A Global Conclave Connecting Hospitality Leaders Worldwide
The International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) celebrated International Hospitality Day (IHD) on 24th April with warmth, pride, and global participation across all its campuses. The celebrations included cake-cutting ceremonies, heartfelt messages from industry leaders, and a special online global conclave titled “Hospitality at the Crossroads.”
International Hospitality Day was first conceptualised 11 years ago by IIHM and the International Hospitality Council (IHC), London, to honour the people, values, and spirit that define the hospitality industry. Over the years, it has grown into a truly global celebration. One of its proudest moments came in 2017, when Ratan Tata was presented with the Hall of Fame Award by IIHM and IHC, marking a landmark occasion for the industry.
Addressing the global audience, Dr Suborno Bose, Chairman of IIHM, reflected on his recent visit to London for the IIHM International Alumni Meet. He shared how moving it was to reconnect with former students who now lead hospitality businesses around the world.
Dr Bose said the success of IIHM alumni is proof of the institution’s strong foundation and forward-thinking education model. He also spoke about how IIHM is embracing the future through Artificial Intelligence with the launch of NamAIste GPT, IIHM’s own AI platform created especially for the hospitality sector.
“Our alumni are the pillars of IIHM’s success. They deserve every applause. At IIHM, we do hospitality, we teach hospitality, and we celebrate hospitality. We encourage our students to be fearless, dream big, and go conquer the world,” said Dr Bose.
Prof. David Foskett OBE, MBE, Chairman of IHC, described India as the true home of hospitality. “There is no better country to celebrate hospitality than India. Hospitality is both an economic gauge and a social gauge that contributes immensely to people and society,” he said. He also praised IIHM graduates working in top hospitality roles in London and across the world.
The highlight of the day was the global panel discussion on “Hospitality at the Crossroads,” moderated by Prof. Foskett. Esteemed speakers, including Vineet Verma, Diwan Gautam Anand, Chef Steve Munkley MBE, and Sanjay Shetty, shared their insights on the future of the industry.
The panel explored emerging trends such as domestic travel growth, cruise tourism, sustainability, localisation of global brands, Gen Z expectations, work-life balance, and the positive role of AI. Speakers unanimously agreed that hospitality remains one of the world’s most resilient and people-driven industries, filled with opportunities for young talent.
The celebrations also featured wishes from well-known industry names, including Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, Gary Maclean, Kush Kapoor, Sharad Datta, Anupam Dasgupta, Gaurav Soneja, Sabrina Dey, and many more. At IIHM Global Campus, Kolkata, Mr Nishant Saxena joined as the Guest of Honour for the cake-cutting ceremony.
With campuses united globally, IIHM once again reaffirmed that hospitality is not just an industry—it is a celebration of humanity, care, and connection.
Bangalore Chapter
The International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM), in association with the International Hospitality Council (IHC), marked International Hospitality Day 2026 in Bengaluru with a prestigious awards ceremony celebrating outstanding achievements in the hospitality sector.
The event was graced by Dr. Shalini Rajneesh IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka, whose inspiring keynote address added immense significance to the occasion. Speaking about leadership, governance, economic growth and the evolving future of service industries, she captivated an audience comprising hospitality leaders, academicians and aspiring professionals.
A key highlight of the evening was the IHD Awards Ceremony, which honoured distinguished individuals and organisations for their exceptional contributions towards strengthening and advancing the hospitality industry.
IHC IIHM Outstanding Contribution to Hospitality Industry
- Sita Lekshmi-General Manager, Renaissance Bengaluru Race Course Hotel
- Hari Marar-Managing Director & CEO, Bangalore International Airport Ltd.
- Wajeed Bagwan-General Manager, Marriott Executive Apartments Bengaluru UB City
- Elton Hurtis-General Manager, Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel & Convention Center
- Joyjit Chakravorty-FIIHM
- Bela Babhoota-General Manager, WelcomHotel by ITC, Bengaluru
- Sahil Ranaut-General Manager, Hyatt Centric, Bengaluru
- Shiv Bose-General Manager, Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse Road
IHC IIHM Hospitality Entrepreneur of the Year Award
- Vinay Chandrashekar-Founder, Long Boat Brewing Co., Bengaluru
IHC IIHM Women Achiever Award
- Tarushree Singh-Director of Sales, The Oterra, Bengaluru
- Jenny Clinta-Founder, Minibé
Revenue Strategist of the Year Award
- Vishvesh Madhavan-Area Director of Revenue-South India, Hilton Hotels
IHC IIHM Hospitality for a Cause Award
- Radisson Blu, Outer Ring Road, Bengaluru-Biogas Sustainability Leadership
IHC IIHM Hospitality Influencer Award
- Waseem Khan Food & Hospitality Content Creator, Bengaluru
Culinary Trailblazer of the Year Award
- Chef Abhijit Saha-Chefpreneur, Author & Celebrity Chef Consultant
Heritage Preservation Award – The Leela Palace Bengaluru
Brand Architect Award – Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel & Convention Center
In a virtual address, Dr Suborno Bose, Chairman of IIHM, said, “Hospitality today stands at a crossroads, where tradition meets transformation. What we are witnessing is a shift from service to purpose-driven engagement. The overwhelming participation of over 70 hospitality brands and recognition of 200 awardees reflects the strength and unity of our industry. Our partnerships with government bodies, global institutions and industry leaders demonstrate that collaboration is the key to building a resilient and future-ready hospitality ecosystem aligned with global goals.”
Ms. Sanchari Chowdhury, Director, IIHM Bangalore and Head – South Operations, IIHM, said, “This year, our celebration has been guided by something larger than ourselves, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hospitality today is not just about creating memorable experiences, but about creating meaningful impact. Over the past month, our students have stepped beyond classrooms into communities whether through walkathons promoting well-being, plantation drives supporting climate action or food initiatives addressing hunger and inequality. These experiences are shaping a new generation of hospitality professionals who understand that sustainability is not a concept, but a responsibility.”
The event also saw the presence of the Hon’ble Shabinaa Sultana, Honorary Consul, Republic of Tunisia, further highlighting the global and policy-level importance of the hospitality sector. The celebration was hosted at the Marriott Executive Apartments, UB City, Bengaluru.
