Hotel Association of India

What Hotel Association of India does

The Hotel Association of India (HAI) is a non-profit industry trade association founded in 1996 and headquartered at Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi. Self-described as the "Apex Body of the Indian Hotel Industry," HAI represents major hotel chains and standalone properties across India through policy advocacy with the Ministry of Tourism and Government of India, recurring industry events, publications, and training programs. Its corporate members include the largest hotel groups operating in India — Indian Hotels Company (Taj), ITC Hotels, EIH (Oberoi), The LaLiT, Lemon Tree Hotels, and Radisson — alongside fellow, ordinary/standalone, and associate members (hospitality institutes and training bodies). The association operates through a small secretariat (1–10 employees) led by Secretary General M.P. Bezbaruah, a retired Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism.

HAI's core offerings are non-technological. They include: the signature biennial Hoteliers' Conclave event series (7th edition scheduled September 2026 at Taj Palace, New Delhi, themed "Re-engineering Hospitality"); the HAI Hotels Directory, a city-searchable listing of member hotels; HAI Engage magazine and the LeaderSpeak newsletter; the Industry Mentoring Programme for professional development; and Image & Life Skills Lab certification courses launched with The LaLiT Suri Hospitality School. The association also coordinates with allied industry bodies including CII, ASSOCHAM, FICCI, PATA, and the Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council, and maintains state chapters across India plus SAARC-level affiliations with hotel associations in Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

HAI's business model is membership-funded, with revenue derived from membership fees across corporate, fellow, ordinary, and associate tiers, delegate and sponsor fees from the Hoteliers Conclave (historically Rs 15,000 per HAI member delegate and Rs 20,000 for non-members), and publication sales. The organization does not disclose financial statements, and pricing beyond conference registration is not publicly available. Its commercial surface is narrow and event-cycle-dependent, with advocacy outcomes — including successful interventions on the LPG supply crisis and ongoing campaigns for a uniform 5% GST with input tax credit and infrastructure status for hotels — representing the primary value delivered to members rather than revenue-generating services.

Name

Hotel Association of India

Legal name

Hotel Association of India

Website

http://www.hotelassociationofindia.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Hotel Association of India (HAI) is the apex organization of the Indian Hospitality industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Revenue generated from membership fees paid by corporate members, fellow members, and ordinary/standalone member hotels across India.
2. Event Registrations: Revenue from the Hoteliers Conclave series including registration fees for delegates, sponsors, and exhibitors. Registration fees mentioned as Rs 15,000 for HAI members and Rs 20,000 for non-members (2010 rates).
3. Publications: Revenue from publishing activities including HAI Hotels Directory, HAI Engage magazine, and other industry publications.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hotel Association of India (HAI) is the apex national trade association for the Indian hospitality industry, providing policy advocacy, industry representation, and government engagement services to member hotels. It also publishes the HAI Hotels Directory, HAI Engage magazine, runs the Industry Mentoring Programme and Image & Life Skills Lab certification, and organizes the Hoteliers Conclave series for networking and policy dialogue.

Product overview

The Hotel Association of India (HAI) operates as an industry association rather than a product company. Its core offerings include the HAI Hotels Directory (a searchable listing of member hotels), HAI Engage magazine (a hospitality industry publication), the Industry Mentoring Programme for professional development, and Image & Life Skills Lab certification courses for hospitality upskilling. HAI also organizes the Hoteliers' Conclave as its flagship annual event. The organization serves as the apex body representing the Indian hotel industry, focused on advocacy, policy engagement, and industry development rather than technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HAI Hotels Directory Annual directory publication listing HAI member hotels across India, searchable by city and name, providing comprehensive information about member properties for industry stakeholders and the public.
• HAI Engage - The Voice of Indian Hospitality Industry-driven hospitality-focused magazine serving as a publication for the Indian hospitality sector, distributed to HAI members and industry stakeholders.
• Industry Mentoring Programme An HAI initiative structured for the hotel sector to provide mentorship and professional guidance to hospitality professionals and institutions.
• Image & Life Skills Lab Certification Courses Certification courses focused on technical and behavioural upskilling for hospitality professionals, promoted by HAI and delivered in partnership with The LaLiT Suri Hospitality School.
• HAI Hoteliers' Conclave HAI's signature event bringing together Ministers, policymakers, corporate leaders and media to discuss and strategize growth plans for the Indian hotel industry. Editions include Hoteliers' Conclave (national) and South Asian Hoteliers' Conclave (regional).

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully advocated for government relief during LPG supply crisis (March 2026)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network affiliation with PATA, the Pacific Asia Travel Association, for regional tourism collaboration and industry networking.
• Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational interface with CII for broader industry representation and policy advocacy coordination.
• Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry (ASSOCHAM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational interface with ASSOCHAM for industry representation and policy advocacy.
• Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational interface with FICCI for industry representation and policy coordination.
• Pacific Asia Travel Association - India ChaptercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional chapter affiliation for India-specific travel industry engagement.
• Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for skill development and training initiatives in the hospitality sector, including certification programs like Image & Life Skills Labs.
• Ministry of Tourism, Government of IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government interface for policy advocacy, industry representation, and tourism development initiatives including Vision 2047 consultations.
• Ministry of Commerce & IndustryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment interface for trade and industry policy matters affecting hospitality sector.
• South Asian Hotel AssociationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), Hotel & Restaurant Association of Bhutan, Bangladesh International Hotel Association, Pakistan Hotel Association, and Tourist Hotel Association of Sri Lanka for regional hospitality cooperation through SAARC forums.
• The LaLiT Suri Hospitality SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to launch Image & Life Skills Lab certification courses promoted by HAI, focusing on technical and behavioural upskilling for hospitality professionals.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI): India's other major hotel and restaurant trade body, representing a broad membership of hotels and restaurants and engaging in similar policy advocacy with the Government of India. Directly comparable to HAI in mission, member base, and advocacy function.
• American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA): The national trade association of the U.S. lodging industry, representing major hotel chains and advocating on federal policy, workforce, and taxation issues. Closest international equivalent to HAI in structure and remit.
• UK Hospitality: The national trade body representing the UK's hospitality industry, including hotels, restaurants, and pubs, with similar policy advocacy, training, and member services functions to HAI.

Regional players

• Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN): National hotel trade body of Nepal and a listed partner of HAI through South Asian cooperation forums. Comparable in scope (national hotel industry representation) but smaller in scale and focused on a single South Asian geography.
• Hotel & Restaurant Association of Bhutan: Bhutan's national hotel and restaurant trade association, partnered with HAI for South Asian hospitality cooperation. Smaller national equivalent with comparable advocacy and member-service functions.
• Tourist Hotel Association of Sri Lanka (THASL): National hotel industry body of Sri Lanka and a regional partner of HAI. Operates a similar member-and-advocacy model for a smaller national hospitality market.

Broad incumbents

• World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC): Global tourism industry council that engages governments on travel and tourism policy at a broader level than HAI. Comparable in advocacy function but operates internationally and across travel verticals, not lodging-only.
• World Tourism Organization (UNWTO): United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism. Operates at a much higher policy tier than HAI but overlaps on global tourism advocacy and standards.

Others

• Confederation of Indian Industry (CII): India's largest industry chamber, engaged with HAI as a national partner for broader industry representation and policy coordination. Not a direct peer but an adjacent enabling body with overlapping hospitality advocacy.
• Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI): National chamber of commerce with deep hospitality policy engagement, partnered with HAI for industry representation. Indirect peer — multi-industry chamber rather than a hotel-only trade body.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hai_india
• Facebookfacebook.com/hotelassociationofindia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hotel Association of India