India International Hospitality Expo (IHE 2026) Opens at India Expo Centre, Greater Noida

Greater Noida, Delhi-NCR | August 5, 2026: The 9th edition of the India International Hospitality Expo (IHE 2026), India’s leading B2B hospitality and HoReCa sourcing exhibition, commenced today with a grand inauguration at the India Expo Centre & Mart in Greater Noida, Delhi-NCR.

Organised by India Exposition Mart Limited (IEML), the four-day exhibition has once again emerged as India’s largest annual gathering for the hospitality, HoReCa, and food service industries. The event has brought together hotel owners, hospitality professionals, procurement experts, chefs, architects, designers, consultants, manufacturers, technology providers, and solution partners from across India and overseas.

The exhibition was formally inaugurated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Chairman, India Exposition Mart Limited (IEML); Dr. Neeraj Khanna, Chairman, Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH); Amarjeet Singh Ahuja, President, Purchasing Professionals Forum India (PPFI); Shalini Kumar, Editor, Spiritz; Anil Malhotra, President, HOTREMAI; Varun Gupta, COO, Indeva Hotels & Resorts; Neeraj Dhawan, Founder & Chairman, IWIA; Hemant Sood, Chairman, IIID; and Sudip Sarkar, Executive Director & CEO, IEML, along with several distinguished leaders from the hospitality industry.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Chairman of IEML, said:

“IHE has evolved beyond being just an exhibition; it has become the annual meeting point for India’s hospitality industry. As the sector continues to grow rapidly, IHE provides a platform where innovation connects with investment, sourcing transforms into business opportunities, and strategic partnerships shape the future of hospitality. We are delighted to welcome the entire industry once again to the India Expo Centre & Mart.”

The opening day witnessed tremendous enthusiasm across the exhibition halls, where thousands of visitors explored the latest products, technologies, and solutions related to hospitality infrastructure, hotel supplies, commercial kitchens, food service equipment, bakery solutions, smart hospitality technologies, interiors, wellness, housekeeping, security systems, lighting, furnishings, and hospitality design.

Dr. Neeraj Khanna, Chairman of the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), remarked:

“India’s hospitality sector reflects the country’s craftsmanship, creativity, and commitment to excellence in service. Platforms like IHE not only accelerate domestic business but also connect Indian manufacturers and artisans with hospitality buyers seeking quality, innovation, and distinctive design.”

Throughout the day, the exhibition venue remained a vibrant hub for business meetings, networking, and product discovery, reinforcing IHE’s position as India’s most comprehensive hospitality sourcing platform.

Highlighting the importance of strategic sourcing, Amarjeet Singh Ahuja, President of Purchasing Professionals Forum India (PPFI), said:

“Procurement today extends far beyond purchasing. It is about creating long-term value through innovation, sustainability, and trusted partnerships. IHE offers procurement professionals an ideal platform to engage directly with solution providers, explore emerging technologies, and build partnerships that strengthen the hospitality supply chain.”

One of the major attractions of this year’s exhibition is the ‘One District One Cuisine (ODOC)’ Pavilion, developed with the support of the Government of Uttar Pradesh. The pavilion showcases authentic and traditional cuisines from various districts across the state, promoting Uttar Pradesh’s rich culinary heritage, encouraging food tourism, and creating new business opportunities by connecting local food enterprises with the hospitality and HoReCa industries.

The opening day also featured several engaging B2B sessions and prestigious competitions. The 5th edition of Pastry Queen India 2026 was officially launched, celebrating excellence in pastry artistry. A special culinary masterclass conducted by Chef Gautam Chowdhary introduced chefs, culinary professionals, and hospitality experts to innovative techniques and creative culinary practices.

Addressing the gathering, Sudip Sarkar, Executive Director & CEO of India Exposition Mart Limited (IEML), said:

“The future of hospitality belongs to organisations that can strike the right balance between exceptional guest experiences and operational excellence. IHE equips industry leaders with ideas, technologies, and solutions that help hotels embrace innovation, improve efficiency, and deliver superior customer experiences.”

Over the next three days, IHE 2026 will continue with an exciting lineup of knowledge sessions, competitions, live demonstrations, and networking opportunities. Key highlights include the Hospitality Design Symposium 2026 by IIID, Housekeepers’ Conclave 5.0 organised by PHA and YUVA, Madhu Mandapam, PPFI B2B Meetings, the Master Bakers Challenge India, AGROPURE’S Culinary League – Battle of Besan, exclusive culinary masterclasses by renowned chefs, hosted buyer meetings, leadership forums, and several expert-led industry sessions.

These initiatives aim to foster innovation, collaboration, business expansion, and strategic partnerships across the hospitality sector.

A special debut attraction this year is ‘Madhu Mandapam’, a dedicated business platform for the rapidly growing alcoholic beverage (Alcobev) industry, making its first appearance at the expo and offering new opportunities for networking and business development.