Jyoti Mayal, Chairperson of the Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC)
The ICONIC Tourism Summit 2026 is set to convene leading voices from across the global travel and tourism ecosystem in New Delhi, bringing into focus the industry’s accelerating shift towards technology-driven transformation, resilience, and innovation.
Scheduled for 22 April 2026 at ITC Maurya, the summit is being organised by Red Hat Communications in collaboration with Zee TV. Under the theme “Tourism 4.0: Coding the Resilience of the New Tomorrow,” the event aims to examine how emerging technologies, strategic adaptability, and cross-sector collaboration are reshaping the future of global tourism.
Positioned as a high-level industry forum, the summit will bring together policymakers, aviation leaders, hospitality executives, technology experts, and destination stakeholders to explore evolving trends and address structural challenges facing the sector. Discussions will centre on strengthening resilience, improving competitiveness, and identifying new growth pathways in an increasingly complex global environment.
Cross-sector leadership at the forefront – Diplomatic and policy engagement
The 2026 edition will feature participation from senior decision-makers representing major segments of the travel ecosystem, including hospitality, aviation, distribution technology, and travel services.
The summit will bring together senior executives and decision-makers from across the travel, hospitality, aviation and technology sectors. Confirmed speakers include Nikhil Sharma, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, South Asia at Radisson Hotel Group; JB Singh, President and CEO of InterGlobe Hotels and Director at InterGlobe Air Transport; Sandeep Dwivedi, Managing Director, South Asia at Amadeus; and Manish Puri, Head of Global Sales at Air India Limited.
Additional speakers include Anshul Sethi, Head of Sales India at IndiGo; Meena Bhatia, Vice President and General Manager at Le Méridien New Delhi; Anil Parashar, Executive Director at ITQ Technologies Pvt Ltd; and Yummi Talwar, Chief Operating Officer – South Asia at VFS Global.
The summit will also feature participation from diplomatic representatives, including H.E. Aliki Koutsomitopoulou, Ambassador of Greece to India; H.E. Pradeepa Mahishini Colonne, Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India; and H.E. Mr. Kamel Zayed Kamel Galal, Ambassador of Egypt to India. Further contributions will come from Vasudha Sondhi, Managing Director of Outbound Marketing Pvt. Ltd; Ratna Chadha, CEO of TIRUN Travel Marketing; Ranju Alex, Chief Executive Officer India and South Asia at Accor; and Parikshit Choudhary, Chief Business Officer – B2B and Customer Connect at MMT.
Additional government officials and industry representatives are also expected to participate, further broadening the scope of discussions.
Their presence is expected to reinforce discussions around bilateral tourism flows, destination promotion, and international cooperation in travel facilitation and connectivity.
Focus on technology, skills, and resilience
Jyoti Mayal, Chairperson of the Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) and the driving force behind the ICONIC Tourism Summit, said:
“The travel and tourism industry is at a pivotal juncture where resilience must be driven by innovation, technology, and continuous skilling. With challenges ranging from the conflict in West Asia to the COVID-19 pandemic, we must plan strategically for the future. For the past seven years, the ICONIC Tourism Summit has consistently catalyzed collaboration, bringing together industry leaders to exchange ideas and shape a future-ready ecosystem. As we move forward, leveraging AI-led digital transformation and upskilling the workforce in emerging technologies will be critical to unlocking the next phase of growth for Indian tourism.”
The summit is expected to facilitate cross-sector dialogue and highlight the importance of digital transformation, workforce development and collaborative strategies in strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of the tourism industry.
Platform for future-focused collaboration
The ICONIC Tourism Summit 2026 is expected to function as a strategic platform for cross-sector dialogue, bringing together diverse stakeholders to align on shared challenges and opportunities.
Key areas of focus will include digital transformation in travel distribution, sustainable growth models, workforce readiness, and the integration of advanced technologies across hospitality and aviation operations.
As global tourism continues to evolve, the summit aims to reinforce India’s position as a key hub for industry dialogue and innovation-led collaboration in the international travel landscape.
