The Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) – HRAWI recently held the ‘Empowering Hospitality’ conclave on June 21. The event honoured and celebrated the remarkable contributions of hospitality professionals in Gujarat. Held at The Grand Bhagwati in Ahmedabad, the conclave brought together key industry leaders to discuss and advance crucial aspects of hospitality excellence. Nalinkumar Chaudhary, Director of Gujarat State Fire Prevention Services, Gandhinagar, was the Chief Guest for the evening.
A highlight of the event was the recognition of Narendra Somani, EC member of HRAWI and Chairman and Managing Director of The Grand Bhagwati, Ahmedabad, for his significant contribution to the hospitality sector in Gujarat. Additionally, Manohar S Gurung, President of Madhuban Resort & Spa, Anand; Puneet Baijal, General Manager of Hyatt Regency, Ahmedabad; Keenan Mckenzie, General Manager of ITC Narmada, Ahmedabad were recognized with the Sustainable Property Awards for their efforts towards incorporating sustainability at the hotel properties.
“I extend my heartfelt appreciation to all the hospitality professionals in Gujarat for their outstanding efforts and remarkable contributions. Your dedication and commitment have been pivotal in driving the growth and success of the tourism and hospitality industries in the state. As we witness unprecedented growth and transformation in the sector, we must prioritise sustainability and responsibility in our hospitality practices. For this, the Association has carved out a special recognition for the hospitality establishments and its managers who lead by example. The industry congratulates and draws inspiration from you. I also wish to thank all the distinguished personalities and professionals for being a part of the event. Your presence and participation enrich our discussions and inspire us to achieve even greater heights in our collective journey towards excellence in hospitality,” Pradeep Shetty, President of HRAWI addressed the guests at the event.
The event recognised several distinguished professionals for their exceptional contributions, including Atul Budhraja, General Manager of Sankalp Group; Koustuv Mukherjee, General Manager of Pride Plaza, Ahmedabad; and Naveen Tomar, General Manager of Taj Vivanta, Ahmedabad with the Best General Manager Award. Chef Sujit Vora, The Grand Bhagwati; Chef Surya Narayan, Hyatt Regency, Ahmedabad; Chef Sudev Sharma, Taj Skyline, Ahmedabad; and Chef Archit Arora, Yi Jing, ITC Narmada were awarded the Best Chef Award and ITC Narmada, Ahmedabad was recognised as the Best Performing Hotel.
“Over the years, Gujarat has seen significant progress and development in this sector, becoming a beacon of excellence and innovation. This advancement would not have been possible without the hard work and passion of each individual in our industry. Our upcoming convention in Goa aims to drive this growth while promoting best practices across the nation, aligning with the Prime Minister’s vision of tourism and Viksit Bharat 2047 and our goal of welcoming 100 million tourists by 2047 and achieving a USD 3 trillion tourism economy,” concluded Shetty.
