At the 40th IATO Annual Convention, Homa Mistry, CEO of Trail Blazers, set the tone for the business session with a vivid articulation of the philosophy that “partnerships are the backbone of tourism.” According to Mistry, no single sector in the travel industry be it airlines, hotels, tour operators, guides, or transporters can thrive in isolation; seamless collaboration is the only way to deliver enriching travel experiences and maintain operational excellence.
Mistry emphasized that tour operators succeed not by owning assets but by creating strong, reliable links with sector partners, which enables the design and execution of memorable itineraries for travelers. “Business thrives only because of this interconnected chain of partnerships,” he observed, reinforcing that every part of the travel ecosystem must synchronize for tourism to flourish.
He introduced a playful element to the session by weaving music after each slide, encouraging participants to hum along and celebrate the unity inherent in meaningful partnerships. In his words, “Partnership is key to the work we do otherwise, it’s not possible.” Mistry’s approach set the tone for a dynamic discussion and called on the industry to foster trust, collaboration, and creativity as the foundation of India’s tourism success.
