Pradeep Shetty Elected as FHRAI President: New Leadership for India's Hospitality Industry

Pradeep Shetty Elected as FHRAI President: New Leadership for India's Hospitality Industry

By Author

Published on October 3, 2023

The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) is proud to announce its new President, Mr. Pradeep Shetty, Director of Maharaja Hotels, Mumbai. Elected unanimously, Mr. Shetty will officially assume office on January 1, 2024. His extensive experience and dedication to the industry make him the ideal candidate for this crucial role.

Having previously served as Vice President and actively contributed to FHRAI for over a decade, Mr. Shetty is also the current President of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI). In his statement, Mr. Shetty outlined several key priorities for his tenure as FHRAI President.

A Vision for the Future

Mr. Shetty expressed a commitment to engage with the government to create a more favorable regulatory framework for the hospitality sector. He highlighted the pressing need for the sector to receive infrastructure status, which would facilitate long-term loans at competitive interest rates, ultimately accelerating sector growth.

Furthermore, Mr. Shetty emphasized the importance of additional stimulus packages and incentives from the government. These are essential to enable the sector to achieve its ambitious goal of welcoming 100 million international tourists by 2047. This includes favorable GST (Goods and Services Tax) policies and measures to ease doing business in the hospitality sector.

Beyond these priorities, Mr. Shetty also addressed challenges such as music copyright issues, service charges, and concerns related to anti-competitive activities by major tech companies.

New Office Bearers

During the FHRAI's 67th Annual General Meeting held on September 28, 2023, new office bearers were elected. Mr. Surendra Kumar Jaiswal, Mr. K Nagaraju, and Mr. T S Walia were elected as Vice Presidents from different regional associations. Additionally, Mr. DVS Somaraju was elected as Honorary Treasurer, and Mr. Nirav Gandhi as Honorary Secretary. Mr. Sudesh Kumar Poddar and Mr. Amarvir Singh will serve as Joint Honorary Secretaries of the Federation.

Mr. Shetty's election represents a new chapter for FHRAI, and his commitment to the industry's growth and success is evident. Together with the new office bearers, he aims to lead the organization toward a future of excellence, innovation, and growth in India's hospitality sector.


Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal Appoints Raghuvir G Gurjale as Director of Sales

Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal Appoints Raghuvir G Gurjale as Director of Sales

By Hariharan U

Published on June 18, 2026

Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal has announced the appointment of Raghuvir G Gurjale as its new Director of Sales, marking a strategic leadership addition as the hotel continues to strengthen its commercial presence in Bengaluru’s competitive hospitality market.

With over 23 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Gurjale brings deep expertise in sales leadership, business development, customer relationship management, and hotel operations. In his new role, he will be responsible for shaping the hotel’s commercial strategy, enhancing brand visibility, and leading the sales and marketing team to drive sustained business growth.

Prior to this appointment, he served as Multi Property Director of Sales for Courtyard by Marriott Trichy and Madurai, where he played a key role in revenue acceleration and strategic account development. Over the course of his career, he has held leadership roles across several prominent hospitality brands, building strong market relationships and delivering consistent performance across key business segments.

His professional journey includes stints with leading hotels such as Four Points by Sheraton Convention Hotel & Resort – Mahabalipuram, Accord Metropolitan Chennai, The Raintree Annasalai, Hilton Chennai, Radisson Blu Hotel Chennai City Centre, The Park Chennai, and The Oberoi Group, reflecting a strong foundation across luxury, upscale, and business hotel segments.

Known for his result-oriented approach and relationship-driven leadership style, Gurjale has consistently focused on building high-performing teams, managing key corporate accounts, and executing effective revenue strategies. His appointment is expected to further strengthen Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal’s position as a preferred destination for business, events, and hospitality experiences in the city.

Commenting on the appointment, Kadambari Sabharwal Talwar, General Manager of the hotel, said that Gurjale’s extensive industry experience, strategic vision, and leadership capabilities will contribute significantly to the hotel’s continued growth and market success.

The appointment also reinforces the continued leadership presence of Marriott International in India’s hospitality sector, as its portfolio of brands continues to expand and evolve across key urban markets.


DoubleTree by Hilton Gurugram Baani Square Appoints Abhay Nath Thakur as Executive Housekeeper

DoubleTree by Hilton Gurugram Baani Square Appoints Abhay Nath Thakur as Executive Housekeeper

By Hariharan U

Published on June 18, 2026

DoubleTree by Hilton Gurugram Baani Square has announced the appointment of Abhay Nath Thakur as its new Executive Housekeeper, strengthening the hotel’s leadership team in housekeeping operations and guest service excellence.

In his new role, Abhay will be responsible for overseeing housekeeping operations, maintaining high standards of cleanliness and hygiene, enhancing guest comfort, and ensuring smooth operational performance aligned with Hilton’s global service standards. He will also focus on improving internal processes, strengthening quality benchmarks, and elevating overall guest satisfaction.

Abhay brings over a decade of experience in the hospitality industry, having worked with leading international hotel brands across India. Prior to this appointment, he served as Assistant Executive Housekeeper at Renaissance Bengaluru Race Course Hotel. His career also includes roles across multiple Marriott International properties such as JW Marriott Bengaluru, Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield, Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal, Fairfield by Marriott Goa Anjuna, Fairfield by Marriott Chennai, Courtyard by Marriott Siliguri, and Fairfield by Marriott Jodhpur.

His expertise spans housekeeping operations, budgeting and forecasting, quality assurance, laundry management, team development, and guest experience enhancement. Known for his detail-oriented approach and collaborative leadership style, Abhay has consistently led high-performing teams across luxury and upscale hospitality segments.

Speaking on the appointment, Nitin Pathak, General Manager, DoubleTree by Hilton Gurugram Baani Square, said the hotel is pleased to welcome Abhay and highlighted his operational expertise and leadership capabilities as key strengths that will further enhance guest experience standards.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Abhay Nath Thakur said he looks forward to contributing to the brand’s guest-centric philosophy and working closely with the team to maintain high service standards and operational excellence.


Fairfield by Marriott Jaipur Appoints Varun Pandey as Hotel Manager

Fairfield by Marriott Jaipur Appoints Varun Pandey as Hotel Manager

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on June 18, 2026

Fairfield by Marriott Jaipur has announced the appointment of Varun Pandey as Hotel Manager. Bringing more than 17 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Varun joins the hotel with a strong background in hotel operations, sales and marketing, revenue management, and guest experience.

In his new role, he will focus on strengthening operational efficiency, enhancing guest satisfaction, and supporting the continued growth of the hotel. He will also work towards fostering a culture centred on collaboration, performance, and people-first hospitality.

Varun began his hospitality journey with The Imperial Hotel, New Delhi, in Food & Beverage Service before moving into Sales & Marketing with IHG. Over the years, he has built extensive experience across leading hospitality brands, including IHG, Accor, Starwood, Marriott International, and Radisson Hotel Group.

Throughout his career, he has gained valuable exposure across both upscale and business hospitality segments, contributing to commercial growth, operational performance, and guest engagement initiatives.

Prior to joining Fairfield by Marriott Jaipur, Varun served as Director of Sales & Marketing at Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi. In this role, he played an important part in driving business growth, strengthening the hotel's market presence, and developing strong client relationships.

An alumnus of IHM Hyderabad, Varun also holds a postgraduate MBA from Arunachal University. Beyond his professional commitments, he enjoys road trips and discovering new destinations, reflecting his passion for travel, experiences, and meaningful connections.

With his diverse industry experience and leadership expertise, Fairfield by Marriott Jaipur looks forward to further enhancing its guest experience and strengthening its position in Jaipur's hospitality landscape under his guidance.

Stay up-to-date with the latest Hospitality news and trends in the Hospitality industry!

Subscribe to Hospitality news e-magazine for free and never miss an issue.

By clicking subscribe for free you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge our Privacy Policy.

Advertise With Us

We have various options to advertise with us including Events, Advertorials, Banners, Mailers, etc.