The 56th Annual Conference of the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) will be held at the Taj Ganges in Varanasi from August 21 to 23. Organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and supported by Uttar Pradesh Tourism, the conference will focus on the theme “Eternal Kashi: Leading the Future of Tourism through Spirituality, Culture, Cuisine, and Craft.”
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is expected to attend the conference as the chief guest. The event will also bring together Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Uttar Pradesh ministers Jaiveer Singh and Ravindra Jaiswal, and Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte.
Ambassadors from Sri Lanka, Thailand and Laos will also participate, along with senior executives from leading hospitality companies including Indian Hotels Company, ITC Hotels, Radisson, Hilton, IHG, Wyndham and Lemon Tree.
Surendra Kumar Jaiswal, President, FHRAI said, “What does Kashi possess? Kashi possesses spirituality. What else does Kashi have? It has culture. The number of luminaries and legendary figures that have emerged from here is perhaps unmatched by any other place in India. What else does Kashi have? It has its cuisine, which has become renowned not just across India but worldwide. And it has craft–its silk is famous and exported globally.”
Jaiswal added that the conference will bring these four elements together to highlight India’s tourism potential globally. “By bridging heritage and innovation, this conference will serve as a pivotal platform for the future of India’s tourism and hospitality sectors,” he said.
The FHRAI Bharat Gaurav Awards will be presented during the inaugural ceremony on August 21. The conference will also feature presentations on Varanasi’s cultural heritage and an exhibition.
Business sessions will cover key areas including spiritual and wellness tourism, MICE, wedding tourism, sustainable hospitality, artificial intelligence and digital transformation. Discussions will also focus on promoting local products through ODOP and ODOC initiatives and improving Ease of Doing Business.
Jaiswal further added, “It is a three-day programme. The first day is the inaugural ceremony, starting tomorrow evening at 5:30 PM. Following that, on the second and third days, business sessions will be held where we will deliberate on wellness, tourism growth, and all related matters–and explore how to place spirituality, culture, cuisine, and craftsmanship firmly on the global map.”
Delegates will also experience some of Varanasi’s key attractions, including the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Swarved Mahamandir, the Ganga Aarti at Namo Ghat and the ‘Subah-e-Banaras’ experience.
The conference will conclude with the FHRAI Excellence Awards, recognising hospitality students and distinguished professionals from the industry.
Representing more than 100,000 hotels and 500,000 restaurants across India, FHRAI works closely with central and state governments on policies and initiatives aimed at strengthening the country’s hospitality sector.
