The 17th edition of WOW Awards Asia concluded on a successful note with Maharashtra Tourism as the Presenting Partner. The Department of Tourism took part in the event by setting up a pavilion. The main purpose of the pavilion was to promote the state’s tourist destinations worldwide. Through the pavilion, Maharashtra’s tourist destinations were promoted and showcased using modern technology. The partnership reinforces the state’s vision to position Maharashtra as a premier destination for tourism, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), destination weddings, and large-scale experiential events.
The event, held recently at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, was inaugurated by Shri Sanjay Khandare (IAS), Additional Chief Secretary (Tourism), Government of Maharashtra, and Shri Mangesh Joshi (IAS), Director, Directorate of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra. Also in attendance were Shri Santosh Rokade, Deputy Secretary, Department of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra; Shri Vijay Powar, Deputy Secretary, Department of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra; Shri Santosh Jadhav, Joint Director, Directorate of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra; Mrs Pradnya Manohar, Deputy Director, Konkan Division, Directorate of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra, along with other senior officials. Ms Naveli Deshmukh, Maharashtra’s Ambassador of Youth Tourism, was also present at the event and felicitated several winners during the awards ceremony.
A key highlight of the second day was the special keynote session, “Tourism & Events: Driving India’s Future,” delivered by the Honourable Minister of Culture and Tourism, Government of India, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. The session highlighted the growing role of tourism and MICE events in strengthening India’s position as a global destination for leisure and business travel. Earlier, a session on Simhastha Kumbh Mela was delivered by the Honourable Mayor of Nashik Municipal Corporation, Mrs Himgauri Aher-Adke, who shared insights into the planning, significance, and opportunities associated with one of India’s largest religious and cultural gatherings.
Bringing together more than 6,000 delegates from over 25 countries across various sectors, the event once again served as a meeting point for tourism boards, hospitality brands, event professionals, marketers, entertainers, destination experts and wedding specialists. It facilitated interactions among industry experts, policymakers and key decision-makers across tourism, hospitality, event management, entertainment, marketing and technology, creating valuable opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange.
As the Presenting Partner, Maharashtra Tourism showcased an exclusive pavilion that drew strong visitor interest throughout the event. Designed as an immersive destination experience, the pavilion featured the Maharashtra Convention Bureau, MICE offerings, destination wedding venues, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the state’s diverse coastal, wildlife, and adventure tourism experiences. The showcase highlighted Maharashtra’s rich tourism portfolio, seamless connectivity, world-class infrastructure, and visitor-ready facilities, reinforcing its position as a leading destination for both leisure travel and business events. Over the course of the two-day event, Maharashtra Tourism engaged with key national and international stakeholders, generating significant interest in the state as a preferred destination for conventions, incentive travel, destination weddings, and large-scale events.
Shri Shambhuraj Desai, Honourable Minister of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra, said, “Maharashtra is committed to becoming one of India’s leading destinations for tourism, business events and destination weddings. Our association with WOW Awards Asia has provided an excellent platform to showcase the state’s strengths to a global audience while creating new opportunities for collaboration, investment and tourism growth.”
Shri Sanjay Khandare (IAS), Additional Chief Secretary (Tourism), Government of Maharashtra, said, “The 17th edition of WOW Awards Asia has brought together the right stakeholders from across the world under one roof, once again highlighting Maharashtra’s capabilities in tourism, MICE and experiential events. We remain committed to positioning Maharashtra as a globally competitive MICE destination, while continuing to create new opportunities for business tourism and long-term economic growth.”
Shri Mangesh Joshi (IAS), Director, Directorate of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra, said, “The event has once again demonstrated Maharashtra’s ability to successfully host world-class events, backed by modern infrastructure, diverse tourism experiences and exceptional hospitality. WOW Awards Asia has further elevated Maharashtra’s presence on the global tourism map while showcasing its rich heritage, pristine beaches, wildlife and adventure tourism offerings to an international audience.”
The 17th edition of WOW Awards Asia honoured excellence across 106 award categories. Beyond the awards, the two-day business convention featured keynote addresses, panel discussions, specialised masterclasses and networking forums. The WOW Expo hosted tourism boards, destination representatives, leading hospitality brands, event technology companies and event management organisations, creating valuable opportunities for business collaborations and partnerships.
On the opening day, the Experiential CMO Awards were also presented. The event additionally recognised distinguished professionals through its annual honours, including 35 Under 35, Women of the Year, Entertainers Connect, Event Managers A-List and the Wedding Power List.
The 17th edition of WOW Awards Asia, organised in association with Maharashtra Tourism and supported by leading national and international organisations, further reinforced its standing as one of Asia’s leading platforms for the experience economy. Through its participation, Maharashtra Tourism highlighted the state’s diverse tourism offerings while reaffirming its commitment to establishing Maharashtra as India’s preferred destination for global conventions, business events, destination weddings and experiential tourism.
