Around 60 practising tourism professionals came together in Indore, for I-CONNECT 2026, the first-ever congregation of alumni of the MBA (Tourism) programme of Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV), Indore.
The initiative brought together alumni from different graduating years and professional backgrounds to reconnect, exchange industry insights and explore business opportunities. The DAVV MBA (Tourism) alumni network has around 300 professionals working across India and overseas, spanning aviation, travel technology, DMCs, B2C travel companies, tourism boards, hotels and other areas of the travel and tourism industry.
The one-day programme featured alumni networking, a keynote session, business discussions, supplier presentations and an open-house interaction.
A key business session, “What Will Make a Travel Professional Worth Paying For?”, was led by Swaytank Maheshwari, Founder – Rainbow Vacations, exploring the evolving role and value of travel professionals in an increasingly digital travel environment.
Another session, “AI: The New Travel Architect,” led by Aman Kaushik, Founder – Fulcrum Push, examined the impact of artificial intelligence on the travel profession and its future implications for the industry.
The event was supported by GRN Connect and ASEGO, who engaged with the alumni through dedicated supplier sessions.
I-CONNECT was conceived to move beyond a traditional alumni reunion and create a long-term professional network for tourism practitioners, facilitating business connections, knowledge sharing, mentoring and collaboration.
The enthusiastic response to the first edition has led to plans for the next I-CONNECT to be a two-night, larger-format gathering, with expanded participation and a wider programme.
The initiative carries the theme: “Celebrating Memories. Building Tomorrow’s Tourism Network.”
I-CONNECT 2026 marks the beginning of an ongoing platform connecting the DAVV tourism alumni community with the wider travel industry.
