With Maharashtra's Tier 2, 3 & 4 markets in focus, TREX debuts as a regional B2B showcase in Pune

The team, including Siddharth Jain (Sales & Marketing), Mehboob Shaikh, heading operations at TREX and Krishna Gopalan (Advisor)—identified the need for a stronger regional B2B connect across south-central Maharashtra. Despite being conceptualised just three months ago, the first edition of TREX saw an exceptional traction, as per the organisers.

TREX (Travel Relations & Exhibitions) has emerged as a new regional travel exhibition platform born out of a simple idea: to unlock the potential of Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets. “Let’s do something for the region,” recalled Krishna Gopalan, Advisor for TREX, noting that Maharashtra’s vast non-metro belt has long remained underserved. 

A few months ago, the team, including Siddharth Jain (Sales & Marketing), Mehboob Shaikh, heading operations at TREX and Krishna Gopalan—identified the need for a stronger regional B2B connect across south-central Maharashtra, a region spanning Aurangabad, Ahmednagar, Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Ratnagiri and the Konkan belt. 

“With national exhibitors not adequately tapping these markets, the concept of TREX was developed under umbrella of Netra India LLP. Our inaugural edition in Pune received an overwhelming, superb response, prompting the team to expand the format across India while consciously not touching the metros or Tier-1 cities. The focus will remain on connecting regional buyers with national sellers,” added Gopalan, while interacting with the media on the sidelines of the event. 

Siddharth Jain further added, “Pune became the natural choice for our first edition because all three of us—Krishna, Mehboob, and I, belong to this belt. This region thrives on relationships, and together we leveraged those connections to bring in quality buyers and credible suppliers under one platform,” he added. 

He also noted that while there are plenty of shows in the main markets, India’s real growth and potential today is coming from Tier 3 and Tier 4 cities. “These regions are expanding exponentially, and most industry stakeholders will agree that metros have become saturated in terms of business growth. Therefore, markets beyond Mumbai deserve focused attention from tourism suppliers, exhibitors, and product owners,” he emphasised and added that platforms like TREX offer a plug-and-play opportunity for brands to tap into this high-value market. 

Mehboob Shaikh highlighted Pune's strategic importance as the host city for the first edition of the exhibition. He stated, “Pune is the cultural capital of Maharashtra and a hub for the tier 2 and tier 3 markets. It has immense potential, contributing significantly to the GST revenue of India. The city is home to major companies and industries that generate substantial income, giving this market an upscale edge.”

He further explained that such a high-potential market cannot be overlooked and TREX aims to provide proper guidance to businesses in this region, helping them explore new destinations and markets while connecting them with the right suppliers. 

Also present at the event, Sagar Waghchaure, President of Travel Agents Association of Nashik said that the city (Nashik) is emerging rapidly after Mumbai and Pune. “Roadshows and such events don’t really happen in Nashik. We organise our own Nashik Travel Mart and invite participants from across India, but there is scope to jointly host larger events to promote the city.” He stressed on how Nashik is gearing up for the 2027 Kumbh Mela and new expected flight connections will strengthen the scope further. “Nashik is a strong upcoming destination, and more events should take place there in the coming days,” he stressed. 

Lauding the show’s format, Waghchaure said, “There are very good DMCs, and other international brands present here, and the organising team has conducted the B2B sessions in a very systematic manner. This show is very effective for Tier 3 cities, especially since several good airlines have also participated for the upcoming season. Overall, the platform will be helpful for everyone.”

Despite being conceptualised just three months ago, the first edition of TREX has seen exceptional traction, as per the organisers. Held at the Hyatt Pune, the event brought together 34 exhibitors to showcase their products and services. “The exhibitor side went house full, with last-minute requests overflowing beyond capacity. On the buyer side, the hosted program brought in 100 buyers, including 70 from Tier-3 markets for curated B2B sessions on Day 1. Day 2 opened to verified trade visitors and B2C partners and had comprehensive B2B tabletop roadshow,” Jain informed the media. 

Looking ahead, TREX will be positioned as a yearly event. “If we do it too frequently, you lose the charm of it,” Gopalan said, adding that markets need time to absorb and prepare, especially now that travel demand has become less seasonal. Future city announcements will also be made in the coming year as the team finalises its next rollout. 

Notably, Travel Trends Today served as a media partner for the event, and SATTE joined as the Strategic Partner. 

*(Compiled by Team T3)*