News9 Plus and visionaries host Iconic Experiences Show

As India reinforces its position as a bright spot in a world battling multiple crises, consumers too have found a new swagger. Their focus is evolving from conspicuous consumption towards a quest for more profound and experiential expressions of luxury.

With luxury segment poised for glittering growth, News9 Plus, joined hands with Jyoti Mayal, President, TAAI and hander Mansharamani, MD of Alpcord Network Travel and Conferences Management Company, to create a platform where connoisseurs of luxury will converge.

Visionary leaders representing travel, tourism, luxury, wellness, weddings, and conferences came together for an unparalleled and unforgettable experience at The Iconic Experiences Show on October 16-17, 2023, at Hyatt Regency in New Delhi.

The event featured a series of Masterclasses, chats, keynote presentations, and panel discussions, led by some of the most sought-after icons in their respective industries. “Sky's the limit,” chimed veteran aviation leaders – Aditya Ghosh, co-founder of Akasa Air, and Kapil Kaul, CEO and Director, CAPA Advisory, Nakul Anand, Executive Director, ITC, shared masterstrokes on sustainable luxury in an engaging Masterclass.

Rupinder Brar, IT Commissioner, Govt. of India; Jyotsna Suri, Chairperson and Managing Director, Bharat Hotels Limited; Varija Bajaj, Fashion Designer and Shobha Rudra from Rare India talked about women powering sustainability goals.

Yoga and spiritual guru and diplomat Sadhvi Pragya, spiritual leader Sadhvi Praygya Bharti and Brajendra Nandan Das from ISKCON India ‘wowed’ the audience with their insights on ‘wellness’. Samit Garg, MD and co-founder, E-Factor Experiences.; Chetan Vohra, MD, Line Communications and Weddingline; Vandana Mohan, founder, The Wedding Design Company; Sanjana Jon, social activist and fashion designer; and Asmita Chakraborty, Miss Tourism India 2021 were “Not so Knotty” in a panel discussion on weddings sector in India.

The Luxperiencial event culminated on October 17 with exclusive B2B meetings, Power Breakfast sessions with buyers, and networking opportunities during a captivating sundowner affair.

Mayal said, “After the pandemic, people wanted to explore travel beyond mundane itineraries. In revenge travel mode, they were seeking experiences.  For this, travel agents have to think out-of-the-box ideas. However, this is easier said than done. That’s why we have come up with TIES, a platform which will provide travel agents an opportunity to interact with states, countries, attractions, DMCs directly and learn how they can add a luxurious element to their package.”

Stating that India is ready to witness a transformative influence in travel, tourism, wellness, weddings and MICE sectors, Raktim Das, Chief Growth Officer, TV9 Network, said, “A pivotal shift is already happening, and in the years ahead, India will be one of the world's foremost luxury markets.”

Explaining the rationale behind the initiative, he added, “As World’s first news OTT, News9 Plus caters to a very niche segment of audience – people who want perspectives in the daily din of news, the upwardly mobile, knowledge worker, the experience seeking globe trotter. Tapping the same audience, we co-created this initiative and the content that was curated during is being amplified to a larger audience on News9 MediaVerse.”

Some of the countries that participated in the exhibition are Sri Lanka, Saudi, Korea, Germany. In addition, there are multiple States and DMCs that have also confirmed participation.

“I refuse to believe that the era of Travel Agents is over. It is the agents who need to up their game and TIES is a step in the direction to have them do so. This is exactly why we have not made it a closed-door event limited to only pre-booked meetings. In terms of Buyers, we have invited Golfers, Wedding Planners, HNIs, Women Influencers etc. and organised Power Breakfasts, Hi-Tea and created more such opportunities for the Buyers and Exhibitors to engage in quality interactions,” said Mayal.

Other eminent speakers at the event included Mukesh Kumar Meshram, Principal Secretary, Tourism and Culture Department, UP Government; M D Sinha, Principal Secretary, Haryana Tourism Department; Gayatri Rathore, Principal Secretary, Tourism; Rakhee Gupta Bhandari, Principal Secretary, Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Govt. Of Punjab; Zubin Saxena, MD and Senior Area VP, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group; Meshaal M. Qureshi, Trade Markets Director, Saudi Tourism Authority, and Hadigalage Chalaka Dev Gajabahu, Chairman Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau; Noel Swain, COO Evisa VAS and Tourism Services, VFS; Parveen Chander Kumar, EVP Sales and Marketing, Indian Hotels Company; Tarun Thakral, Founder and Managing Trustee - Heritage Transport Museum; Ashish Gupta, Founder: Strategy PLUTO and Consulting.

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