Tag Archives: FHRAI

FHRAI is set to host the Tourism Sustainability Summit 2024 in March. It will propose a framework for sustainable tourism stating that Goa Roadmap could be a beacon for sustainable global tourism with 5 key priorities: Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, Tourism MSMEs, and Destination Management to achieve SDGs.

Pradeep Shetty, President, FHRAI, said, “What we need on national tourism day is a national tourism policy with a country wide focus on tourism, that can become a model for the states to follow, at least in terms of themes, larger policy related issue, existing tourism, and what can be done to encourage people to come into tourism, taking due note of how much employment is generated in tourism. In so far as locations are concerned there are a lot of locations. I think religious tourism looks very good. With infrastructure developing, many tier II, III cities have been given renewed energy now. More financial outlay is being given to tier II, III cities. Beach tourism also needs to be looked at with 7500km of coastline.”

At the 67th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of FHRAI, Pradeep Shetty has been elected as the President of FHRAI for 2023-2024. He will be assuming charge from 1st January 2024. 23 new EC members were also elected at the 67th AGM.

Sudesh Kumar Poddar, President, FHRAI, has said that the key area of focus as the President for him is to urge the government to have more M!CE tourism on the lines of G20, or national & international games in India. “When such mega events happen in the country, direct benefit goes to the transport and to the hospitality industry,” he said.

Sudesh Poddar has been elected as the President of FHRAI for 2022-2023 at the association’s 66th AGM at The Lalit, New Delhi. A team of 24 Executive Members also elected: Pradeep Shetty as Vice President from HRAWI; K Nagaraju as Vice President from SIHRA; M Surendra Kumar Jaiswal as Vice President from HRANI; T.S Walia as Hony. Secretary (FHRAI); Amarvir Singh as Jt. Hony. Secretary from Northern region; Gurbaxish Singh Kohli as Jt. Hony. Secretary from Western region and D.V.S Somaraju as Hony. Treasure (FHRAI).

Jaison Chacko, Secretary General, Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), has revealed that the Delhi High Court has dismissed the writ petition filed by MakeMyTrip (MMT) challenging the order passed by the Ld. NCLAT to deposit 10 per cent penalty amount for entertaining the appeal against the Competition Commission of India (CCI’s) order.

Thanking the government for considering its appeal for earmarking an ECLGS for the sector, Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, VP, Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), said, “The decision to approve an additional ECLGS worth Rs.50,000 Cr specifically for hospitality and tourism sectors is welcome. The additional line of credit was much needed by the hospitality sector which is still grappling with massive debts and is simultaneously trying to keep business running. Several hospitality establishments cannot sustain operations without sufficient liquidity, but the extended ECLGS could help businesses buy some more time to keep the wheels in motion.”

Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, VP, FHRAI said, “Most of these guidelines issued by CCPA are already followed by hotels & restaurants. It’s extremely disheartening that the hospitality industry is constantly singled out. We have explained over and over again that there is nothing illegal in collecting a service charge.” 

FHRAI has submitted a representation to Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister of Civil Aviation, highlighting problems faced by inbound tourists with filling the online Air Suvidha form and has requested for its immediate withdrawal. With several passengers having missed their flights to India, the Association has appealed for the Ministry to at least provision physical forms as an alternate to the online forms.

FHRAI has clarified that service charge, like any other charge collected by an establishment, is a part of the invitation offered by the restaurant to the potential customers. It is for the customers to decide whether they wish to patronise the said restaurant or not. To discuss and seek clarity on the matter, the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) has called FHRAI for a meeting on June 02.