The HSMAI India Commercial Strategy Conference (CSC) 2024, held on July 26th at The Leela Ambience Gurugram Hotel & Residences, was an extraordinary convergence of industry leaders, innovative thinkers, and passionate professionals from the hospitality sector. The event, which featured a day-long power-packed agenda, delivered a series of insightful sessions, engaging panel discussions, and valuable networking opportunities.
The conference kicked off with lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the HSMAI India Board followed by a warm welcome from Ms. Jackie Douglas, President of HSMAI Asia Pacific. This set the tone for a day dedicated to knowledge sharing and industry advancement.
Key Insights from CSC 2024:
- Shaurab Kapadia, Google: Indian travellers are exploring more and staying longer, prompting hotels to focus on loyalty programs to sustain growth.
- Siddhartha Butalia, Air India Express: Experiences are the strongest proposition in travel; to remain relevant in the future, we must prioritize creating memorable experiences.
- Rajat Wahi, Sr. Advisor: The hospitality industry is witnessing emerging trends such as green hospitality, data-driven decision-making, and the growing adoption of UPI payments in India.
- Nikhil Sharma, Radisson Hotel Group: The growth of smaller cities and the rising aspirations of small-town citizens are key factors driving current travel trends in India.
- Sarel Nair, Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL): Ancillary revenues, including the monetization of hotel spaces and signature celebrations, are becoming increasingly significant in the hospitality sector.
- CS Ramachandran, Preferred Hotels & Resorts: AI enhances customer experiences by analysing real-time data to personalize content and interactions, fostering deeper connections with brands and increasing guest satisfaction. Starting with small Proof of Concepts (POCs) and using the ICE (Impact, Confidence, Ease) scoring method for comparison ensures a strategic and effective approach to AI implementation.
- Puneet Mahindroo, Rev-Mantra: Technology is rapidly transforming the industry, with AI playing a pivotal role in optimizing restaurant revenue.
- Panel Discussion – The Power of Storytelling in Hospitality: Sentiment analysis and storytelling have become essential tools for enhancing customer engagement and building stronger connections.
The conference concluded with a panel discussion on “Building Strong and Sustainable Relationships Between Hotels and Technology Providers,” moderated by Geetika Jain from RHG. This session emphasized the critical role of technology in optimizing hotel operations and enhancing guest experiences.
The event was made possible with the support of our esteemed sponsors Cendyn, Cvent & Lighthouse and our media partner Hotel Talk. A special thanks to the HSMAI India Board, speakers, panelists, and attendees for making CSC 2024 a remarkable success.
We look forward to welcoming you to CSC 2025, where we will continue to explore the future of the hospitality industry and drive meaningful conversations that lead to actionable insights and industry growth.
please contact Varun Sharma, General Manager of HSMAI India, at varun.sharma@hsmai.org or by phone at +91 9818134269.
About HSMAI
HSMAI is a 97-year-old, non-profit association and is the industry’s leading advocate for intelligent, sustainable hotel revenue growth. HSMAI is an individual membership organisation comprising more than 7,000 members globally with a presence in the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, Brazil and the Middle East.
HSMAI Asia Pacific’s mission is to be the leading source of information, tools, insights, business development, and Education for professionals in the hospitality industry. With a strong focus on education, HSMAI has become the industry champion in identifying and communicating trends in the hospitality industry while operating as a leading voice for hotel sales, marketing and revenue management disciplines. Activities in the region are held in Singapore, Hong Kong and mainland China, Indonesia, India, Thailand, Japan and Australia.
For additional information, refer to our website at www.hsmaiasia.org or our HSMAI Academy portal at https://hsmaiacademy.org. Follow us on Twitter @hsmaiasia or Facebook or join our LinkedIn page at HSMAI India.
