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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%u2019s 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 %u201cOwners%u2019 Only Meet%u201d 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:%u2022%u0009 Abdulla Al Abdoulli ,Chief Executive Officer Marjan %u2022%u0009 Aditya Ghosh , Co-Founder Akasa Air%u2022%u0009 Anil Chadha, Divisional Chief Executive ITC Limited Hotels Division %u2022%u0009 Anuraag Bhatnagar, Chief Executive Officer The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts %u2022%u0009 Atul Chordia, Chairman Panchshil Realty %u2022%u0009 Barbara Muckermann, Chief Executive Officer Kempinski Hotels %u2022%u0009 David Udell, Group President %u2013 Asia Pacific %u2013 Hyatt %u2022%u0009 Dimitris Manikis, President %u2013 Europe, Middle East, Eurasia, & Africa, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts %u2022%u0009 Dr Jyotsna Suri, Chairperson & MD, The Lalit Suri Hospitality G %u2022%u0009 Elie Younes, Executive Vice President & Global Chief Development Officer Radisson Hotel Group %u2022%u0009 Pooja Ray, Managing Director, Mayfair Hotels & Resorts %u2022%u0009 Gautam Birudavolu, Chief Executive Officer GreenPark Hotels & Resorts %u2022%u0009 Haitham Mattar, Managing Director %u2013 Middle East, Africa & South West Asia IHG Hotels & Resorts %u2022%u0009 Kevin Goh, Chief Executive Officer The Ascott Limited %u2022%u0009 Rajeev Menon, President %u2013 Asia Pacific (excluding China) Marriott International %u2022%u0009 Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder & CEO MakeMyTrip %u2022%u0009 Dr.Sanjay Sethi, Managing Director & CEO Chalet Hotels %u2022%u0009 Se%u0301bastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO Accor %u2022%u0009 Vikram Oberoi, Chief Executive Officer & MD The Oberoi Group %u2022%u0009 Zubin Saxena, Senior Vice President & Country Head %u2013 India HiltonThis 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 %u201cRoasted and Toasted%u201d 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. nasmita.mukherjee@saffronsynergies.in%u2018HICSA to emerge as the global platform for thought leadership and innovation in hospitality investment over the next decade%u2019This 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 %u201c20 Years: Past, Present & Prophecies%u201d exploring the journey of hospitality over the years while addressing contemporary challenges and opportunities ahead. Boasting a stellar lineup of speakers including S%u00e9bastien Bazin, Vikram Oberoi, Anuraag Bhatnagar, Aditya Ghosh, and Barbara Muckermann, this year%u2019s edition is set to host over 600 participants. As HICSA looks toward the future, its vision is clear%u2014expanding its influence across emerging markets in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, while remaining the definitive platform for thought leadership in hospitality investment. According toManav 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.QQQQQQHOSPITALITY BIZ n JANUARY, 2025WWW.HOSPITALITYBIZINDIA.COM4 INTERVIEW