Picking Winners

Top-notch industry experts came together at the 12th Hotelier India Awards' Grand Jury Meet to select the country's brightest hospitality talent across 20 categories

- VINITA BHATIA

2020 was an extremely challenging year for the hospitality industry, and it required all stakeholders' unwavering focus, understanding and collaboration to ensure their respective businesses prevailed. The pandemic related lockdowns and travel restrictions altered the sector’s shape significantly, restricting customer footfalls.

Most professionals had to navigate the process of adapting to a new normal while balancing the creative, technical, and corporate resources to deliver the best business outcome. They had to change their priorities, plans and campaigns for the year as they explored and adopted several initiatives to drive non-room revenues.

Many industry stakeholders experienced unprecedented scenarios requiring set of skills that had no genesis in their erstwhile education or existing experience. In addition to focusing on things they could control, they had to quicken their learning curve – and this occurred across the board.

Against this backdrop, the 12 th Hotelier India Awards is all set to rejuvenate the industry’s spirit, which is working aggressively towards business recovery. Sunjae Sharma, VP & Country Head-India of Hyatt Hotels Corporation has seen the platform grow since its inaugural edition in 2008. While every year, the Awards celebrate excellence across the industry, it has a different hue this year.