Busy, hectic and loud, Delhi is in your face from the start. Just driving into town from the airport proves a hair-raising experience. Car horns constantly bleat, and somehow the myriad cars manage to dodge each other without causing constant accidents. The masses of people and bustle of activity may seem overwhelming, but they are also oddly stimulating. An exciting and fast-paced city, Delhi’s ancient monuments attest to its rich cultural, historical and religious past while high-rise buildings, swanky hotels, glitzy shopping malls and modern academic and research centers bring it into the 21st century.

There can be some confusion about the difference between Delhi and New Delhi. In essence, New Delhi, India’s capital, is a territory within Delhi and serves as the seat of government in India. New Delhi has been called North India’s industrial hub thanks to its well-developed infrastructure and varied choice of venues for hosting international events.

MICE venue choices range from enormous convention centers to 5-star hotels with in-house facilities. Convention centers include Pragati Maidan Exhibition Complex, the India Habitat Centre and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The 5-star hotels offering MICE facilities include The Ashok New Delhi, boasting a 16,435-square-foot pillarless convention hall, and the Taj Palace, New Delhi, with a total of 40,000 square feet of meeting room space.

The India Trade Promotion Organisation serves as the premier trade promotion agency of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the Government of India. Providing a wide spectrum of services to trade and industry, the organization acts as a catalyst for the growth of India’s trade. It approves the holding of various international trade fairs and regulates the type and timing of the expositions in order to avoid duplication or double bookings. It also manages Pragati Maidan, New Delhi’s world-class exhibition complex, upgrading the facility to maintain its state-of-the-art status. This is no small responsibility since Pragati Maidan spreads over 123 acres of prime land in the heart of the city. The complex offers more than 201,000 square feet of covered exhibition space; more than 16 halls; and approximately 32,800 square feet of open display area. It’s no wonder Pragati Maidan has become the ideal center for an increasing number of fair organizers and business visitors from around the world.

Jama Masjid Mosque, one of the biggest in India © ELLEN CLARK

One of Delhi’s biggest upcoming events is the 25th Convergence India expo taking place at Pragati Maidan in February 2017. This international expo aims to bring together the best minds in the information and communication technologies, media and entertainment ecosystem under one roof. Aiming to create an interactive platform for the companies to showcase their technical prowess and tap into new business opportunities, the expo will focus on growth opportunities, future trends and upcoming technologies. An estimated 15,000-plus visitors will attend.

With its world heritage monuments, high-end shopping options and exotic cuisine, Delhi offers an exciting selection of off-site activities for a nice break from long days of meetings. As far as getting to the various sites, Delhi operates a HOHO (hop-on, hop-off) bus that stops at 20 monuments and museums. If there’s only time for one or two stops, a cab is the easiest way to get around. For a slightly more expensive alternative to the sometimes rickety yellow cabs — most without air-conditioning and having dubious metering systems — try a radio taxi. These later-model cars are properly air-conditioned and metered and can be hailed to any location with just a phone call.

One of the most iconic of the city’s historic buildings, the Red Fort on the banks of the River Yamuna is a living piece of history from 17th-century Delhi. Museums range from the National Philatelic Museum, showcasing India’s stamps from the first issued in 1854, to the Indira Gandhi Museum housed in her former residence. For gifts or upscale Indian-produced goods, head for Kahn Market. A U-shaped, double-story market complex in the center of Delhi near the India Gate, this is the place to buy clothes made from Indian fabrics, books and original artwork. Take a break by relaxing over an espresso or a quick bite at Café Turtle, a cozy café linked to a small bookstore. If there’s a free day in the schedule, a train ride or private car will