AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA (June 1, 2021) — Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) has expanded the reach of its global network with the newly-chartered HFTP India Chapter. The chapter, incorporated as HFTP India Association, was granted an Indian business license on May 20, 2021. The chapter was formally chartered on June 1, 2021 at a signing ceremony at HITEC Dubai co-located with The Hotel Show at the Dubai World Trade Center in Dubai, UAE. The organization will provide HFTP a framework for growth within India, with its strategic goals aligning with those of the Global association.

"HFTP's vision was to provide association resources to the Indian hospitality industry, a dream that has been in the works for 12 years and has now materialized,” said HFTP India Chapter Founding Member Raman (R.P.) Rama B. Com, CHA Emeritus, CHTP, CHAE, President and CTO/CIO, Sarona Hotels & Holdings and HFTP Past President. “It is a moment of joy for us all in India, as well as Southeast Asia and Middle East, where HFTP members can collaborate and have networking and learning opportunities with research initiatives.”

New chapter members will have the opportunity for a special initial dues rate. Student members are able to join HFTP for free, allowing them to take advantage of the association benefits and mentor connections within the HFTP network.

“The hospitality sector within India is far-reaching, and now that the chapter is established, we have a formal connector amongst the region’s financial and technology professionals to share our knowledge and experiences,” said HFTP India Chapter Founding Member Ravish Jhala, consulting partner with VCNS Global Faculty at NMIMS, Mumbai and Indian School of Hospitality. “I would like to thank the HFTP Global Board of Directors and Executive Committee for the opportunity and support."

The chapter leadership has agreed to take these positions and with full support from HFTP Global.

HFTP India Board of Directors:

HFTP India President
Rajesh Chopra | Senior Vice President IT, The Oberoi Group

HFTP India Vice President
Shreeharsh Bhandari | Hospitality Advisor and Mentor, TrustTeam | CTO, Panchshil

HFTP India Treasurer
CA Vishal Thakkar | Author, Trainer and Consultant | CEO, ConTeTra Universal LLP | CON-Te Tral Universal LLP

HFTP India Secretary
Dr. Vijay Choudhary | AVP IT, The Royal Orchid Group

HFTP India Founding Director and Member
Raman (R.P.) Rama B. Com, CHA Emeritus, CHTP, CHAE | President and CTO/CIO, Sarona Hotels & Holdings |HFTP Global Past President, 2012

HFTP India Founding Director and Member
Ravish Jhala | Consulting Partner, VCNS Global Faculty at NMIMS, Mumbai and Indian School
of Hospitality

HFTP India Advisor
Prakash Shukla | Partner, Wayfair Venture Partners

HFTP India Advisor
Frank Wolfe, CAE, FIH | CEO, HFTP

The HFTP India Association will officially hold its first board meeting on June 2, 2021 to commence its activities as an organization and design a plan of action to build its presence in India.

This past month, one of the chapter’s first action items was to join together with HFTP Global for a fundraiser to support relief efforts which allay the heightened Covid-19 crisis in India. The funds will be distributed to organizations providing much-needed medical equipment to the country.

For more information about HFTP chapters and membership contact membership@hftp.org. For the latest news, follow HFTP/HITEC on HITEC Bytes, PineappleSearch, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter (@HFTP),  Instagram (HFTP_HITEC), Flickr and YouTube.

About HFTP
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) established in 1952, is an international, nonprofit association, headquartered in Austin, Texas, USA, with offices in the United Kingdom, Netherlands and Dubai. HFTP is recognized as the spokes group for the finance and technology segments of the hospitality industry with members and stakeholders spanning across the globe. HFTP uniquely understands the industry’s pressing issues and assists its stakeholders in finding solutions to their challenges more efficiently than any organization. It does this via its expert networks, research, certification programs, information resources and conferences/events such as HITEC. HFTP also owns the world’s only hospitality-specific search engine, PineappleSearch.com. For more information about HFTP, email membership@hftp.org or download the HFTP/HITEC media kit via the HFTP website. Read industry updates on the suite of HFTP hospitality news sites: HITEC Bytes, Club Bytes, Finance Bytes and HFTP News.