The Hospitality & Tourism Conclave 2026, hosted at ITC Fortune Select, Siliguri, concluded after two days of focused dialogue on the future of hospitality and tourism in Eastern India. Organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the conclave brought together hotel owners, founders, senior operators, developers, technology providers and industry stakeholders from across the country, reinforcing the region’s growing relevance in India’s tourism economy.

Unlike broad, headline-driven discussions, the conclave stood out for its practical and region-specific approach. Conversations across panels and keynote sessions centred on real operational challenges, investment strategies and sustainable scaling models. A recurring theme was that Eastern India’s growth trajectory will be shaped by long-term thinking, local context and collaboration, rather than rapid, imitation-led expansion.

Sumit Mitruka, Founder and CEO of Summit Hotels & Resorts and Chairman of the Hospitality & Tourism Committee at ICC, emerged as a key voice throughout the conclave. Through his keynote address and moderation of multiple sessions, Mitruka emphasised sustainable hotel development, the importance of regional identity and the need for owners, brands and solution providers to work closely together. Drawing from his operational experience across Eastern and North-Eastern India, he offered grounded insights into destination building and profitability in emerging markets.

Commenting on the scale and participation at the conclave, 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 most engaging sessions, From the East to the Nation: Building Scalable, Iconic Hospitality Brands, examined how regional brands can expand without losing their core identity. Speakers cautioned against adopting metro-centric templates and stressed the importance of building brands rooted in local culture, demand patterns and operational realities.

The conclave also featured keynote addresses by 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 evolving travel demand, distribution trends and changing guest behaviour.

Other sessions explored direct bookings and digital funnels, hospitality technology and AI, design-led ROI, marketing storytelling and emerging hospitality formats. Delegates noted that the discussions were candid, actionable and closely aligned with real-world decision-making.

Participants included leaders and 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 mix of established hotel brands and new-age hospitality platforms underlined the conclave’s emphasis on pragmatic growth and collaboration.

Strong engagement was also seen in the exhibition and networking zones, with meaningful exchanges between hospitality leaders and solution providers. Many delegates noted that the conclave successfully demonstrated Siliguri’s ability to host high-impact, national-level industry platforms.

The Hospitality & Tourism Conclave 2026 concluded with a clear takeaway: Eastern India’s hospitality sector is entering a more confident and mature phase, driven by collaboration, realism and a sharper understanding of the region’s unique strengths.