Mumbai, Sept 26: During the 73^rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on September 16, 2023, the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) re-elected Pradeep Shetty, Director of Maharaja Hotels as its President. Pradeep Shetty brings a wealth of experience in his role as the President and has been an active member of the Association for over a decade. His longstanding commitment to the industry is further underscored by his role as Vice President of the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI). In the new term, Nirav Gandhi will continue in office as the Sr. Vice President; Chetan Mehta – Vice President; Jimmy Shaw – Hon. Secretary and Paramjit S. Ghai – Hon. Treasurer of HRAWI. Gurbir Bedi takes charge as the Jt. Hon. Secretary in the new term.

Over the last year, under Mr Shetty’s leadership, HRAWI spearheaded several campaigns covering various facets of the hospitality industry including food safety, regulatory advocacy, talent retention and development; and sustainability.

“In our on-going commitment towards environmental sustainability, HRAWI is proud to join hands with the Government’s ‘Mission Life’ initiative. Our pledge to save the environment underscores our dedication to adopting environmentally conscious practices within the hospitality industry. Our recent collaboration with IGBC is a significant step in this direction, reinforcing our commitment to reducing our environmental footprint and promoting sustainable practices. Together, we aim to create a greener and more eco-friendly future for our industry and our planet,”

Pradeep Shetty, President, HRAWI

HRAWI’s activities over the past year included engaging with the Government during the Union Budget, collaborating with the Ministry of Tourism, simplifying GST compliance, addressing cyber-bullying, taking legal actions, addressing talent shortage, and taking up the matter of license simplification via recommendations on Ease of Doing Business (EoDB).

“We have been advocating the need to streamline and simplify licensing procedures to enhance the EoDB in the industry and move them online to reduce administrative burdens on applicants. For the prosperity and growth of the industry, it needs a business-friendly environment with reduced administrative complexities. We will continue to engage with the policymakers and the Government to bring around the much-needed changes towards the EoDB initiative,”

Pradeep Shetty, President, HRAWI

The AGM concluded with each member taking the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) pledge to make all possible changes in their daily life to protect the environment while also committing to continuously motivating family, friends and others about the importance of environmentally friendly habits. Mission LiFE is an India-led global movement to protect and preserve the environment and, aims to promote sustainable living and combat climate change.

About Hotel & Restaurant Association Western India (HRAWI)

The Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) is a 72 years old Association of Hotels and Restaurants in Western India. Its members include Restaurants and Hotels up to 5-Star Deluxe categories. With membership base spread across Western India, HRAWI covers Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa and Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, and is considered to be the voice of the Hotel Industry. The association is part of the national body of the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), located in New Delhi, which was originally founded in Mumbai in 1950 by the late Mr J.R.D. Tata. 

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