HRAWI Celebrates Hospitality Excellence in Lonavala-Khandala
The Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) – HRAWI hosted its 5th edition of the Empowering Hospitality Conclave & Awards on June 26, 2025, at Della Resorts & Adventures, Lonavala. The prestigious event celebrated and honoured significant contributions to the hospitality and culinary scene of Lonavala and Khandala.
Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest was Mohamed Farouk, Regional Director (Western Region), India Tourism Mumbai. A poignant moment of the evening was the posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Late Subhash Thakker, the visionary founder of Dukes Retreat.
Our aim is to honour the pioneers of Lonavala and Khandala’s hospitality renaissance. Their dedication to sustainability, adventure tourism, and culinary heritage continues to elevate Maharashtra’s global reputation. We thank Shri Mohamed Farouk for supporting our vision and every participant who contributes to this thriving ecosystem. We are not just awarding excellence—we’re shaping legacies,” said Jimmy Shaw, President, HRAWI.
Culinary heritage brands such as Maganlal & Sons and Cooper’s Fudge & Chikkis were honoured with the Founder’s Excellence in Regional Cuisine award. Jimmy Mistry of the Della Group won dual recognitions—Innovation in Dining and Best Adventure Resort for Della Adventure Park.
Other major accolades included:
- Outstanding Contribution in Hotels: Kishore Keswani, Kailash Parbat
- Best Iconic Hotel in Lonavala: Fariyas Resort
- Best Hotel in Lonavala: The Fern – An Ecotel Hotel
- Best Boutique Resort: Rhythm Hospitality
- Best New Properties: Ikshana Resort & Spa (Khandala) and Enrise by Sayaji (Lonavala)
In individual categories:
- General Manager of the Year: Faisal Nafees, Radisson
- Young GM of the Year: Nitesh Yadav, Discover Resorts
- Hotel Chef of the Year: Chef Nandan More
The conclave also featured four insightful knowledge sessions:
- Tourism Policy-24 Updates by CA Julfesh Shah
- Sustainability in Hospitality Using Bio-degraders by Dr. S. Anand, Consultant Biotec
- Food Safety 360° and FSSAI Compliance by Dr. V. Pasupathy, Food Safety Expert
- Pest Management in Hospitality by Jitendra Gawade, Envu
The event stood as a powerful platform for recognising excellence, sharing industry insights, and nurturing future leaders in hospitality.
