New Delhi: Bringing together some of the country’s most influential hospitality professionals, hotel leaders, chefs, educators, technology providers and solution partners, the HOTREMAI Experium Knowledge Summit 2026, organised in collaboration with the Association of Hospitality Professionals (AHP), concluded on a high note with the 9th AHP Hospitality Excellence Awards 2026 at The Suryaa, New Delhi. The day-long industry gathering served as a dynamic platform for thought leadership, collaboration and recognition, highlighting the trends, technologies and leadership shaping the future of India’s hospitality sector.

The event witnessed the participation of over 300 delegates, representing 110+ hotel brands, hospitality organisations, educational institutions, equipment manufacturers and solution providers, along with 40+ speakers, moderators and industry experts, reaffirming its position as one of the industry’s leading platforms for knowledge exchange, networking and professional recognition.

The summit provided a collaborative platform for hospitality leaders, industry experts and solution providers to exchange ideas, share best practices and deliberate on strategies to address the evolving needs of India’s hospitality industry.

The first panel, “FMCG Supplies in Hospitality: Driving Innovation, Quality & Sustainable Growth,” explored the evolving role of FMCG suppliers in hospitality. Experts highlighted strategic procurement, product innovation and stronger partnerships as key drivers of operational efficiency, product quality and enhanced guest experiences. The session featured Prerna Sachdeva (Moderator), Amiya Shankar, P. A. Prabhu, Abhishek Saxena and Chef Bharat Alagh.

The second panel, “Beverage Innovation: The Next Growth Driver for HoReCa,” focused on how premiumisation, sustainability, changing consumer preferences and differentiated beverage experiences are creating new revenue opportunities for hotels and restaurants. The discussion featured Rajat Agarwal (Moderator), Vikram Khurana, Ajay Kakkar, Saumitra Chaturvedi, Nisheeth Srivastava, Nitin Raj and Keshav Mehta.

The third panel, “Modern Hotel Design & Sustainability: Front of House & Back of House,” examined how innovative design, sustainable infrastructure and operational efficiencies are reshaping modern hospitality spaces. Discussions highlighted energy-efficient infrastructure, responsible design, sustainable materials and resource optimisation as essential priorities for building resilient and future-ready hospitality businesses. The session featured Alok Dubey (Moderator), Dr. Madhu Chandok, Barun Gupta, Sidharth Teckchandani, Satender Jangra, Imran Khan, Harkaran Sethi and Rajat Jaitly.

The final panel, “Robotics in Hospitality: The Past • The Present • The Future,” explored the growing role of robotics and Artificial Intelligence in hospitality. Experts discussed how automation and emerging technologies are enhancing operational efficiency, improving guest experiences and enabling smarter decision-making, while emphasising that human connection will continue to remain at the heart of hospitality. The discussion featured Rajesh Chopra (Moderator), Vikramjit Singh, Sangya Gupta and Matthew White.

Collectively, the discussions underscored that the future of India’s hospitality industry will be driven by stronger collaboration between hospitality businesses and solution providers, wider adoption of Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies, sustainable infrastructure, innovation-led procurement and evolving food and beverage experiences. Speakers also emphasised the importance of continuous skill development and knowledge sharing in building a more resilient, competitive and future-ready hospitality ecosystem.

The evening culminated with the 9th AHP Hospitality Excellence Awards 2026, recognising excellence across hotels, restaurants, hospitality education and individual leadership. Presented under four flagship categories—AHP Hotel Awards 2026, AHP Food Awards 2026, AHP Hospitality Achievers Awards 2026 and AHP Education Awards 2026—the ceremony celebrated outstanding organisations and professionals who have demonstrated excellence, innovation and leadership across the hospitality ecosystem.

Among the evening’s highest honours, Param Kannampilly, Founder, Concept Hospitality Pvt. Ltd., received the Lifetime Achievement Award. The prestigious Hall of Fame honours were conferred upon Parmeet Singh Nayar (Hall of Fame), Farhat Jamal (Hall of Fame), Veer Vijay Singh (Hall of Fame), Chef Manjeet Singh Gill (Hall of Fame), Rohit Khosla (Hall of Fame) and Sunil Ghadiok (Hall of Fame). The Outstanding Contribution in Hospitality Industry recognition was presented to Amaan Kidwai, Balwinder Sehrawat, Saumitra Chaturvedi and Nikhil Sharma for their exceptional contributions to the hospitality industry.

The awards also recognised excellence across hotels, restaurants, hospitality professionals and education. Among the leading hotel winners were Roseate House Aerocity (5-Star Deluxe), Crowne Plaza New Delhi Today Okhla (5-Star), ibis New Delhi Aerocity (Budget), Mastiff Select Mandavya (Resort), Holiday Inn Gurgaon NH8 (Green Initiative) and The Grand Vasant Kunj (Wedding Destination). In the food category, top honours were awarded to Sevilla – IHCL Claridges (Fine Dining), DEL – Roseate House (Multi-Cuisine), The Flying Trunk – Novotel New Delhi City Centre (Bar), The Great Kebab Factory – Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi Airport (Casual Dining), Punnu Biryani – Four Decades of Excellence (Indian Cuisine) and French Crust – The Suryaa (Bakery & Confectionery).

The AHP Hospitality Achievers Awards recognised professionals including Namit Vijh (General Manager), Navkshitj Makin (Front Office), Umesh Kumar (Housekeeping), Jatin Puri (Food & Beverage), Chef Vikramjit Singh Ahluwalia (Culinary), Amit Kumar Sharma (Procurement), Simran Singh (Learning & Development) and Nisha Sachin (HR), while the AHP Education Awards honoured IHM Lucknow (Institute of the Year), Chef Prof. Dr. M. Devendra (Mentor of the Year) and Harsh Sirohi, Indian Hotel Academy (Student of the Year).

Speaking on the occasion, Devipshita Gautam, Founder and Chairperson, Association of Hospitality Professionals (AHP), said: “The conversations at this year’s summit reflected an industry that is embracing change with confidence and purpose. From sustainability and AI to procurement and beverage innovation, the discussions reinforced the importance of collaboration in shaping the future of hospitality. The Hospitality Excellence Awards further celebrated the people and organisations that continue to inspire excellence, innovation and leadership across the sector.”

Mohit Sharma, General Secretary, HOTREMAI, added:“The hospitality industry is evolving rapidly, and meaningful collaboration between hospitality professionals, equipment manufacturers, technology providers and solution partners has never been more important. Through the Experium Knowledge Summit and the Hospitality Excellence Awards, we have created a platform that not only encourages dialogue on the industry’s most pressing priorities but also celebrates those who are setting new benchmarks for excellence.”

With meaningful industry dialogue, actionable insights and the recognition of outstanding achievements, the HOTREMAI Experium Knowledge Summit 2026 and the 9th AHP Hospitality Excellence Awards 2026 reaffirmed the hospitality industry’s collective commitment to innovation, sustainability, collaboration and leadership development. By bringing together industry leaders, educators, manufacturers and technology providers on one platform, the event not only celebrated excellence but also outlined key priorities that will help shape the next phase of growth for India’s hospitality sector.