Nirav Gandhi, Director of the Express Group of Hotels & Resorts, Gujarat, has been elected President of the Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) (HRAWI) for the 2026-27 term. The appointment was made at the association’s 76th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Mumbai on September 10.
Gandhi, who previously served as HRAWI’s Senior Vice President, will lead the association’s engagement with government authorities and industry stakeholders, with a focus on policy advocacy, regulatory issues and strengthening the hospitality sector across Western India.
Government engagement and regulatory reforms on agenda
HRAWI’s priorities under the new leadership include strengthening engagement with government authorities on ease of doing business (EoDB), industry regulations, food safety and compliance. The association also plans to expand its knowledge-sharing and professional development initiatives to support hospitality businesses across the region.
Gandhi said a unified industry voice would be essential to shaping policies that enable hotels, restaurants and allied businesses to remain competitive.
“It is an honour and a responsibility to take on the leadership of HRAWI at a time when the hospitality industry is undergoing significant transformation,” he said, adding that he would build on the association’s legacy of advocacy, collaboration and service to the sector.
HRAWI plans to expand industry platforms
The association intends to increase the reach and frequency of its HRAWI Conclave & Awards and Knowledge Series, which serve as platforms for industry recognition, professional learning and knowledge exchange.
It is also proposing a Hotel Chain Representation Board (HCRB) to give leading hotel chains a formal platform to engage with HRAWI and contribute to policy discussions at state and national levels.
Gandhi said the association also envisioned scaling up the HRAWI Expo to create more opportunities for business engagement and collaboration across the hospitality industry.
New office bearers appointed
The AGM also saw the appointment of HRAWI’s new office bearers for 2026-27. The leadership team comprises:
- Nirav Gandhi – President
- Paramjit Singh Ghai – Senior Vice President
- Gurbir Singh Bedi – Vice President
- Pradeep Shetty – Honorary Secretary
- Sumit Suri – Joint Honorary Secretary
- Satyen Jain – Honorary Treasurer
The new team will continue the association’s work on policy advocacy, capacity building, food safety, regulatory compliance and industry knowledge-sharing.
Three decades of hospitality experience
Gandhi brings more than 30 years of hospitality experience to the role. He holds a BSc in Hotel and Resort Management from the Rochester Institute of Technology in the United States, graduating in 1993.
He has been associated with Express Hotel, Vadodara, an HRAWI member since 1986, and has served as its director for more than two decades. His previous industry positions include Honorary Secretary of HRAWI, Executive Committee Member of the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), and Founder and Past President of EO Gujarat.
Gandhi has represented the hospitality industry before government authorities and regulatory bodies on matters including FSSAI requirements, hotel classification, taxation, licensing, online travel agency-related issues, and QCI and BIS standards.
His contributions have included supporting the development of IHQS, FHRAI’s hotel classification system, and facilitating the establishment of an FSSAI food testing laboratory in Vadodara.
