The 19th Edition of the Hotel Investment Conference - South Asia (HICSA) SAVOURING SOUTH ASIA: INNOVATIONS IN FOOD TECH AND DESIGN 

Presenting HICSA 2024: Hosted by Hotelivate 

Wednesday, 13th March 2024: Hotelivate will host the 19th Edition of its Hotel Investment Conference - South Asia (HICSA) at the JW Marriott Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Resort and Spa from 02nd - 04th April 2024.

While the previous few editions have focused on post pandemic resilience, revival of the industry and thereafter exponential growth opportunities, this edition of HICSA will be centered around the hospitality palate. The theme for HICSA this year is Savouring South Asia: Innovations in Food Tech and Design which aims at unlocking the potential of South Asia's culinary future and creating a sustainable, delightful, and technologically advanced hospitality ecosystem. The conference will serve as a knowledge-sharing hub, fostering dialogues aiming to shape the future of the industry.

“We are excited to bring HICSA 2024 again this year to the “Silicon Valley of India”. This year we are focusing on the aspect of technology in our business and no other city would be more appropriate than this one. India is the heart of South Asia's thriving hospitality industry and this year's conference promises to be a dynamic platform for exploring investment prospects, trends, and best practices, and to network with the industry's brightest minds. We believe HICSA will set the stage for numerous investment ventures in this rapidly evolving region. We are extremely grateful for the support we have received from our delegates, patrons, speakers, and sponsors as we come together in celebration of all things remarkable in food, beverage, and hospitality.”

Manav Thadani, Founder Chairman - Hotelivate

Hotelivate is proud to announce the presence of three global CEOs at their prestigious conference that brings together a diverse range of participants from the hospitality, real estate, and investment industries. This year, as speakers at the 19th Edition of this conference, there will be Sébastian Bazin - Chairman & CEO – Accor, Mark S. Hoplamazian - President & CEO - Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Federico J. González – Executive Vice-President – Radisson Hotel Group.

Accor promises nonstop potential and opportunities with its tagline – “Live Limitless”. In a thought-provoking keynote session at HICSA2024 titled “Live Limitless: Going ALL The Way”, Sébastian Bazin – Group Chairman & CEO – Accor, will talk about his vision in the ever-evolving hospitality scape. “We are proud to be partnering with Hotel Investment Conference South Asia for their 2024 event. HICSA is an incredible platform for the global hospitality industry, bringing us together in India - a country which is alive with endless potential for the travel sector and unique experiences. It is clear that India’s moment is now, actively shaping tomorrow’s journeys and paving the way for the future of hospitality. Our collaboration with HICSA reflects our commitment to India and our vision to become a true trailblazer in this vital market”, said Sébastian. He has a finance background and has held various leadership roles in the hospitality sector. He joined Accor’s Board in 2005, became its Chairman and CEO in August 2013, and chairs the Gustave Roussy Foundation’s Board. Additionally, Sébastien has been on GE’s Board since 2016 and took on the role of CEO for Accor's Luxury & Lifestyle division in January 2023.

In an exclusive interview titled “Heart of Hyatt: Enjoy Life Everyday”, Ashish Jakhanwala Chairman, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, SAMHI Hotels will be in conversation with Mark Hoplamazian, Chief Executive Officer, Hyatt Hotels. When asked, Mark Hoplamazian commented that “It is valuable to have a platform like HICSA that brings together key voices from the industry. For the upcoming 19th edition of HICSA, I am excited to underscore the pivotal role that the India and Southwest Asia region plays in Hyatt’s intentional growth strategy. This region is a catalyst for innovation in everything from guest experience to F&B to events and I am so excited about the development opportunities ahead.” Mark became President and CEO of Hyatt Hotels Corporation in late 2006. Prior to this, he had led The Pritzker Organization, LLC, advising Pritzker family businesses, including Hyatt. He has a background in international mergers and acquisitions at The First Boston Corporation in New York. Mark serves on Hyatt's Board of Directors and holds positions with VF Corporation, the American Hotel & Lodging Association, Brand USA, and the World Travel & Tourism Council. He is also involved in civic and industry leadership roles.

In an exclusive interview, Manav Thadani - Founder Chairman of Hotelivate, will engage with Federico J. González – Executive Vice Chairman - Radisson Hotel Group and CEO - Louvre Hotels Group in a conversation centered around "Happiness and Change". Commenting on this edition of HICSA, Federico said “HICSA is a platform to explore and capitalize upon untapped growth opportunities within the multitude of destinations in India. As one of the largest international hotel groups in the country, Radisson Hotel Group remains committed to deepening its presence in this vibrant market. The engaging discussions at HICSA will provide an opportunity to not only address the challenges confronting the industry but also to collaboratively map out the areas of upliftment within the sector. At Radisson Hotel Group, we are actively driving change through industry-leading initiatives such as the Hotel Sustainability Basics and a commitment to Net Zero. Our diverse portfolio of country-specific brands as well as our growth strategy and recent accolade as ‘Best Hotel Chain – South Asia by Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) International Travel Awards’ at ITB Berlin 2024 stand as a testament to our focus in India as well as our commitment to excellence." Federico has extensive global executive leadership experience in hospitality, leisure, and FMCG. He was CEO of NH Hotel Group and Deputy GM of Disneyland Paris. He also held senior roles at Procter & Gamble. Federico is known for his marketing expertise and has authored three books. He advocates for ambitious profitability, purpose, and diversity in organizations.

On Day 1, the conference will feature some exclusive interviews and keynote addresses in an endeavour to make the event more content rich. The day will close with the ‘HICSA Hotels of the Year Awards’ presented by MakeMyTrip, that recognizes the most remarkable new hotel developments in the South Asian region. The nominations include hotels across six categories: Luxury/Upper Upscale Hotel; Upscale Segment; Upper Mid-Market Segment; Mid-Market Segment; Budget/Economy Segment; Boutique Hotel Segment. The winners will be shortlisted by a designated jury and then finally determined by the HICSA 2024 delegates through a voting process and announced as part of the conference program.

The first full day of the conference will culminate into a ‘Culinary Carnival’ - a celebration of gastronomy, bringing together talented chefs, artisanal food vendors, and passionate hoteliers at the JW Marriott Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Resort and Spa. In line with the theme this year, the focus will be on a gastronomic extravaganza. A diverse and mouth-watering array of dishes from celebrated restaurants, both standalone as well as in hotels, across India

will showcase their cuisines, from street food classics to gourmet delicacies. Marriott International, ITC Hotels, InterContinental Hotel Group, Massive Restaurants, The Leela Hotels, Resorts & Palaces, Hyatt International and Atelier House Hospitality and would be some of brands showcasing their top restaurants.

Day 2 of HICSA will feature curated panel discussions and mini keynote sessions with industry leaders. Post the famous “Hot Seat: Leaders on Fire”, which will bring to light leadership dilemmas, the conference will ultimately conclude with the prestigious MakeMyTrip General Manager of the Year Awards 2024. While the Hotel Operations Summit India (HOSI) took a hiatus in 2023, our commitment to celebrating excellence in the hospitality industry remains steadfast. These awards have been seamlessly integrated into HICSA as a part of the main conference. These awards are a wonderful opportunity to recognize and highlight the hard work and outstanding performance displayed by the General Managers untiringly running the show. The closing dinner will be at Falak, The Leela Bhartiya City as the perfect end to this event. The 19th edition of HICSA promises to be a remarkable convergence of insights, innovation, and inspiration, offering an unforgettable experience that will leave a lasting impact. Join us as we embark on this exciting and intellectually stimulating journey together.

About Hotelivate

Hotelivate is a new-age hospitality consulting firm offering specialized services to clients across the Asia Pacific region. Founded by the erstwhile team of HVS India, Hotelivate, offers a comprehensive consulting environment through a diverse team of consultants that have a combined professional experience of 250 years across varied hospitality verticals. The firm presently has offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Singapore, Bangkok and Dubai. The founding partners of Hotelivate are reputed hospitality business consultants, who have advised, assisted, and nurtured thousands of clients for more than two decades in South Asia.

Through its focused, empathetic, and innovative approach, Hotelivate serves a wide range of industry stakeholders across all phases of hospitality lifecycle consulting, thereby eliminating the need for several different advisors. Specifically, Hotelivate assists clients right from inception to divestment of their hospitality ventures, by offering an entire spectrum of services that are practical and tangible value-adds for clients.

In addition, Hotelivate hosts some of Asia Pacific’s most successful conferences, namely Hotel Investment Conference – South Asia (HICSA), Hotel Operations Summit India (HOSI), and Tourism Hotel Investment & Networking Conference (THINC) Indonesia & Sri Lanka. For more information, please visit - hotelivate.com

About HICSA

To address the growing need for a uniform platform for industry participants to exchange ideas and discuss the future of the hospitality industry, the annual Hotel Investment Conference − South Asia (HICSA) was launched in 2005. Today, the conference is globally recognized as the most impressive and unique platform to explore growth and investment opportunities both within and outside India.

Valued for its networking opportunities and high-level contacts as much as for its content-rich sessions, HICSA, over the last 19 years, has witnessed unprecedented support and appreciation from the hospitality industry. It attracts overwhelming participation from hotel owners, investors, operators, bankers, and industry specialists who come together to share their best practices, new ideas and latest market trends.

For more information, please visit - hicsaconference.com

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