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§ — Advisory Board

Senior industry leaders shaping the academy.

Viva is built alongside the people who run the travel industry — they review the curriculum, open hiring corridors, and hold the institution to the standard a serious career launchpad demands.

Viva Career AcademyOwn domainZoom-enabled live classes

The Viva Advisory Board is a small, deliberate group. Each member brings decades of operating experience across travel, hospitality, MICE, and aviation — and an ongoing seat at the table for curriculum review, faculty selection, and learner outcomes.

Their role is not ceremonial. Advisors meet with the academy team quarterly, review every cohort's progression, and unlock placement and mentorship opportunities for committed learners. The result is a programme that stays calibrated to where the industry is going — not where it was.

Dr Nitin Mittal
A · 01

Dr Nitin Mittal

Founder · CEO
Hotel N Apartment (HNA) · PR Euro · National Coordinator, NIMA

C-suite leader with 30+ years across travel management — procurement, operations, and global marketing. Holds one of India's first Ph.D.s in Film Tourism (Pondicherry University). Founded HNA in 2015 — a global corporate accommodation platform reaching 3M+ rooms across 120 countries — and PR Euro for European Permanent Residency. Appointed National Coordinator of NIMA in February 2025.

StrategyMICEHospitalityEducation
Dr Anup Tarafdar
A · 02

Dr Anup Tarafdar

Founder · CEO
EVENTEX · MICE TRAV · Thought Leaders Hub

Entrepreneur, ecosystem builder, and global business networking strategist with 26+ years of industry experience. 3,000+ events delivered through EVENTEX. Drives the EVENTEX Startup Expo, MICE TRAV, and Thought Leaders Hub — connecting startups, investors, corporates, tourism boards, and industry leaders through high-impact collaborations and global opportunities.

MICEEventsNetworkingStartups
Rajiv Duggal
A · 03

Rajiv Duggal

Co-Founder · Director
Travel Specialists · Travelart Maestros · Event Specialists

31+ years in senior leadership across tourism, hospitality, infrastructure, retail, and cruise development. CEO roles at ZEE's tourism division (launched India's first cruise liner — now Cordelia Cruises), LAVASA Corporation, Select CITYWALK New Delhi, and DOTW across the Indian Subcontinent and Asia Pacific. Senior leadership at KUONI (SITA & SOTC) and TUI AG. Award-winning industry leader recognised by UNWTO and international tourism bodies.

TourismHospitalityCruiseStrategy
Ashish Kumar
A · 04

Ashish Kumar

Co-Chairman · FICCI Travel Technology & Digital Committee
Member, FICCI Tourism Committee · Advisor, RankinLLM.ai · Formerly International Travel House (ITC Group)

Senior travel, tourism, and hospitality leader with nearly 45 years of industry experience. Held leadership roles at International Travel House (ITC Group) across corporate travel, hospitality, tourism, and travel technology. Co-Chairman of the FICCI Travel Technology & Digital Committee and Member of the FICCI Tourism Committee, shaping industry dialogue on digital transformation and AI adoption in travel. Advisor to RankinLLM.ai on AI-led discovery, generative search, and digital visibility for travel and hospitality brands.

FICCITravel TechHospitalityAI Discovery
Aman Kaushik
A · 05

Aman Kaushik

Founder · Fulcrum Push
Sales Culture · Leadership Development · Growth Advisory

30+ years of leadership across travel, hospitality, consulting, customer experience, and B2B sales. Founder of Fulcrum Push — helping organisations strengthen sales culture, build leadership capability, and drive sustainable growth. Expertise in sales transformation, consultative selling, AI adoption for business productivity, channel partnerships, and commercial strategy. Practical approach blending business strategy, behavioural psychology, storytelling, and on-the-ground commercial experience.

Sales TransformationLeadershipTravelAI Adoption
ANPortrait
A · 06

Advisor Name

Hospitality Group Executive
International Hotel Group

Senior leadership across luxury and mid-market hospitality. Connects Viva graduates to operational rotations, corporate trainee programmes, and management track placements.

HospitalityPlacementTraining

We add advisors carefully, in dialogue with the senior travel industry. If you would like to nominate someone — or join us yourself — please reach out via the admissions page.