Devayani Vijayan of Bangalore International Airport Ltd, Kapila Ireland of DFNI, Karishma Manga Bedi of IDAAYA Spirits, Payal Lal of GMR Duty Free, Dr R. Sri Ram of UKICC, and Samrath Bedi of Forest Essentials.
Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) Conference, Bangalore, India, March 2026
How Travel Retail is Accelerating the Global Rise of Indian Brands Through Visibility, Storytelling, and Cross-Border Collaboration.
Congratulations to the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association for hosting a wonderful conference in Bengaluru on Friday, 27 March 2026. Well done to Sunil Tuli, President of APTRA, and Anne Kavanagh, Executive Director of APTRA.
Dr R. Sri Ram, Founder, CEO, and Chair of the UK-India Creative Circle (UKICC), joined a distinguished panel at the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) India Conference 2026 in Bengaluru on Friday, 27 March 2026. The session, titled “The Global Rise of Indian Brands, National Pride, International Curiosity”, brought together leading voices from across airport operations, brand development, and travel retail media.
A Defining Moment for India’s Travel Retail Sector
India’s travel retail ecosystem is entering a pivotal phase of growth, driven by airport expansion, data-led decision-making, and stronger industry collaboration.
The discussion underscored how airports are no longer just commercial spaces, but curated platforms where national identity, craftsmanship, and innovation are presented to a global audience.
Sunil Tuli, President of APTRA and Dr R. Sri Ram of UKICC
Anne Kavanagh, Executive Director of APTRA and Sunil Tuli, President of APTRA
Industry Leaders on the Panel
Photo credits: UK-India Creative Circle & DFNI Frontier
Travel Retail as a Global Shop Window
Dr R. Sri Ram contributed to a wide-ranging conversation alongside industry leaders, including Samrath Bedi of Forest Essentials, Karishma Manga Bedi of IDAAYA Spirits, the DFNI editor, Kapila Ireland, distinguished partner of the UK-India Creative Circle (UKICC), Devayani Vijayan of Bangalore International Airport Ltd, and Payal S. Lal.
The panel discussed the role of travel retail as a shop window to the world, offering Indian brands unparalleled access and visibility to a diverse, international consumer base. Airports, cruise terminals, and other travel hubs create powerful opportunities to build brand awareness, test global appeal, and establish credibility beyond domestic markets.
Equally, British brands seeking to engage with Indian consumers can leverage these environments as strategic entry points into one of the world’s fastest-growing travel markets.
Strengthening UK–India Creative and Commercial Ties
A key theme of the session was collaboration. As Indian brands gain global traction, partnerships between the UK and India, particularly across creative industries, retail, and brand storytelling, are becoming increasingly important.
Through its ongoing work, the UK-India Creative Circle (UKICC) continues to play a central role in fostering these connections. By bringing together leaders from both markets, UKICC helps unlock new pathways for innovation, trade, and cultural exchange.
Photo credits: UK-India Creative Circle & DFNI Frontier
Looking Ahead
The APTRA India Conference highlighted the significant opportunities travel retail presents for both Indian and British brands. As infrastructure grows and consumer expectations shift, the sector is becoming an increasingly powerful gateway for global brand building.
Dr Sri Ram emphasised the importance of strengthening industry relationships with organisations such as the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association, while continuing to deepen UK–India collaboration through platforms like UKICC.
The direction is clear: Indian brands are not only rising—they are connecting with global audiences, with travel retail serving as a key launchpad.
For partnership enquiries or to connect with UKICC, contact: [email protected]
Read more about the event HERE.
