FHRAI Successfully Concludes HR Summit on Education and Careers in Hospitality

FHRAI Successfully Concludes HR Summit on Education and Careers in Hospitality

By Nishang Narayan

Published on November 17, 2024

The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), in partnership with the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (NCHMCT) and the Hotel & Restaurant Association of Northern India (HRANI), concluded its HR Summit on Education and Career in Hospitality on November 14, 2024, at Hotel Le Meridien, New Delhi. The summit was a gathering of over 200 industry leaders, educators, and government representatives committed to addressing the challenges in the hospitality sector and shaping its future.

The summit focused on critical issues, including the shortage of skilled workers, declining student enrolment in hospitality courses, and high employee attrition rates. It featured three insightful sessions covering career opportunities, enrolment and retention challenges, and best practices for managing human resources.

During the event, FHRAI released a report titled "Future of Hospitality: Challenges, Skill Shortages and Solutions," developed by the FHRAI Centre of Excellence after consulting over 1,500 stakeholders. The report underscored the growing demand for skilled workers, estimating a need for an additional 100,000–150,000 skilled professionals annually to meet the sector's rapid growth, projected to double by 2029.

Key Voices at the Summit

Gyan Bhushan, CEO of NCHMCT, highlighted the transformative opportunities in the hospitality industry post-pandemic, stating, “Hospitality is a key growth sector in India’s economy, poised for robust job creation with the right focus on education and skill development.”

Pradeep Shetty, Vice President of FHRAI, emphasized the industry's potential to drive economic growth and job creation, saying, “Hospitality contributes significantly to employment and foreign exchange. However, addressing workforce shortages and making careers attractive to new professionals are urgent priorities.”

K.B. Kachru, President of the Hotel Association of India (HAI), stressed the need for unified efforts across government, industry, and academia. “India is on the verge of becoming the third-largest economy, and hospitality must play a pivotal role in driving this growth,” he remarked.

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Surendra Kumar Jaiswal, President of HRANI, applauded the collaborative spirit of the summit and its focus on workforce development. “Education and training are critical for the future of hospitality, and this summit serves as a platform for meaningful dialogue and action,” he noted.

Key Discussions and Outcomes
The three sessions delved into:

  1. Career Opportunities in Hospitality: Exploring new roles, skill development, and strategies for growth.
  2. Addressing Low Enrolment and High Attrition: Tackling curriculum updates and reducing turnover.
  3. Managing Human Resources in Hospitality: Sharing best practices for talent retention and workforce motivation.

The summit concluded with a collective commitment from FHRAI, NCHMCT, and HRANI to enhance collaboration, improve hospitality education, and create sustainable career pathways.

About FHRAI:

Founded in 1955, FHRAI is India’s apex hospitality body and the third-largest hospitality association globally. It serves as the leading voice for the industry, fostering growth and collaboration among stakeholders.

The HR Summit marked a significant step towards strengthening India’s hospitality workforce, ensuring it remains a driving force in the nation’s economic and employment landscape.


ibis and ibis Styles India Appoint Arish Mehta as Portfolio Director of Revenue Management

ibis and ibis Styles India Appoint Arish Mehta as Portfolio Director of Revenue Management

By Author

Published on December 29, 2025

ibis and ibis Styles hotels in India have announced the appointment of Arish Mehta as Portfolio Director of Revenue Management, effective December 2025. Based in New Delhi, Arish will lead the revenue management strategy across the ibis and ibis Styles portfolio in India, with a mandate to drive sustainable growth, enhance commercial performance, and strengthen collaboration across sales, operations, and digital teams.

Arish brings over 13 years of extensive experience with Accor, during which he has played a key role in shaping revenue and commercial strategies across rooms, food and beverage, and MICE segments. In his most recent role as Director of Revenue Management at a flagship Accor hotel in Mumbai, he oversaw the total revenue strategy for a 268-room property with four F&B outlets and large banquet facilities. Under his leadership, the hotel achieved a 29 percent year-on-year growth in room revenue, along with notable improvements in occupancy, average daily rate, and market share in a highly competitive premium segment.

Previously, as Cluster Revenue Manager, Arish managed revenue strategies for a portfolio of ibis hotels across major Indian cities. In this role, he consistently improved hotel performance and market rankings through disciplined pricing strategies, robust demand analysis, and effective inventory management. He also played an active role in mentoring junior revenue managers and contributing to Accor’s internal talent development initiatives.

Commenting on the appointment, Animesh Kumar, Commercial Head – ibis and ibis Styles India, said that as the ibis and ibis Styles network continues to expand across the country, strong portfolio-level revenue leadership is essential. He added that Arish’s deep understanding of the brands and markets, combined with his analytical strength and collaborative approach, makes him a valuable addition to the leadership team.

In his new role, Arish will focus on unlocking synergies across the ibis and ibis Styles brands, strengthening total revenue performance, and implementing a consistent, data-led revenue management approach across all markets.

Sharing his thoughts, Arish Mehta said he is excited to take on the portfolio role and contribute to the continued growth of ibis and ibis Styles in India. He noted that sustainable revenue performance comes from aligning data, systems, and people with a clear commercial vision, and he looks forward to building long-term impact across the portfolio in an evolving hospitality landscape.

With this appointment, ibis and ibis Styles India reaffirm their commitment to robust commercial leadership and long-term value creation across their growing hotel portfolio.


MAYFAIR Hotels & Resorts Strengthens Sales Leadership with Three Key Appointments

MAYFAIR Hotels & Resorts Strengthens Sales Leadership with Three Key Appointments

By Author

Published on December 29, 2025

MAYFAIR Hotels & Resorts has announced a significant strengthening of its sales leadership with the appointment of three seasoned hospitality professionals as Deputy General Managers – Sales & Marketing. These strategic appointments underline the brand’s continued focus on market expansion, revenue growth, and relationship-driven leadership across key regions in India.

Akhil Tanwar joins as Deputy General Manager – Sales & Marketing at the MAYFAIR Regional Office North, Delhi. With over 22 years of extensive experience in the hospitality industry, Mr. Tanwar brings deep expertise in sales strategy, corporate partnerships, and destination-led business development. His career spans leading hospitality brands including Clarion, InterContinental Hotels Group, Jaypee Hotels, Radisson Hotel Group, IHCL (Taj Hotels), and most recently Novotel Jaipur Convention Centre and Jaipur Exhibition & Convention Centre, where he served as Associate Director of Sales.

Ashwani Kumar, also appointed as Deputy General Manager – Sales & Marketing at the MAYFAIR Regional Office North, Delhi, brings 17 years of diverse experience across hospitality, events, and integrated sales platforms. He began his career with The Oberoi, New Delhi in Food & Beverage Events and has since worked with Weddingz.in, Ramada by Wyndham Neemrana, and The Lalit Group of Hotels, Delhi, where he last held the position of Associate Head of Sales.

Madhuri Nilesh Dixit takes on the role of Deputy General Manager – Sales & Marketing for the MAYFAIR West Region, based in Mumbai. With over 16 years of rich hospitality experience, Ms. Dixit is known for her strong capabilities in sales strategy, business development, and brand positioning. Her professional journey includes leadership roles at JW Marriott Goa, Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat & Spa, Lonavala, and Fairmont Jaipur. She is widely recognized for her strategic acumen and relationship-focused leadership style that enhances brand visibility across key markets.

Together, these appointments mark an important milestone in MAYFAIR Hotels & Resorts’ commitment to building a future-ready sales organization. The leadership team is expected to play a pivotal role in driving sustained growth, deeper market penetration, and long-term partnerships for the brand.

MAYFAIR Hotels & Resorts warmly welcomes Akhil Tanwar, Ashwani Kumar, and Madhuri Nilesh Dixit and looks forward to their contributions in advancing the group’s growth and success.


Machan Resorts Appoints Ankit Kotriwal as Head of Finance

Machan Resorts Appoints Ankit Kotriwal as Head of Finance

By Author

Published on December 29, 2025

Machan Resorts has announced the appointment of Ankit Kotriwal as Head of Finance, based at the company’s Mumbai Head Office. This strategic leadership addition comes as the brand continues to strengthen its financial governance and support its long-term growth and sustainability objectives.

A Chartered Accountant by qualification, Ankit brings over 15 years of extensive experience across leading global consulting and corporate organisations. His professional journey includes associations with reputed firms such as Ernst & Young and KPMG, where he built strong expertise in financial controls, audits, compliance, risk management, and strategic financial planning.

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With exposure spanning India, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East, Ankit has developed a deep understanding of multinational financial systems, regulatory frameworks, reporting standards, and scalable business operations. His global perspective is expected to further enhance Machan Resorts’ financial discipline and operational efficiency.

In his new role, Ankit will be responsible for driving the overall financial strategy of Machan Resorts, strengthening internal controls, optimising operational efficiencies, and supporting the organisation’s expansion and sustainability roadmap.

Commenting on the appointment, Sanat Hooja, Partner, Machan Resorts, said, “We are delighted to welcome Ankit to the leadership team. His depth of experience across global consulting firms and corporates, coupled with his strong understanding of financial systems and controls, will play a crucial role as we continue to strengthen our internal processes and support the company’s growth journey.”

Sharing his thoughts, Ankit Kotriwal said, “I am excited to join Machan Resorts at this important phase of its growth. The brand’s strong focus on sustainability and experiential hospitality resonates deeply with me. I look forward to working closely with the leadership team to build robust financial frameworks that support long-term value creation.”

Known for his structured and detail-oriented approach, Ankit also values continuous learning. Outside of work, he enjoys travelling, reading, writing, and programming, reflecting a balanced blend of analytical thinking and creativity. He will report directly to the Leadership Team.

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