The WOW Awards Asia, the region’s largest platform celebrating excellence in Experiential Marketing, MICE, Live Entertainment, and the Wedding Industry, is set to return for its 17th edition at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, on July 3-4, 2026.
Widely regarded as the benchmark for recognizing innovation, creativity, and executional excellence, the awards are now open for entries across 106 categories spanning five key segments: Experiential Marketing Awards, Experiential Celebrations Awards, Experiential Tech Awards, Hotel & Venue Awards, and Live Quotient Awards.
Maintaining its commitment to transparency and credibility, the awards will once again feature a rigorous two-stage judging process conducted by an esteemed panel of industry leaders and independently validated by EY. Carefully selected from diverse sectors and professional backgrounds, the jury brings a wealth of expertise and perspective to ensure that the most deserving work receives recognition.
As the industry gears up to showcase its most impactful and inspiring work, the spotlight turns to the Experiential Celebrations Awards (Group B) — a category dedicated to honoring excellence in weddings, social events, and milestone celebrations. From grand destination weddings and intimate social gatherings to large-scale celebratory experiences, this category recognizes the creativity, planning, and execution involved in crafting unforgettable moments. Entries are evaluated across every aspect of the celebration journey, including décor, entertainment, hospitality, guest experience, culinary innovation, and overall event design.
With celebrations continuing to evolve into highly personalized and immersive experiences, Group B remains one of the most dynamic and anticipated categories at the WOW Awards Asia, spotlighting the professionals and organizations redefining the art of celebration.
The esteemed Jury of Experiential Celebrations Group are:
Bjorn DeNiese – Managing Director, Mayfair Elixir
Bjorn DeNiese is the Managing Director of Mayfair Elixir and a hospitality leader with extensive experience in brand strategy, marketing, and business growth. Known for driving impactful brand narratives and experiential initiatives, he has played a key role in expanding hospitality brands while championing cultural and creative platforms such as the Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival.
Danielle Andrews – President & Co-Founder, The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada
Danielle Andrews is the Co-Founder of The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada (WPIC) and an internationally recognized wedding industry expert with over 25 years of experience. Having trained and mentored more than 10,000 wedding professionals across 37 countries, she is widely respected for advancing industry standards through education, certification, mentorship, and global collaboration in the wedding and events sector.
Devangi Nishar Parekh – Director, Aza Fashion
Devangi Nishar Parekh is the Founder of Aza Fashions and Azafashions.com, a leading omni-channel destination for Indian designer wear. With expertise in retail, brand building, and business growth, she has successfully expanded the reach of Indian fashion to customers across 75+ countries, establishing Aza as one of the most influential luxury fashion platforms in the industry.
Gurnoor Bindra – General Manager, Raffles Udaipur
Gurnoor Bindra is the General Manager of Raffles Udaipur, bringing over 16 years of luxury hospitality experience across Asia and the Middle East. Having led renowned properties including The St. Regis Goa Resort and Sheraton Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, she is recognized for driving operational excellence, elevating guest experiences, and shaping world-class luxury hospitality destinations.
Harkaran Singh – General Manager, The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel , Delhi
Harkaran Singh is the General Manager of The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel, with over 20 years of experience in luxury hospitality, hotel operations, and revenue management. Having led landmark properties including Aurika Mumbai Skycity and Hyatt Regency Dehradun Resort & Spa, he is known for driving operational excellence, luxury guest experiences, and positioning hotels as premier destinations for weddings, MICE, and leisure travel.
Lubaina Sheerazi – CEO & Co-founder, BRANDit
Lubaina Sheerazi is the Co-founder and CEO of BRANDit, with over two decades of experience in destination marketing, tourism communications, and brand strategy. She is known for creating impactful destination narratives and integrated marketing campaigns that help tourism and hospitality brands strengthen engagement, enhance visibility, and drive sustainable growth.
Manuj Ralhan – General Manager, JECC & Novotel Jaipur Convention Centre
Manuj Ralhan is a hospitality leader with over 23 years of global experience across iconic brands including Oberoi, Taj, Four Seasons, Shangri-La, Marriott, and Accor. Currently leading Novotel Jaipur Convention Centre and Jaipur Exhibition & Convention Centre, he is recognized for driving operational excellence, luxury hospitality experiences, and positioning destinations as premier hubs for MICE and large-scale events.
Nadine Farrag – General Manager, Weddingsonline
Nadine is the CEO & Founder of Farahy, Egypt’s first and largest one-stop wedding marketplace. Combining over a decade of marketing experience with entrepreneurial vision, she has leveraged technology to transform the wedding planning ecosystem, empowering both couples and vendors while driving innovation in the celebrations industry.
Socorro Morake – Senior Manager – MICE Destination Tourism Development, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
Socorro Morake is a hospitality and destination marketing leader with over a decade of experience in sales, tourism, and MICE. Associated with Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, she is focused on positioning Ras Al Khaimah as a leading global destination for business events through strategic partnerships, destination marketing, and innovative MICE initiatives that drive growth and elevate visitor experiences.
Swati Thakur – Hotel Manager, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts
Swati Thakur is the Hotel Manager at The Leela Palace Jaipur, with over 19 years of experience across India’s luxury hospitality sector. Having worked with leading brands including Oberoi, IHCL, and The Leela, she is known for delivering exceptional guest experiences, fostering high-performing teams, and driving operational excellence through people-centric leadership and service innovation.
