The WION Iconic Tourism Summit and Awards 2026 will take place on Wednesday, September 23, in New Delhi. This significant event will bring together policymakers, diplomats, and leaders from the tourism industry to explore India’s tourism potential, evolving travel trends, and emerging business opportunities.
Industry participants include Vikram Lalvani, MD and CEO of Sterling Holiday Resorts; Manish Puri, head of global sales at Air India and Air India Express; Jyoti Mayal, chairperson of the Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council and CEO of Red Hat Communications; and Vinay Malhotra, head of strategic global partnerships at VFS Global. The summit takes place at a time when travel within the country has witnessed a rapid growth, supported by domestic tourism, international travel, heritage destinations, hospitality and newer travel experiences. India’s tourism offering also includes wildlife, nature, spirituality, adventure, wellness, business and coastal travel. The range of destinations and experiences has created opportunities for businesses across hotels, airlines, travel services, visas and technology.
Ministry of Tourism data shows that India hosted around 4.29 billion domestic tourists in 2025. The number of foreign tourist stood at 25.27 million during the year.
The afternoon sessions will turn to the business side of travel, including airlines, hotels and tourism facilities. The discussion titled ‘The business of travel: Aviation, hospitality & India’s tourism infra story’ will feature Sterling Holiday Resorts MD and CEO Vikram Lalvani, Saurabh Tiwari of the IHCL, former Secretary and Former Ambassador Muktesh Pardeshi, Air India and Air India Express Head of Global Sales Manish Puri, Visit Qatar Regional Manager for APAC Ahmed Hamed Sharbak and Kamal Munasinghe, senior vice president, Colombo Hotels, and general manager of Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams, Sri Lanka.
