Industry veterans bring operational expertise and leadership experience to India’s apex hospitality education body amid rapid sector expansion.
The nomination of K.B. Kachru, President of the Hotel Association of India (HAI) and Chairman, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group, and Dr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Chairman and Managing Director of the HRH Group of Hotels, to the Board of Governors of the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (NCHMCT) has been welcomed across India’s tourism and hospitality sector as a significant step towards strengthening industry-academia collaboration.
An autonomous body under the Ministry of Tourism, NCHMCT plays a pivotal role in shaping hospitality education through its extensive network of hotel management institutes across the country. The inclusion of two respected industry leaders comes at a time when India’s hospitality sector is witnessing unprecedented growth, fuelled by expanding domestic travel, rising international arrivals, increased hotel development and growing investment in tourism infrastructure.
Industry stakeholders believe the appointments will help narrow the gap between classroom learning and workplace expectations by ensuring hospitality curricula remain aligned with evolving operational realities. The sector’s demand for skilled, industry-ready professionals has intensified as hotel companies expand into Tier II and Tier III cities while adding new properties across luxury, upscale and mid-market segments.
Speaking on his nomination, K.B. Kachru highlighted the urgent need for stronger collaboration between government, educational institutions and industry to develop future-ready hospitality talent. He emphasised that bridging the gap between hospitality education and workplace requirements would be critical to sustaining the sector’s growth momentum.
Kachru has been at the forefront of several industry-led skilling initiatives through HAI, including the Industry Mentoring Programme focused on leadership development and career progression. The association also partnered with The LaLiT Suri Hospitality School to establish the “Image & Life Skills Lab”, a specialised programme aimed at strengthening communication and professional skills among hospitality aspirants.
Meanwhile, Dr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, who leads the heritage-focused HRH Group of Hotels, brings extensive experience in hospitality, tourism, heritage conservation and cultural stewardship. Widely recognised for promoting heritage tourism and sustainable hospitality, he has consistently advocated the integration of culture, experiential travel and community engagement within the tourism ecosystem.
The appointments are expected to provide NCHMCT with valuable industry insights as it prepares the next generation of hospitality professionals. With hotels, restaurants and tourism enterprises increasingly seeking specialised skills, digital competencies and service excellence, stronger industry participation in hospitality education is being viewed as essential to building a globally competitive workforce.
For the hospitality industry, the addition of Kachru and Mewar to the governing board represents more than a leadership change. It signals a broader commitment to ensuring that India’s hospitality education framework evolves in step with the sector’s ambitious growth trajectory and future workforce requirements.
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