Kathmandu, February 2

Hospitality Industry-Architecture-Interior Design-Management (Hi AiM) kicked off a two-day 11th Hi AiM Conference and Exposition 2023 under the theme 'Evolving Trends in Hospitality for New Frontiers' here today.

The event is aimed at providing an opportunity for hoteliers, hotel brands, and crucial stakeholders of the hospitality industry to confer and exchange ideas on key issues and emerging trends in the hospitality industry.

The first day of the event saw various presentations and panel discussions from renowned companies and stakeholders with the participation of hotel owners, developers, architects, interior designers, representatives of hotel brands, among others.

The topics for the discussions included 'Future of Hospitality in South East Asia - Brand's Perspective', which was moderated by Ramesh Koul, CEO of Naaz Hotel Consultations Pvt Ltd with panellist Ajay Bakaya, managing director of Sarovar Hotels, Amit Nagpal, regional VP pf Hyatt Hotels, Aniruddh Kumar, vice-president of Accor Hotels, Kiran Andicot, regional vice-president of Marriott International and Nikhil Sharma, regional director Eurasia of Wyndham Hotels and Resorts.

Another discussion on 'New Essential Elements for Emerging Hospitality Market' was moderated by Anil Sharma, principal architect for A Sharma Associates with panellist Reema Diwan, director for design and technical services for India and South Asia of Accor Hotels, Ganesh Madasamy, principal of Aston Design Singapore, Mandar Zaware, vice-president of design and project management for Marriott International, Sahil Khan, senior director of design and technical service for Radisson Hotel Group and Senthil Kumar G, senior regional director of architecture, design, and construction for Hilton.

Likewise, the session on 'Growing Hospitality Industry in Nepal (Leader's Perspective)' was moderated by Upaul Majumdar, head of practice, tourism for Dolma Consulting along with panellists Akshay Golyan, managing director of Golyan Group, Arun Chaudhary, chairman and managing director of CG Holdings, Dorje Lama, managing director of Dusit-Princess Kathmandu, Pushpendra Bansal, chief operating officer of Lords Hotels and Resorts, and Shahil Agrawal, managing director of Shanker Group.

Also, the 'Hotels for Millenials' session was moderated by Ishaan Koul, director of Naaz Hotel Consultants Pvt Ltd with panellists Desh Bandhu Basnet, chairman of AB Holdings, Gaurav Agarwal, managing director of Everest Hospitality and Hotel Ltd, Juhi Roy, director of development for Marriott International, Vinayak Saboo, partner of Paradise Group and Vishal Mehra, cluster general manager of Kathmandu Marriott Hotels and FFM Kathmandu.

A version of this article appears in the print on February 3, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.