The Executive Committee (EC) of the Hotel Association of India (HAI) electedMr. KBKachru, Chairman Emeritus & Principal Advisor, South Asia at Radisson Hotel Group as President for a two year term at the Association’s milestone 100th EC meeting together during HAI’s 27th Annual General Meeting (AGM)at The Park New Delhi on the 18th of March2024. Mr. Kachru takes charge from outgoing President, Mr Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, IHCL. The Executive Committee also elected Mr. Rohit Khosla, Executive Vice President, IHCL as Vice President of the Association for a concurrent term. Hotel Association of India (HAI), the apex body of the Indian hospitality sector held its 27th Annual General Meet (AGM) in New Delhi, during which the committee, decided unanimously to elect the management committee for a term of two years. Dr. JK Mohanty, Managing Director Swosti Premium Limited was elected as Honorary Secretary while Mr. Sanjay Sethi, Managing Director & CEO, Chalet Hotels Limited was elected as Honorary Treasurerof the Association.
The management committee will direct the Association throughout its term of office till 2025.
While welcoming the new members and congratulating the team, HAI Secretary-General, MP Bezbaruah thanked the outgoing committee members while adding thatthe relationship with them is enduring and continuous.
Thanking the outgoing president, Mr. Puneet Chhatwal for laying a strong foundation for the industry body and creating a unified voice for the Sector as it faced its worst crisis in recent times, Mr. KB Kachru, said, “During Covid HAI collaborated with other Industry bodies, followed an aggressive advocacy plan that included launching a magazine, a newsletter and engaged actively with the media for a wider outreach”, Mr. Kachru said.
“Over the last two years, HAI has achieved new heights under the stellar leadership of Mr Chhatwal. As we embark on a new journey under the leadership of Mr. Kachru, we look forward to taking the legacy forward and contribute further to take the Association to the next level and create newer benchmarks for HAI. The industry has great hopes for HAI to be the driving force in achieving its goals. I am sure the new management team under Mr. Kachru will make all strides in ensuring the industry gets its due recognition in the times to come”, added Mr. Khosla.
In addition to adopting and approving the financial results for the year 2022-2023 and appointing auditors for the financial year of 2023-2024, the AGM’s agenda included elections of the Association’s executive committee. The Association also elected two new member to the Executive Committee – Mr. Shashank Bhagat, Managing Partner Radisson Blu Marina Hotel and Ms Sonali Chauhan, General Manager, The Connaught, New Delhi – IHCL Seleqtions. While Mr. Bhagat is the nominee for HAI’s member hotels in the category of 4 star and 3 star, the hotels classified in the ministry’s classification categories of Heritage 1 and 2 star would be represented by Ms Chauhan.
HAI looks forward to the active involvement of the committee members to lead the Association into the phase of the Industry’sthrival after it survived the pandemic years andrevived to the pre-covid levels.
About HAI
Established in 1996, Hotel Association of India (HAI) has evolved as an integrated hospitality industry platform to keep pace with the growing buoyancy ushered in by the liberalization of the Indian economy in the mid-90s. With its membership extending from major hotel groups; boutique, heritage and small hotels, HAI represents the entire spectrum of the industry. Its Executive Committee is a potent combination of the commitment of hotel owners on one hand and hard-core professionalism of hotel managers on the other. As the apex Industry Body, HAI works in the areas of Promotion of Regional Cooperation and Hospitality Research & Education in addition to taking Industry centric initiatives. By launching Unprecedented ‘Social Inclusion’ initiatives, HAI also projects the ‘Social Face’ of the Indian hospitality industry.”
