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.


Somrup Chanda Appointed General Manager at Fairfield by Marriott Kolkata

Somrup Chanda Appointed General Manager at Fairfield by Marriott Kolkata

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on January 29, 2026

Fairfield by Marriott Kolkata has announced the appointment of Somrup Chanda as its General Manager, effective 09 January 2026. The appointment marks a significant step as the property looks to strengthen its leadership and operational excellence.

Somrup Chanda brings with him over two decades of rich and diverse experience in the hospitality industry, having worked with leading hotel brands across India and the Middle East. His professional expertise spans hotel operations, revenue maximization, marketing, customer experience, and pre-opening projects.

He began his hospitality journey with Hyatt in Food and Beverage and steadily progressed through renowned brands such as Grand Hyatt, Park Hyatt, and Hyatt Regency. His career with Marriott International includes playing a key role in launching India’s first Sheraton Grand. He also contributed significantly to the pre-opening and rebranding of Indore Marriott Hotel, where several award-winning concepts were introduced to the market.

Somrup’s professional journey further includes leadership roles with Accor in Kolkata and IHG in Abu Dhabi, adding global exposure to his profile before his return to India.

In 2023, he took on the role of Director of Operations at Bangalore Marriott Hotel Whitefield. During his tenure, he successfully stabilized operations, improved guest satisfaction levels, enhanced revenue performance, and positioned the hotel as Karnataka’s largest single-branded property.

With his extensive experience and people-focused leadership style, Somrup Chanda is expected to drive operational efficiency and guest-centric growth at Fairfield by Marriott Kolkata.


Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel Elevates RaviTeja Yenumula to Director of Sales and Marketing

Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel Elevates RaviTeja Yenumula to Director of Sales and Marketing

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on January 29, 2026

Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel has announced the promotion of RaviTeja Yenumula to Director of Sales and Marketing. In his expanded role, he will lead the hotel’s comprehensive commercial strategy, with a strong focus on driving revenue growth through integrated sales, marketing, and customer success initiatives.

With over 11 years of experience in the hospitality industry, RaviTeja brings deep expertise in commercial strategy and MICE operations. His career spans managing MICE-focused, corporate, and airport hotels, supported by a consistent record of delivering strong commercial performance.

RaviTeja joined Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel in June 2024 as Director of Sales. During this period, he played a key role in improving the hotel’s top-line performance through proactive sales strategies, reservation optimisation, and detailed market analysis.

Prior to joining Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel and Marriott International, RaviTeja served as Director of Sales at Accor from January 2023 to June 2024, where he also completed the Global Leadership Programme, Professional Leaders category. His professional journey also includes significant roles with The Oberoi Group and various leadership positions within Accor.

Speaking on his elevation, RaviTeja Yenumula said,

“I am thrilled to take on this role at Sheraton Hyderabad, where I can harness my passion for technology and customer success to enhance our commercial excellence. My goal is to empower our team through effective decision-making and by adopting cutting-edge tools provided by Marriott International.”

RaviTeja holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering and began his professional career as a software developer before transitioning into the hospitality industry. Outside of work, he enjoys travelling and exploring new technology.


Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida Appoints Dharmendra Mishra as Director of Sales

Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida Appoints Dharmendra Mishra as Director of Sales

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on January 29, 2026

Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida has announced the appointment of Dharmendra Mishra as its new Director of Sales. With over two decades of experience in the hospitality industry, Dharmendra brings extensive expertise across sales leadership, MICE and convention sales, catering revenue management, and event operations.

Over the course of his career, Dharmendra has been associated with several renowned hotel brands including IHG, Hyatt, Hilton, Pride Plaza, and Park Plaza. In his previous roles, he has consistently driven strong revenue performance, operational excellence, and high levels of guest satisfaction. His professional journey has also been recognised through multiple prestigious awards and internal leadership accolades.

In his new role at Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida, Dharmendra will be responsible for leading the hotel’s sales strategy, strengthening market positioning, driving revenue growth, and managing key account relationships. He will work closely with cross-functional teams to enhance overall business performance and elevate the guest experience.

Sharing his views on the appointment, N. Vinaayak, Director of Sales & Marketing, said,

“We are excited to welcome Dharmendra to our team. His deep industry knowledge, strong commercial acumen, and proven track record in driving sales performance make him a valuable addition to our organization. We are confident that his strategic vision and collaborative approach will play a key role in strengthening our market position and delivering exceptional results.”

Expressing his enthusiasm, Dharmendra Mishra said,

“I am delighted to join Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida and I look forward to working with the talented team here to build strong partnerships, explore new market opportunities, and contribute to the continued success and growth of the hotel.”

Outside of his professional commitments, Dharmendra enjoys cooking and follows cricket closely.

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