The 13th edition of Travel + Leisure India & South Asia‘s prestigious India’s Best Awards (IBA) 2024 was a dazzling celebration of excellence in hospitality, tourism, luxury, and lifestyle. Held at the iconic ITC Maurya in New Delhi on December 12, 2024, the awards night brought together industry leaders, hoteliers, fashion icons, and royal families to honour the best of the best.

Unveiling IBA’s best domestic destinations of 2024.

India’s discerning travellers cast their votes over two months, recognising the exceptional experiences of hotels, airports, cruises, and destinations worldwide. This culminated in our annual ceremony, which set the stage for the upcoming year in travel and leisure. This year’s theme, “The Art of Discovery”, emphasised the importance of going beyond the ordinary and seeking unique and transformative travel experiences.

India’s Best Awards 2024: A night of high fashion, glitz and glamour

India’s Best Awards 2024 witnessed exciting high fashion moments, with attendees dressed to impress. The ‘Modern Heritage’ dress code inspired a stunning fusion of traditional and contemporary styles. The royal families from Karauli and Jaisalmer added a touch of regal elegance with their traditional Rajasthani attire, complete with pagri, ghagra, and choli. Sarees were reimagined, paired with formal coats and draped in innovative styles. Formal dresses were adorned with Indian motifs, while pashmina shawls provided a touch of sophistication and warmth. The presence of fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani, who was also honoured at the event, further elevated the evening’s fashion quotient.

Discover the winners of IBA’s best domestic hotels.

The venue for the special night perfectly complemented India’s Best Awards 2024, as ITC Maurya, New Delhi, and ITC Hotels were honoured as the ‘Best Luxury Hotel’ and ‘Best Luxury Hotel Chain’, respectively. The hotel’s stunning lawn was transformed into a glamorous venue, adorned with sophisticated decor that reflected T+L India & South Asia‘s signature aesthetic. As guests mingled, the soulful ABBA and Sabrina Carpenter tunes, performed by the iconic jazz band ‘Lipshtick’, filled the air. The bar, featuring premium spirits like Indri single malt whiskey and Camikara rum, added to the evening’s elegance.

The evening was hosted by the dynamic duo of Aaliya Amrin, founder of By The Gram, and Sarah Jane Dias, the talented actress and presenter. Akshita Bhanj Deo, Editor-in-Chief of Travel + Leisure India & South Asia, and Björn Rettig, CEO of BurdaLuxury, shared insightful remarks, setting the tone for the 13th edition of the awards.

The evening honoured some of the industry’s most celebrated and inspiring icons. Tarun Tahiliiani, recipient of the T+L Champion of Indian Couture award, shared his heartfelt gratitude: “My journey through fashion has shown me a side of India I didn’t know in school. It has taken me to incredible places and given me a life beyond imagination… I am eternally grateful to the art of fashion and the countless artisans whose craftsmanship forms the backbone of our heritage.”

Her Highness Maharani Radhika Raje Gaekwad, honoured as the T+L Champion of Diversity and Culture, expressed her gratitude and remarked: “This is what India stands for, and I urge each of us also to support the diversity and culture that India has stood for centuries; that’s what makes us special!”

Sam Dalrymple, the recipient of the T+L Champion of Travel Narrative award, shared his passion for storytelling: “There is so much amazing heritage in this country, extraordinary stories that have never been told on a scale that I don’t think many others can match…”

The night concluded with celebrating the industry’s best and hopeful anticipation of 2025’s travel opportunities.

(Feature image credit: @shrey_gulati/Travel and Leisure India & South Asia)

Related: Unravel The Beauty Of India With A Visit To Some Of The Best Places In 2025

Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.

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