"We have people and we have scale. Once we start leveraging that scale, it allows communities to reimagine the possibilities of their craft."

At the event's inaugural edition, Principal Asha Sairam shared the stage with Dutch industrial designer Richard Hutten, Charu Gandhi of Elicyon, and Priya Paul of The Park Hotels in a panel centred on ‘Hospitality beyond the Image.’ She highlighted the potential of design as a catalyst for cultural revival: how working with local resources creates a ripple effect—supporting employment, reviving traditional skills, and fostering a sense of shared ownership. Furthermore, she shared her perspective on how storytelling, local context and thoughtful application of technology can create lasting guest experiences that resonate both in-person and across digital realms.