Empowering the hospitality industry

For close to seven decades, the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) has been pivotal in empowering members, advocating for the hospitality industry and fostering a favourable environment for growth and success. The largest hospitality association in the country and the third largest in the world, FHRAI t represents the interest of more than 60,000 hotels and over five lakh restaurants across India.

FHRAI, the voice of the industry, puts forth the concerns faced by the sector at various government forums, committees and task forces. With over 500 submissions and representations made annually, the Association ensures the industry’s voice is heard and considered in policy making processes and working towards a more favourable regulatory environment.

Shedding light on the subject, Pradeep Shetty, President, FHRAI, says, “FHRAI is a part of various government forums, committees and task forces, which provides it an opportunity to present views and feedback on important matters related to the hospitality industry. It actively engages with the Central and state governments on a multitude of issues and robustly represents the views and collective concerns of the industry.” The Association also plays an active role in interpreting legal implications of any new law or amendments to existing laws on the hospitality industry and accordingly conducts consultations to gather feedback of members for recommendations to the Government.

Empowering Members in Hospitality 
From legal advice to business tips, FHRAI empowers its members through intricate networking. Explaining the role of the association, Shetty states, “It helps members network with other businesses and potential clients through events and digital platforms. With its large network of members across the country, FHRAI facilitates significant business connections, fostering partnerships that can lead to new opportunities. By providing these resources and networking opportunities, it helps members enhance skills, stay competitive and achieve growth in a dynamic industry. Additionally, it acts as an interface between the hospitality industry, political leadership, regulatory bodies, academics, international associations and other stakeholders.”

Vision and Functionality
As FHRAI’s vision is to be a leading advocate for the hospitality industry in India, driving growth and global competitiveness, it is focussing on several key improvements like enhancing digital infrastructure, including the development of a new online platform to facilitate better member engagement and service delivery. “We are working to strengthen advocacy efforts by establishing our own Centre of Excellence which will be a dedicated research arm aimed at advancing knowledge, innovation and excellence. We also aim to increase our influence in policy discussions and achieve more favourable outcomes for the industry,” shares Shetty.

Decision-Making and Member Participation
Shetty elucidates on the decision-making process and how it drives active member participation. “The process involves a structured framework including the executive committee, regional chapters and various specialised committees. The executive committee, consisting of elected members from across the country, meets quarterly to discuss and decide on key issues. Regional chapters hold local meetings to gather input from members and address regional concerns. By involving members in these processes, the association ensures that decisions reflect the collective interests and needs of the entire membership,” informs Shetty.

Fostering a Favourable Environment 
“FHRAI organises more than 20 major industry events each year, including conferences and exhibitions, which provide members with opportunities to learn about new developments and network with industry leaders. It engages with policymakers to address challenges like infrastructure deficits and regulatory hurdles. It also identifies and addresses special needs of the hospitality sector to make it more competitive, promoting the best-practices in the hospitality industry,” states Shetty.

Government Initiatives
Highlighting the role of the Government in transforming the hospitality landscape and some of the key demands of the industry, Shetty discloses, “The Government has made efforts to address the hospitality industry’s needs, such as implementing tax incentives and infrastructure projects. And has announced plans to invest in tourism infrastructure, including upgrades to airports and transport facilities. However, there are still areas where the industry feels its needs are not fully met. Issues such as high operational costs, complex regulations and inconsistent policy enforcement remain concerns. The key demands of the tourism and hospitality sector have been GST rationalisation, granting of infrastructure status and bringing ease of doing business and policy reforms. FHRAI continuously highlights these issues to the Government, advocating for further reforms and improvements.”