NaveenKundu
Architect of 1.5 Million Journeys | Visionary Leader | Author Strategic Visionary | Two-Time National Tourism Award Winner | Founder & CEO, Tourism Futures.AI
A relentless innovator and the "Mr. MICE Man of the world ," Naveen Kundu has spent 35 years architecting the global travel landscape. From his roots in India to leading a Nasdaq-listed conglomerate, his career is a masterclass in scaling businesses, pioneering new markets, and leading the tourism industry into the age of Artificial Intelligence. To date, he has been the architect behind the travel experiences of over 1.5 million people, personally shaping the way India explores the world.
Founder & promoter
35+
Years of Leadership
1.5M+
Journeys Architected
2X
National Tourism Awards
100+
Global Partnerships
Building the Future of Global Tourism
The Formative Years & Choice Hotels
1990 – 1997
At just 26 years old, Naveen achieved a landmark feat by establishing the first-ever Global Sales Office for an international hotel chain in India.
- Pioneering Growth: During his tenure at Choice Hotels International, he served as Regional Sales Manager, single-handedly creating the infrastructure for global sales at a time when no other international brand had a presence in the country.
- Market Education: He was instrumental in introducing international hospitality standards to the Indian market, laying the groundwork for the globalized travel era that followed.
Entrepreneurial Rise: Leisure Corp
1997 – 2018
Naveen founded Leisure Corp, transforming it from a boutique startup into India’s premier MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) powerhouse, eventually becoming the preferred partner for India's largest corporate entities.
The Ebix Era
2018 – 2026
As the architect of the mega-acquisition involving Mercury Travels (Oberoi Group) and Leisure Corp, Naveen served as Managing Director of the entire Ebix Travel Group.
- Strategic Expansion: Led the acquisition of travel portal owned by pearl tours & Travel Sasticket and the corporate business of leading brand Cox & Kings.
- Luxury Innovation: Successfully managed and marketed The Deccan Odyssey, marking the first time a private entity operated India’s iconic luxury train on PP model.
- Global Footprint: Oversaw massive operations across India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, managing powerhouse brands like Via.com.
TourismFutures.AI
Following his tenure at Ebix, Naveen launched Tourism Futures.AI to solve the industry’s most complex modern challenges.
The Mission: Providing the "intellectual scaffolding" for hotels, DMCs, and tour operators to thrive in a tech-savvy global market.
The Technology: Leveraging AI for hyper-personalized customer acquisition, predictive analytics, and automated planning to redefine the traveler’s journey.
Reclaiming Incredible
A visionary blueprint redefining India’s tourism future through heritage, governance, innovation, and transformative leadership.
Reclaiming Incredible
In early 2026, Naveen published his seminal work: Reclaiming Incredible: A Blueprint of India Tourism’s Unclaimed Throne.
The Thesis
A call to shift from monument-centric tourism to the “Story of Bharat,” highlighting India’s civilizational heritage and Vedic wisdom.
The Goal
A strategic roadmap to transform India into a trillion-dollar tourism economy by 2047 through professional and future-ready governance.
Advisory & Achievements
• Two-time National Tourism Award winner conferred by the President of India.
• Chairman for Business Travel & MICE at FICCI.
• Board Member of the Indian Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB).
• Served on advisory boards of Marriott, Hilton, Accor, and Hyatt.
Beyond the Boardroom
• Operates luxury retreats: AACORN Hideaway Resort & Spa in Jim Corbett and Casa Sherose in South Goa.
• Dedicated marathoner and triathlete promoting spiritual and physical wellness globally.
• Strong advocate of the philosophy: “Health is the only true wealth.”
Education
B.M. (Marketing & Finance), Maharaja’s College, University of Mysore
Connect with Naveen Kundu
Strategic tourism consulting, AI transformation, destination management, and global travel innovation.
