KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 4
Sponsors, speakers, and participants gathered yesterday evening for a gala dinner at Royal Tulip Kathmandu Gwarko, marking the eve of The Himalayan Times BrandFest 2025, Nepal's biggest branding and marketing event.
The event, running December 4-5, has drawn eight distinguished international speakers alongside leading Nepali experts for a two-day exploration of branding in an era increasingly defined by connection, authenticity, and community. Under the theme "Branding in the Age of Belonging," the summit promises to examine how brands can build genuine relationships and foster trust in today's human-centered marketplace.
Among the international speakers in Kathmandu, South African Preetesh Sewraj expressed enthusiasm about the convergence of industry professionals. "What I'm really looking forward to is meeting the industry, meeting the people of Nepal, the people who are passionate about uplifting the standard of brand communication, advertising and marketing across Nepal itself," Sewraj said.
During his brief time in Kathmandu, Sewraj explored both the commercial vibrancy of Thamel and the cultural richness of spaces like Patan Durbar Square. "What is really good about it is that even in such a short time, I have gotten the chance to experience the power of the commercial side of Kathmandu and how that works on so many different levels, from formal to informal, and also being able to see the cultural aspect of it," he noted.
Linzi Boyd, speaking from her base in Bali, described Nepal as a long-standing destination on her bucket list. Having previously spoken at conferences organized by BrandFest founder Ravin Lama nine years ago in Mauritius, Boyd expressed particular excitement about the energy she anticipated at the summit. "I don't often get to speak on a stage with such an open connection, more open people," she said, contrasting the experience with more corporate conferences like her recent appearance at the Economist magazine and the World Congress in Melbourne.
"That's what I'm excited about! Being able to speak on a stage that feels more like home to me."
Singapore-based speaker Sheila Berman shared her impressions of Kathmandu, drawing parallels with her experiences across Asia. "It was both familiar and different," she said, noting the organized chaos of the streets and the warmth of interactions with local volunteers and young people. "What I found very surprising and inspiring is that they are very articulate in how they express their ideas," Berman observed of Nepal's younger generation, calling it refreshing in an age often dominated by social media superficiality.
Speaker Ronita Mukerjee, who visited Pashupatinath Temple, described the experience as exceeding her expectations, calling it "better than anything I had imagined."
At the gala dinner, speakers and attendees had the opportunity to meet with event sponsors, including Asian Paints and others who have invested in supporting Nepal's branding industry. Sewraj highlighted the critical role these sponsors play in making the summit possible. "What they do is they really create a platform to ensure that all of the attendees coming are able to get all of this valuable knowledge, to be able to have a really robust experience," he said.
The summit officially kicks off today at Royal Tulip Kathmandu Gwarko, with a full day of programming designed for branding professionals, marketers, entrepreneurs, communications practitioners, and students. Attendees can expect keynote presentations from eight international speakers sharing global viewpoints and emerging trends, panel discussions with leading Nepali experts offering perspectives tailored to Nepal's market reality, interactive breakout sessions, real-world case studies, and strategic frameworks exploring how brands can create meaningful connections and foster belonging in today's marketplace.
