Friday, February 9, 2024
As India marks the onset of the ‘Amrit Kaal’ during its 75th Republic Day and sets off on the path toward realizing the vision for a ‘New India’ by 2047, the Hotel Association of India (HAI) is preparing to host its 6th annual HAI Hoteliers’ Conclave on February 12, 2024, at The Taj Palace New Delhi. Themed ‘Hospitality – The Engine for GDP Growth and Employment’, this day-long conference will gather hospitality professionals, including hotel owners, CEOs, policymakers, and experts from across the nation.
Distinguished speakers at the conclave will include Smt. Smriti Irani, Honorable Minister of Women and Child Development, Government of India; Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena; Shri Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa and former CEO of Niti Aayog; and Ms. V. Vidyavathi IAS serves as the Secretary for the Ministry of Tourism within the Government of India. Leading the event will be Puneet Chhatwal, President of HAI and Managing Director & CEO of IHCL, along with Mr. KB Kachru, Vice President of HAI and Chairman Emeritus & Principal Advisor (South Asia) at Radisson Hotel Group.
Mr. Rohit Khosla, Conclave Convenor and Executive Vice President – Operations, North and West India, IHCL said, “The programme has been curated with the objective of bringing key decision makers in the hospitality sector together on a single platform to debate lessons learnt, assess future problems and opportunities, and determine a progressive growth path for the industry. The year has started well mostly on account of Events and domestic and we are really excited to discuss and grow together.”
The opening speech will be given by Shri Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa, former CEO of Niti Aayog, and the mastermind behind the branding of “God’s Own Country” and “Incredible India”. Ms. V. Vidyavathi, IAS, Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, will not only deliver a keynote address but also engage with industry leaders in a plenary session. The event will conclude with a keynote address by the Guest of Honor, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena.
Commenting on the event, Mr. Puneet Chhatwal, MD & CEO of the Indian Hotels Company Limited and President of HAI, stated, “The 6th HAI Hoteliers’ Conclave is a convergence of industry leaders and visionaries, charting the course for India’s hospitality sector. It’s an opportunity to unlock the immense potential of our tourism industry and set the stage for unprecedented growth.”
Mr. MP Bezbaruah, Secretary General, Hotel Association of India, said, “The sector has already crossed the pre pandemic levels and with domestic tourism on all-time high, the sector will play a key role in India’s Vision 2047. All indicators of growth suggest that the momentum will be maintained and improve in 2024.As the industry welcomes the New Year, the platform will provide a great opportunity to discuss, share collaborate and reach greater heights as an Industry.”
The session titled ‘The View from the Top’ at the event will be moderated by Mr. Nakul Anand, former Executive Director of ITC Ltd. Esteemed panelists for this discussion will include hotel veterans Dr. (Ms.) Jyotsna Suri, Chairperson & Managing Director of Bharat Hotels Ltd; Mr.. Vikram Oberoi, CEO and Managing Director of The Oberoi Group; Mr. Patu Keswani, Chairman & Managing Director of Lemon Tree Hotels Ltd; and Mr. Sanjay Sethi, Managing Director and CEO of Chalet Hotels Limited.
Plenary sessions will focus on topics such as Operational Excellence. Technology’s role in the industry will be explored in a fireside chat with the CEO and Co-founder of MakeMyTrip, along with Mr. Patu Keswani, Chairman & Managing Director of Lemon Tree Hotels Ltd. Mr. Ajay Bakaya, Managing Director of Sarovar Hotels Pvt. Ltd., will moderate discussions on employment challenges in hospitality, featuring domain experts from hotels, skill councils, hospitality institutes, and human capital advisory. The States’ Perspective will be presented by Mr. Achin Khanna Managing Partner of Strategic Advisory at Hotelivate, in dialogue with state tourism officials and leaders of regional hotel bodies. Mr. Harmeet Singh Bedi, Senior Director of Hotels & Hospitality Group at India Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated (JLL), will provide a cutting-edge presentation on the future industry outlook.
The highly anticipated sessions of the day will include conversations with Smt. Smriti Irani, Honorable Minister of Women and Child Development, Government of India, and Shri. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and CEO of The Indian Hotels Company Limited, to be moderated by Smt. Navika Kumar, Group Editor-in-Chief of Times Now and Times Now Navbharat.
The event will conclude with a Vote of Thanks by the Secretary-General of HAI.
HAI has been actively addressing industry issues and striving to facilitate favorable policy interventions not only with the Central Government but also across various states. HAI has played an instrumental role in key policy announcements and has collaborated closely with other industry bodies including CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM, FAITH, and WTTCII. The Conclave will also provide partner companies and solution providers with an opportunity to network closely with corporate decision-makers in the Indian hotel industry and explore possibilities for developing long-term business relationships.
Friday, February 9, 2024
Friday, February 9, 2024
