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.


Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida Appoints Achint Singh as Associate Director of Revenue

Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida Appoints Achint Singh as Associate Director of Revenue

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on June 24, 2026

Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida has announced the appointment of Achint Singh as its Associate Director of Revenue.

With more than 12 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Achint brings extensive expertise in revenue management, reservations, forecasting, distribution strategy and hotel operations. Over the years, he has built a strong professional track record with leading hospitality brands, including Marriott and The Lalit, among others.

His experience spans several key areas such as revenue management, demand forecasting, pricing strategy, OTA and channel management, reservations operations, budgeting, business planning and competitive benchmarking. He is also skilled in analysing market trends, optimising room inventory, maintaining rate parity and developing strategies that improve profitability and operational performance.

Throughout his career, Achint has led revenue and reservations teams, supported hotel pre-opening projects and managed large hotel portfolios. In his previous role, he was responsible for revenue strategy and forecasting across multiple hotels with a combined inventory of more than 750 rooms. He has also worked closely with sales, marketing, finance and front office teams to drive commercial performance.

In his new position, Achint will oversee the Revenue Management function at Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida. His responsibilities will include identifying revenue opportunities, strengthening the hotel's market position and supporting the achievement of its overall commercial goals.

Anurag Rai, General Manager at Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida said, "We are delighted to welcome Achint Singh to Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida. Achint brings with him a wealth of experience in revenue management, distribution strategy and commercial operations along with a proven track record of driving business performance across renowned hospitality brands. His strategic mindset, analytical expertise and collaborative leadership approach will play a key role in strengthening our revenue initiatives and supporting the hotel's growth objectives. We look forward to his valuable contributions as we continue to enhance our market position and deliver exceptional results."

Expressing his enthusiasm, Achint Singh said, "I am honored to join Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida and become part of a dynamic team committed to excellence and guest satisfaction. The hospitality industry continues to evolve rapidly, creating exciting opportunities to leverage data-driven strategies, innovation and market insights to optimize performance. I look forward to working closely with the hotel's leadership team to further strengthen revenue management practices, maximize commercial opportunities and contribute to the continued success and growth of the property".

Known for his analytical approach and collaborative leadership style, Achint is committed to driving business growth while fostering a culture of operational excellence, continuous learning and teamwork. His appointment further strengthens the hotel's leadership team as it continues to focus on delivering strong commercial performance and guest experiences.


Courtyard by Marriott Mumbai International Airport Appoints Girish Divekar as Director of Sales & Marketing

Courtyard by Marriott Mumbai International Airport Appoints Girish Divekar as Director of Sales & Marketing

By Hariharan U

Published on June 24, 2026

Courtyard by Marriott Mumbai International Airport has announced the appointment of Girish Divekar as Director of Sales & Marketing, marking a significant homecoming for the hospitality professional who previously held key leadership roles at the property.

Girish first joined the hotel as Associate Director of Sales in 2017 before being promoted to Director of Sales, a position he held until 2022. Having developed a deep understanding of the property's commercial landscape, market dynamics, and guest segments during his earlier tenure, he now returns to lead the hotel's sales and marketing function during an important phase of growth.

With more than 18 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Girish has built expertise across sales, revenue generation, business development, and commercial strategy. His experience spans multiple operational segments, including rooms, food and beverage, banqueting, and catering, giving him a comprehensive understanding of hotel performance and revenue optimization.

In his new role, he will focus on driving revenue growth, strengthening market share, enhancing customer engagement, and reinforcing the hotel's positioning within Mumbai's highly competitive hospitality market.

Speaking about his return, Girish said his passion for hospitality was inspired by the ability of hotels to create meaningful guest experiences and foster a sense of belonging. He described his return to Courtyard by Marriott Mumbai International Airport as a particularly meaningful milestone in his professional journey.

Prior to this appointment, Girish successfully led business development and revenue enhancement initiatives, contributing to a 30 percent increase in revenue through strategic occupancy and average daily rate (ADR) optimisation. He also played a key role in strengthening corporate business relationships and enhancing food and beverage positioning to drive new demand streams.

Looking ahead, Girish highlighted the growing opportunities within Mumbai's hospitality sector, driven by strong domestic travel demand, expanding MICE business, and evolving guest expectations. His focus will be on sustainable growth, strategic partnerships, and delivering exceptional guest experiences while building long-term value for guests, associates, and stakeholders.

With Girish Divekar returning to the leadership team, Courtyard by Marriott Mumbai International Airport aims to further strengthen its commercial performance and capitalize on the continued growth of one of India's most dynamic hospitality markets.


Alila Diwa Goa Appoints Takshila Chheda as Area Director – Digital Marketing

Alila Diwa Goa Appoints Takshila Chheda as Area Director – Digital Marketing

By Hariharan U

Published on June 24, 2026

Alila Diwa Goa has announced the appointment of Takshila Chheda as Area Director – Digital Marketing, strengthening Hyatt’s digital leadership across key markets in India.

Prior to this appointment, Takshila led digital marketing initiatives for North, East, and West India at Hyatt Hotels. In her expanded role, she will now oversee digital marketing efforts across Goa and Pune in addition to West and Central India, supporting the brand’s growth and visibility objectives across the region.

Takshila will be responsible for developing and executing digital and performance marketing strategies aimed at driving business growth, enhancing online presence, and strengthening customer engagement across Hyatt’s portfolio. Her expertise spans digital marketing, brand management, social media, public relations, and performance-driven campaigns.

Before joining Hyatt, Takshila served as Digital Marketing Strategist at the Jio World Centre under Reliance Industries, where she played a key role in the launch and digital promotion of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre. Her work focused on building visibility and audience engagement for one of India’s most significant cultural destinations.

She also held the position of Senior Manager – Digital Marketing at Tata Motors, contributing to the company’s digital communications and customer engagement initiatives across multiple campaigns and platforms.

Earlier in her career, Takshila gained extensive experience across leading communications agencies and the hospitality sector, working with a diverse portfolio of brands and developing expertise in strategic communications and digital storytelling.

Academically, she holds a Master of Science in Corporate Communications and Reputation Management from Alliance Manchester Business School in the United Kingdom, along with a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Media (Advertising) from University of Mumbai.

Her appointment reflects Hyatt’s continued investment in digital transformation and data-driven marketing as the hospitality industry increasingly focuses on personalised guest engagement and stronger online brand presence.

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.