Hospitality & Tourism Conclave'26 highlights Eastern India’s growing role in tourism economy
ICC
The two-day conclave held at ITC Fortune Select, Siliguri by ICC.
The Hospitality & Tourism Conclave 2026, held at ITC Fortune Select, Siliguri, concluded with two days of focused discussions on the future of hospitality and tourism in Eastern India. Organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the conclave drew hotel owners, founders, senior operators, developers, technology providers and industry stakeholders from across the country.
The conclave focused on region-specific conversations, addressing operational, investment and scaling challenges. Across panels and keynotes, speakers reiterated that Eastern India’s tourism growth will be driven by long-term thinking, local context and collaborative ecosystems rather than rapid, imitation-led expansion.
A central voice throughout the conclave was Sumit Mitruka, Founder and CEO of Summit Hotels & Resorts and Chairman of the Hospitality & Tourism Committee at ICC. Through his keynote address and moderation of multiple sessions, Mitruka anchored discussions around sustainable hotel development, the importance of regional identity, and the need for owners, brands and solution providers to work in tandem.
Harsh Berlia, Chairman, ICC North Bengal, said, “The ICC North Bengal Tourism and Hospitality Conclave 2026 saw a confluence of speakers from across the industry, coming together from around the country. This further strengthens our conviction that this region is among the fastest-growing hospitality markets. It was encouraging to see both brand owners and hotel owners actively engage through panels, meetings and site visits on the sidelines. We are hopeful that several discussions will translate into ongoing deals, and we look forward to an even larger gathering next year.”
One of the sessions, “From the East to the Nation: Building Scalable, Iconic Hospitality Brands,” examined how regional brands can grow without losing their core identity. Speakers highlighted the risks of adopting metro-driven templates and stressed the importance of building brands rooted in local culture, demand patterns and operating realities.
The conclave also featured keynote addresses by industry leaders such as Harshavardhan Neotia, Chairman of Ambuja Neotia Group, who spoke on institution-building and responsible tourism development, and Vikram Challur, Senior Vice President at MakeMyTrip, who shared insights on travel demand, distribution and evolving guest behaviour. Other sessions explored direct bookings and digital funnels, hospitality technology and AI, design-led ROI, marketing storytelling and new-age hospitality formats.
The two-day conclave saw participation from a cross-section of hospitality leaders and founders, including representatives from Summit Hotels & Resorts, Mayfair Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Hotel Group, Lemon Tree Hotels, Fortune Park Hotels, The Postcard Hotel, Elivaas, The Hosteller, Ambuja Neotia Group, Club Mahindra, Ascott, MakeMyTrip, Simplotel, Djubo, BookingJini, Yanolja Cloud Solution and Colliers, among others.
The Hospitality & Tourism Conclave 2026 concluded with a shared sentiment: Eastern India’s hospitality story is entering a more confident, mature phase, shaped by collaboration, realism and a clear understanding of regional strengths.
