Media Release
Mangaluru, Jan 27: Nitte Institute of Hospitality Services (NIHS) successfully organized the NIHS International Research Forum on Hospitality & Tourism (NIRFHT 2026) on January 23 and 24, bringing together academicians, researchers, industry professionals and students from across the globe. The two-day forum was held with the theme ‘Future Scape 2026 - Empowering Hospitality through AI and Smart Tech'.
The inaugural session commenced with a traditional Saraswati Vandana, followed by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp. Donald James D’Souza extended a warm welcome to the dignitaries and participants, emphasizing the relevance of artificial intelligence and smart technologies in the evolving hospitality and tourism sector.
Dr M S Moodithaya, hon’ble vice chancellor, Nitte University, delivered the inaugural address, highlighting the importance of innovation, digital transformation and research-driven education. The conference theme was introduced by Dr Dhiraj Pathak, conference chairperson, who outlined how AI and smart technologies are redefining guest experience, operational efficiency and sustainability.
The forum featured distinguished international keynote speakers including Prof Dipra Jha from Washington State University and Dr Amit Sharma from Penn State University, USA, who shared global perspectives on AI-driven transformation in hospitality and tourism. A special keynote on AI for sustainable hospitality was delivered by Dr Sandiliyan, principal, Army Institute of Hotel Management & Catering Technology, Bengaluru. An industry session by Anirudh Roy, senior general manager, Vivanta by Taj, Bengaluru, focused on reskilling the hospitality workforce for an AI-driven future.
A panel discussion on ‘AI in Hospitality: From Automation to Human Augmentation’ sparked insightful deliberations on technology, ethics and human-machine collaboration. The conference also witnessed enthusiastic participation in technical sessions, with over 26 research papers presented in both offline and online modes.
A hands-on workshop on Indigenous Cuisine added an experiential dimension to the forum.
The second day coincided with National Tourism Day celebrations, featuring an address by Shalet Pinto, chairperson, Karnataka Ecotourism Development Board, who emphasized sustainable tourism and eco-tourism initiatives.
The forum concluded with a vote of thanks, marking the successful culmination of NIRFHT 2026, which effectively strengthened academic-industry collaboration and promoted sustainable, technology-driven tourism practices.