Gujarat has long been recognised as one of India’s strongest outbound travel markets, driven by a thriving business community, rising disposable incomes and a growing appetite for international travel. Yet, despite its significance, the state has lacked a dedicated B2B platform designed to facilitate structured business interactions between buyers and suppliers. Seeking to bridge this gap is the World Travel Collective (WTC), a new invitation-only travel showcase that promises curated networking, pre-scheduled meetings and meaningful business engagement.
Founded by six travel industry professionals, Hiral Somani (Holiday Exotica), Aalok Soni (Assured Hospitality Services), Munjal Fitter (rezmytrip.com), Niral Patel (Exotic Places), Dheeraj Saundh (Chutney Hotels & Holidays) and Digvijay Sinh Jhala (Shaurya Hospitality), WTC has been conceived as a boutique travel showcase dedicated to luxury, experiential and heritage tourism while fostering long-term business partnerships within the travel trade.
The inaugural edition will take place on August 3-4, 2026, at the Gujarat University Convention and Exhibition Centre, Ahmedabad.
Platform for Meaningful Business
Sharing the vision behind the initiative, Hiral Somani, Founder, WTC, said, “As a luxury travel consultant, I have travelled extensively across the world to attend some of the finest travel trade shows. One thought always stayed with me, despite being one of India’s most enterprising and travel-forward markets, Gujarat did not have a focused, high-quality B2B travel platform of its own. We often saw events becoming spaces for casual networking and visiting card exchanges rather than real business conversations. There was very little room for in-depth product understanding, serious buyer-seller engagement, or curated meetings that could actually lead to business growth. That is exactly why we created WTC.”
Designed around collaboration rather than competition, WTC adopts a low-density, meeting-led format where buyers and exhibitors engage through an app-based appointment system featuring pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings. Replacing the conventional exhibition format, the event will feature an interactive lounge-style environment intended to encourage productive conversations, stronger networking and lasting business relationships.
Why Ahmedabad?
In a joint statement, the founders said, “Travel is ultimately about connection, understanding the unique heritage, culture and soul of a destination. We created the World Travel Collective to offer a space that honours that philosophy. By hosting a highly curated, low-density event, we ensure that every interaction is meaningful. Gujarat, and specifically Ahmedabad with its deep appreciation for heritage and entrepreneurship, is home to an incredibly well-travelled community that values authentic, high-end experiences, making it the ideal destination for our inaugural showcase.”
Beyond Ahmedabad, WTC also aims to unlock opportunities across Gujarat by connecting leading domestic and international suppliers with travel businesses from several affluent yet underserved cities across the state.
Curated Buyers and Premium Exhibitors
The inaugural edition is expected to welcome around 150 exhibitors and more than 2,500 verified travel professionals, including nearly 200 hosted buyers from across Gujarat. Attendance will be strictly by registration and invitation, with participating travel agents undergoing a screening process to ensure high-quality business engagement.
Buyers will gain access to verified exhibitors, pre-scheduled appointments, new products and destinations, market insights and fresh partnership opportunities. Exhibitors, meanwhile, will benefit from qualified buyers, guaranteed brand visibility, pre-booked meetings and comprehensive post-event lead data to support future business development.
The exhibitor profile will include domestic and international tourism boards, destination management companies, inbound and outbound tour operators, hotels and resorts, airlines, cruise lines, travel technology companies, GDS providers, luxury homestays, heritage properties, experiential tourism operators, wildlife specialists, transportation providers, forex and visa service companies, B2B consolidators and event planners.
Spotlight on Experiential Luxury
Reflecting the growing demand for immersive and experience-led travel, WTC has structured the exhibition around four dedicated verticals: Experiential Luxury Stays, Bespoke Safaris & Wildlife, Curated Wellness Tourism, and Brand Launches & Elite MICE. These curated segments will showcase premium hospitality brands, exclusive travel experiences and emerging tourism products designed for today’s discerning travellers.
The inaugural edition is supported by TBO as the Elite Sponsor and Evoke Experiences as the Diamond Sponsor.
Looking beyond the inaugural showcase, the organisers envision the World Travel Collective as a year-round platform that extends beyond the exhibition floor. Through luxury brand launches, educational travel initiatives and curated networking events, WTC aims to build a collaborative ecosystem that connects premium hospitality brands with India’s fast-growing luxury travel market while positioning Gujarat as a key hub for high-value travel trade engagement.
 will debut in Ahmedabad on August 3–4, 2026, bringing together 150 exhibitors and over 2,500 travel professionals for curated B2B networking, pre-scheduled meetings and luxury travel business opportunities.){kind=link}