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Journalism of Courage
MUMBAI, OCT 12: The 36th national convention of Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), which is being held from October 12-15, 2000, was inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal at The Regent Mumbai today. The theme of India’s largest convention and trade show for the hospitality industry is the `Future of Tourism — Marketing and Technology’.
Over 1,500 official delegates are expected to attend the convention which would include leading professionals, entrepreneurs, decision makers and special invitees from various countries. The event also happens to coincide with the golden jubilee celebrations of HRA-WI (Hotel and Restaurant Association, Western India). The convention will have a panel of expert speakers who will enlighten delegates on critical aspects of business. The business sessions organised during the four-day event will cover topics like future trends in restaurants in India, marketing and competitive strategies for independent hotels, the IT revolution — and how hotels can benefit from it — and human resource management in the hospitality industry.
A special feature of this year’s convention is an exclusive trade show, which is being held from October 13-15, 2000. The FHRAI Trade Show 2000, the biggest hospitality exhibition in India, is being organised by India’s number one publication for the hospitality industry, Express Hotelier and Caterer
, and will have about 70 stalls spread across a sprawling, 10,000 square feet arcade.
Positioned as a business-to-business exhibition, the trade show has received phenomenal response from the hospitality trade in general, and equipment suppliers/vendors in particular. The main focus of the trade show is on showcasing the best in marketing, equipment and cutting edge technology. It is providing a platform for various segments of the industry to come together and interact under one roof, besides offering opportunities for national and international alliances and business deals. The delegates will also be exposed to the latest in technology that is going to play a significant role in the development of the hotel and restaurant industry.
"Though we have exhibited before, this time we are definitely looking at a more focussed audience which this trade show will provide," says an exhibitor, M S Bhandari, president of Ramboo India Ltd.
"We are looking at business, of course. Good exposure is what we are expecting. The cream of the visitors will be coming in as the exhibition coincides with the FHRAI convention at The Regent. We are looking at quality response, if not quantity," says Bakul Gajaria, proprietor, Lamitech.
