Hotels and Restaurants Association of India

Hotels and Restaurants Association of India
Name	Hotels and Restaurants Association of India
Formation	1940s
Type	Trade association
Headquarters	Mumbai
Region served	India
Leader title	President

Hotels and Restaurants Association of India is a national trade association representing interests of hoteliers, restaurateurs, and related hospitality service providers across India. It engages with industry stakeholders including the Ministry of Tourism, Reserve Bank of India, and Confederation of Indian Industry to influence regulatory frameworks and promote standards. The association has been involved with major events, public-private partnerships, and training initiatives linking the hospitality sector with international organizations and domestic bodies.

History

Established in the mid-20th century, the association emerged amid post-independence industrial organization trends alongside bodies such as the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India. Early interactions connected it with municipal authorities in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Delhi, and with port-city hotel developments linked to the Bombay Port Trust and Mumbai Port. Over decades the association interfaced with policies from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Finance, and the Reserve Bank of India, responding to taxation changes, foreign exchange rules, and tourism promotion efforts led by the Ministry of Tourism and the National Tourism Policy. Landmark moments include engagement during the liberalization era of the 1990s, collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India on heritage hotels, and participation in initiatives parallel to those of the World Travel & Tourism Council, United Nations World Tourism Organization, and International Hotel & Restaurant Association.

Organization and Structure

The association is governed by an executive board composed of elected office-bearers and sectoral committees that mirror frameworks found in other trade bodies such as the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India. Functional departments typically include policy, training, events, and membership services, coordinating with regional chapters in states like Maharashtra, Kerala, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu. Governance practices reflect engagement with statutory institutions like the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and compliance with laws enacted by the Parliament of India and guidelines from the Securities and Exchange Board of India for constituent entities. The association routinely liaises with municipal corporations, state tourism boards, and national agencies including the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme.

Membership and Affiliations

Membership spans independent hotels, chain operators, fine-dining restaurants, budget lodging providers, and allied suppliers that mirror members in associations such as the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India and the All India Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations. Corporate members often include brands with ties to Indian conglomerates and international chains, interacting with bodies like the International Hotel & Restaurant Association and regional chambers such as the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The association maintains affiliations with vocational institutes, hospitality schools, and training partners akin to the National Skill Development Corporation and the Indian Culinary Forum to broaden participation across proprietors, managers, and franchisors.

Activities and Services

Activities encompass industry networking events, trade fairs, and promotional campaigns comparable to the India International Hospitality Expo and collaborations with film and media events such as the International Film Festival of India and regional cultural festivals. The association organizes business delegations to trade missions in cities like London, Dubai, Singapore, and New York, and participates in expositions alongside the World Travel Market and Arabian Travel Market. Services include legal advisory, tax compliance assistance related to the Central Board of Direct Taxes and Goods and Services Tax Network, crisis management in coordination with disaster response agencies, and marketing support tied to state tourism boards and destination management companies.

Advocacy and Policy Influence

The association conducts policy advocacy by submitting representations to the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Finance, and parliamentary committees, mirroring advocacy undertaken by trade groups such as the Confederation of Indian Industry and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. It engages in dialogue with the Reserve Bank of India on foreign exchange regulations, with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade on import norms, and with tax authorities on GST classifications impacting hospitality. The association has co-signed industry statements during major policy shifts and worked with consumer forums and standards bodies to influence safety protocols and licensing procedures administered by municipal corporations and state food safety authorities.

Training, Education, and Certification

Training programs target skills promoted by the National Skill Development Corporation and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, including culinary arts, front office operations, housekeeping, and food safety certifications aligned with standards from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and Indian Council for Technical Education frameworks. Partnerships with hospitality institutes and universities support diploma and certificate courses similar to those offered by the Institute of Hotel Management networks and regional polytechnics. The association also facilitates managerial workshops, leadership seminars, and accreditation efforts that correspond with international benchmarking from the World Travel & Tourism Council and ISO quality standards.

Regional and State Chapters

Regional chapters operate across states and major cities, reflecting the federated model seen in the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India, Kerala Hotels and Restaurants Association, and Tamil Nadu Hotels Association. State chapters coordinate with state tourism departments, municipal licensing authorities, port authorities, and airport authorities to address local issues such as nightlife licensing, street vending regulations, and heritage conservation of hotel properties overseen by the Archaeological Survey of India. These chapters organize local trade shows, awards, and training drives in collaboration with state skill development missions and regional chambers of commerce.

Category:Hospitality industry in India