The vibrant city of Bhubaneswar, Odisha, hosted the EEMA East Conclave 2025 from April 10 to 12, at Mayfair Lagoon, in collaboration with the Government of Odisha. The conclave opened with a spectacular cultural performance featuring over 150 tribal and folk artists, showcasing the rich heritage and artistic diversity of Odisha, setting an inspiring tone for the days ahead.
The event gathered top industry leaders, government officials, creative minds, and innovators to position Odisha as a rising star in the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) sector. It highlighted the state’s emerging business opportunities, robust hospitality infrastructure, and cultural wealth, aiming to place Odisha firmly on the national and international event tourism map.
Day 1 of the conclave began with an elegant welcome by Anchor Diksha Tiwari and Choreographer Mohammad Safi Ul Faq, followed by an inauguration that symbolized growth through a plant watering ceremony. Sonu Nanda, Vice President – East, delivered a powerful keynote, supported by addresses from Samit Garg, President of EEMA, and Stephen Beale, Senior VP at Mayfair Hotels & Resorts. A panel discussion on building financial resilience in the events business saw insights from industry leaders including Vinod Janardhan, Harshal Kohtari, and Asutosh Panda, moderated by Ankur Kalra. A special EEMA WeCare session by Sushma Gaikwad emphasized the importance of mental health and self-care in the events industry. The Artiste Committee, led by Gitikka Ganju Dhar, launched the Fundamental Harmony Kit, supporting compliance and standards for live event artists. The day concluded with a soulful Sufi Night performance by the Hum Sufi Band, hosted by Pinky Jha.
On Day 2, the focus shifted to scaling businesses, wellness, branding, and tourism. The day opened with enthusiasm by anchor Lipsa Panda and led into a session titled “The Business of Events #DhandeKiBaat,” where panelists Vinod Bhandari, Rajeev Jain, and Sanjay Bhandari discussed collaboration and regional growth. A significant roundtable with the Ministry of Tourism, Odisha, represented by Balbant Singh, IAS, explored experiential tourism initiatives. Taranbir Singh Sahni led a “Soul Sync” wellness session promoting inner balance through meditation and breathwork. A standout experience was a themed lunch curated by Mayfair Hotels around the Jagannath Temple, offering a taste of Odisha’s rich cuisine.
Further sessions included a Mayfair property showcase on hosting large MICE events and a dynamic discussion on branding through IPs with experts like Vinod Janardhan, Shiv Patnaik, and Shaju Ignatius. One of the most anticipated announcements was the reveal of EEMAGINE 2025, set to be held at Fairmont Udaipur from 1st to 3rd August 2025. Celebrating regional creativity, successful event case studies from Eastern India were presented, and a heartfelt tribute titled “The Silent Architects” honored the behind-the-scenes heroes of the industry.
The conclave ended on a high note with a vibrant Gala Night featuring a live concert by TRP Band and an energetic after-party with DJ Dippy, wrapping up two memorable days of learning, celebration, and collaboration that truly spotlighted Odisha’s growing prominence as a MICE destination.
