ILLUME 2024
ILLUME 2024
India’s Wealth Surge: A Paradigm Shift in Luxury Consumerism
ILLUME 2024 examines how India’s rapid creation of new wealth is fundamentally reshaping the idea of luxury — what it means, who defines it, how it is experienced, and where it is headed.
As economic power accelerates across metros, emerging cities, and global Indian communities, luxury is no longer shaped solely by legacy consumers. A new generation of affluent Indians is redefining aspiration, behaviour, and cultural influence — and in turn, reshaping global luxury itself.
This edition explores the forces driving India’s luxury transformation: the rise of high-net-worth households, evolving consumer identity, global travel patterns, experiential weddings, and a redefinition of exclusivity. ILLUME 2024 offers an inside view into how wealth, identity, and influence converge to shape the future of luxury in India.
The Setting:
Location: New Delhi, India
Venue: The Imperial, New Delhi
Access: By Invitation Only
Speakers
Global voices influencing the
future of luxury
Seema Kadam
Regional Director – India, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
Seema Kadam brings over 28 years of travel industry expertise to her role as Regional Director for Los Angeles Tourism in India. With experience across Thomas Cook, Kuoni, Finnair, and tourism boards of Switzerland and Fiji, Seema is known for her strategic mindset and strong network. Her personal passion for inclusive and cultural storytelling aligns perfectly with LA’s diverse appeal.
Carissa Nimah
Chief Marketing Officer, Department of Tourism – Bhutan
Carissa Nimah is the Chief Marketing Officer for Bhutan’s Department of Tourism. With nearly 20 years in luxury brand marketing and PR, she previously led global sales and revenue at Soneva in Thailand and the Maldives. Carissa brings a unique blend of brand guardianship, storytelling, and sustainability. An Australian by education and now Bhutan resident, her work champions Bhutan’s vision for high-value, low-impact tourism.
Satyajeet Krishnan
Area General Manager, North, Taj Hotels & Resorts
Satyajeet Krishnan is a veteran of Indian luxury hospitality, serving The Indian Hotels Company Limited for over 30 years. As Area GM for North India, he blends operational excellence with deep guest experience insights. Known for his refined leadership, Satyajeet brings a strong commercial focus and passion for elevating brand standards across iconic properties in the Taj portfolio .
Craig Adamson
Managing Director, Asia Pacific (excl. China), Leading Hotels of the World
Craig Adamson leads Asia Pacific (excluding China) for Leading Hotels of the World, overseeing sales strategies across over 400 luxury hotels. With 28+ years in hospitality, Craig drives high-value revenue across travel trade, corporate, and loyalty segments. Known for his strategic precision and deep industry relationships, Craig plays a pivotal role in expanding the visibility of LHW’s luxury portfolio across the region .
Abhijit Das
Head of Marketing, Delhi Duty Free Services
Abhijit Das is the Head of Marketing at Delhi Duty Free, India’s largest travel retail hub. With 20+ years in travel and luxury retail, Abhijit has led award-winning campaigns and elevated Delhi Duty Free to global recognition. Known for his strategic foresight, he has been instrumental in winning accolades like the Frontier Airport Retailer of the Year and driving sustainability efforts. His expertise spans lifestyle, brand partnerships, and innovation in consumer engagement.
Abhay Gupta
Founder & CEO, Luxury Connect & Luxury Connect Business School
Abhay Gupta is a pioneering voice in luxury brand strategy, recognized among India’s top 100 men in luxury. Founder of Luxury Connect and LCBS—India’s only luxury-focused business school—he blends strategic consulting, talent upskilling, and brand advisory with deep insights into the evolving luxury landscape. With a 30-year career, Abhay is a respected speaker, author, and contributor to global luxury forums.
Bhavnesh Sawhney
Co-founder, FB Celebrations Pvt. Ltd
Bhavnesh Sawhney is co-founder of FB Celebrations, one of India’s premier luxury wedding companies. With a flair for creativity and experience curating high-profile events, Bhavnesh has worked with clients like Sonam Kapoor and hosted performances by global icons such as JLo, Jay Z, and Chris Martin. His approach blends design with executional finesse, making him a go-to name in bespoke wedding experiences.
Penny Rafferty
Executive Chair, Luxury Lodges of Australia
Penny Rafferty is the Executive Chair of Luxury Lodges of Australia and a leading voice in experiential travel. She helped shape Australia’s luxury travel identity by uniting independently owned lodges under one narrative. Penny also spearheaded Tourism Australia’s premium and sustainability strategies, making her a respected changemaker in sustainable tourism development and global destination branding.
Rajan Datar
Host, The Travel Show, BBC World News
Rajan Datar is an award-winning BBC journalist and presenter of The Travel Show. Over a dynamic 30-year career, he has reported on arts, business, and global affairs, moderating at forums like UNWTO and WTTC. With a unique blend of insight and charisma, Rajan brings powerful narratives to life on screen and stage. His deep cultural fluency and sharp curiosity make him a compelling voice in travel journalism and public debate.
Sheetal Rastogi
Co-founder & Editorial Director, Luxury Tribe India & World Travel Magazine
Sheetal Rastogi is the co-founder of Luxury Tribe and Editorial Director of World Travel Magazine. With 22+ years in media and publishing across the UK, India, and Singapore, she launched World Travel Magazine in Southeast Asia and is now bringing it to India. An alumna of the University of Strathclyde and Miranda House, Sheetal has been an ambassador for Global Wellness Day and is known for her editorial foresight and passion for luxury travel. Her leadership combines deep storytelling with strategic insight into evolving luxury markets.
THE EXPERIENCE
An Intelligence-Led Forum
Every edition of ILLUME is constructed as an editorial experience — grounded in intelligence, interpretation, and informed dialogue.
ILLUME 2024 curates conversations that go beyond trends and presentations to decode the cultural, emotional, and economic forces shaping India’s luxury transformation.
Across this edition, the forum examines:
- India’s accelerating wealth creation and its direct impact on luxury demand
- The motivations, behaviours, and identities of newly affluent consumers reshaping aspiration
- How Indian travellers are influencing global destinations, hospitality models, and experience design
- The evolution of weddings into immersive luxury ecosystems driven by craft, creativity, and storytelling
- The changing codes of exclusivity — what India’s elite now consider rare, meaningful, and desirable
ILLUME does not predict luxury. It interprets the movements shaping India’s next chapter of global influence.
