Beyond the Boardroom: How YPO and EO Are Changing the Way India's Entrepreneurs Travel

Beyond the Boardroom: How YPO and EO Are Changing the Way India's Entrepreneurs Travel

From golf-led getaways to shared experiences across destinations, India's entrepreneurial networks are bringing travel, peer learning and the business of building relationships into closer focus.

Mansvini Kaushik

Oct 12, 2026

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For India's entrepreneurs, the value of a trip may have as much to do with who joins them as where they go. A golf course in another country, a long weekend built around a shared interest or a few days away with fellow business owners can offer something that formal networking rarely does: time. Time to exchange ideas without an agenda, understand how others think and build relationships that extend beyond professional introductions.

Within communities such as the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO) and the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO), these shared experiences are an important part of the membership proposition. And as India's entrepreneurial landscape expands, they offer a compelling way to understand how the country's business leaders are choosing to connect.

For Karan Mahajan of EO Ludhiana, the experiences that develop outside formal gatherings are an important part of the appeal. Travel allows members to spend time together in a different setting, where shared interests can become the starting point for stronger relationships.

“Some of the most interesting parts of being involved in EO are the experiences you share with other members. Travel gives these relationships a different dimension because you are spending time together outside your usual professional environment. You discover a destination, participate in activities you enjoy and get to know people beyond what they do for a living. Golf-centric trips are particularly interesting because they bring the sport and the social experience together over a few days,” he says.

Why golf, and why now?

Golf offers a natural starting point for this conversation. The sport has long been associated with business networking, but a dedicated trip takes the idea further. Rather than fitting a round between meetings, members can build an itinerary around the game, with time for dining, sightseeing and conversations that unfold at their own pace.

The destination matters, but so does the group. A golf trip with fellow entrepreneurs offers a common interest around which relationships can develop, without requiring every interaction to revolve around business. It also brings together several elements of luxury travel: distinctive courses, considered hospitality and the opportunity to spend time with people who share similar interests.

For luxury hospitality brands and travel operators, this creates an opportunity to think beyond conventional group holidays. An itinerary could combine golf with local culture, culinary experiences or private access to places that would be difficult to experience independently. The appeal is not simply the luxury of the setting, but the experience of sharing it with a group.

“When you travel with a group of people who share your interests, the trip becomes about more than the destination. You have the experience itself, but you also have the conversations, the discoveries and the relationships that develop along the way. That is what makes these trips worth looking forward to,” Mahajan says.

The value of being in the room

The experiences that bring members together are only one part of the story. For Rishabh Oswal of YPO Ludhiana, the network's value also lies in the opportunity to learn from people who have built successful businesses across different industries.

YPO brings together individuals with substantial professional achievements, and the rooms in which members meet reflect that collective experience. But the significance of the network goes beyond celebrating success. It is also about understanding the decisions, challenges and ambitions that shape other people's journeys.

“YPO brings together people who have achieved a great deal in their respective fields, and you feel that when you walk into a room. There is a shared understanding of what it takes to build a business and the responsibilities that come with it. But what makes the experience especially valuable is the opportunity to learn from one another. You meet people across industries, follow their journeys and keep up with what they are building. Those conversations continue well beyond the event itself,” Oswal says.

That continuity is significant. An introduction at a gathering can develop into a longer conversation about a business decision, a new opportunity or a challenge another member has already encountered. The value may not translate into an immediate commercial outcome. Sometimes, it is simply the perspective of someone who understands the demands of leadership and has navigated a different set of circumstances.

Travel can create more room for these exchanges. Unlike a scheduled meeting, a multi-day trip allows relationships to develop through repeated interactions, whether over dinner, during an activity or in the unplanned moments between events. Shared experiences give members another way to understand one another beyond their professional identities.

A cross-section of India's business community

There is another reason these networks are worth watching. Their membership brings together entrepreneurs from established family businesses, first-generation ventures and newer industries, offering a cross-section of India's changing economic landscape.

In cities such as Ludhiana, where generations of business families have helped shape the industrial economy, this creates an interesting intersection between established enterprise and evolving entrepreneurial ambition. Across chapters, members can encounter perspectives from sectors and generations beyond their immediate professional circles.

For Oswal, this diversity is part of what makes the community valuable.

“You are constantly interacting with people who have taken different paths to reach where they are. Even when you work in entirely different industries, there is something to learn from how another person approaches a decision, manages a challenge or thinks about the future. Being part of that community keeps you curious and gives you a broader perspective,” he says.

These connections also have the potential to extend beyond individual members. When families and partners participate in trips or gatherings, relationships can become more personal, creating shared experiences that last beyond a particular event. What begins as a professional association can gradually become a wider social network, built around common interests and time spent together.

Where the journey goes next

Golf-led getaways are one expression of a broader opportunity to create experiences around the interests of India's entrepreneurial community. Wellness retreats, culinary journeys, automotive experiences, art-focused itineraries and cultural explorations could offer similarly compelling ways to bring members together.

For luxury travel and hospitality brands, the opportunity is to understand that these audiences are not simply looking for another premium holiday. They are looking for experiences that reflect their interests, offer something distinctive and give them the opportunity to spend meaningful time with people they value.

The question, then, is not only where India's business leaders will travel next, but what they want to experience together when they get there.

In a world where luxury can increasingly be accessed on demand, time spent with people who challenge your thinking, understand your ambitions and broaden your perspective may be one of the more enduring luxuries of all.

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Mansvini Kaushik

Mansvini Kaushik is the Editor-in-Chief of Indulge Newsroom, the editorial division of Indulge Global. A seasoned business and investigative journalist, she brings years of experience from Forbes India, where she honed her craft in high-impact storytelling. With a deep-rooted passion for luxury and culture, Mansvini founded Candle Magazine before taking the helm at Indulge Newsroom. She now leads the publication with a vision to redefine luxury journalism in India.