The second edition of Tech In Tourism was successfully inaugurated recently at Swosti Premium, Jayadev Vihar, Bhubaneswar, marking a significant step forward in the integration of technology with the tourism industry in Odisha. The event was led by J K Mohanty, CMD of Swosti Hotels and Chairman of HRAO-, and Debasish Pattnaik, Managing Director of The Crown & Dalma Chain of Restaurants-, who both emphasised the critical role that technology plays in elevating Odisha’s tourism sector to a global level. The morning session featured two thought-provoking panel discussions:Panel 1: Enhancing Guest Experience Through New Age, Technology-The first panel, moderated by Satyabrata Sanu Ratho included discussions from eminent speakers such as Sudarshan Pattnaik, Dr.Srinibash Subudhi and Sanjay Mishra.
The panellists shared their insights on how innovative technologies are revolutionising guest experiences in the hospitality sector. Panel 2: Building an Ecosystem for Tech-Enabled Tourism in Odisha. Durga Prasad, CEO of AIC Nalanda led the conversation on developing a robust ecosystem that integrates technology with tourism in Odisha.
The panel highlighted the importance of collaboration between various stakeholders to create sustainable tourism solutions. More than 250 hoteliers, tour operators, and over 10 exhibitors participated in the event, showcasing the latest technological innovations tailored for the tourism industry.
The first half of the day was packed with engaging discussions and networking opportunities, setting the stage for the afternoon sessions. The afternoon continued with three more insightful panel discussions-Panel 3: The Role of Technology in Promoting Local Culture, Food, and Heritage- Featuring speakers like Kuna Tripathy, Aradhana Biswal, Soum Parida, Rohit Srivastav, Pupinder Singh, and Zahid Akhtar. This panel delved into how digital tools can be harnessed to promote and preserve Odisha’s rich cultural heritage. Panel 4: Leveraging Digital Transformation to Elevate Hospitality and Enhance Destination Marketing- This discussion, led by industry experts such as Abhijnan Talukdar, Rabi Sahoo, Dr.Lenin Mohanty, Hari Shankar, and Kamal Rout explored the transformative impact of digital technologies on hospitality and destination marketing. Panel 5: Cyber Security in Hospitality & The Right Use of AI- The final panel featured Santosh Nayak, Trilochan Parida, Anila Anand, Sandeep Samantray and Amit Kumar Sahu who discussed the critical aspects of cybersecurity in the hospitality industry and the strategic use of AI to benefit the sector. Interactive Sessions and Engagement:-The event was marked by high levels of interaction, with extensive Question & Answer sessions that allowed attendees to engage directly with the panellists. More than 80 final-year students from IHM participated, gaining valuable insights from industry veterans. The event concluded with a formal recognition of all partners and attendees, highlighting their contributions to the success of Tech In Tourism Chapter 2. The gathering reaffirmed the commitment of all stakeholders to continue driving innovation in Odisha’s tourism sector through technology. Retrod led by Pravat Panda is a leading travel tech company based in Bhubaneswar.
With a network of over 2000 hoteliers and collaborations with various government bodies, Retrod is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of travel technology to boost Odisha’s tourism industry.
