As the founder and former head of the Silk Road Programme at the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Alla pioneered a collaborative platform uniting 34 countries. Her efforts successfully promoted Silk Road tourism, fostering responsible and sustainable development across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Alla’s unparalleled experience in building global communities is instrumental in driving the growth and vision of tourism along the Silk Road.

After joining Saffron Synergies Pvt Ltd in 2012 Disha found her true calling while handling the Desk for HospitalityBiz and TravelBiz Monitor verticals.
While cleaning written content can be a cumbersome exercise, it is her personal high to bring forth a lucid and error-free copy to a reader’s eye.
Her pervious stints at Personal Finance (Money Life magazine) and B2B Petrochemical (Polymerupdate.com) print and online publications were instrumental in generating her love for Editing copies.
Disha has been instrumental in working with the flagship TravelBiz Monitor and Hospitality Biz titles, while spearheading some of the marquee Market Research projects and Perception Surveys, alongside successfully offering her expertise in curating and executing events like launch of inCLA (2018), Diplomats for Peace (2017 Delhi), launch of Jalesh Cruises (2019) and Celebrating Her awards in Mumbai and London.
Besides overseeing Editorial Operations, Disha has moderated online webinars for a range of clients, and has been actively involved in curating and executing Business Sessions for events hosted by TravelBiz Monitor, notable among them are Global Cruise Conclave 2018, Global Tourism Council (GTC) Convention Egypt 2019, International Travel Mart Mumbai 2018-19.
Besides being a team-player, her strength is her dedication to the craft, and the inter-personal skills that she brings to the table.

General Director of the railway tourism operator "Retro-Tourism".
Born on October 9, 1973, in Moscow.
In 1995, graduated from the Russian State University for the Humanities with a degree in "Information Systems."
From 1998 to 2004, worked as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper "Evening Moscow" and Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper "Evening Club."
From 2009 to 2019, held various leadership positions in the passenger sector of Russian Railways.
Since 2022, General Director of "Retro-Tourism" LLC.
Since 2020, Deputy Chairman, and later Chairman of the Board of the Russian-Chinese Tourism Association "World Without Borders."
Speaker and moderator of numerous forums and events on tourism exchanges with the PRC and railway tourism.

1998–2005: Information Center of the People's Daily Editorial Office. Engaged in international reporting and editorial activities. Organized and hosted international conferences focused on cooperation between Chinese and foreign enterprises with Chinese participation.
2005–2009: Director of the International Projects Department at the Education Fund under the State Council Office for Overseas Chinese Affairs, China.
2009–2015: Editor-in-Chief of the “Association Fortune Club,” a joint project by CCTV (China Central Television) and the Ministry of Civil Affairs under the State Council of China. The project focused on international exchanges and cooperation in culture, economy, and trade, utilizing electronic media.
2016–present: Head of the "Association for Business Cooperation Promotion." Oversees international relations and projects in trade and culture spanning 80 countries worldwide.
2022–present: Head of the Representative Office in China of the International MICE Consortium.

A co-founder and full member of the Georgian Tourism Association (GTA) and its chairperson since 2006, Natalie Kvachantiradze has many years of professional experience at the highest level in the Georgian tourism and hospitality sector.

She has a keen interest in the development of service quality in tourism, which is why she has been working at the National Centre for the Enhancement of Education Quality (NCEQE) since 2019, where she has serve as an expert on higher education accreditation, member of the Accreditation Council for Vocational Training Institutions and as Chair of the Personal Services Council.

Due to her extensive knowledge, excellent network and expertise in the tourism sector, she became a member of the Tourism Advisory Board of the Ministry of Economy, a member of the Advisory Board for the Promotion of Private Sector Development (Ministry of Economy) and a member of the Vocational Training Council of the Georgian Parliament.

With over 25 years of media and publishing expertise in travel, hospitality and other B2B verticals, Mr Sheldon Santwan has made many first moves — conceptualised the maiden travel awards in India, launched India’s first B2B live travel news portal, published the first-ever industry statistical manual, and co-founded the India Cruise Lines Association (inCLA).
Currently, he is the driving force behind leading trade and consumer publications – TravelBiz Monitor, Hospitality Biz, Architecture Update and Corporate Traveller in the print and digital space.
Under his leadership, TravelBiz Monitor has emerged as the authoritative voice of the travel & tourism industry in India in the past 13 years. TravelBiz Monitor has
co-organised various travel marts with state governments, and has been the exclusive Indian media partner for UNWTO, WTTC (World Travel & Tourism Council) CAPA (Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation), and other international organisations, associations and conventions.
In his role as Editor of Hospitality Biz, Sheldon has been a Moderator at key industry Summits as well as spearheaded multi-city Hospitality Leadership Forums.

Natalia has a vast experience working for large outbound travel corporations on the North-American market. Her career started with Grand Circle Travel, where she made a career from a country manager to the Executive vice-president for the Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and the Central Asia. Natalia was responsible for the regional quality. After the Pandemic, Natalia joined another North-America company, Moment Travel Group, where she worked as a buyer. A few years ago Natalia joined Simple Family Travel, a boutique travel agency based in Boston, USA, with a mission of creating worry-free trips for family vacations. Natalia is the one contracting new vendors, this she perfectly understand how does the mindset of the outbound tour operator work.

Elena Kalashnikova is a successful businesswoman. In 1998 she founded her company, which became the largest tour operator in Kyrgyzstan.
She is a co-incorporator of Ak-Sai Travel and a glamping chain As A Nomad.
Elena is a member of the CASTA Presidium and is known as an innovator in the travel industry.
Under her leadership, the company developed new products such as trekking routes with fixed tent camping and a network of comfortable yurt glamping sites.
Elena has successfully built a strong team offering high quality service and innovative solutions for travelers.

Sophie Ibbotson has worked in Central Asia since 2008, advising national governments and the World Bank. She is the author of guidebooks to Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Karakalpakstan, and is a regular contributor to media outlets such as Lonely Planet, Wanderlust, and The Telegraph. Sophie is the founder of Maximum Exposure, a tourism consultancy and PR agency specialising in emerging destinations, and she is Uzbekistan’s Ambassador for Tourism. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @uzambassador.

Entrepreneur, marketer, and consultant.
Founder of RA Siymo (1998): www.siymo.uz, www.siymo-online.uz
Founder of the Marketing Association of Uzbekistan — the largest marketing association in Central Asia (2016): www.marketing.uz
Organizer:
·ADWEEK Marketing and Advertising Week
·Brand of the Year Award
·MAKON Marketing International Business Forum
·Tashkent Advertising Festival TAF!
·Tashkent Marketing Forum
·Brands rating of Uzbekistan
·Register of Marketing Agencies of Uzbekistan
Experience of entrepreneurial activity in the market of Uzbekistan since 1996 (28 years).

Ms. Lv graduated from Beijing International University and is currently enrolled in PATA, one of the world three main organizations in tourism and travel since the end of 2010. She is currently the Regional Director of Greater China Region. Ms. Lv has been in the industry for nearly 30 years, she has successively engaged in destination marketing, conference and incentive tourism, international convention and exhibition marketing promotion and management, and has accumulated rich professional knowledge and practical experience.

He actively participates in discussions on the development of the region's tourism industry, as well as in panel discussions on technological innovations in tourism and the promotion of national tourist destinations. Erkin is an expert member of the Tourism Commission of the Public Council of Almaty and chairs the Management Commission as a member of the Public Council of the national company Kazakh Tourism.

He has over 30 years of experience in process organization, communications, personnel management, and process automation within major Russian companies. He previously served as Deputy General Director at SIA "Rossiya" and Renaissance Insurance Group. As Chief Operating Officer at the Mercury Group, he oversaw operations for TSUM Department Store, the largest department store in Moscow and Russia as a whole, along with other iconic retail properties in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Mercury Group is Russia's leading retailer of products from the world's top luxury brands, including clothing, watches, jewelry, and automobiles. He also supervised the operations of the luxury Barvikha Hotel & SPA. As General Director of a trade and hospitality complex, he managed hotels operating under the brands of Accor Hotels, the world’s leading hospitality group.

Mr. Aftab Ur Rehman Rana has more than 37 years of experience in the tourism and hospitality sector of Pakistan. Presently, he is serving as the Managing Director of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation. He is also the President of the Sustainable Tourism Foundation Pakistan and Vice President of the Adventure Foundation Pakistan. He has done pioneering work for the promotion of Ecotourism, Responsible, and Sustainable Tourism in Pakistan and has launched several showcase projects such as the Indus Dolphin Ecotourism Project, Promotion of Responsible Tourism in Kalasha Valleys, Promotion of Community-Based Sustainable Tourism in various mountain areas in Pakistan, National Children Mountain Conservation Meet, and Back to Nature Youth Leadership Program.

Mr. Aftab Ur Rehman Rana is the author of tourism policies and tourism development plans for Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan. He writes regularly about tourist destinations in Pakistan and issues facing the tourism industry. His articles have been published in leading newspapers and tourism magazines. He has also contributed to three travel guidebooks on Kaghan Valley, Swat Valley, and Chitral Valley.
His efforts for the promotion of tourism have been acknowledged both internationally and nationally, earning him numerous awards, including the Commonwealth Asia Award for Excellence.

Co-founder of the companies:

• SunHouse Team - Сorporate events agency, winner of BEMA 2018
• Silk Road Events - Silk Road business events agency
• MICE Group - Сorporate travel agency
• As a Nomad - Glamping franchise

Co-organizer of events:

• Samarkand Tourism Forum
• Bishkek Tourism Festival
• Touristic performance “Svyazi v Bishkeke”
• International Issyk-Kul Tourism Fair and Forum

A graduate from Delhi University with a degree in Interior Designing (Delhi) and Travel & Tourism Diploma (Mumbai), Jyoti Mayal is a Director, since 1980, of New Airways Travels (Delhi) – one of the leading travel agencies in the country & highly accredited by Airlines. A proven leader with forward-thinking, innovative management & dynamic abilities, she has helped New Airways Travels grow, diversify, and blossom into a global standards organization. With a burning desire to contribute her services & expertise for the betterment of the travel trade and her vision to raise standards of travel & tourism, she forayed and began her journey in the Travel Agents Association of India - the oldest and biggest nodal association in the country.

She has launched successfully “Wellness, Tourism & Education” among children starting from the young age of 3 years under the banner of “Jack & Jill”. She runs campaigns for Prime Minister’s Vision, “Save the Girl Child”. She also has been at the forefront of Honoring Icons of Travel, Tourism, Hospitality & Luxury along with Iconic Woman & Man of the year on the platform of ICONIC.

Daniel Serzhanuly began his career at Kazakh Tourism at its inception, starting as the Chief Manager of the PR and Marketing Department. From 2019 to 2021, he led the Event Marketing and Special Projects & Tourism Product Development departments. Recognized for his personal effectiveness, organizational skills, and contributions to the company, Daniel was appointed Managing Director and elected to the Board in 2022.
As a Board member, he oversaw marketing, tourism product development, and digitalization. Daniel holds a specialized degree in Tourism (bachelor's and master's programs, 2011 and 2013, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University). He is also a senior lecturer in Tourism disciplines at Maqsut Narikbayev University (KAZGUU).

Director General of Marketing in the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of Iran. He holds a doctorate in tourism management and teaches at the university level. He is the author of several books and articles on tourism. With a history of working in the private sector of tourism, he served as a hotel manager for several years. In 2024, he was recognized as Iran's top tourism researcher. Traveling with his family is one of his personal interests. Доктор Муслим Шоджаи.

Combining experience in IT, as a tour operator company manager, industry official, and association leader, implements digital marketing projects for the tourism industry.

Mr. Bishnu Pandey, a dynamic tourism entrepreneur has been actively contributing and working in Nepal's tourism industry since 2006. He is the founder/Managing Director of many renowned companies like Himalayan Club Tours and Travel, Pashupati Boutique Hotel and Spa, Walk Mountain Pvt. Ltd, and Summit Events and Markets (by whom NITE is being organized). As a Secretary of a prestigious association like Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), he has been playing an instrumental role promoting Nepal's tourism globally. He has represented Nepal at various international platforms, fostering partnerships and opportunities for growth. His continued commitment and love inspires in elevating Nepal in the global tourism industry.