TAAI WOW AWARD 2025

When women rise, humanity thrives, is what drove TAAI to present WoW Awards (Women of Wonder). Women Leadership, particularly in Travel & Tourism Industry, is a boon to evolve

innovatively and express ourselves with confidence, to reach out to those seeking us.

Emulating, the great thought, The future is equal, and the time is now, TAAI embarked on its

journey to create a milestone on its runway to “The 75 years of TAAI’

Commemorating the International Women’s day, TAAI honoured and awarded 75 industry leaders, across India, through its 20 Regions & Chapters. This is a duty-bound reflection of our approach towards recognizing women leadership and accomplishments, said President Sunil Kumar R. TAAI chose the verticals of Travel – Tourism – Hospitality and blended the conglomerate with leadership with Government & allied Authorities; Media and more.

TAAI’s 20 Regions & Chapters across India are actively engaged. 20 Members, one from each

Region – Chapter, are awarded Member Excellence Awards. 25 Industry Leaders, situated

locally are awarded with Industry Leaders Excellence Awards (List to be rolled out)

On 12th March, at an impressive awards ceremony at New Delhi, TAAI honoured many visionary

leaders from among the Seventy Five awardees. Their accomplishments and long standing dedication was loudly acknowledged. The list included the following leaders.
Smt. Pravati Parida, Dy. Chief Minister & Minister for Tourism & Child Development, Government of Odisha
Ms. Mughda Sinha, IAS, Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
Dr. Jyotsna Suri, Chairperson & MD, The Lalith Suri Hospitality Group
Padma Shri Shovana Narayan, the renowned cultural luminary and renowned Kathak Dancer
Ms Rohini Bhatia, Chairperson, Interglobe Foundation
Ms Manju Sharma, Managing Director, Jaypee Hotels
Ms Radha Bhatia, Chairperson, Bird Group & President, Women in Aviation India

Ms Priya Paul, Chairperson, Apeejay Surrendra park Hotels Ltd
Ms Ranju Alex, Regional Vice President, South Asia, Marriott International
Ms Gursharn Goyal, Co-Founder & MD, STIC Group Travel
Ms Niharika Rai, IAS, Secretary Tourism, Govt. of NCT of Delhi
Ms Neeraj Ghei, Director, TRAC Representations
Ms Kadambini Mittal, Regional Vice President, India & SW Asia, Hyatt India Consultancy
Ms Pallavi Mehra, Sr Group Director, Informa Markets
Ms Priyanka Nijhawan, Director, Nijhawan Group
Ms Sanjana Mohan, CEO, Deneb & Pollux Hotels Pvt .Ltd
Ms Yummi Talwar, COO, VFS Global India
Ms Renu Kundaliya, Associate Director, Fairfest Media Pvt. Ltd
Ms Vandana Luthra, Founder, VLCC Health Care Ltd
Ms. Shivani Singh Deo, Country Manager, Virgin Atlantic, India
Ms Summi Sharma, VP ifly & Customer Service, IndiGo
Ms Purnima Nirurkar, Associate Vice President, Air India
Ms Taruna Jain, North & East India, Nepal, Bhutan & Bangladesh, AF – KLM
Ms Vasudha Sondhi, Managing Director, Outbound Marketing and Connect Worlwide India
Ms Sonia Bhalla, Regional Sales Manager, Air India.

Other distinguished awardees, situated out of New Delhi, are also declared.

HH Maharani Radhikaraje Gaekwad, Laxmi Vilas Palace, Vadodara
Ms. Pooja Ray, Vice Chairman, Mayfair Hotels & Resorts
Ms. Neelu Khatri, Co Founder & Senior VP, Akasa Air
Ms Kanika Tekriwal, CEO & Co-Founder, JetSetGo

The laudable role played by Media in the evolution and education of Travel & Tourism Industry is appreciated. Awards for Seven Media Leaders were also declared and presented.

Ms Devika Jeet, DDP Publications
Ms. Reema S Lokesh, Founder, Reemarakabl
Ms Priya Saxena Ray, Founder Editor, Business of Travel Trade (BOTT)
Ms. Disha Shah Ghosh, News Editor, Travelbiz Monitor – Saffron Synergies Pvt. Ltd
Ms Rajni Kalra, Director, DKL Publications Pvt. Ltd
Ms Parul S Kesari, Editor-In-Chief, Safari Plus
Ms Gunjan Sabikhi, Founder Perfect Alliances, Director, More Media

Other Industry Leaders awards presented locally by Regions / Chapters of India

Ms. Nandini Chakraborty, IAS, Principal Secretary, Tourism, Government of India, West Bengal
Ms. Sudha Renganathan, General Manager (Operations), Airports Authority of India, Kolkata
Ms. Benazir Nazar, CEO & Director, Akbar Holidays, Mumbai
Ms. S. Padmavathy, Asst. Director, India Tourism, Chennai
Mrs. R. Parimala, Principal, Institute of Hotel Management, Chennai
Ms. Smita Sabharwal, Secy. to Government – Youth Advancement, Tourism & Culture, Government of Telangana
Ms. Parul Kulshreshtha Singh, Head- Business Development & General Manager (Cargo), GMR Group, Hyderabad
Ms. Shama Pawar, Deputy Director, Directorate of Tourism, Pune
Mrs. Lodovina Quadros, Tourism Officer, Goa Tourism
Ms Jocelyn Carvalho, General Manager, Deltin Suites
Ms. Saidingpuii Chhakchhuak (IAS), Managing Director & Commissioner of Tourism, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd.
Smt. Salma K Fahim (IAS), Secy. to Government – Dept. of Tourism, Government of Karnataka
Ms. Sikha Surendran, IAS, Director, Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala
Smt. Sandhya Haridas, Assistant Director, Ministry of Tourism, Kochi
Dr. Yamini Karmarkar, Director, IIPS, DAVV
Ms. Deeba Khalid, Deputy Director for Publicity (Publicity), J&K Tourism
Rani Ratna Kumari Shahapura, Shahpura Hotels & Resorts, Rajasthan
Ms Tripty Pandey, Rajasthan’s Cultural Ambassador