Long on the radar of experienced world travelers, in recent years India has made a quantum leap into mainstream consciousness, gaining favor as a meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions destination. In fact, the subcontinent is mentioned frequently in the company of Brazil and China as an up-and-comer on the MICE landscape.

In a June 2013 article for Meetings & Conventions magazine, a go-to source for meeting and events planners, journalist Lisa A. Grimaldi defined an emerging meetings market as a destination meeting one or more of the following criteria:

• A destination that is just discovering how meetings, incentives and exhibitions can further boost its economy
• A country with a newly developed infrastructure (hotels, convention facilities, airports and destination management firms) for hosting events
• A country that, due to its strong economy, is developing domestic meetings markets and even expanding its group business regionally and overseas

With respect to India, we can check off the first two criteria, and based on recent economic reports, it appears the country is on its way toward achieving No. 3. In the first decade of the 21st century, India’s gross domestic product grew by an average of 7.6 percent, up from 6.1 percent in the 1990s and 4.6 percent in the 1980s.

A June 2014 report in India’s Economic Times predicts the country’s GDP will improve over the next eight quarters, accelerating from 4.6 percent in the first quarter of 2014 to 6.8 percent by the first quarter of 2016. Reports by CNN Money and the BBC are less positive about the current state of affairs, but both outlets showed tempered optimism following the 2014 election of Narendra Modi to the post of prime minister.

Only time will tell whether Modi’s initiatives will once and for all shake off India’s economic lethargy, but leading indicators point toward a subtle shift — and the world’s meeting and events planners are sitting up and taking notice.

Reed Travel Exhibitions, one of the world’s premier travel and tourism events organizers — Arabian Travel Market, World Travel Market, International Luxury Travel Market — put the country in the spotlight last year, adding India to its established roster of Incentives, Business, Travel and Meetings Expos, joining the Gulf, the Unites States, China, Europe, Africa and Australia. The inaugural IBTM India, in Mumbai, drew rave reviews, and an even stronger turnout is anticipated for the second annual IBTM India set for September 2014 in Chennai.

In addition to Mumbai and Chennai, a 2005 planning study commissioned by India’s Ministry of Tourism and conducted by the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore identified Hyderabad as a promising MICE destination due, in no small part, to the anticipated (at the time) 2006 opening of the Hyderabad International Convention Centre.

Hyderabad International Convention Centre © Hyderabad International Convention Centre

India’s first purpose-built convention center, HICC occupies a 15-acre landscaped parcel in Hyderabad. At almost 70,000 square feet, the pillar-free main hall can be partitioned into six individual meeting areas, each accommodating up to 400 tables in a banquet setting and up to 6,000 guests in a cocktail setting. A separate 70,000-square-foot pre-function foyer can accommodate up to 5,000 guests. Despite its size, HICC can also work for meetings as small as 15.

Venue highlights include

• Located 40 minutes from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport
• Easy access to public transportation
• In-house management, catering and audio-visual staff
• Around-the-clock surveillance technology
• A comprehensive power back-up system
• Connected to 5-star Novotel Hyderabad

The adjacent Novotel Hyderabad offers conveniences and amenities valued by business travelers including complimentary shuttle service, complimentary WiFi and a 24-hour fitness center.

Another option, Hyderabad Marriott Hotel & Convention Centre, offers almost 60,000 square feet of meeting space comprised of 10 meeting rooms (maximum breakout to 12) capable of accommodating 1,300 guests. Meeting planners also have access to a full complement of Marriott’s online interactive planning tools ranging from step-by-step guides to creating customized one-stop-shopping websites where attendees can register and review event-specific information.

But there’s more to Hyderabad than state-of-the-art convention centers. Dubbed the “City of Pearls” in deference to its history as a pearl and diamond center, Hyderabad has a rich history dating back more than 400 years. Presiding over the city, Charminar is to Hyderabad what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris. According to local lore, the graceful monument built in 1591 was powered as a charm to ward off disease and protect city residents from a deadly epidemic.

A short walk from Charminar, Laad Bazaar is the place to pick up gifts and souvenirs, particularly if you’re in the market for jewelry. The bustling market is known for its huge array of gem-encrusted bangle bracelets. Haggling is expected, so don’t be shy about pushing for a better price.

From sparkling gems to twinkling stars, Birla Planetarium is India’s most sophisticated sky-viewing facility. A dreamy evening of stargazing may be just the ticket following a busy day on the convention floor. Or stop and smell the roses at the Hyderabad Botanical Garden. The 120-acre oasis is divided into 19 areas, called vanams, each designated for specific types of plants — medicinal, fruits trees, ornamental plants, lumber trees, aquatic plants and more.