ITB India 2026 will be held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai from 1-3 September 2026, bringing together senior decision-makers and industry experts from the MICE, corporate travel, incentive travel, hospitality and travel technology sectors. At the centre of the event, the ITB India Conference 2026 will offer a platform for business dialogue, knowledge exchange and industry collaboration, exploring how shifting traveller expectations, emerging technologies and evolving business models are reshaping the future of travel.
“Success in today’s travel industry depends not only on building new business relationships, but also on understanding the trends and market forces driving change,” said Darren Seah, Executive Director, Messe Berlin Asia Pacific. “The ITB India Conference complements the business opportunities on the exhibition floor by providing a platform where industry experts can share insights, challenge perspectives and discuss the ideas shaping the future of travel across India and South Asia. By bringing together leaders from across the industry, ITB India continues to foster meaningful dialogue, strengthen collaboration and create new opportunities for growth.”
Exploring the Forces Shaping Travel
The ITB India Conference 2026 will feature two stages – the Knowledge & MICE Theatre and Tech & Experience Theatre- structured around four key tracks: Knowledge, MICE & Corporate, Travel Technology, and Experiential Travel. Presentations, fireside chats and panel discussions will bring together leading voices to examine the trends and developments shaping the travel ecosystem.
At the Knowledge & MICE Theatre, discussions will explore market dynamics, corporate travel and the evolving MICE landscape. In “The Next Battlegrounds in Travel: A Fireside Chat with MakeMyTrip,” Raj Rishi Singh, Chief Operating Officer – Flights, Corporate Travel, Gulf Countries & Marketing, MakeMyTrip, and Coney Dongre, Research Manager, Phocuswright, will discuss artificial intelligence, distribution, partnerships, experiences and market expansion.
The changing business travel environment will be examined in “Corporate Travel in the Age of Disruption: What’s Next?” Shenaz Kanorwalla, Associate Director – Head Business Travel and Events, Cipla; Devendra Saraiya, Executive Director – Procurement and Travel, Deloitte India; and Rakesh Negi, Head – Business Transformation & Customer Excellence, FCM Travel India, will explore geopolitical uncertainty, economic pressures and changing employee expectations, moderated by Deepesh Jethwani, Vice President – Corporate Travel, Tripjack.
At the Tech & Experience Theatre, the focus will shift towards technology, innovation and the changing motivations of travellers. “Travel with Intent: How Values, Emotions and Purpose Shape the New Traveller” will feature Daniel Dsouza, Co-Founder, DreamSetGo; Capt. M Chouhan, Chief of Staff & Chief of Flight Safety, SkyWaltz; and Scott Wegener, Head of Asia Pacific, Tripadvisor, examining how values, emotions and purpose are influencing travel decisions and experience design.
Technology-driven transformation will take centre stage in “From Digital Adoption to Digital Advantage in Travel,” featuring Sandeep Dwivedi, Managing Director – Travel Sellers, India and the Subcontinent, Amadeus, and Nithyashree Sathyanarayanan, Associate Vice President – New Initiatives and Chief of Staff, The ePlane Company. The session will examine how travel businesses can turn technology investments into measurable competitive advantage.
Meanwhile, “Meetings at Sea – MICE Cruising in India” will explore the emerging potential of cruise-based meetings, incentives and corporate events. Jude D’Souza, Meeting & Events Leader, India, FCM Meetings & Events; SD Nandakumar, President & Country Head – Holidays & Corporate Tours, SOTC Travel; and Naresh Rawal, Senior Vice President- Sales & Marketing, StarDream Cruises India, will join moderator Nikhil Jeet, Director, Buzz Travel Marketing, for the discussion.
Diverse Perspectives Across the Travel Ecosystem
The wider conference programme will address a broad range of subjects spanning MICE, corporate travel, hospitality, travel technology, cruising, wellness and emerging travel trends.
Confirmed speakers include Harshad Donde, Country Director, India, BCD Meetings & Events; Rohit Kohli, Joint Managing Director, Creative Travel; Vivek Neb, EVP & Managing Director APAC & MEA and Global Head, Travel & Tourism, Escalent; Darshana Shirodkar, Senior Director – APAC Growth Markets, Expedia Group; Auptha Surlidev, Vice President & Head -Tourism, IDECK Limited; Sushmita Sarangi, Commercial Director, Taj Hotels, Head, J Wellness Circle; Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Georg Arlt, Executive Director, Meaningful Tourism Centre Ltd; Gaurav Chiripal, Founder & CEO, QuadLabs; Kamaldeep Singh, Content & Travel Experience Leader, Spotnana; Saurav Chakraborty, Founder & CEO, Travel Buddy; and Deepak Choudhary, Founder & President, WTTA – Worldwide Travel & Tourism Association.
Together, the sessions will highlight the commercial, technological and strategic forces expected to shape the next phase of travel across India and South Asia.
ITB India Launches Inaugural Leadership Roundtable
Adding a new dimension to its high-level industry dialogue, ITB India 2026 will also introduce the inaugural ITB India Leadership Roundtable, in partnership with global strategy consultancy Simon-Kucher.
The invitation-only forum will convene senior leaders from tourism, travel, hospitality, technology and destination development to examine India’s growing significance as both a major tourism destination and an increasingly influential global source market.
“India is entering an exciting new phase in its tourism journey, with its growing importance as both a destination and a source market creating significant opportunities for the industry,” said Lovrenc Kessler, Senior Partner, Simon-Kucher. “This makes it particularly timely to bring leaders from across the tourism ecosystem together for an open exchange on how India can translate this momentum into sustainable, long-term growth. We are delighted to partner with ITB India on this inaugural Leadership Roundtable and contribute our global perspective and insights to the conversation.”
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