We intend to actively engage with the government to create a more favourable regulatory framework for the hospitality sector: Shetty

The Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) announced its new leadership during its 67th Annual General Meeting held on September 28, 2023, in the capital city. In a unanimous decision, FHRAI members elected Pradeep Shetty, director of Maharaja Hotels in Mumbai, as the organisation's new president. Shetty will officially assume office on January 1, 2024. Notably, Shetty previously served as Vice President and has been an active member of FHRAI for over a decade. Concurrently, he currently holds the position of President at the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI). 

Shetty's extensive expertise in corporate law, coupled with his profound understanding of the legal and regulatory landscape of the tourism and hospitality sectors, has been instrumental in FHRAI's legal advocacy efforts over the past decade. Some significant milestones achieved under his leadership include the landmark MRP judgement by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, the Competition Commission of India's action against anti-competitive practices by MakeMyTrip and OYO, the cable TV tariff relief secured against broadcasters, and the Hon'ble Delhi High Court's injunction against the CCPA guidelines regarding the imposition of service charges. These accomplishments bear the indelible imprint of Shetty's dedication to advocating for the betterment of the hospitality industry. 

Upon his election, Shetty stated, "We intend to actively engage with the government to create a more favourable regulatory framework for the hospitality sector. Granting infrastructure status to our industry is at the top of our agenda, as it has the potential to be a game changer by facilitating long-term loans at competitive interest rates, thereby accelerating sector growth.” Among the critical challenges facing the industry, Shetty has been actively addressing concerns related to music copyright matters, service charge issues, and anti-competitive activities by large tech companies that adversely affect FHRAI members. “We also seek additional stimulus packages and incentives from the government to equip the sector for achieving the ambitious target of welcoming 100 million international tourists by 2047. This includes advocating for a favourable GST regime and ease of doing business measures in hospitality." He added.  

In addition to the election of Shetty as President, the Executive Committee also appointed new 'Office Bearers' to oversee the day-to-day affairs of FHRAI. Surendra Kumar Jaiswal, K Nagaraju, and T S Walia were elected as Vice Presidents, representing the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Northern India, the South India Hotels and Restaurants Association, and the Hotel & Restaurant Association of Eastern India, respectively.