Travel & Hospitality Industry Lead, Advanced Technology Centres in India. Anshul leads offerings, capability, innovation, and thought leadership for the Travel & Hospitality industry at Accenture Technology. With over 25 years of experience, he partners with global business and IT leaders to drive competitive differentiation through advanced technology. He has managed transformational programs for leading hospitality companies, delivering outcomes such as revenue growth, faster sales cycles, improved customer experience, and enhanced point-of-sale ecosystems. He has pioneered innovative domain solutions, non-linear growth models, and next-gen capabilities in Hotels and Food Services. Anshul holds multiple patents, contributes frequently to travel-tech thought leadership, co-chairs the Travel Tech committee at FICCI, and serves on the global Customer Experience Professional Association (CXPA) review committee

Brijesh Modi is an accomplished CFO with 26+ years of experience across listed companies, global MNCs, and PE-backed enterprises. He has expertise in P&L leadership, M&A, governance, treasury, capital efficiency, and digital transformation, consistently positioning finance as a driver of growth and value creation. He has led financial turnarounds, executed strategic M&A integrations, optimised cash flows, and strengthened governance frameworks to ensure resilience during market disruptions. Recognised among India’s Top 100 CFOs by CIMA and Top 25 Transformative CFOs 2025 by HRAI, Brijesh is trusted by boards and investors for strategic foresight and value creation. At Thomas Cook India, he partners with business leaders to accelerate growth in travel and related services, reinforcing the company’s legacy of innovation and customer trust. His leadership continues to shape finance as a driver of competitive advantage in a dynamic global marketplace.

Sandeep Nagpal is a senior growth marketing and transformation leader with over 30 years of experience across global enterprises, including Microsoft, Nokia, SAP, Tata Communications, and Cvent. At Cvent, he leads global marketing operations, driving large-scale growth across APAC, EMEA, and North America. He is the creator of the Strategic Elevation Blueprint (SEB), a framework for scaling operating models, and mentors businesses on modern go-to-market design. A strong advocate of applied learning, Sandeep also serves as Visiting Faculty at leading Indian institutions, bridging boardroom strategy with classroom rigour. Sandeep continues to shape global growth strategies while nurturing the next generation of leaders. His work exemplifies the fusion of strategic foresight, operational excellence, and a passion for learning.

Results-driven business leader with 20+ years of progressive experience in business strategy, enterprise sales, and global operations. At Amex GBT, he leads the Center of Excellence for Meetings and Events, advancing technology-enabled transformation that strengthens global travel and tourism ecosystems. His leadership integrates AI and innovation to enhance customer experience and operational agility across markets. A passionate advocate for inclusion and leadership development, Arnab fosters diverse, high-performing teams and drives equitable growth within the travel industry. He also contributes to academia as a Guest Lecturer, sharing insights on business strategy and organizational transformation. His career, spanning Kuoni, JTB India, and Thomas Cook India, reflects a lifelong commitment to shaping the future of travel through innovation and people-centric leadership.

With over 28 years in the corporate travel industry, Rakesh Negi leads the strategic direction, expansion, and operations of FCM Travel in India. He has driven business transformation, long-term planning, and successful turnarounds to support sustainable growth, while building operational excellence and customer-focused strategies. At FCM, a global leader in corporate travel management and part of the Flight Centre Travel Group, Rakesh champions innovation and service excellence, helping clients navigate complex travel ecosystems with agility and insight. His leadership reinforces FCM’s commitment to delivering technology-driven solutions and personalized experiences for business travelers. Prior to FCM, he held leadership roles at Thomas Cook, American Express GBT, and CWT, gaining deep industry expertise that underpins his current leadership and strategic vision.0

Gill India Group Kamal Gill is the Founder, Managing Director, and Executive Editor of Gill India Group, the publishing and events organisation behind Today's Traveller magazine and OptiMICE Events. She has over two decades of leadership in publishing, events, and corporate MICE, and has instituted platforms such as the Today’s Traveller Awards and MTM & LLTM exhibitions to promote excellence in travel and hospitality. A recipient of five PATA Gold Awards for Excellence in Journalism, she has authored books, including A Passage to India, and has contributed extensively to children's literature and coffee-table publishing. Kamal serves on the Governing Body of The Lalit Suri Educational & Charitable Trust and is frequently invited to deliver keynote addresses on travel, tourism, and the evolving MICE economy.

Chirag Agarwal is the Co-founder and COO of TravClan, where he leads business operations, development, supplier partnerships, and tourism board collaborations. He is building the world’s first tech-enabled global destination management company, with an on-ground presence in 18+ destinations, transforming the USD 500 billion offline travel market. Under his leadership, TravClan has scaled into a high-growth travel technology company with USD 150M+ annual business, empowering travel agents through end-to-end services and digital tools. Previously, Chirag held leadership roles at OYO and TravelTriangle, gaining deep industry insights that shaped TravClan’s vision. An IIT Roorkee graduate and IIM Ahmedabad MBA, he began his career in consulting at Monitor Group (Deloitte).

Zuzer Lucknowala is the Chairman and Managing Director of Party Cruisers Ltd., a leading name in India's event management industry. With nearly two decades of experience, he has pioneered modern wedding and luxury event concepts, earning international recognition alongside his partner, Rachana Lucknowala. Under his leadership, Party Cruisers Ltd. went public in March 2021, marking a significant milestone in its growth. He has also served as President of the Rotaract Club and remains committed to mentoring young entrepreneurs and fostering innovation in the industry. Party Cruisers Ltd. is renowned for its creative wedding planning, destination events, and luxury experiences, with a strong presence across India and abroad. The company has built a reputation for blending tradition with contemporary design, delivering memorable celebrations, and setting benchmarks in the organized events sector.

Dr Jagat Mangaraj is a key contributor to the hospitality and tourism industry who currently serves as the National Operator for Green Key India, overseeing sustainability auditing and certification of hotels, and is the founder of Mangaraj Hospitality Consulting. With over 40 years of experience as a hospitality luminary, he has contributed to national policy and academic frameworks through roles with BIS, AICTE, and the HRACC. He holds a PhD in Management and has audited 90+ hotels for sustainable operations. His expertise spans institutional strategy, academic governance, sustainability in hospitality, and industry–academia collaboration.

Piyush Tiwari is an experienced leader with over 37 years in marketing, business development, strategic planning, and team building. He served as Whole-time Director (Commercial & Marketing) and held additional charge as CMD/MD on three occasions at India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), where he helped transform the organisation into a multi-faceted entity catering to diverse hospitality and tourism needs. He also served as part-time Director in five ITDC joint ventures and an independent company under the Ministry of Tourism. Prior to ITDC, he held senior leadership roles at Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (Visakhapatnam Steel Plant). Listed in the Data Bank of Independent Directors by IICA, Piyush now offers his expertise as an advisor and consultant to business entities.

Hemant Dua is a global sports business leader with over 25 years of experience across sports, media, and technology ventures. He is currently CEO of the Seattle Orcas (Major League Cricket) and serves on the Board of Directors of Hampshire Sport & Leisure Holdings Ltd., while also advising GMR Sports on its global cricket portfolio. Previously, as CEO of the Delhi Daredevils (IPL), he transformed the franchise into a commercial powerhouse through innovation and grassroots integration. Hemant specialises in market disruption, strategic turnarounds, and building high-equity sports brands, bridging boardroom strategy with operational excellence.

Charan Parmar is the Director of PAX Edutainment, with over a decade of experience in bridging academia and industry. He has facilitated the placement of thousands of students in leading hotels, resorts, and organisations worldwide, while expanding PAX into one of India's foremost providers of experiential learning and international internship programs. With hands-on industry knowledge, he designs internship curricula that balance theory with practical responsibilities. A frequent speaker at industry forums, he advocates student-centric training and sustainable educational practices, forging global partnerships to empower graduates with a competitive edge.

Ashish Modak is a hospitality executive with nearly 30 years of international experience across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He currently serves as COO – EMEA at The Lux Collective, overseeing operations, brand standards, and strategic growth. He has successfully led hotel openings, conversions, and repositioning projects, driving operational excellence and guest satisfaction. He holds an Executive MBA from the National University of Singapore and an MBA from the University of Northampton, with executive programs completed at ESSEC Business School and Cornell University in hotel real estate investment and asset management

Smita Modak leads Learning & Development and Talent Management at The Lux Collective, based in Mauritius. With over 20 years of international hospitality experience across India, the Middle East, and the Indian Ocean, she specialises in service culture, leadership development, and large-scale learning initiatives. She holds a postgraduate qualification in Human Resources Management from Sydenham Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai, and an MBA with Distinction from the University of Northampton, UK. A certified leadership and service excellence trainer, she actively supports industry– academia collaborations to strengthen talent development in hospitality

Robin Ramhit is a tourism and economic development professional with over 25 years of experience in destination marketing, tourism planning, market research, and economic policy. Since 2015, he has served as Tourism Promotion Manager at MTPA, leading international promotion strategies, market intelligence, and global partnerships to strengthen Mauritius' positioning across key markets. Previously, he worked as a Senior Economist at DCDM Marketing Research and held roles at MTPA, the Ministry of Tourism, and Aquarelle (CIEL Group). He has also lectured part-time at leading universities in Mauritius. Robin holds advanced degrees in Tourism, International Trade, and Economics, and brings deep expertise in sustainable tourism development and strategic market growth

Varoun Jeewooth is a Human Capital leader with over 15 years of experience in FMCG, banking, and financial services. As Vice President and Head of Leadership, Learning & Talent at Absa Mauritius, he drives strategic initiatives to empower a workforce of 1,100+ employees. His expertise spans leadership development, talent management, culture, engagement, wellness, and DEIB. A Forbes Human Resources Council Member and One Young World Ambassador, Varoun is recognised for shaping human-centred strategies that enhance organisational success and employee growth.