Mumbai: Nirav Gandhi, Director of the Express Group of Hotels & Resorts, Gujarat has been elected the new President of The Hotel And Restaurant Association (Western India) – HRAWI. The appointment took place during the 76th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Mumbai on 10th September, 2026, where new Office Bearers for the 2026-27 term were also appointed. Prior to this appointment, Mr Gandhi served as the Senior Vice President of the Association where he led key industry discussions and has been an active proponent for regional tourism and hospitality growth across Western India. In his new role, Mr Gandhi will be spearheading HRAWI’s continued engagement with policymakers and stakeholders, while strengthening collaboration among hotels, restaurants and allied businesses across the region. The Association will continue to focus on constructive policy advocacy, knowledge sharing, capacity building and initiatives that support a more resilient and competitive hospitality ecosystem.
Mr. Nirav Gandhi is a hospitality professional, entrepreneur and industry advocate with over three decades of hospitality experience. He holds a B.Sc. in Hotel & Resort Management from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), USA, which he completed in 1993.
He has been associated with Express Hotel, Vadodara, an HRAWI member since 1986, and has served as its Director for over two decades. He has also held several leadership positions in the industry, including Hon. Secretary of HRAWI, Executive Committee Member of FHRAI and Founder & Past President of EO Gujarat.
Mr. Gandhi has actively represented the hospitality industry before Government authorities and regulatory bodies on matters relating to FSSAI, hotel classification, taxation, licensing, OTA-related issues, QCI and BIS standards, among others. His contributions include supporting the development of IHQS – FHRAI’s hotel classification system and facilitating the establishment of an FSSAI Food Testing Laboratory at Vadodara.
With his extensive hospitality experience, entrepreneurial background and strong understanding of industry and regulatory matters, Mr. Gandhi brings a practical and industry-focused perspective to his new role as President of HRAWI.
“It is an honour and a responsibility to take on the leadership of HRAWI at a time when the hospitality industry is undergoing significant transformation. The Association has built a strong legacy of advocacy, collaboration and service to the industry, and I look forward to building on that foundation. I believe that a strong and united industry voice is essential to shaping policies that enable hospitality businesses to thrive. Together with our Office Bearers, Executive Committee and members, we will work towards making hospitality more resilient and competitive,” says Mr Nirav Gandhi, President, HRAWI.
The newly appointed Office Bearers include Mr. Paramjit Singh Ghai, Senior Vice President; Mr. Gurbir Singh Bedi, Vice President; Mr. Pradeep Shetty, Hon. Secretary; Mr. Sumit Suri, Jt. Hon. Secretary and Mr. Satyen Jain, Hon. Treasurer.
