INDIA. With just a week to go before the highly anticipated Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Conference & Awards 2026, the final speaker additons add further lustre to an already stellar programme, taking place on 7-8 July in Bengaluru.
Owned and organised by The Moodie Davitt Report since 2011, the 15th anniversary edition of FAB is hosted by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL).
The only global airport food & beverage and hospitality event will bring together senior executives from airports, food & beverage concessionaires and hospitality service providers, as well as other business partners from around the world.
Qatar Airways Chief Retail and Hospitality Officer Thabet Musleh adds his uniquely charasmatic presence to the conference line-up, where he will speak on ‘Aiming Beyond the Stars: How Qatar Duty Free is Redefining the Airport Lounge and Food & Beverage Space’.
One of the most respected and forward-thinking executives in the airport commercial revenues world, Musleh has been notable for driving an extraordinary retail and food & beverage transformation at Hamad International Airport in Doha.
{Click on the YouTube icon to view Part 2 of Airport Wonders of the World, a film series from Moodie Davitt STUDIO* dedicated as the name suggests to the world’s great airports. The inaugural production, a three-part series of short films dedicated to Hamad International Airport and Qatar Duty Free’s retail, dining, hospitality and leisure attractions, was launched in 2024 and shown onboard Qatar Airways. This episode focuses on Qatar Duty Free’s multi-FAB Award-winning food & beverage proposition, exploring the diverse, multi-cuisine, 200+ outlets dining offer that ranges from grab-and-go to accessibly priced food courts and fine-dining experiences – unforgettably encapsulated in the Louis Vuitton Lounge by Yannick Alléno}
Under Musleh’s inspired leadership, Qatar Duty Free has grown to over 4,000 employees and delivered strong commercial performance through experience-led hospitality and innovative retail concepts. He has been named among The Moodie Davitt Report’s People of the Year for five consecutive years (2021-2025) and received an Outstanding Contribution Award at the 2023 Frontier Awards.
Joining the discussion on ‘Designing Desire: How Airport Lounges are Shaping the Experience Economy’ are Aura Dezyne Founder, Visionary & Creative Strategist Payal Khanna; Travel Food Services Global Head of ARAYA Lounges Rajeev Panjwani; and Plaza Premium Group Chief Commercial Officer Jonathan Song.
With more than two decades of experience and over 600 projects to her name, the ebullient Khanna has delivered acclaimed design concepts for airports, lounges, luxury residences and film studios around the world.
She designed the magnificent 080 Domestic and International Lounges at Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru. Most recently, she created Gate Z, BIAL’s youth-focused lounge, reflecting her belief that airport design should create sensory, emotionally connected experiences that leave a lasting impression (look out for our exclusive story, coming soon).
Rajeev Panjwani is Global Head of ARAYA Lounges by Travel Food Services, leading the brand’s international growth, business development and strategic partnerships. With more than 30 years of experience in hospitality, travel retail and customer experience, he has held senior leadership roles with Coriander Leaf, SilverNeedle Hospitality and Wyndham Worldwide.
Another dynamic and charismatic figure, Jonathan Song leads Plaza Premium Group’s commercial strategy and global growth. Having been with his family’s company for over ten years, he continues to drive innovation in airport hospitality through technology, sustainability and human-centred design.
Bringing additional industry expertise to the ‘Raising the Bar in Indian Airport Food & Beverage’ panel is Semolina Kitchens Chief Executive Officer Chandan Tiwari. Semolina Kitchens is a powerful joint venture between Adani Airport Holdings and Travel Food Services.
With more than 26 years of experience, he has built expertise in large-scale operations, consumer experience, P&L management, marketing, food innovation, digitisation and business transformation.
Tiwari previously served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Marketing Officer at Yum! Restaurants India, where he helped scale KFC across South Asia, following 12 years with McDonald’s India.
Among the speakers joining the discussion on ‘Fresh by Tech: Would You Let AI Run Your Kitchen and F&B Operations?’ is Paradise Food Court (Paradise Biryani) Vice President – Technology & Food Quality Rajeesh VR.
With more than 15 years of experience across the F&B, retail and logistics sectors, Rajeesh V R is recognised for leading technology, food quality and business transformation initiatives, applying data and process engineering to drive operational excellence.
Some of India’s leading culinary innovators will take the stage for ‘Airport Lounges as Cultural Gateways – Hyperlocal Cuisine, Micro-Food Systems & the Future of Responsible Hospitality’. These include Farmlore Founder Chef Johnson Ebenezer; Naar Owner Chef Prateek Sadhu; Bawri & Tipa Founder Chef Amninder Sandhu; Lavonne Academy of Baking Science and Pastry Arts Chef Vinesh Johny; and Organic Mandya Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer Sahana Hegde.
Widely known as Chef JE, Johnson Ebenezer is a leading advocate of hyperlocal, farm-to-table dining. After beginning his career with the Taj Group, he gained international experience on cruise liners and in the USA before helping launch the acclaimed Nadodi restaurant in Kuala Lumpur. He later returned to India to champion sustainable, culturally rooted cuisine.
A well-respected culinary innovator in India, Prateek Sadhu is the Chef-Owner of NAAR in Himachal Pradesh. Born in Kashmir and trained in some of the world’s leading kitchens, he travels extensively across India in search of wild, indigenous ingredients – drawing particular inspiration from the Himalayan belt.
Through his restaurant, NAAR, he showcases the Himalayan region’s indigenous ingredients, seasonality and culinary heritage.
Born in North India and raised in the Northeast, Amninder Sandhu champions traditional slow-cooking methods using open fire, no-seed oil techniques and heirloom recipes.
Dubbed ‘The Girl With Gold in Her Fingers’ by Chef Marco Pierre White, her achievements include the Best Lady Chef Award from India’s Ministry of Tourism (2016) and Chef of the Year at the Times Food Awards (2019).
Chef Vinesh Johny is Co-Founder of India’s pioneering baking academy, which he established in 2012 at the age of 24.
A chef, educator and entrepreneur, he has earned numerous accolades, including Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia (2016), Pastry Chef of the Year at the Restaurant India Awards (2016 and 2023), and a place on the World’s 50 Best ‘50 Next’ list (2022).
Johny also represented India as a WorldSkills Expert at Abu Dhabi 2017, helping secure the country’s first Silver Medal in Pastry Skills, and co-authored the cookbook New School Sweets. He continues to champion pastry arts education and mentor the next generation of baking professionals.
With Organic Mandya since its inception, Sahana Hegde has helped transform the business from a single retail store into a leading organic food brand. In her multifaceted role, she oversees operations, compliance and product innovation, championing certified organic standards while reviving traditional recipes and ingredients through clean-label products.
Bringing together leaders in digital transformation, the panel ‘Seamless Journeys Through Digital Innovation’ will feature GrayMatter Chief Executive Officer Vikas Gupta; BIAL Assistant Vice President & Head of Digital Strategy Neeraj Manoria; and iCoupon Global Director of Sales Viktoriya Soubra.
A technology entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience, Vikas Gupta founded GrayMatter to deliver AI, analytics and digital solutions for airports and other industries. He previously served as Co-Founder and CTO of Manthan Systems and has advised Airports Council International.
With over 25 years of experience in digital transformation across aviation, retail and technology, Neeraj Manoria has built platforms including BLR Pulse, BLR Rewards and BLR Pay, and pioneered innovations such as omnichannel commerce, QR-based ordering and real-time personalisation. His vision is to turn airports into intelligent, connected destinations through scalable digital platforms.
A recognised expert in disruption management and strategic partnerships, Viktoriya Soubra brings nearly 20 years’ experience in travel and airline services to her current role at iCoupon, where she leads the global growth of intelligent vouchering solutions for airlines, airports and retailers. She previously held leadership roles at Travelliance.
FAB delegates are encouraged to register via the dedicated website.
For general enquiries on FAB, please contact Vincci Chung, Head of Events at Vincci@moodiedavittreport.com. 
