The Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), in association with the Hotel and Restaurant Association Western India (HRAWI), has successfully concluded an Industry Awareness Summit on the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules 2025 in Indore, signalling a growing focus on data governance and regulatory preparedness within India’s hospitality sector.
Held at Omni Residency, the Summit aimed to equip hotel and restaurant operators with sector-specific clarity on compliance requirements under the DPDP Rules 2025, notified under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. With hospitality businesses increasingly dependent on digital platforms for bookings, payments, loyalty programmes and guest services, data protection has now become a core operational and strategic priority for the industry.
The Summit was attended by senior industry leaders including Mr. Surendra Kumar Jaiswal, President, FHRAI; Mr. Jimmy Shaw, President, HRAWI; Mr. Garish Oberoi, Hony. Secretary, FHRAI; and Mr. Sumit Suri, Executive Committee Member, HRAWI and President, Indore Hotel Association. Former FHRAI leaders Mr. K. Syama Raju and Mr. Pradeep Shetty were also present.
Mr. Tulsiram Silawat, Hon’ble Minister of Water Resources, Government of Madhya Pradesh, graced the occasion as Chief Guest. In a video message, Dr. Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, highlighted the state’s focus on hospitality-led growth and announced that Madhya Pradesh is expecting significant new hotel investments, supported by subsidies of up to 30 per cent for large projects.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Silawat said that 2025 has been dedicated to industry policies in Madhya Pradesh and reiterated the state government’s commitment to strengthening tourism and hospitality. He added that discussions around data protection would help the industry align with emerging regulatory expectations while ensuring consumer trust.
Speaking on the importance of the DPDP framework, Mr. Surendra Kumar Jaiswal, President, FHRAI, said that compliance with data protection norms is directly linked to guest confidence and long-term sustainability of hospitality businesses. He noted that the Summit helped members understand their responsibilities and take practical steps towards building robust data governance systems.
Mr. Jaiswal also highlighted recent regulatory developments impacting the sector, including assurances from the Delhi government on single-window clearance for licences, introduction of third-party fire safety audits, and the abolition of the Eating House Licence requirement by Delhi Police, a long-standing demand of the industry. He added that proposals such as adoption of dry fogging systems in place of anti-smog guns and direct procurement from Farmer Producer Organisations are also under consideration.
Mr. Jimmy Shaw, President, HRAWI, underlined that the DPDP Rules 2025 will have direct implications on daily hotel and restaurant operations, from front-office processes and online reservations to vendor management and payment systems. He said the Summit was particularly useful for small and mid-sized establishments in understanding how to implement compliance without disrupting service delivery.
As a key outcome, the Summit enhanced industry preparedness by improving understanding of consent management, data fiduciary obligations, breach reporting, protection of children’s data and rights of data principals. Discussions also addressed compliance challenges linked to online booking engines, property management systems, AI-enabled guest services, payment gateways and third-party aggregators, all of which involve extensive processing of personal data.
Concluding the session, Mr. Garish Oberoi, Hony. Secretary, FHRAI, thanked the Government of Madhya Pradesh for its support, while Mr. Sumit Suri noted that the state is fast emerging as an attractive destination for hospitality investment due to its progressive tourism policies.
The Summit reaffirmed FHRAI’s commitment to supporting the hospitality industry in achieving smooth and effective implementation of the DPDP Rules 2025, while strengthening transparency, accountability and consumer trust across the sector.
