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16 COVER STORY HOSPITALITY BIZ NOVEMBER, 2024
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FHRAI President Pradeep Shetty reflects on achievements,

industry growth, and future prospects

n an exclusive conversation with Hospitality Green Building Council and the Amusement
IBiz at the 54th Annual Convention in Goa, Park Association, showcasing a strategy to
Pradeep Shetty, the outgoing President of the integrate hospitality with ancillary sectors.
Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations “These collaborations reflect FHRAI’s vision to
of India (FHRAI), looked back on his tenure, elevate industry standards and sustainability
highlighting the association’s pivotal role while addressing infrastructural and service
in shaping policy and fostering industry needs,” he added.
collaboration. As Shetty prepares to pass the Shetty pointed out a major achievement
torch to the next president, he underscored during his presidency was the establishment of
FHRAI’s major achievements in advocacy and the FHRAI Centre of Excellence, a think-tank
partnerships that strengthened the hospitality aimed at driving research and collaboration government reforms and the continued rise of
landscape. within the sector. The Center released its domestic tourism. However, challenges such
Shetty spoke about key moments in FHRAI’s first report on the Ease of Doing Business, as GST rationalisation and access to long-term
advocacy journey, including the Sustainability addressing bureaucratic challenges and funding remain, and Shetty stressed that these
Summit in Delhi, which brought together streamlining processes for the hospitality issues will be key areas of focus for FHRAI
government officials, including Amitabh Kant, industry. This effort is poised to assist both moving forward.
and industry leaders. A significant outcome industry players and policymakers in creating As Shetty prepares to step down, the
of the summit was the sustainability report a more conducive business environment. leadership of FHRAI will transition to the
produced in collaboration with KPMG, which Reflecting on the broader hospitality new president, who is expected to continue
detailed the industry’s existing practices and landscape, Shetty noted the significant addressing key challenges facing the industry.
outlined areas for improvement. Additionally, recovery the industry has witnessed post- Shetty remains confident in the association’s
FHRAI hosted important stakeholder events, pandemic. “Our revenues are now exceeding continued efforts, stating that while significant
such as a landmark meeting in Srinagar, which pre-pandemic levels,” he stated, adding progress has been made, particularly with
was the first post the abrogation of Article that while foreign tourist arrivals still lag, government stakeholders, more work is
370, marking a significant milestone for the domestic travel has surged, spurred by required to ensure that reforms such as GST
industry in the region. This event saw local infrastructure development in tier-2 and adjustments and easier lending conditions are
hoteliers and national board members come tier-3 cities. The industry has demonstrated fully realised.
together, strengthening FHRAI’s regional resilience, bouncing back from one of the most “The ongoing FHRAI Annual Convention,
outreach. challenging periods, with strong performances with participation from 800 delegates and
Shetty also informed that, in terms of and increasing demand. representation from both state and central
partnerships, FHRAI signed Memorandums Looking ahead, Shetty predicts the addition government, highlighted the association’s
of Understanding (MoUs) with organisations of 50,000 to 60,000 rooms in the hospitality growing influence,” he concluded. n
such as the Indian Plumbing Association, CII sector over the next five years, driven by

competitiveness. A sustainability-focused panel, led by Gurmit Singh opportunities for hotels catering to this market segment.
Arora, spotlighted regenerative practices, balancing environmental Pradeep Shetty remarked on the day’s insights, “Today’s discussions
impact and guest satisfaction. reflect the hospitality sector’s commitment to drive growth, create jobs,
Mugdha Sinha, Director General of Tourism, presented a strategic and prioritize sustainability while adapting to an evolving market.”
vision for expanding India’s wedding tourism.
“India’s wedding sector offers immense economic
potential, second only to China,” Sinha said,
noting that weddings attract a large domestic
and international market. By improving
connectivity, easing visa processes, and offering
curated experiences, India could strengthen its
position as a top wedding destination.
Further, a session on restaurant trends,
led by Rahul Akerkar, delved into dining
innovations and the role of technology in
enhancing customer engagement. Siddhartha
Chaturvedi discussed the boom in luxury
weddings, underscoring the revenue

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