The 9th edition of India International Hospitality Expo (IHE 2026) concluded on a high note at India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida, recording 40,000+ trade visitors across four days and bringing together 1,000+ exhibiting brands across 10,000+ sq. m. of exhibition space. The exhibition witnessed sustained footfall from a highly targeted audience comprising hotel owners and operators, procurement heads, chefs, restaurateurs, architects, interior designers, consultants, technology providers, foodservice professionals and hospitality decision-makers from across India and overseas. Organised by India Exposition Mart Ltd. (IEML), IHE 2026 emerged as a vibrant annual convergence of the hospitality, HORECA and foodservice ecosystem.
Speaking on the successful conclusion of IHE 2026, Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Chairman, India Exposition Mart Ltd. (IEML), expressed his gratitude to the hospitality fraternity for its overwhelming participation and continued trust in the platform, “IHE 2026 has been a celebration of the hospitality industry’s energy, enterprise and collective vision for the future. We are deeply grateful to the entire hospitality fraternity—our exhibitors, buyers, partners, industry associations, chefs, designers, procurement professionals and visitors—for placing their trust in IHE and making this edition such a success. The strong participation, meaningful business conversations and vibrant exchange of ideas reaffirm that IHE has become a platform the industry truly owns and believes in.”
The scale and energy witnessed at IHE 2026 come at a time when India’s tourism and hospitality ecosystem is expanding rapidly. According to the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, domestic tourist visits reached 2.51 billion in 2023, while foreign tourist arrivals touched 9.95 million in 2024. Tourism’s total contribution to India’s GDP stood at an estimated 5.22% in 2023-24, while the sector supported approximately 84.63 mn direct and indirect jobs. The Government’s latest policy focus also recognises tourism and hospitality as strategic drivers of economic growth, employment and regional development. The Ministry of Tourism and NITI Aayog’s 2026 report, “Unlocking Growth in Tourism and Hospitality Sector,” calls for simplified regulations, greater investment, improved ease of doing business and sustainable growth across the sector.
At the same time, the accommodation landscape itself is evolving. Alongside conventional hotels and resorts, homestays and alternative accommodation formats are becoming an increasingly important part of India’s tourism ecosystem. The Ministry of Tourism has expanded its support and classification framework for homestays, while the Government’s Development of Homestays in Tribal Areas initiative envisages the creation of 1,000 homestays. This changing landscape—including the growth of platform-enabled stays such as Airbnb, boutique properties, homestays, serviced accommodation and experience-led destinations—is creating new and more diverse sourcing requirements, from room amenities and housekeeping to foodservice, kitchen equipment, interiors, technology, wellness, design and guest-experience solutions, and this is precisely where IHE 2026 filled a crucial gap. Nirmal Khandelwal, Chairman, FCML Distributors Ltd., highlighted the importance of integrated hospitality solutions saying, “Hospitality spaces today are defined by experiences as much as aesthetics. IHE has emerged as an influential platform where hospitality professionals discover not only products, but complete solutions that combine functionality, design excellence and business value.”
IHE 2026 brought these diverse requirements together under one roof. Across its exhibition halls, buyers and decision-makers discovered solutions spanning hospitality infrastructure, hotel supplies, commercial kitchens, foodservice equipment, bakery and confectionery, smart hospitality technologies, interiors, wellness, housekeeping, security, lighting, furnishings and hospitality design. The PPFI B2B Meets facilitated direct business conversations between procurement professionals and solution providers, further strengthening IHE’s sourcing proposition. Amarjit Singh Ahuja, President, Purchasing Professional Forum India (PPFI), summed up this transformation, saying, “Procurement today is about creating long-term value through innovation, sustainability and trusted partnerships. IHE has become an indispensable platform where procurement professionals can engage directly with solution providers, discover emerging technologies and build relationships that strengthen the hospitality supply chain.”
The IHE 2026 was graced by the ace presence of H.E. Napintorn Srisunpang, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, Thailand; Bui Trung Thuong, Trade Counsellor, Vietnam Embassy; Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Chairman, India Exposition Mart Ltd. (IEML); Dr. Neeraj Khanna, Chairman, Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH); Amarjit Singh Ahuja, President, Purchasing Professional Forum India (PPFI); Shalini Kumar, Editor, Spiritz; Anil Malhotra, President, HOTREMAI; Barun Gupta, COO, Indeva Hotels & Resorts; Neeraj Dhawan, Founder & Chairman, IWIA; Hemant Sood, Chairman, IIID; and Sudeep Sarcar, ED & CEO, IEML, along with distinguished members of the hospitality fraternity.
One of the most distinctive attractions throughout IHE 2026 was the One District One Cuisine (ODOC) Pavilion, supported by the Government of Uttar Pradesh. The pavilion brought the culinary diversity of Uttar Pradesh into the commercial hospitality and HORECA ecosystem, offering visitors an authentic taste of regional specialities including Kannauj ke Gatte, Kushinagar ka Lal Khorma, Firozabad ki Dal Moth and Agra ka Petha, alongside several other traditional delicacies.
The Housekeepers Conclave 5.0, organised by the Professional Housekeepers’ Association (PHA) in association with YUVA, brought operational excellence, sustainability, hygiene and professional recognition into focus. The programme included panel discussions, interactive team building and awards felicitation. Anil Malhotra, President, HOTREMAI, said, “Behind every memorable guest experience lies operational excellence, and housekeeping remains one of its strongest pillars. Platforms like IHE encourage professionals to learn from one another, adopt global best practices and embrace innovations that improve efficiency, sustainability and service quality.”
The IIID Trade Connect 2026 created direct interfaces between designers, brands and hospitality professionals, while the Hospitality Design Symposium 2026, themed “Bridging the Gap,” explored the evolving relationship between design, technology, functionality and hospitality operations. Hemant Sood, Chairman, IIID, said,“Hospitality design is no longer limited to creating visually appealing spaces; it is about designing experiences that respond to changing guest expectations, operational realities and the evolving business need of the industry.”
Culinary Masterclasses by Chef Gautam Chaudhry, Chef Vaibhav Kaushik, Chef Bharat Alagh and Chef Nand Lal and Chef Yagya Dutt Sharma attracted chefs, culinary professionals and hospitality enthusiasts, with the session focusing on contemporary culinary approaches and professional kitchen efficiency. Another major debut was Madhu Mandapam, a dedicated platform celebrating India’s rapidly evolving alcobev ecosystem. Featuring the Spiritz Bar Craft Challenge (Rookies) it brought together alcobev brands, craft producers, mixologists and hospitality decision-makers of the hospitality industry.
The event saw 5th Edition of Pastry Queen India 2026 and AgroPure Culinary League 2026 – Battle of Besan challenge, celebrating precision, creativity and excellence in pastry and culinary artistry. Tisha Nair Wins Pastry Queen India Competition, to Represent India in Italy. Master Bakers Challenge India 2026 became one of the major attractions, with professionals demonstrating their skills through Fougasse, Baguette, Bruschetta, Quiche, Pizza and the creative Freestyle Sweet Cranberries Pizza challenge.
