HRAWI hosts 4th edition of Empowering Hospitality Conclave & Awards in Nashik
by EVENTFAQS Bureau Industry Watch | March 10, 2025 | News
HRAWI Hospitality Conclave & Awards
The Hotel And Restaurant Association (Western India) – HRAWI successfully hosted the 4th edition of the Empowering Hospitality Conclave & Awards on February 28 at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa in Nashik. The event celebrated excellence in hospitality, recognizing professionals and organizations for their transformative contributions to Nashik’s tourism and culinary landscape. The awards honored pioneers, entrepreneurs, and businesses excelling in eco-tourism, wine tourism, hospitality leadership, and culinary innovation.
The conclave opened with an inaugural session featuring Chief Guest Dr. Sagnik Chowdhury, Regional Director, India Tourism, Mumbai, Ministry of Tourism. The event also included three insightful knowledge sessions. The first session, Empowering Hospitality through NextGen Technologies, led by Rajesh Chopra of Ingram Micro India, highlighted emerging technologies shaping the hospitality sector. The second session, Smarter Revenue Strategies for Your Hotel’s Growth, featured Sainath Vernekar and Prakash Singh of Revnomix Solutions, who discussed data-driven strategies for maximizing hotel revenue. The final session, An Insight on Latest Updates on Maharashtra Tourism Policy - 2024, was conducted by CA Julfesh Shah, offering an overview of key policy changes affecting the industry.
Several industry leaders and hospitality pioneers were recognized during the awards ceremony. Kiran Chavan, CMD of Grape County Eco Resort & Biodiversity Park, was honored for promoting sustainable and nature-centric luxury hospitality. Shailendra Pai, founder of Vallonné Vineyards, was acknowledged as a pioneer in Nashik’s boutique wine industry, while Sula Vineyards, represented by Sanjeev Paithankar, was recognized for its impact on India’s wine tourism sector.
The Legacy Restaurants category celebrated Nashik’s rich culinary heritage, honoring Shadab Fallah of Inayat Café and Pankaj Dilip Rahane of Mazda Restaurant & Café. Adwait and Uttara Kher, founders of Utopia Farmstay, were recognized for blending luxury hospitality with nature. The late Radha Kishan Chandak, along with Hemant Takle, Satish Shanbagh, and Jitubhai Parekh, were honored for their instrumental roles in establishing the Nashik Hotel Association and shaping the city’s hospitality sector.
The Empowering Hospitality Conclave & Awards underscored Nashik’s growing prominence in the hospitality and tourism space. Through this initiative, HRAWI reaffirmed its commitment to fostering growth, innovation, and excellence in the sector, recognizing those who continue to elevate the industry.
Jimmy Shaw, President, HRAWI said, “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the hospitality professionals for their exceptional dedication and remarkable contributions. Your relentless efforts have been instrumental in advancing the tourism and hospitality sector not only in Nashik but across the entire State. The industry celebrates your achievements and draws inspiration from your pioneering spirit. I also extend my sincere thanks to all esteemed guests and professionals who graced the event. Your participation has enriched our dialogue and reinforced our shared commitment to elevating hospitality excellence. A special thanks to Dr. Sagnik Chowdhury, Regional Director, India Tourism, Mumbai, Ministry of Tourism, for his invaluable support and presence, which has greatly contributed to the success of this event.”
The event celebrated excellence in hospitality, recognizing professionals and organizations for their transformative contributions to Nashik’s tourism and culinary landscape.