India’s hospitality industry needs faster regulatory approvals, infrastructure status and a more ambitious approach to destination development to meet the country’s 2047 developed-economy goal, industry leaders said at the 7th HAI Hoteliers’ Conclave in New Delhi. The HAI Hoteliers’ Conclave 2026, organised by the Hotel Association of India at the Taj Palace on September 18, 2026, brought together hospitality professionals, government officials and tourism stakeholders under the theme “Re-Engineering Hospitality.”
Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who inaugurated the conclave, said Indian hospitality is “entering a new phase, moving beyond rooms and accommodation towards experience-led tourism,” pointing to more than 400 crore domestic tourist visits in 2024 and growing travel demand from India’s expanding middle class.
What Regulatory Changes Is The Industry Seeking?
HAI welcomed a June 2026 report from the Ministry of Tourism and NITI Aayog examining regulatory barriers affecting tourism and hospitality, which proposed simplifying hotel licensing, reviewing building regulations, and introducing a single health trade licence covering multiple ancillary hotel services. HAI President KB Kachru said India currently has around 225,000 hotel rooms and renewed the association’s long-standing call for infrastructure status for hospitality, along with incentives to encourage hotel development in emerging destinations, arguing that construction approvals and operational licences remain among the biggest obstacles to expansion.
What Does This Mean For India’s Tourism Ambitions?
Amitabh Kant, former CEO of NITI Aayog and India’s former G20 Sherpa, told delegates that destination development depends as much on basics like roads, connectivity, cleanliness and essential services as on promotion and branding, a point he said was particularly relevant for lesser-known destinations with tourism potential but inadequate accommodation and transport infrastructure. Shekhawat also flagged religious and spiritual tourism, adventure travel, wellness retreats, destination weddings and MICE tourism as segments creating new opportunities for hospitality businesses.
Industry Reaction
KB Kachru argued that hospitality should be treated as a national economic priority given its potential to generate employment, attract investment and bring in foreign exchange, noting the sector’s reach extends well beyond hotel revenues into food and beverage, housekeeping, transport and event management. MP Bezbaruah, Secretary General of HAI, said the way forward lies in expanding capacity and creating conditions for long-term investment. The Prime Minister, in a message to the association, stressed the importance of training young people and other stakeholders to meet the needs of a growing industry. More than 300 representatives from the hospitality industry and allied sectors attended the conclave, which also featured sessions on artificial intelligence, sustainability, inclusion, and a conversation between journalist Rajdeep Sardesai and former cricketer Kapil Dev on leadership and resilience.
What Happens Next?
With 2047 set as India’s broader economic deadline, HAI said the hospitality industry’s next phase of growth needs to be defined not just by more visitors but by better destinations and a more efficient tourism ecosystem. The association is expected to continue pressing the Ministry of Tourism on infrastructure status and licensing reforms in the coming months as the sector works to convert the June 2026 NITI Aayog recommendations into policy action.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the theme of the HAI Hoteliers’ Conclave 2026?
The 7th HAI Hoteliers’ Conclave was held under the theme “Re-Engineering Hospitality,” focusing on regulatory reform, infrastructure and destination development.
How many hotel rooms does India currently have?
According to HAI President KB Kachru, India currently has around 225,000 hotel rooms, a base the industry is looking to expand significantly.
What reforms is the hotel industry seeking from the government?
The industry is seeking infrastructure status for hospitality, simplified hotel licensing, streamlined building regulations, and a single health trade licence covering ancillary hotel services.
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