year journey and the remarkable transformation of the industries it has chronicled since 1997. She set the tone for the afternoon by highlighting the importance of ideas, informed dialogue and collaboration as businesses navigate changing expectations, new technologies, evolving markets and fresh opportunities for growth.
Highlights from Today’s Traveller Summit & Awards 2026
Design Brilliance: The Pursuit of Authenticity
The first panel of the afternoon, “Design Brilliance: The Pursuit of Authenticity,” turned the spotlight towards one of hospitality’s most visible yet complex questions: how does design create a genuine sense of place while responding to the demands of modern operations, global standards and evolving guest expectations?
The discussion featured Prem Thakur, Vice President – Technical Services, IHCL; Reema Diwan, Vice President – Design & Technical Services, India and South Asia, Accor; and Mohammad Abdul Matin, Founding Partner, Rohit + Matin Architects.
Gyanendra Singh Shekhawat, Founder & Principal Architect, IDEAS, moderated the conversation.
Across architecture, interiors and technical development, the panel explored authenticity as a deliberate design choice rather than a decorative idea. Context, cultural identity, climate, functionality, and long-term relevance formed key threads in a conversation about how spaces can belong meaningfully to the places where they are created.
Boardroom Perspectives: Building Hospitality Assets for the Next Decade
The conversation started with the strategic and operational decisions behind creating assets built for long-term relevance.
“Boardroom Perspectives: Building Hospitality Assets for the Next Decade” brought together senior operators and asset leaders to examine what makes a hospitality investment durable in an increasingly competitive and fast-changing market.
The panel featured Nathan Andrews, Strategic Advisor, DS Group; Gaurav Pokhariyal, Chief Operating Officer – Full Service Business, IHCL; Gaurav Singh, Chief Operating Officer, Chalet Hotels; and Sharad Puri, Chief Operating Officer, Prestige Hospitality Ventures.
Nikhil Sharma, Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group, moderated the discussion.
The 35-minute session brought multiple sides of the hospitality business into a single conversation: ownership, operations, capital deployment, portfolio thinking and asset performance.
As development becomes increasingly sophisticated, the discussion examined the decisions behind long-term value creation: where to build, how to position an asset, how operating models are evolving, and what owners and operators expect from one another as the market enters its next phase.
Investments in India: Risk, Returns and Resilience
India’s expanding investment landscape took centre stage next with “Investments in India: Risk, Returns and Resilience.”
The discussion featured Shwetank Singh, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Chalet Hotels; Vinay Alburquerque, Director, Alcon Victor Group; Vikram Lalvani, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Sterling Holiday Resorts; and Abhishek Jain, Chief Commercial Officer, Airport Land Development, Delhi International Airport, GMR Group.
Jaideep Dang, Head of Development, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts, moderated the session.
The panel examined the intersection of ambition and discipline within investment. As opportunities widen across established metros, leisure markets, emerging destinations and large-scale developments, the conversation considered how investors assess risk, structure returns and make choices designed to remain resilient through changing economic and demand cycles.
Bringing together different perspectives on ownership, development, infrastructure and asset creation, the discussion offered a broader view of where capital is moving and the considerations shaping investment decisions across India.
The Changing Scale of Hospitality in the Era of AI
The Summit shifted to one of the most immediate forces reshaping how businesses operate.
In a special Speaker Spotlight, Parveen Chander Kumar, Executive Vice President – Commercial, IHCL, addressed “The Changing Scale of Hospitality in the Era of AI.”
Artificial intelligence is already changing how organisations approach commercial strategy, customer understanding, distribution, personalisation and decision-making. The ten-minute spotlight placed these shifts in a hospitality context, exploring what scale means when technology can process information, identify patterns, and support decisions at a speed that was previously impossible.
The session bridged today’s operational realities with the technology-led models defining the next phase of business.
Future Forward – The Next Frontier
The Summit then brought together a formidable leadership panel for “Future Forward – The Next Frontier.”
The session featured Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South-West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts; Nikhil Sharma, Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group; Zubin Saxena, Senior Vice President & Regional Head, South Asia, Hilton; Rahool Macarius, Market Managing Director – Eurasia, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts; and Dean Bannon, Vice President, Member Success & Development, The Leading Hotels of the World.
Manav Thadani, Founder Chairman of Hotelivate-Savills, moderated the discussion.
Bringing together leaders with perspectives across global and regional hotel businesses, the panel considered what comes next for an industry expanding across brands, formats, destinations and customer segments.
Growth formed only one part of the conversation. The wider question was how leadership responds as technology, ownership expectations, consumer behaviour, talent requirements, and brand differentiation change simultaneously.
The session emerged as a forward-looking exchange on the next frontier and the strategic choices that will define it.
The Heart of Hospitality – The Power to Belong
In the evening the Summit moved from scale, strategy and growth towards people.
The fireside chat “The Heart of Hospitality – The Power to Belong” featured Dr Jyotsna Suri, Chairperson & Managing Director, The LaLit Suri Hospitality Group, and Keshav Suri, Executive Director, The LaLit Suri Hospitality Group, and Founder, Keshav Suri Foundation.
Kamal Gill, Executive Editor, Today’s Traveller, and Managing Director, Gill India Group, moderated the conversation.
The session explored hospitality through the idea of belonging and the role organisations play in creating workplaces and experiences where inclusion moves beyond policy into everyday culture.
It also brought focus to work around LGBTQIA+ communities, transgender professionals, persons with disabilities, acid attack warriors, employable skills, scholarships, mental health and sensitisation that has shaped the inclusion journey associated with the Keshav Suri Foundation.
The Fireside Chat brought a deeply human dimension to a Summit otherwise shaped by conversations around growth, investment, technology and strategy.
The India Opportunity: Roadmap to 2035
The Summit’s final panel, “The India Opportunity: Roadmap to 2035,” widened the lens from individual sectors to the scale of India’s long-term growth opportunity.
The discussion brought together Atul Dangayach, Managing Director, Dangayach Group; Ratan Kant Sharma, Chairman and Managing Director, Triton Hotels & Resorts; Mohit Arora, Managing Director – Real Estate, Blackstone; and Aloke Bajpai, Co-founder, CMD and Group CEO, ixigo.
Rahul Pandit, Managing Director & CEO, Advent Hotels International, moderated the session.
The panel examined India from multiple vantage points: hospitality investment, real estate capital, entrepreneurship, digital travel and destination development.
As India looks towards 2035, the conversation focused on the scale of opportunity ahead and the ecosystem required to convert that potential into sustained growth.
Connectivity, investment, destination development, consumer expectations and private enterprise sat at the heart of a discussion designed to look beyond the immediate cycle and towards the next chapter of India’s economic and travel story.
The panel brought the Summit programme to a close and set the stage for the evening’s ceremonial and awards segment.
Welcome Address Before the Awards
As the evening transitioned from the Summit to the awards and ceremonial segment, Kamal Gill, Executive Editor, Today’s Traveller, and Managing Director, Gill India Group, welcomed Chief Guest Justice Vikramajit Sen, Guests of Honour V.K. Duggal and Nakul Anand, Dr Jyotsna Suri, award recipients and distinguished guests. Reflecting on the journey of Today’s Traveller since 1997, she spoke about the individuals and organisations that have continued to raise standards, create impact and inspire progress, underlining the belief that excellence deserves to be recognised.
Lighting of the Ceremonial Lamp
The formal 29th Anniversary celebrations began with the Lighting of the Ceremonial Lamp.
The ceremony marked the beginning of the awards segment in the presence of the Chief Guest, Guests of Honour, senior industry leaders, speakers and distinguished invitees.
The ceremonial moment brought together the leadership, ideas and conversations of the afternoon before the evening moved towards recognition and celebration.
Address by the Chief Guest
Hon’ble Justice Vikramajit Sen, Former Judge of the Supreme Court of India and Former Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, addressed the gathering.
His presence brought added distinction to an evening marking 29 years of Today’s Traveller and celebrating leadership, achievement and contribution across industries.
Today’s Traveller Collector’s Issue Cover Launch
Today’s Traveller unveiled the cover of its latest Collector’s Issue. The launch remained an important part of the annual Today’s Traveller celebrations, bringing the publication’s editorial journey onto the stage as leaders and distinguished guests gathered for the unveiling.
For a publication completing 29 years, the Collector’s Issue represented another chapter in a story that began in 1997 and has continued through nearly three decades of change across travel, tourism, hospitality and the wider business landscape.
Annual Today’s Traveller Awards 2026
The spotlight then turned to the Annual Today’s Traveller Awards 2026, marking a highlight of the evening’s celebrations. Chief Guest Hon’ble Justice Vikramajit Sen opened the awards presentation, recognising organisations, brands, hotels and destinations whose achievements have distinguished them across their respective fields.
The awards reflected the breadth of excellence across the industry, celebrating leadership, brand strength, expansion, sustainability, design, innovation and guest experiences. From established names with decades of influence to emerging brands making their mark, the honours brought together a wide spectrum of achievement.
Mount Titlis, Engelberg, Switzerland won Best International Family Holiday Destination
Indian Hotels Company Limited won Fastest Growing Hospitality Company
The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts won Best Luxury Hotel Chain
Taj Hotels won Most Valuable Hospitality Brand
Radisson Hotel Group won Best Business-Friendly Hotel Chain
Athiva Hotels & Resorts won Most Promising Experiential Hotel Brand
Hilton Hotels & Resorts won Best Hotel Chain for Brand Portfolio Excellence
IHG Hotels & Resorts won Excellence in Workplace Culture
Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited won Fastest Growing Leisure Hotel Chain
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts won Best Loyalty Programme
Fortune Park Hotels Limited won Best Business and Leisure Hotel Chain
BWH Hotels won Best Hotel Chain for Sustainability Initiatives
Ahuja Residences won Best Diversified Lifestyle Accommodation Group
Zana – Luxury Resorts, Espire Hospitality Group won Most Promising Hotel Brand
MAYFAIR Hotels & Resorts won Best Emerging Hotel Brand
Mementos by ITC Hotels, Ekaaya Udaipur won Best 5-Star Resort Hotel
Conrad Pune won Best Luxury Business Hotel
Wyndham Grand Udaipur Fateh Sagar Lake won Best Royal Palace Wedding Destination
InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort won Best Luxury Beach and Meetings Resort
Taj Tadoba Resort & Spa, Nagpur won Best Upcoming Leisure Hotel
JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar won Best Wedding Hotel
Swosti Chilika Resort won Best Wedding Resort
Namah Nainital, a member of Radisson Individuals Retreats won Best Leisure Hotel
The Fort House, Diu – IHCL SeleQtions won Best Leisure Hotel
The Aarlis Hotel Panchkula, Vignette Collection won Most Stylish Luxury Hotel
Gateway Diu won Best Family-Friendly Hotel
Radisson Blu Hotel, Ranchi won Best Business Hotel
Sapphire Blue, Bhopal won Best Upcoming Boutique Hotel
Radisson Blu Hotel Ujjain won Best Upcoming 5-Star Hotel
The Residency Signature Madurai won Best Convention Facility Hotel
Taj Surajkund Resort & Spa Delhi-NCR won Best Wedding Hotel
Athitya by Encalm won Excellence in Airport Hospitality Services
Wow Crest, Indore – IHCL SeleQtions won Best Business Hotel
Radisson Hotel Nathdwara won Best Wedding Hotel
Andaz Delhi, by Hyatt won Best Luxury Business Hotel
For Today’s Traveller, the Awards have always been closely connected to the publication’s wider editorial purpose of documenting achievement, recognising enterprise and bringing attention to the people and ideas influencing the direction of industry and business.
The presentation of the 35 awards also offered a fitting reflection of the publication’s journey. Over 29 years, Today’s Traveller has witnessed the evolution of brands, the emergence of new markets and the changing expectations of travellers and businesses alike. Many of those developments were reflected in the achievements celebrated on stage.
As the 29th Anniversary and Awards celebrations continued, the evening brought together nearly three decades of editorial legacy with the accomplishments of an industry looking confidently towards its next chapter.For Today’s Traveller, the Awards remain closely connected to its wider editorial purpose: documenting and recognising the people, ideas and enterprises influencing the direction of industry and business. Against the backdrop of the publication’s 29th Anniversary, the 2026 honours carried an added resonance, connecting nearly three decades of history with a new generation of achievement.#
Against the backdrop of the publication’s 29th Anniversary, the 2026 honours carried an added resonance, connecting nearly three decades of editorial history with a new generation of achievement. The occasion reflected the ambition, enterprise and evolving expectations shaping the future of travel, hospitality and business.
As Kamal Gill summed it up, “Tonight, we celebrate people and organisations from across industries and disciplines. Different journeys, different achievements and different measures of success, but each recognition represents something larger: vision translated into action. That is what makes an awards evening meaningful. Not merely the trophy or the applause, but the years of work, judgement, resilience, imagination, and leadership behind that moment on stage.”
29 Years. One Evening at the Centre of It All.
The Durbar Ballroom became the setting for a gala evening of networking, cocktails, and dinner as the 29th Anniversary celebrations continued.
For Today’s Traveller, 2026 marks one year before the publication enters its third decade.
Much has changed since 1997. Hospitality now extends far beyond the hotel. Tourism increasingly connects with infrastructure, technology, investment, culture, design and economic strategy. Distribution lives on screens. Artificial intelligence has entered the commercial conversation. New destinations continue to emerge, new forms of capital are entering the sector, and expectations around inclusion, sustainability and experience continue to evolve.
Yet the 29th Anniversary was also about continuity. It was about the relationships, conversations and industry community that have travelled alongside Today’s Traveller through almost three decades.
On 7 October 2026, these worlds met once again at The Taj Palace, New Delhi: business leaders and entrepreneurs, hotel leaders and developers, architects and investors, technology thinkers, travel innovators and voices shaping India’s future.
The celebrations were supported by Ecolab, Sustainability Partner; VFS Global, Mobility Partner; IIM Sirmaur and The LaLiT Suri Hospitality School, Knowledge Partners; and OptiMICE Events Pvt. Ltd., Event Partner.
Twenty-nine years in the making. One evening at the centre of it all.
Read More: Latest