FHRAI Hospitality Awards-2026

HOTEL ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS

• 1. Young Hotelier of the Year – Male
• 2. Young Hotelier of the Year – Female

RESTAURANT ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS

• 1. Restaurant Entrepreneur of the Year – Male
• 2. Restaurant Entrepreneur of the Year – Female

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Criteria:

(Young Hotelier & Restaurant Entrepreneur)

• Applicant must be under the age of 40.
• Applicant can be an owner of a hotel or an employee on the operations side, or owner of a restaurant and must be a first-generation entrepreneur.
• Must be actively engaged in the business (development / ownership / operations) activity.
• Not just the achievement for the relevant financial year but cumulative achievements leading up to the year are considered. Any special achievement or strategic initiatives or significant business development during the year will be a plus point.
• Applicant must give all the underlying facts and achievements to support the application, highlighting the contribution made by the applicant.
• In case of restaurant entrepreneur, he/she may be involved in a standalone restaurant or a chain of such restaurants or in a specialized hotel restaurant.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS – HOTELS

MANAGER / GENERAL MANAGER

• 1. Hotel General Manager / Hotel Manager of the Year -Luxury– Male
• 2. Hotel General Manager / Hotel Manager of the Year -Luxury – Female
• 3. Hotel General Manager / Hotel Manager of the Year -Upscale – Male
• 4. Hotel General Manager / Hotel Manager of the Year -Upscale –Female
• 5. Hotel General Manager / Hotel Manager of the Year -Midscale – Male
• 6. Hotel General Manager / Hotel Manager of the Year -Midscale – Female
• 7. Hotel General Manager / Hotel Manager of the Year –Economy – Male
• 8. Hotel General Manager / Hotel Manager of the Year – Economy – Female
• 9. Resort General Manager of the Year
• 10. General Manager of the Year of Hotel at a Religious Place

F & B MANAGER

• 1. Hotel F & B Manager of the Year - Luxury - Male
• 2. Hotel F & B Manager of the Year - Luxury - Female
• 3. Hotel F & B Manager of the Year - Upscale - Male
• 4. Hotel F & B Manager of the Year - Upscale – Female
• 5. Hotel F & B Manager of the Year–Midscale – Male
• 6. Hotel F & B Manager of the Year – Midscale – Female
• 7. Hotel F & B Manger of the year–Economy – Male
• 8. Hotel F & B Manger of the year – Economy – Female

EXECUTIVE CHEF

• 1. Executive Chef of the Year - Luxury Hotels – Male
• 2. Executive Chef of the Year - Luxury Hotels – Female
• 3. Executive Chef of the Year – Upscale Hotels – Male
• 4. Executive Chef of the Year – Upscale Hotels – Female
• 5. Executive Chef of the Year – Midscale Hotels – Male
• 6. Executive Chef of the Year – Midscale Hotels – Female
• 7. Executive Chef of the Year – Economy Hotels – Male
• 8. Executive Chef of the Year – Economy Hotels – Female

FRONT OFFICE MANAGER

• 1. Hotel Front Office Manager of the Year – Luxury - Male
• 2. Hotel Front Office Manager of the Year – Luxury - Female
• 3. Hotel Front Office Manager of the Year – Upscale – Male
• 4. Hotel Front Office Manager of the Year – Upscale –Female
• 5. Hotel Front Office Manager of the Year - Midscale - Male
• 6. Hotel Front Office Manager of the Year - Midscale -Female
• 7. Hotel Front Office Manager of the Year – Economy - Male
• 8. Hotel Front Office Manager of the Year – Economy–Female

HOUSEKEEPER

• 1. Hotel Housekeeper of the year – Luxury – Male
• 2. Hotel Housekeeper of the year – Luxury – Female
• 3. Hotel Housekeeper of the Year – Upscale – Male
• 4. Hotel Housekeeper of the Year – Upscale – Female
• 5. Hotel Housekeeper of the Year –Midscale – Male
• 6. Hotel Housekeeper of the Year – Midscale – Female
• 7. Hotel Housekeeper of the Year –Economy – Male
• 8. Hotel Housekeeper of the Year – Economy – Female

SALES MANAGER / REVENUE MANAGER / MARKETING MANAGER

• 1. Hotel Sales Manager of the Year - Male
• 2. Hotel Sales Manager of the Year – Female
• 3. Hotel Marketing Manager of the Year - Male
• 4. Hotel Marketing Manager of the Year - Female
• 5. Hotel Revenue Manager of the Year – Male
• 6. Hotel Revenue Manager of the Year – Female

HR MANAGER / SECURITY MANAGER / AIRPORT HOTEL MANAGER / IT MANAGER / CHIEF ENGINEER

• 1. Hotel HR Manager of the Year – Male
• 2. Hotel HR Manager of the Year – Female
• 3. Hotel Security Manager of the Year
• 4. Airport Hotel Manager of the year
• 5. Hotel IT Manager of the Year
• 6. Hotel Chief Engineer of the Year
• 7. Director – Airport Services

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS – RESTAURANTS

• 1. Restaurant Marketing Manager of the Year – Male
• 2. Restaurant Marketing Manager of the Year – Female
• 3. Executive Chef of the Year - Standalone Restaurant - Upscale - Male
• 4. Executive Chef of the Year - Standalone Restaurant - Upscale - Female
• 5. Executive Chef of the Year - Standalone Restaurant – Economy – Male
• 6. Executive Chef of the Year - Standalone Restaurant – Economy -Female
• 7. Restaurant Manager of the Year – Hotel Restaurant - Male
• 8. Restaurant Manager of the Year – Hotel Restaurant - Female
• 9. Restaurant Manager of the Year –Standalone Restaurant – Upscale – Male
• 10. Restaurant Manager of the Year – Standalone Restaurant – Upscale – Female
• 11. Restaurant Manager of the year –Standalone Restaurant - Economy– Male
• 12. Restaurant Manager of the year – Standalone Restaurant - Economy – Female

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Criteria:

• The applicant must have worked in the hospitality industry for minimum of 5 years (8 years for General Manager).
• Formal education in hospitality management or an allied field is an advantage but is not essential if other achievements of the candidate are substantial.
• Must have made a significant achievement during the year in aspects relating to the award; such as financial performance, concept or strategic development, innovation and implementation, business development, successful completion of a project etc.
• The award will depend on performance during the relevant financial year. However, the cumulative performance and development of the professional profile over a period of years will be a relevant factor to decide on the award.
• Applicants must submit an application listing out the facts on the above points and special achievement(s) during the year. It must be recommended by the head of the organization/ property who must support the facts and special achievement(s). In the case of chains, it can be the General Manager/ HR Manager / HOD of the hotel / restaurant.

INSTITUTIONAL AWARDS – HOTELS / RESORTS / CONVENTION CENTRES

• 1. Best Wellness Resort of the Year
• 2. Green Hotel of the Year – Luxury
• 3. Green Hotel of the Year –Upscale
• 4. Green Hotel of the Year –Midmarket
• 5. Green Hotel of the Year – Economy
• 6. Best Luxury Hotel of the Year
• 7. Best Upscale Hotel of the Year
• 8. Best Midscale Hotel of the year
• 9. Best Economy Hotel of the year
• 10. Best Heritage Hotel of the Year
• 11. Best Convention Centre of the year
• 12. Best Hotel at a Religious Place
• 13. Best Unique/Theme Hotel of the Year
• 14. Best Debut Hotel/Resort of the year
• 15. Best Bakery in a Hotel

INSTITUTIONAL AWARDS – RESTAURANTS

• 1. Best Restaurant of the Year – National
• 2. Best Restaurant of the Year – South India
• 3. Best Restaurant of the Year – North India
• 4. Best Restaurant of the Year – West India
• 5. Best Restaurant of the Year – East India
• 6. Best Hotel Restaurant of the Year - National
• 7. Best Hotel Restaurant –South India
• 8. Best Hotel Restaurant – North India
• 9. Best Hotel Restaurant – West India
• 10. Best Hotel Restaurant – East India

INSTITUTIONAL AWARDS – HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT INSTITUTES

• 1. Best Hospitality Management Institute of the Year

INSTITUTIONAL AWARDS – EVENT MANAGEMENT COMPANIES

• 1. Best Event Management Company in North India
• 2. Best Event Management Company in South India
• 3. Best Event Management Company in East India
• 4. Best Event Management Company in West India

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Criteria:

(For Hotels / Restaurants / Resorts / Convention Centres / Hospitality Management Institutes / Event Management Companies)

• The award is open to establishments/institutions/organizations that have been in successful operation during the previous financial year but not just the achievement for the relevant financial year but cumulative achievements leading up to the year will also be considered.
• Applicants must give all the facts of the business including number and nature of clients, milestone achievements, financial performance etc.
• The applicant must demonstrate excellence in infrastructure, service delivery, innovation, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction in its respective category.
• The applicant should have implemented industry best practices and demonstrated measurable achievements during the relevant financial year through continuous improvement, technological advancement, quality enhancement, operational excellence, or innovative initiatives.
• National or international certifications, accreditations, quality standards, industry recognitions, or professional affiliations relevant to the respective category will be considered an added advantage but shall not be mandatory.
• Applicants shall submit a detailed application highlighting their achievements during the relevant financial year, supported by documentary evidence including brochures, photographs, performance reports, certifications, customer feedback, case studies, media coverage, awards received, and any other relevant documents.

• The applicant hotel must have implemented structured environmental sustainability initiatives covering, as applicable, energy management, water conservation, wastewater treatment and disposal, solid waste management, responsible use of hazardous chemicals and non-biodegradable products, air quality management, noise pollution control, eco-friendly procurement practices, employee training, guest awareness, and community engagement.
• The hotel must demonstrate measurable achievements during the relevant financial year through resource conservation, reduction in environmental impact, adoption of green technologies, operational innovations, or implementation of sustainable management practices.
• Applicants shall submit a detailed application describing the sustainability initiatives undertaken during the relevant financial year, supported by documentary evidence including environmental policies, utility consumption data, audit reports, waste management records, photographs, certifications, and any other relevant documents.
• In the case of chain Hotels, preference will be given if the chain hotel has given the award.

Hotels are free to classify their properties within the category of Luxury, Upscale, Midscale, and Economy. Purely as guidance, hotel managements that do not already have their hotels classified on the above basis can use the following criteria:

• Any hotel that meets the criteria of a 5-star, 5 star deluxe and heritage classic will come under the Luxury category.
• 4-star hotels or hotels that meet criteria for 4-star hotels will come under Upscale category
• Hotel that meets the criteria of a 3-star and heritage (basic) will come under Midscale category.
• Any hotel that meets the criteria for hotels in the 2-star and below category would come under Economy category.

• FHRAI Selection Committee comprising of senior officials of chain hotels for evaluating the applications and shortlisting the nominees for the awards.
• The awardee must be present at the Award Function scheduled on 23rd August 2026 at Hotel Taj Ganges, Varanasi, to receive the award.
• The decision of the Award Committee shall be final and binding and shall not be subject to challenge.
• Applications for Individual and Institutional Awards may be submitted online.
• An employee applying for an award in any category must have completed at least 12 months in his/her current position in the unit from which he/she is applying. The application must be duly endorsed by the General Manager of the unit through a physical or digital signature.