The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) conducted its 67th Annual General Meeting in the capital recently. Before this, Pradeep Shetty held the position of Vice President and has actively been a part of the Association for over 10 years.
Additionally, he also serves as the President of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI). Shetty’s expertise in corporate law and his deep understanding of the legal and regulatory framework within the tourism and hospitality sector have played a pivotal role in FHRAI’s legal efforts for nearly a decade.
Some significant achievements include FHRAI’s involvement in legal cases such as the MRP judgment by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the Competition Commission of India’s actions against anti-competitive practices by MakeMyTrip and OYO, the successful resolution of Cable TV tariff issues with Broadcasters, and the Hon’ble Delhi High Court’s stay on the CCPA guidelines concerning service charge imposition.
As FHRAI’s President, Pradeep Shetty has pledged to address several urgent priorities. He aims to engage actively with the Government to create a more favourable regulatory environment for the hospitality sector, with a primary focus on securing infrastructure status—a move that could potentially revolutionize the industry by facilitating long-term loans at competitive interest rates, thereby accelerating its growth.
Furthermore, he stressed the need for additional stimulus packages and incentives from the government to equip the sector to achieve the ambitious goal of welcoming 100 million international tourists by 2047. These measures include favourable GST policies and streamlined business procedures within the hospitality industry. Among other critical challenges faced by the industry, Shetty has been advocating for matters related to music copyrights, service charges, and anti-competitive activities by major tech corporations, all of which have adverse effects on FHRAI members. In his concluding remarks, he stated, “I am deeply honoured to take on this role and lead FHRAI, an organization that has played a pivotal role in shaping India’s hospitality landscape.
I extend my gratitude to all the regional associations and Executive Committee members for their trust in me. We are committed to advancing the interests of our members and the entire industry. Together, we will strive for excellence, foster innovation, and create a thriving environment for hospitality in India. FHRAI will actively engage in policy advocacy in the realm of online travel, seek GST rationalization for restaurants, and work toward establishing a dynamic environment for tourism growth in India through favourable fiscal policies and improved ease of doing business.
“Additionally, the Executive Committee elected new ‘Office Bearers’ of FHRAI to oversee the organization’s day-to-day affairs. Surendra Kumar Jaiswal, K Nagaraju, and T S Walia were elected as Vice Presidents representing the Hotel & Restaurant Association of Northern India (HRANI), The South India Hotels & Restaurants Association (SIHRA), and Hotel & Restaurant Association of Eastern India (HRAEI), respectively. DVS Somaraju assumed the role of Hony Treasurer and Nirav Gandhi was appointed as Hony Secretary, while Sudesh Kumar Poddar and Amarvir Singh will serve as Jt Hony Secretaries of the Federation.Â
