Nirav Gandhi, Director of Express Group of Hotels & Resorts, has been elected President of the Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) (HRAWI) for the 2026-27 term, succeeding to lead one of India’s most influential hospitality industry bodies.
The Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) (HRAWI) has elected Nirav Gandhi as its President for the 2026-27 term at the Association’s 76th Annual General Meeting held in Mumbai on September 10. A hospitality veteran and industry advocate, Gandhi takes over the role at a time when the sector is navigating regulatory reforms, workforce challenges and changing consumer expectations.
Currently Director of Express Group of Hotels & Resorts, Gujarat, Gandhi brings more than three decades of hospitality experience to the position. He previously served as Senior Vice President of HRAWI and has played an active role in policy discussions and initiatives aimed at strengthening tourism and hospitality across Western India.
A graduate in Hotel & Resort Management from the Rochester Institute of Technology, USA, Gandhi has been associated with Express Hotel, Vadodara, for over two decades. Over the years, he has served as Honorary Secretary of HRAWI, Executive Committee Member of the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), and Founder and Past President of EO Gujarat.
Throughout his career, Gandhi has represented the hospitality industry before government agencies and regulatory bodies on issues including food safety regulations, hotel classification, taxation, licensing reforms, online travel agency policies and quality standards. He also contributed to the development of the Indian Hotel Quality Standards (IHQS) framework and supported the establishment of an FSSAI food testing laboratory in Vadodara.
Speaking on his appointment, Gandhi said he intends to strengthen industry-government engagement, promote ease of doing business, improve food safety and compliance standards, and support skill development initiatives. He also plans to enhance HRAWI’s knowledge-sharing platforms, conclaves and industry networking programmes.
The newly elected office-bearers include Paramjit Singh Ghai as Senior Vice President, Gurbir Singh Bedi as Vice President, Pradeep Shetty as Honorary Secretary, Sumit Suri as Joint Honorary Secretary and Satyen Jain as Honorary Treasurer.
Under Gandhi’s leadership, HRAWI is expected to continue its focus on policy advocacy, industry collaboration and strengthening the competitiveness of India’s hospitality sector.
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