WION Iconic Tourism Summit & Awards brings together ministers, diplomats and tourism leaders; honours excellence across sectors

Just a few days ahead of World Tourism Day, observed annually on September 27 to foster awareness of tourism's social, cultural, political and economic value, the WION Iconic Tourism Summit and Awards 2026, presented by VFS Global in association with Red Hat Communications, was held in New Delhi on September 23 at ITC Maurya. The summit brought together some of the biggest names from the tourism industry and the wider tourism ecosystem. Discussions focused on the sector's future, emerging opportunities, evolving trends, and the challenges that could shape its growth in the years ahead. After a day full of insightful sessions and discussions, the Iconic Excellence award ceremony was held, honouring achievers in their respective fields for their accomplishments.

Here are the winners of the Iconic awards:

Kapil Bhatia, the Executive Chairman of Inter Globe Enterprises, was honoured with the Iconic Lifetime Achievement.

Iconic Excellence in Dance & Performing Arts - Dr. Anita R Ratnam

Iconic Excellence in International Aviation - Amr Aly

Iconic Excellence in Sustainable Jewellery Design - Poonam Soni

Iconic Excellence in Community-Led Hospitality - Ajay Wadhawan

Iconic Excellence in Heritage & Cultural Tourism - Rajkumari Ratna Singh of Kalakankar

Iconic Excellence in Special Olympics & Sports Inclusion - Gunocean Singh Bedi

Iconic Excellence in Wellness & Ayurvedic Tourism - Gita Ramesh

Iconic Excellence in Hospitality Education - Dr Suborno Bose

Iconic Excellence in Travel Management - J B Singh

Iconic Excellence in Building an Indian Brand - Rishabh Bhatia, Category Manager - Luxury Spirits/ Alcobrew Distilleries India ltd, Mukkaish Pruthii National Sales Head/AlcoBrew Distilleries India ltd

Iconic CSR Leadership for Empowering the Trucking Community - Shriram Finance Limited / S. Balamurugan, Director Sales & Head, CSR, Shriram Finance Limited

Excellence in Indian Classical Music - Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan Ali Bangash, Ayaan Ali Bangash, Zohaan Ali Bangash, Abeer Ali Bangash

Iconic Excellence in Literature - Ashutosh Agnihotri

Iconic Excellence in Tourism & Enterprise - Arjun Sharma

Iconic Excellence in Medical Science & Cardiology - Padma Bhushan Dr. T. S. Kler

Iconic Excellence in Culinary Arts & Gastronomy - Dr. Chef Manjit Singh Gill

Iconic Excellence in Cultural Diplomacy & International Relations - H.E. Ms. Aliki Koutsomitopoulou

Iconic Excellence in Social Impact & Inclusivity - H.H. Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil

Iconic Excellence in Aviation Entrepreneurship - Kanika Tekriwal

Iconic Excellence in Royal Heritage & Bespoke Design - Raghavendra Rathore

Iconic Excellence in Inclusive Skilling & Empowerment - Dr. Jyotsna Suri

Iconic Excellence in Hospitality - Priya PaulIconic

WION Iconic Tourism Summit brings together ministers, diplomats and global tourism leaders

The WION Iconic Tourism Summit and Awards witnessed the gathering of stakeholders to discuss and debate the future of travel and tourism, including Union and state ministers, ambassadors and high commissioners, tourism and hospitality leaders, aviation and visa experts, technology innovators and industry stalwarts from across India and the world.
The landmark gathering, presented by VFS Global, in association with Red Hat Communications, featured a day of high-level conversations on mobility, tourism, diplomacy, technology, hospitality and the future of travel.
Delivering the keynote, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the traveller of tomorrow will seek immersive experiences rather than simply visit destinations. While AI can personalise journeys, he said, human warmth will remain irreplaceable—with India’s enduring philosophy of Atithi Devo Bhava at the heart of its tourism proposition.
Shekhawat also described travel as a force for peace and understanding, noting that global travel grew by 4% despite geopolitical tensions and inflation, while domestic journeys in India could cross 10 billion by 2047.
Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra outlined plans to position the capital as a global tourism hub, offering the industry viability-gap funding and greater collaboration around major events.
Speaking ahead of the awards, Zee Media CEO Raktim Das unveiled two new WION initiatives—WION World Conferences and WION Luxe—as WION completes a decade as India’s global news channel. “We are building WION not just as a news network, but as a global platform for ideas, dialogue and action,” Das said.
Speaking on the role of tourism, Das said: “In a world where parts are in conflict, understanding each other becomes as important as knowing about each other. Few forces create that understanding as naturally as travel. Tourism builds connections, creates empathy and brings cultures closer.”
Vinay Malhotra, Head, Strategic Global Partnerships, VFS Global spoke about how the company is helping in ease of travel: "For those who prefer that the visa centre comes to you, we coined the term VAD, or Visa at Your Doorstep. 20 governments in India currently subscribe to this facility. The end-to-end service is completed on the spot in about 30 minutes. Many governments today permit you to get a visa starting closer to the date when your travel is going to commence."
Addressing the gathering, Jyoti Mayal, CEO of Red Hat Communications and Chairperson of THSC, said: “What began as a simple idea to create meaningful dialogue has evolved into one of the industry's most respected forums for thought leadership, collaboration, and action. We meet at a defining moment for our industry. Artificial Intelligence will transform our industry, but hospitality will always remain a people-centric industry.”

A global conversation on the future of travel

The summit brought together an exceptional cross-section of global voices across five thematic conversations.
“Borders Without Barriers: The Diplomacy of Visas and Mobility” examined the changing architecture of international travel, with participation from envoys of Seychelles, Argentina and South Africa, alongside VFS Global.
“Next Gen Skills for Tourism” explored the talent and capabilities required for the industry’s next phase, bringing together leaders from the BIMSTEC Business Council Secretariat, MSME Business Forum and Radisson Hotel Group.
The conversation on “Soft Power on the Move: Tourism, Culture and Bilateral Ties” brought together ambassadors from Ireland, Slovakia, Nicaragua, Greece and Sri Lanka to examine tourism as an instrument of cultural diplomacy and stronger bilateral ties.
“The Business of Travel: Aviation, Hospitality and India’s Tourism Infra Story” brought together senior leaders from Sterling Holiday Resorts, IHCL, Air India, Air India Express, Visit Qatar and Cinnamon Life, alongside former diplomats and policymakers.
The final conversation, “Tech Frontiers Reshaping Journeys,” examined how technology is redefining travel, featuring leaders from Kairali Ayurvedic Group, VFS Global, GMR Cargo and ITQ Technologies.
The event also featured Dr Vishal Chaturvedi, director of Hanuman Ansh, who spoke about the film’s unexpected success and its impact on tourism to destinations associated with Neem Karoli Baba.
The WION Iconic Tourism Summit & Awards 2026 brought the industry together around a shared idea: that the future of tourism will be shaped not merely by destinations and technology, but by human connection, cultural exchange and the experiences that bring the world closer together.