K Syama Raju, Managing Director, Hotel Maurya, was re-elected as the President for the year 2017-18 at the 66th Annual General Meeting of South India Hotels and Restaurants Association (SIHRA) held recently at Chennai.

T Natarajan, CEO, GRT Hotels and Resorts, was re-elected Honorary Secretary for the same year, according to a press release.

Though the industry faced challenges in terms of highway, liquor ban and GST, tourism and travel continued to grow.

The World Tourism and Travel Council has predicted 7.3 per cent increase in room occupancy and eating in F&B outlets as compared to 2016, the press release stated.

Raju said in the press release that the 86 pacts worth ₹15,000 crore for the development of tourism and hospitality projects at the Incredible India Tourism Investors Summit in 2016 will give a boost to the industry.