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.

With the Union Budget 2026 scheduled for 1st February, voices from the hospitality, travel, and premium lifestyle sectors are sharing their expectations from the upcoming budget. Industry leaders believe the budget presents an important opportunity to strengthen India’s post-pandemic tourism recovery while addressing long-standing structural challenges.

Dr Vikas Katoch, Founder and CEO of Adotrip, noted that India’s travel and tourism industry continues to show strong momentum, driven by rising disposable incomes, better connectivity, and growing interest in domestic, international, and luxury travel. He highlighted that one of the key expectations from Budget 2026 is the rationalisation of the GST framework for the travel and hospitality sector.

According to him, the existing GST structure remains fragmented and cost-intensive in certain areas, impacting both consumer pricing and business margins. A more unified and streamlined tax framework could improve affordability for travellers, encourage higher spending, and create healthier competition, while also enabling companies to reinvest in service quality, technology, and product development.

He further emphasised the need to simplify regulatory compliance, particularly for startups, boutique hotels, and regional properties that currently face complex approval and reporting processes. Dr Katoch shared that the Budget for 2026 must focus on streamlining regulatory systems, including one-window approvals, to allow businesses to concentrate on innovation, expansion, and geographic development.

Access to credit remains another key concern for the travel and tourism industry. Despite its strong potential to generate employment, boost regional development, and contribute to GDP, the sector, largely dominated by MSMEs, continues to face challenges in securing affordable financial support. Dr Katoch suggested that the Union Budget should look at improving credit accessibility through measures such as inclusion under priority sector lending. Improved access to finance could support expansion into new tourism circuits and niche segments such as eco-tourism, wellness tourism, adventure tourism, and heritage tourism.

Speaking on luxury travel, Dr Katoch pointed out that demand for heritage stays, personalised experiences, and ultra-luxury travel is growing rapidly in India. He stressed that continued investment in infrastructure, road connectivity, cleanliness, and air connectivity would help India attract high-spending international visitors as well as discerning domestic travellers. He added that strengthening this segment would not only enhance India’s global positioning but also generate significant employment across the travel ecosystem. He concluded by stating that continued government support for sustainable tourism, heritage circuits, and domestic travel promotion in Budget 2026 could unlock higher economic value, inclusive growth, and employment through tourism.

Sharing views from the premium beverage segment, Aman Swetta, Cofounder of Cristal Azul, highlighted that the imported alcobev sector is seeking clarity and consistency rather than concessions from the upcoming budget. He said, “As the Union Budget approaches, the imported alcobev sector is looking less for concessions and more for clarity, consistency, and transparency.”

He explained that imported spirits currently operate under a fragmented framework, with central tariffs and state-level excise structures varying widely. According to him, greater standardisation of duties and clearer classification norms would improve price predictability, compliance, and ease of doing business for both international brands and Indian partners. He also welcomed recent progress in trade discussions with the European Union, including proposed tariff rationalisation on certain alcoholic beverages, and suggested that similar balanced engagement with other producing regions such as Mexico could further align India with global best practices.

Aman Swetta added that tequila is seeing growing interest in India’s urban markets, driven by premiumisation and lifestyle shifts. He noted that consumers are increasingly seeking transparency in provenance, ingredients, and production, favouring well-regulated and quality-led categories. From a Budget 2026 perspective, he emphasised that policy coherence across tariffs, state duties, and taxation mechanisms, along with predictable regulatory processes, would support responsible sector growth while ensuring sustained government revenue and wider consumer choice.

Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), India’s largest hospitality company, has announced the opening of Taj Gangtey Resort & Spa in Phobjikha, Bhutan, further strengthening its presence in the region through its partnership with CG Hospitality Global.

Speaking on the development, Mr. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, IHCL, said, “Building on our presence in the region, opening of Taj Gangtey Resort & Spa, is in line with our strategy of growing our footprint in the sub-continent. Bhutan is a well-established leisure destination on the global tourism map offering a combination of nature and culture. We are delighted to partner with Happiness Resort & Spa for this project, a collaboration between Mr. Anan Gurung and CG Hospitality Global a member of the CG Corp Global.”

Located in the pristine Phobjikha valley, the 35-key Taj Gangtey Resort & Spa brings the calm and beauty of the landscape into every room, offering guests a peaceful retreat surrounded by nature. The Chang Lounge & Bar invites guests to relax by the fire with a selection of rare blends and spirits, while Vista offers authentic flavours in a traditional Bhutanese setting.

The resort features a J Wellness Circle Spa offering holistic remedies, an indoor heated swimming pool, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, and dedicated yoga instructors. Guests can also enjoy curated experiences such as guided monastery walks, nature trails through the meadows, and crane spotting, allowing them to connect closely with the destination.

Commenting on the partnership, Dr. Binod Chaudhary, Chairman, CG Corp Global and Mr. Rahul Chaudhary, MD & CEO of CG Hospitality Global, said, “Phobjikha has always been a place of quiet beauty. Partnering with IHCL allows us to introduce a hospitality offering that is in harmony with the destination, its people and its traditions.”

Mr. Anan Gurung, CEO, Happiness Resort & Spa, Bhutan, added, “Steeped in culture and the timeless spirit of the Himalayas, Taj Gangtey Resort & Spa offers a window to Bhutan’s soul. We are proud to partner with the iconic Taj, World’s Strangest Hotel Brand for this hotel.”

Phobjikha is one of Bhutan’s most scenic glacial valleys, known for its open meadows, untouched natural beauty, and a cultural landscape that has remained timeless over the years.

The partnership between IHCL and CG Hospitality across the Indian Sub-Continent and the Middle East currently includes Taj Gangtey Resort & Spa and Taj Paro Resort & Spa in Bhutan, Taj Exotica Resort & Spa and Taj Coral Reef Resort & Spa in Maldives, Taj Samudra in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Taj Jumeirah Lakes Towers in Dubai, two Vivanta hotels in Nepal, and Taj Safaris, the luxury wildlife lodges in India and Nepal.