Surat (Gujarat) [India], August 21: There are days in a city’s calendar that quietly turn into milestones. For Surat, 23 August promises to be one such day. Known for its diamonds and textiles, the city is about to wear a different crown as it hosts the first-ever Event Conclave, organised by the South Gujarat Event Management Association (SGEMA).

The excitement is palpable. More than 500 event professionals, from seasoned planners to fresh talent, are expected to walk into Advaitaa Ballroom & Lawn on Dumas Airport Road, ready to exchange ideas, strike partnerships, and maybe even reshape the future of India’s event industry.

You could say it’s not just an event; it’s Surat’s big announcement to the world that it is ready to be counted among the country’s cultural and event hubs.

A Grand Curtain Raiser

The day begins with a heavyweight. Sabbas Joseph, Founder and Director of Wizcraft, will deliver the keynote. For anyone who has watched India host spectacular global events, from international summits to unforgettable Bollywood award nights, Joseph’s name is familiar. His presence lends weight, yes, but also inspiration. After all, if Surat wants to dream big in this industry, who better to show the way than one of its most successful pioneers?

After the keynote, the conclave moves into four carefully designed sessions: Sangam, Manthan, Bazaar, and Utsav. The names themselves carry a cultural touch, something that makes the conclave feel rooted in India rather than borrowed from elsewhere.

Why Surat, Why Now?

For many outside the city, Surat might not immediately strike as an event destination. But as Harsh Bhaya, President of SGEMA, put it: “Surat is one of the fastest emerging event hubs in the country. SGEMA is committed to raising professional standards, mentoring young talent, and building an ecosystem capable of delivering world-class events.”

His words ring true. In the last decade, the city has shown how quickly it adapts and grows, whether in business, infrastructure, or lifestyle. Weddings here have become larger-than-life affairs, corporate shows more sophisticated, and cultural gatherings more ambitious. The conclave simply takes that momentum and channels it onto a bigger stage.

Vaibhav Agarwal, SGEMA Founder Member and Chairman of EVOLVE 2025, described it best: “This Conclave marks a historic step for Surat’s event industry. We want local professionals to stand tall on a global stage, learning new trends and technologies while building networks that will take their businesses to new heights.”

What Each Session Brings

Each of the four sessions has been crafted with its own energy:

• Sangam: A melting pot of people and ideas. This session is about networking, rubbing shoulders with experts, and hearing fresh perspectives that could spark collaborations.
• Manthan: A deeper churn, where discussions range from planning mega-events to the tricky role of AI in the industry. It will also touch on safety, an often overlooked but crucial part of event management, and of course, the grand Indian wedding scene.
• Bazaar: True to its name, this is about business. It will explore how the event market is changing, what new models are emerging, and how professionals can ride the next wave of growth.
• Utsav: A fitting finale. This session celebrates what the conclave has achieved through the day while leaving participants with fresh energy and avenues to explore.
  

The Partners Who Make It Possible

Every event is only as strong as its backers. This conclave has managed to bring together respected names: Culture Media’s Manish Patel as the Presenting Sponsor, Yo Sound’s Yogesh Goswami as the Title Sponsor, Fern Hotel as the Association Sponsor, and Advaitaa Ballroom & Lawn as the venue partner. Together, they reflect the city’s collaborative spirit.

More Than Just a Conclave

What’s interesting is that this conclave isn’t only about the industry. It’s also about identity. For decades, Surat has been known as a city that produces, that trades, that builds. But now, it wants to be seen as a city that hosts, entertains, and creates experiences on par with any metro.

For the hundreds of young professionals in the event space, whether they run a small light-and-sound business, work in catering, or design elaborate wedding stages, this conclave is a door opening to a bigger future.

And honestly, it’s not every day that a city outside Delhi or Mumbai becomes the talk of the nation’s event industry.

A Look Ahead

If SGEMA’s vision under EVOLVE 2025 is realised, Surat may soon be more than just a diamond capital. It could well become India’s preferred destination for conferences, exhibitions, weddings, and cultural festivals that rival the best in the world.

When the lights go out on 23 August after Utsav, the participants will leave with more than business cards. They will carry back stories, ideas, and a collective belief that Surat’s event industry has just taken its first giant step.

And in years to come, when people look back at where it all began, they’ll probably say, it started that day, at a conclave in Surat, with 500 dreamers and doers under one roof.