HOPE 2026 | CONFERENCE AGENDA
Thursday, February 26, 2026
Venue: Taj Cidade de Goa Horizon
9:00 am Onwards
Registration
10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Brought to you in association with
(by invitation only)
10:00 am – 12:30 pm
(By invitation only)
2:00 pm – 2:15 pm
HOPE 2026 Inauguration and Welcome
2:15 pm – 2:45 pm
Inaugural & Vision Address
Dr. Srivatsa Krishna, IAS
Secretary, Ministry of Tourism
Dr. Srivatsa Krishna, IAS
Secretary, Ministry of Tourism
2:45 pm – 03:10 pm
Keynote Address
By Karan Singh, Chairman, Bain & Company India
03:10 pm – 03:50 pm
Topic: The Hospitality Pulse: Leadership Views From The
Frontline
1. Alan Watts, President, Asia Pacific, Hilton
2. Dimitris Manikis, President for Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa (EMEA), Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
3. Rajeev Menon, President, Asia Pacific (excluding China), Marriott International
4. Ron Pohl, President, WorldHotels & President, International Operations, BWH Hotels
Moderator: Mandeep Lamba, President & CEO (South Asia),
HVS ANAROCK
03:50 pm – 04:15 pm
LeaderSpeak@HOPE
Anthony Capuano, President and CEO, Marriott International
in conversation with
Vir Sanghvi, Journalist, Author, Columnist, and Talk Show Host
Anthony Capuano, President and CEO, Marriott International
in conversation with
Vir Sanghvi, Journalist, Author, Columnist, and Talk Show Host
4:15 pm – 4:55 pm
Topic: India On The Move. The Economics Powering Travel’s
Next Decade
1. Patanjali (Patu) G. Keswani, Executive Chairman, Lemon Tree Hotels Ltd.
2. Sandeep Ghosh, Group Country Manager – India and South Asia, Visa
3. Vinay Dube, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Akasa Air
Moderator: Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder & Group CEO,
MakeMyTrip
4:55 pm – 5:35 PM
Topic: From Asset Owners To Capital Strategists: Building
Hotel Portfolios In A New India
1. Aditya Pande, Group Chief Executive Officer, InterGlobe Enterprises
2. Arun K. Saraf, Chairman and Managing Director, Juniper Hotels
3. Atul Dangayach, Managing Director, Dangayach Group
4. Sanjeev Jaiswal, CEO, Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA)
Moderator: Anuj Puri, Chairman & Founder, ANAROCK
5:35 pm – 6:05 pm
Topic: Beyond The Play Book: Real Lessons From Real Stalwarts
1. Ajay K. Bakaya, Chairman, Sarovar Hotels & Director, Louvre Hotels India
2. K.B. Kachru, Chairman – South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group
3. Vijay Dewan, Managing Director, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Limited
Moderator: Vijay Thacker, Managing Director, Horwath HTL India
6:05 pm – 6:35 pm
Tales From Heads- Stories That Inspire
Ashish Jakhanwala, Chairman, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, SAMHI Hotels
in conversation with
Dilip Puri, Founder & Executive Chairman, Indian School of
Hospitality
Ashish Jakhanwala, Chairman, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, SAMHI Hotels
in conversation with
Dilip Puri, Founder & Executive Chairman, Indian School of
Hospitality
6:35 pm – 7:30 pm
HVS ANAROCK #HASHTAG Awards
7.30 pm Onwards
Drinks & Dinner
Friday, February 27, 2026
Venue: Taj Cidade de Goa Horizon
09:00 am – 09:05 am
Welcome Back
09:05 am – 09:30 am
LeaderSpeak@HOPE
Elie Maalouf, Chief Executive Officer, IHG Hotels & Resorts
in conversation with
Mandeep Lamba, President & CEO (South Asia), HVS ANAROCK
(Recorded Session)
Elie Maalouf, Chief Executive Officer, IHG Hotels & Resorts
in conversation with
Mandeep Lamba, President & CEO (South Asia), HVS ANAROCK
(Recorded Session)
09:30 am – 10:10 am
Topic: Luxury Reimagined – Catering To The Evolved, Empowered, and Ever-connected Guest
1. Anuraag Bhatnagar, Chief Executive Officer, The Leela Palaces, Hotels And Resorts
2. Gaurav Bhushan, Co-CEO Ennismore, CEO Lifestyle & Leisure Brands, Accor
3. Neil George, Strategic Advisor, Rosewood Hotel Group
4. Stephen Ho, President – Greater China and Growth, Asia Pacific, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts
Moderator: Mohit Nirula, Chief Operating Officer, The Oberoi Group
1. Anuraag Bhatnagar, Chief Executive Officer, The Leela Palaces, Hotels And Resorts
2. Gaurav Bhushan, Co-CEO Ennismore, CEO Lifestyle & Leisure Brands, Accor
3. Neil George, Strategic Advisor, Rosewood Hotel Group
4. Stephen Ho, President – Greater China and Growth, Asia Pacific, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts
Moderator: Mohit Nirula, Chief Operating Officer, The Oberoi Group
10:10 am – 10:35 am
LeaderSpeak@HOPE
Mark S. Hoplamazian, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hyatt Hotels Corporation
in conversation with
Mandeep Lamba, President & CEO (South Asia), HVS ANAROCK
Mark S. Hoplamazian, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hyatt Hotels Corporation
in conversation with
Mandeep Lamba, President & CEO (South Asia), HVS ANAROCK
10:35 am – 11:15am
Topic: Will What Brought Us Here, Take Us There: Addressing The Next Growth Opportunities
1. Nikhil Sharma, Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer – South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group South Asia
2. Ranju Alex, Chief Executive Officer, South Asia, Accor
3. Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South West Asia, IHG
4. Sunjae Sharma, Managing Director – India & Southwest
Asia, Hyatt India Consultancy Private Limited
5. Zubin Saxena, SVP, Region Head, South Asia, Hilton
Moderator: Akash Datta, Managing Director (South Asia), HVS ANAROCK
1. Nikhil Sharma, Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer – South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group South Asia
2. Ranju Alex, Chief Executive Officer, South Asia, Accor
3. Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South West Asia, IHG
4. Sunjae Sharma, Managing Director – India & Southwest
Asia, Hyatt India Consultancy Private Limited
5. Zubin Saxena, SVP, Region Head, South Asia, Hilton
Moderator: Akash Datta, Managing Director (South Asia), HVS ANAROCK
11:15 am – 11:30 am
Tea Break
11:30 am – 11:50 am
LeaderSpeak@HOPE
Presentation by Michael Grove, Chief Executive Officer, HotStats
Presentation by Michael Grove, Chief Executive Officer, HotStats
11:50 am – 12:15 pm
Topic: India’s Hospitality Moment: From Cyclical Upswing to Structural Supercycle
1. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director & CEO, IHCL
2. Shaleen Kumar, Executive Director & Head of Investment Research, UBS Securities India
Moderator: Nikunj Dalmia, Partner, Shepherd’s Hill Group
1. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director & CEO, IHCL
2. Shaleen Kumar, Executive Director & Head of Investment Research, UBS Securities India
Moderator: Nikunj Dalmia, Partner, Shepherd’s Hill Group
12:15 pm – 12:55 pm
Topic: Hotel Development Reloaded – New Markets, New Models, New Mindsets
1. Clarence Tan, Senior Vice President, Development, APAC, Hilton
2. Gautam Bhandari, Chief Development Officer, Asia Pacific (excluding China), Marriott International
3. Omar Romero, Chief Development and Luxury Officer, Minor Hotels
4. Suma Venkatesh, Executive Vice President – Real Estate & Development, IHC
5. Vikram Lalvani, MD & CEO, Sterling Holiday Resorts
Moderator: Akash Datta, Managing Director (South Asia), HVS ANAROCK
1. Clarence Tan, Senior Vice President, Development, APAC, Hilton
2. Gautam Bhandari, Chief Development Officer, Asia Pacific (excluding China), Marriott International
3. Omar Romero, Chief Development and Luxury Officer, Minor Hotels
4. Suma Venkatesh, Executive Vice President – Real Estate & Development, IHC
5. Vikram Lalvani, MD & CEO, Sterling Holiday Resorts
Moderator: Akash Datta, Managing Director (South Asia), HVS ANAROCK
12:55 pm – 2:00 pm
Lunch
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Topic: Same Building, New Guests – Will Hotel Design Catch Up?
1. Ar. Amit Gehlot, Partner, ASA Design
2. Bobby Mukherji, Architect
3. Reza Kabul, President, ARK Reza Kabul Architects
Moderator: Ar. Khozema Chitalwala, Founder & Principal Architect, Designers Group
1. Ar. Amit Gehlot, Partner, ASA Design
2. Bobby Mukherji, Architect
3. Reza Kabul, President, ARK Reza Kabul Architects
Moderator: Ar. Khozema Chitalwala, Founder & Principal Architect, Designers Group
2:30 pm – 3:10 pm
Topic: Is Midscale The New Battleground? Consolidation, Collaboration, And The Future of Growth
1. Deepika Rao, Executive Vice President – New Businesses, Hotel Openings and Corporate Communications, IHCL
2. Jatin Khanna, CEO, Sarovar Hotels
3. Kahraman Yigit, Co-Founder, Olive by Embassy
4. Neeraj Jain, Chief Business Officer, Bloom Hotels
5. Rahool Macarius, Market Managing Director, Eurasia, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Moderator: Rattan Keswani, Industry Stalwart & Former Deputy Managing Director, Lemon Tree Hotels
1. Deepika Rao, Executive Vice President – New Businesses, Hotel Openings and Corporate Communications, IHCL
2. Jatin Khanna, CEO, Sarovar Hotels
3. Kahraman Yigit, Co-Founder, Olive by Embassy
4. Neeraj Jain, Chief Business Officer, Bloom Hotels
5. Rahool Macarius, Market Managing Director, Eurasia, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Moderator: Rattan Keswani, Industry Stalwart & Former Deputy Managing Director, Lemon Tree Hotels
3:10 pm – 3:40 pm
Topic: Future of Hotel Discovery — Powered by GenAI
Presentation by Abhishek Logani, Chief Business Officer, Hotels, MakeMyTrip & Ankit Khanna, Chief Product Officer – Hotel, Growth & Emerging Businesses, MakeMyTrip
Presentation by Abhishek Logani, Chief Business Officer, Hotels, MakeMyTrip & Ankit Khanna, Chief Product Officer – Hotel, Growth & Emerging Businesses, MakeMyTrip
3:40 pm – 4:20 pm
Topic: Tech Trends and Transformation: The Next Gen Vision for Indian Hospitality
1. Amruda Nair, Founder, Araiya Hotels and Resorts
2. Arjun Baljee, President, Royal Orchid Hotels, Founder, ICONIQA Hotels & Resorts
3. Shruti Shibulal, Executive Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Tamara Leisure Experiences
4. Suhail Kannampilly, Managing Director, Concept Hospitality
5. Varun Saraf, Chief Executive Officer, Juniper Hotels
Moderator: Anant Apurv Kumar, Co-Founder, Brij Hotels
1. Amruda Nair, Founder, Araiya Hotels and Resorts
2. Arjun Baljee, President, Royal Orchid Hotels, Founder, ICONIQA Hotels & Resorts
3. Shruti Shibulal, Executive Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Tamara Leisure Experiences
4. Suhail Kannampilly, Managing Director, Concept Hospitality
5. Varun Saraf, Chief Executive Officer, Juniper Hotels
Moderator: Anant Apurv Kumar, Co-Founder, Brij Hotels
4:20 pm – 4:45 pm
Topic: Influencer Marketing And Story Telling For The New Age Traveller
1. Mallika Bhagat, Senior Features Editor, Times Now
2. Malini Agarwal, Co-Founder, MissMalini Entertainment / The Idea Factory
3. Ragini Chopra, Group Head, Corporate Affairs, InterGlobe Enterprises
Moderator: Madhulika Joshi Pallod, CEO & Chief Creative Officer, Martist
1. Mallika Bhagat, Senior Features Editor, Times Now
2. Malini Agarwal, Co-Founder, MissMalini Entertainment / The Idea Factory
3. Ragini Chopra, Group Head, Corporate Affairs, InterGlobe Enterprises
Moderator: Madhulika Joshi Pallod, CEO & Chief Creative Officer, Martist
4:45 pm – 5:15 pm
Topic: When Algorithms Decide – Is AI Now The Real Power Broker In Travel And Hospitality
1. Bhanu Chopra, Chairman & Managing Director, RateGain
2. Santosh Kumar, Country Head, Indian sub-continent & Indonesia, Booking.com
3. Sidharth Gupta, Founder, Treebo Hotels
4. Stephen Rushmore, Jr., MAI, FRICS, President & CEO, HVS
Moderator: Ravish Swarup, Founder & CEO – Praxis Services & Onefinerate.com
1. Bhanu Chopra, Chairman & Managing Director, RateGain
2. Santosh Kumar, Country Head, Indian sub-continent & Indonesia, Booking.com
3. Sidharth Gupta, Founder, Treebo Hotels
4. Stephen Rushmore, Jr., MAI, FRICS, President & CEO, HVS
Moderator: Ravish Swarup, Founder & CEO – Praxis Services & Onefinerate.com
5:15 pm – 5:55 pm
Topic: Listed, Liquid and Restless: The Race for Growth
1. Neelendra Singh, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Lemon Tree Hotels Ltd.
2. Raghu Sapra, Head Hospitality, Embassy REIT
3. Rahul Pandit, Managing Director & CEO, Advent Hotels International Limited
4. Shwetank Singh, Managing Director & CEO, Chalet Hotels Limited
Moderator: Sanjay Sethi, Non-Executive Director, Chalet Hotels
1. Neelendra Singh, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Lemon Tree Hotels Ltd.
2. Raghu Sapra, Head Hospitality, Embassy REIT
3. Rahul Pandit, Managing Director & CEO, Advent Hotels International Limited
4. Shwetank Singh, Managing Director & CEO, Chalet Hotels Limited
Moderator: Sanjay Sethi, Non-Executive Director, Chalet Hotels
05:55 pm – 6:25 pm
Topic: Rewriting the Playbook: New Paths into India’s Hotel Market
1. Nicholas Smith, Vice President of Operations – Asia, Minor Hotels
2. Rohit Dar, Vice President and Head of South Asia, The Ascott Limited
3. Santhosh Raman Kutty, Chief Business Officer – Development, Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India
Moderator: Amit Ranjan, AVP – Transaction Advisory (South Asia), HVS ANAROCK
1. Nicholas Smith, Vice President of Operations – Asia, Minor Hotels
2. Rohit Dar, Vice President and Head of South Asia, The Ascott Limited
3. Santhosh Raman Kutty, Chief Business Officer – Development, Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India
Moderator: Amit Ranjan, AVP – Transaction Advisory (South Asia), HVS ANAROCK
06:25 pm – 07:10 pm
Showtime@HOPE. HVS ANAROCK HOPE Exclusive
Kapil Dev, Legendary Indian Cricketer
in conversation with
Prakash Iyer, Best-selling Author, Leadership Coach, and Motivational Speaker
Kapil Dev, Legendary Indian Cricketer
in conversation with
Prakash Iyer, Best-selling Author, Leadership Coach, and Motivational Speaker
7:10 pm – 7:20 pm
Closing Remarks
7:15 pm onward
Drinks & Dinner
Here’s a recap of our incredible HOPE 2025 sessions
LeaderSpeak @ HOPE 2025
Keynote address by Ridham Desai, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley India
Anthony Capuano, President & CEO, Marriott International, in conversation with Mandeep S. Lamba, President & CEO, HVS ANAROCK
Geoff Ballotti, President and CEO, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in conversation with Mandeep S. Lamba, President & CEO, HVS ANAROCK
Deep Kalra, Founder & Chairman, MakeMyTrip, in Conversation with Dilip Puri, Founder & Executive Chairman at Indian School of Hospitality
Have Hotel Performances Finally Come Of Age for The Long Term Or Is This a Bubble Waiting to Burst?
(Panel Discussion)
HOPE 2025 Highlights: LeaderSpeak@HOPE Puneet Chhatwal in conversation with Ridham Desai
HOPE 2025 Highlights: Larry Cuculic in conversation with Mandeep S. Lamba
‘With Domestic Consumption Booming, Is Anyone Even Missing The FTAs?’
(Panel Discussion)
Global Outlook And Future Trends: 2025 And Beyond at HOPE 2025
(Panel Discussion)
To access additional sessions, please visit our official YouTube channel