Global Hospitality Talk 2026 – Mumbai

8.30am

ARRIVAL

Registration with coffee, tea and breakfast

9.30am

WELCOME

Can Faik, Co-Founder, Global Hospitality Talk

EVENT COMPÉRE
Rick Evans, CEO, Red Cloud

9.40am

JLL UPDATE

Gaurav Sharma, Managing Director India & Senior Director Asia Hotels & Hospitality Group, JLL

10am

FROM CAPITAL TO CRAFT: BUILDING HOTELS IN INDIA

Join industry leaders, for an insightful discussion on the multifaceted journey of hotel development in India. This panel will explore the various stages of transforming capital into crafted hospitality experiences.

Shwetank Singh, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Chalet Hotels Limited
⁠Sameer Nayyar, Executive Vice President – Strategic Development, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts
Mark Eacott, Global Head of Design, Ennismore

MODERATOR
Gaurang Khemka, Founder and Design Director, URBNarc

10.45am

– COFFEE/TEA & NETWORKING –

11.15am

INTIMATE BY DESIGN
RESTORING HERITAGE, RECLAIMING HUMAN SCALE

As hospitality continues to scale upward in size, brand reach, and spectacle, a quieter structural shift is taking place. Across India, smaller heritage properties are being reactivated not as museum pieces, but as living, hosted environments.
This panel explores hyper-small hospitality formats of approximately four to twelve keys within restored havelis, ancestral homes, colonial-era bungalows, urban townhouses, and agrarian estates. Rather than compete on magnitude, these properties compete on meaning.

Mandar Zaware, Vice President – Project Management of Global Design Asia Pacific
ex China at Marriott International
Kristina Zanic, CEO, Kristina Zanic Consultants
Justin Wells, Founder, Wells International
Raghavendra Shanbhag, Associate Principal & Studio Director of Architecture, WATG

MODERATOR
Meghna Andley, Founder + Creative Director, MEGA

12 noon

– LUNCH & NETWORKING –

1.15pm

ATLANTIS THE ROYAL: CRAFTING A NEW ERA OF LUXURY

Join us for an in-depth exploration of the journey behind Atlantis The Royal, where luxury meets innovative design. This keynote will unveil the overarching story of the project, highlighting the creative concepts, intricate design processes, and procurement strategies that brought this iconic destination to life.

Carl Longman, Founder & Principal Design Director, CLD

1:45pm

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Puneet Chhatwal
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL)

2.30pm

FUSION OF CULTURES: REDEFINING HOTEL DESIGN IN INDIA

Join us for an insightful discussion on interior design in Indian hotels, where tradition meets innovation. We’ll explore influences from Maharaja palaces and Bollywood, alongside British and American design elements. The panel will also highlight local craftsmanship and the importance of sustainability and community impact. Together, we’ll uncover the creative boundaries and guest expectations in contemporary hotel design, envisioning spaces that celebrate heritage while captivating visitors.

Ambrish Arora, Founding Partner, Studio Lotus
Clint Nagata, Founder, BLINK
Carl Almeida, Managing Partner, P49 Design
Hemanshu Parwani “HP”, CEO/Owner, OLSON KUNDIG

MODERATOR
Peter Joehnk, Partner, Founder JOI-Design & JOI-Design India, Co-Founder ID-Developers & Inner Circle Hospitality

3.15pm

– COFFEE/TEA & NETWORKING –

3.45pm

BRANDING BY DESIGN – CAN INDIA BUILD DISTINCT HOSPITALITY IDENTITIES

As India’s hospitality sector grows, design is increasingly shaping how brands are perceived and differentiated. Yet many properties still rely on surface level storytelling rather than deeply rooted identity. This panel will explore how design can move beyond visual cues to create distinct, scalable hospitality identities that are culturally grounded, operationally sound, and clearly differentiated in the market.

Prem Thakur, Vice President – Technical Services, The Indian Hotels Company Limited
Reema Diwan, Vice President- Design and Technical Services, Accor
Shruti Mehra, Director of Design & Projects, Architecture, Design & Construction (AD&C) – South Asia, Hilton
Abhinav Saxena, Director – Design, SWA-MEA at IHG Hotels & Resorts

MODERATOR
Tulsi Grover, Founder & Creative Strategist, re.vorG

4.30pm

CLOSING REMARKS

Can Faik, Co-Founder, Global Hospitality Talk

– DRINKS & NETWORKING –