Hospitality & Tourism Conclave 2026 Signals a Maturing Growth Story for Eastern India
Hospitality & Tourism Conclave 2026 spotlights Eastern India as a key driver of India’s tourism economy.
By SOH Edit Team
The Hospitality & Tourism Conclave 2026, organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and held at ITC Fortune Select, Siliguri, brought together hospitality owners, operators, developers, technology providers and industry stakeholders from across India. The two-day conclave focused on the future of hospitality and tourism in Eastern India, reinforcing the region’s growing strategic importance in India’s tourism economy.
Discussions across keynotes and panels emphasised the need for sustainable, region-specific growth models over rapid, imitation-led expansion. Speakers highlighted that Eastern India’s hospitality growth will be driven by long-term planning, destination-led development and collaboration among owners, brands and solution providers.
Leadership Perspectives
Sumit Mitruka, Founder and CEO of Summit Hotels & Resorts and Chairman of ICC’s Hospitality & Tourism Committee, played a central role in shaping the discourse. Through his keynote address and session moderation, Mitruka underscored the importance of aligning hotel development with regional identity, operational realities and profitability in emerging markets.
Harsh Berlia, Chairman, ICC North Bengal, noted strong national participation and active engagement between hotel owners and brands. He highlighted the potential for discussions at the conclave to translate into tangible business partnerships and future investments in the region.
Keynote addresses by Harshavardhan Neotia, Chairman, Ambuja Neotia Group, and Vikram Challur, Senior Vice President, MakeMyTrip, provided perspectives on responsible tourism development, institution-building, travel demand trends, digital distribution and evolving guest behaviour.
Key Discussion Areas
- Direct booking strategies and digital marketing funnels
- Hospitality technology, AI and operational efficiency
- Design-led ROI and asset optimisation
- Brand-building rooted in local context
- Emerging hospitality formats and new business models
Sessions were noted for their practical, actionable insights relevant to real-world decision-making.
Overall, the conclave highlighted Eastern India’s transition into a more mature phase of hospitality development, characterised by pragmatic growth strategies, stronger collaboration and clearer alignment with regional strengths. It reinforced confidence in the region’s ability to support scalable, sustainable hospitality investments.
