Indore emerged as the focal point of hospitality excellence as The Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) – HRAWI hosted the 5th edition of the HRAWI Awards 2026 on January 4, 2026, at Hotel Omni Residency, Indore. The prestigious awards recognised outstanding achievement, innovation, leadership, sustainability and legacy across Madhya Pradesh’s hospitality ecosystem, honouring hotels, restaurants and professionals who have significantly raised industry benchmarks in the state.
The event was graced by Shri Tulsiram Silawat, Hon’ble Minister of Water Resources, Government of Madhya Pradesh, as the Chief Guest. He was felicitated by the Association with a memento and subsequently presented awards to the winners, acknowledging their contribution to strengthening tourism and hospitality in the state.
The awards ceremony was held alongside a Knowledge Summit on ‘Cybersecurity and Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules, 2025’, jointly organised by the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), HRAWI, and the Indore Hotel Association (IHA). The summit addressed emerging regulatory and digital security challenges facing the hospitality sector, underscoring the industry’s growing focus on compliance, data protection and operational resilience.
The hospitality industry was represented at both national and regional levels by prominent leaders including Shri Surendra Kumar Jaiswal, President, FHRAI; Shri Jimmy Shaw, President, HRAWI; Shri Girish Oberoi, Hon. Secretary, FHRAI; and Shri Sumit Suri, President, IHA. Their collective presence reinforced the collaborative approach being adopted by industry bodies to navigate growth, governance and transformation.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Jimmy Shaw, President, HRAWI, said, “I sincerely appreciate the hospitality professionals whose commitment and exceptional work have played a vital role in advancing tourism and hospitality across Madhya Pradesh. Their dedication continues to inspire the industry. I also thank all our distinguished guests and colleagues whose presence enriched our discussions and strengthened our shared vision of hospitality excellence.”
Previously hosted in Pune, Ahmedabad, Nashik and Lonavala, the Indore edition of the HRAWI Awards recognised excellence from across Madhya Pradesh. Indore Marriott Hotel was named Hotel of the Year – Excellence in Performance. THE Park Indore received the Best New Hotel award, while Mr Debjeet Banerjee, General Manager, THE Park Indore, was honoured as Outstanding General Manager of the Year. WOW Crest, Indore – IHCL SeleQtions was recognised for Excellence in Sustainable Hospitality. MPT Samrat Vikramaditya – The Heritage Hotel, Ujjain received the award for Outstanding Contribution to Eco-Tourism & Heritage Luxury Stays. Sayaji Hotel, Indore was honoured for its Transformative Impact on Tourism Development. Hotel Shreemaya Residency, Indore received the Legacy Hospitality Establishment Award, while Hotel Kanchan, Indore was recognised with the Traditional Legacy Award – Restaurant Category. Mr Sumit Suri, President, IHA and EC Member, HRAWI, was also felicitated for his Outstanding Contribution to the Hospitality Sector.
The Associations also extended special recognition to the Omni Group of Hotels for hosting the event, acknowledging the support and hospitality extended by Shri Hemant Suri, Co-founder & Chairman, and Shri Jairaj Suri, Executive Director, Omni Group of Hotels.
Overall, the HRAWI Awards 2026 reaffirmed Madhya Pradesh’s growing stature as a dynamic hospitality destination, highlighting a sector that is steadily aligning excellence in service, sustainability, digital preparedness and legacy preservation with the evolving expectations of travellers and investors alike.
