Asmita Mukherjee | Hyderabad 
Asmita Mukherjee| Hyderabad
This year marks a monumental milestone for the Hotel Investment Conference South Asia (HICSA) as it celebrates its 20th anniversary. Over the past two decades, HICSA has firmly established itself as a premier platform for innovation, collaboration, and dialogue in the hospitality industry, bringing together industry stalwarts, visionary leaders, and experts from across the globe to drive thought leadership and investment strategies that shape the future of hospitality in South Asia and beyond. Returning to Mumbai, the city where it all began, HICSA 2025 promises to be both nostalgic and forward-looking, with the theme “20 Years: Past, Present & Prophecies” exploring the journey of hospitality over the years while addressing contemporary challenges and opportunities ahead. Boasting a stellar lineup of speakers including Sébastien Bazin, Vikram Oberoi, Anuraag Bhatnagar, Aditya Ghosh, and Barbara Muckermann, this year’s edition is set to host over 600 participants. As HICSA looks toward the future, its vision is clear—expanding its influence across emerging markets in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, while remaining the definitive platform for thought leadership in hospitality investment. According to Manav Thadani, Co-founder, Hotelivate, the 20th edition of HICSA is not just a celebration of past achievements but a stepping stone to an even more dynamic decade ahead.
What is the USP of HICSA 2025?
We celebrate 20 years of Hotel Investment Conference, South Asia (HICSA) this year! This is a momentous occasion, marking two decades of innovation, collaboration, and excellence in the hospitality industry. Over the years, we have brought together thought leaders, industry experts, and passionate professionals from around the globe, creating a dynamic platform for sharing knowledge and best practices. It was only fitting that we went back to Mumbai for this!
Is there a specific theme or focus for this year’s edition? Could you please elaborate?
This year the overarching theme is 20 Years: Past, Present & Prophecies. We are dedicated to exploring new frontiers in hospitality, addressing the challenges of today, and embracing the opportunities of tomorrow and hope to continue to shape the future of hospitality, ensuring that our industry remains vibrant, innovative, and welcoming for many more years to come. HICSA started in Mumbai and for its 20th birthday, it was only fitting that we go back to Mumbai. We are also doing the “Owners’ Only Meet” at the Grand Hyatt Mumbai, so yes, in a way, going back to Mumbai is nostalgic!
What kind of attendance are you expecting this year, especially after the remarkable turnout of over 700 participants in Bengaluru 2024?
We are looking at more than 600 participants this year but lets see!
Who are some of the prominent speakers or panellists lined up for HICSA 2025?
Some Notable speakers are:
- Abdulla Al Abdoulli ,Chief Executive Officer Marjan
- Aditya Ghosh , Co-Founder Akasa Air
- Anil Chadha, Divisional Chief Executive ITC Limited Hotels Division
- Anuraag Bhatnagar, Chief Executive Officer The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts
- Atul Chordia, Chairman Panchshil Realty
- Barbara Muckermann, Chief Executive Officer Kempinski Hotels
- David Udell, Group President – Asia Pacific – Hyatt
- Dimitris Manikis, President – Europe, Middle East, Eurasia, & Africa, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
- Dr Jyotsna Suri, Chairperson & MD, The Lalit Suri Hospitality G
- Elie Younes, Executive Vice President & Global Chief Development Officer Radisson Hotel Group
- Pooja Ray, Managing Director, Mayfair Hotels & Resorts
- Gautam Birudavolu, Chief Executive Officer GreenPark Hotels & Resorts
- Haitham Mattar, Managing Director – Middle East, Africa & South West Asia IHG Hotels & Resorts
- Kevin Goh, Chief Executive Officer The Ascott Limited
- Rajeev Menon, President – Asia Pacific (excluding China) Marriott International
- Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder & CEO MakeMyTrip
- Dr.Sanjay Sethi, Managing Director & CEO Chalet Hotels
- Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO Accor
- Vikram Oberoi, Chief Executive Officer & MD The Oberoi Group
- Zubin Saxena, Senior Vice President & Country Head – India Hilton
This being the 20th edition, are there any special celebrations or initiatives planned to mark this milestone?
We actually started with a #20for20 campaign when we opened registrations. For this, we gave the first 20 tickets at INR 20,000 each! This was an expensive initiative for us but saw a great response! We were sold out in 7 minutes! Apart from this, we also have a “Roasted and Toasted” session with Cyrus and Kunal and we are really looking forward to that!
As HICSA celebrates 20 years, what is your vision for the conference in the next decade?
Over the next decade, my vision for HICSA is to solidify its position as the preeminent platform for thought leadership, innovation, and collaboration in the global hospitality investment landscape. While we look at retaining its South Asian essence, attracting delegates, investors, and stakeholders from emerging markets across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa would be on my list for sure. Ideally I would like to forge strategic partnerships with international hospitality organizations to enhance cross-border collaboration and knowledge sharing.
