Technology Trends and Innovations

The India International Hotel, Travel & Tourism Research Conference (IIHTTRC), organised by Banarsidas Chandiwala Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology (BCIHMCT), New Delhi, in January 2013, brought industry managers, tourism and hospitality researchers along with representatives from media together to deliberate on the issues related to the travel and hospitality business.

The event started with the welcome speech by R. K. Bhandari, President IIHTTRC and Principal BCIHMCT. D. K. Beri, Senior Vice President (Business & Corporate Affairs), Indian Hotels Co. Limited, Taj Group of Hotels, the Chief Guest, along with the Guest of Honour, Tushar Pandey, President and Country Head, Strategic Initiatives & Government Advisory, YES BANK Ltd., inaugurated the conference.

Tushar Pandey in his speech emphasised that Tourism holds the largest potential for employment, after Agriculture. D. K. Beri encouraged the students and faculty members to be a part of Industry exposure and be aware of the new trends. Gour Kanjilal, Executive Director, Indian Association of Tour Operator (IATO), in his keynote address suggested MICE segment to be proficiently used to combat the off-seasonality, making India all year-round Tourism Destination. Professor J.S. Perry Hobson, Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Division of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Art at Taylor’s University (Malaysia), the Editorin-Chief of the Journal of Vacation Marketing and member of the Board of Directors of International Centre of Excellence in Tourism & Hospitality Education (THE-ICE) was the first Key Speaker. He felt a need for the industry education partnership to strengthen and elaborated upon the growing debate about dwindling innovation.