admin 
As the Chairman of the FHRAI Convention Committee, Dinesh Advani played a pivotal role in organising the highly anticipated 54th Annual FHRAI Convention in Goa, held after a multi-year hiatus. In an exclusive interview with Hospitality Biz at the convention, Advani reflects on the achievements of the event, which attracted nearly 800 delegates, making it one of the largest FHRAI conventions in recent memory.
As the Chairman of the Convention Committee, how would you rate this convention? What are your key learnings from this event, which seems to be one of the largest FHRAI conventions in recent years?
I believe this convention has been a great success. We have had a fantastic turnout, especially considering that this is the first FHRAI convention we have hosted in several years. A lot of meticulous planning, effort, and hard work went into organising it, and I am glad to see that most of the delegates seem to be very happy with the experience. While we still have another day to go, the feedback so far has been extremely positive. I sincerely hope that this energy continues in future conventions.
How many delegates attended this year, and what are some of the key takeaways from organising a convention of this scale after such a long break?
We have had over 700 delegates – nearly 800, to be precise – which is an excellent number for us. The exhibition saw strong footfalls, and both the sponsors and exhibitors have expressed their satisfaction. The business sessions were also well received, and we have seen real value in terms of the learnings shared with delegates.
One of the most encouraging aspects is the participation of the younger generation, who were exposed to the FHRAI convention for the first time. They now have a better understanding of the event’s importance, which bodes well for the future. Going forward, I believe it’s critical to maintain this tradition, especially after the disruption caused by the pandemic. I am confident that in future editions, we will achieve even better numbers and continue to build on this momentum.
With the leadership transitioning to South India, including a new President and Convention Committee, what challenges do you foresee for them, and how do you think they should progress on the success of this convention?
I am certain that the new team, led by South India, will do an excellent job. They have always been capable, and they will have the flexibility to decide where they want to hold the next convention. I believe they will take important learnings from this event and apply them moving forward. Ensuring high-quality speakers and engaging entertainment will be key to maintaining the convention’s success. Under K Syama Raju’s leadership, I am confident they will continue this tradition with great success. He’s proven to be a strong president, and I have no doubt that his team will excel.
