6th HRAWI Conclave & Awards For Empowering Hospitality Concludes Successfully In Mahabaleshwar

• Industry Leaders Deliberate on Food Safety, Pest Control, DPDP Act & Information Security

Mumbai, March 05: The Hotel And Restaurant Association (Western India) – HRAWI hosted the 6^th edition of its HRAWI Conclave and Awards for ‘Empowering Hospitality’ on February 26 at the Ramsukh Resorts & Spa in Mahabaleshwar. Bringing together leading hotel owners, restaurateurs and hospitality professionals from Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani and neighbouring regions, the conclave served as a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, regulatory awareness and recognition of industry excellence. The event featured expert led sessions on pressing legal and compliance matters, followed by an awards ceremony celebrating outstanding contributions to the regional hospitality sector.

The conclave was graced by Chief Guest - Mr Jayasinh Mariwala, Chairman of OmniActive Health Technologies, Food Service (India) Pvt Ltd and Autohangar India Pvt Ltd.

The opening session focused on Legal Issues in Food Safety and Pest Control and was delivered by Dr. V. Pasupathy, Food Safety Expert and Founder of Parikshan FSS Pvt. Ltd., along with Mr. Jitendra Gawade, Key Account Manager at ENVU.

“Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, pest presence in a hotel kitchen is not viewed as a minor lapse; it is treated as a compliance failure with serious legal consequences. Hotels must ensure pest-free kitchens, proper documentation, CIB&RC-approved chemicals and trained service providers at all times. In the event of contamination, liability does not rest solely with the vendor; hotel management, including senior leadership, may be held accountable. Preventive compliance, structured documentation and scientifically designed food safety systems are far more cost-effective than the reputational and legal damage that follows a single incident,” says Dr V. Pasupathy.

“In hospitality, pest management is not a housekeeping task or a cost centre, it is a legal safeguard and brand protection strategy. One pest sighting can result in online reputation damage, audit non-conformance, insurance complications and even a 10 to 20 per cent drop in occupancy. Hotels must move from a ‘spray model’ to a structured Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach, ensuring use of CIB&RC registered products, proper chemical logs, monitoring records and trained technicians. Today, pest control is about protecting your license, your reputation and your leadership position in hospitality,” adds Mr Jitendra Gawade.

Another pivotal session addressed the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act and Information Security, presented by Mr Abhijit Parab, Partner – Cybersecurity, Ernst & Young, Ms. Madhusmita Panda, Senior Manager, Ernst & Young and Mr. Arvinder Layal, Manager, Ernst & Young.

“The DPDP Act marks a decisive shift in how Indian organisations must approach data governance and information security. Compliance is no longer limited to drafting privacy policies; it requires structured data discovery and mapping, third-party risk assessments, cyber incident monitoring, vulnerability testing and continuous employee awareness. In today’s evolving threat landscape, hospitality businesses must align cybersecurity with business strategy, ensuring resilience, regulatory readiness and trust in every digital interaction. The DPDP framework is not just about compliance; it is about building secure, transformation ready enterprises,” says Mr Abhijit Parab.

In recognition of their leadership and contributions to strengthening hospitality in the hill station circuit, HRAWI felicitated Mr Pralhad Rathi, Owner, Ramsukh Resorts & Spa and President, Mahabaleshwar Hotel & Restaurant Association; Mr Javed Sunesara, President, Panchgani Hotels and Welfare Association (PHWA) and Mr Vijay Shewakramani, Managing Director, Brightland Resort & Spa.

“The hospitality industry today operates in an increasingly regulated and digitally connected environment. From food safety compliance and pest risk management to data protection and cybersecurity, preparedness is no longer optional; it is fundamental to sustainable growth. Through the HRAWI Conclave & Awards held in Mahabaleshwar, we aim to empower our members across Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani and nearby regions with knowledge, encourage responsible leadership, and promote a collaborative ecosystem that strengthens hospitality across Western India. The Conclave also serves as a platform to recognise outstanding leaders and achievers from each area and region, bringing our hospitality fraternity together in celebration of excellence and shared progress,” concludes Mr. Jimmy Shaw, President, HRAWI.

The 6^th edition further strengthened the Conclave’s reputation as a premier regional industry forum, building on its successful editions held in Pune, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Nashik, Lonavala and Indore.

About the Hotel And Restaurant Association (Western India) – HRAWI

The Hotel And Restaurant Association (Western India) – HRAWI is a 76 years old Association of Hotels and Restaurants in Western India. Its members include Restaurants and Hotels up to 5-Star Deluxe categories. With membership base spread across Western India, HRAWI covers Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa and Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, and is considered to be the voice of the Hospitality Industry. The association is part of the national body of the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), located in New Delhi, which was originally founded in Mumbai in 1950 by the late Mr J.R.D. Tata.