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7th AHP Hospitality Excellence Awards Celebrating Innovation, Diversity, and the Future of Hospitality

New Delhi, July 30,2024: The prestigious 7th AHP Hospitality Excellence Awards 2024, held at the Airforce Auditorium in New Delhi, was a grand celebration of excellence and innovation in the hospitality industry. The event brought together top hoteliers, chefs, and industry leaders from across the country to honor the winners of the AHP Hospitality Challenge, where 350 hospitality professionals competed fiercely across 20 categories. These awards recognized the remarkable contributions of industry pioneers who are shaping the future of hospitality.

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This year’s event was marked by a strong emphasis on sustainability and inclusivity. One of the highlights of the evening was the participation of 18 specially-abled professionals who showcased their exceptional skills, proving that talent knows no boundaries. Their participation enriched the competition and highlighted the industry’s commitment to providing equal opportunities for all. Additionally, a single parent excelling as a hotelier was specially recognized, underscoring the resilience and dedication of individuals balancing professional excellence with personal responsibilities. This inspiring moment highlighted the industry’s commitment to diversity.

In addition to the awards ceremony, the event featured insightful panel discussions and keynote speeches by industry leaders, addressing the latest trends and challenges in the hospitality sector. These discussions provided valuable insights and emphasized the importance of adapting to changing consumer preferences and environmental considerations.

Mr. Vinod Gulati, President of the Association of Hospitality Professionals, expressed his admiration for the participants, stating, “The AHP Hospitality Excellence Awards 2024 is a testament to the dedication and passion of our industry professionals. This year’s focus on sustainability and inclusivity has set a new standard for the future of hospitality. We are proud to recognize the extraordinary contributions of our colleagues who continue to push the boundaries of excellence.”

Ms. Devipshita Gautam, Founder and General Secretary of the Association of Hospitality Professionals, added, “The 7th edition of AHP Hospitality Excellence Awards is not just an event but a celebration of the exceptional achievements and dedication of hospitality professionals across India. The event underscored the importance of sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation in shaping the future of the hospitality industry. The presence of specially-abled professionals and the recognition of a single parent excelling as a hotelier were poignant reminders of the industry’s commitment to diversity and equal opportunity. We are honored to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our participants. Their contributions inspire us all to strive for excellence and innovation. This event highlights the vibrancy and dynamism of our industry. We are committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed and thrive.”

The Hospitality Challenge began with the Front Office Master competition at Radisson Paschim Vihar, New Delhi, followed by three days of rigorous culinary competitions at Banarsidas Chandiwala IHM, New Delhi. The Challenge culminated in four unique competitions: The War of Spirits and Art of Table Setting at Surya Hotel, New Delhi, and the Art of Bed Making and Art of Towel Folding at The Park Hotel, New Delhi.

The evening concluded with a gala dinner, where attendees had the opportunity to network and celebrate their achievements. The camaraderie and shared passion for excellence were evident, making the AHP Hospitality Excellence Awards 2024 a memorable and inspiring event for all who attended.

As the hospitality industry continues to evolve, events like the AHP Hospitality Excellence Awards play a crucial role in recognizing and celebrating the hard work and dedication of professionals who strive for excellence every day. The Association of Hospitality Professionals remains committed to supporting and promoting the growth and success of the industry, ensuring it remains vibrant and dynamic in the years to come.

The winners of each category demonstrated exceptional skill and creativity. Here are the distinguished gold winners:

1. Front Office Master – 2024 (Professionals): Divyam Suri – Vivanta by Taj Surajkund

2. Front Office Master – 2024 (Students): Akshit Gambhir – Indian Hotel Academy

3. Front Office Master – 2024 (Sp. Ability): Lalit Kumar Haldhar – Redfox Hotel Aerocity and Mahaveer Prasad – Lemon Tree Premier, Aerocity

4. Art of Bed Making – 2024: Saurabh Kr Sharma – The Suryaa, New Delhi and Raj Kumar – The Park, New Delhi

5. Art of Towel Folding – 2024 (Professionals): Mithun Kumar – Radisson Blu Noida Sec. 55, Manoj Kumar – Radisson Blu Noida Sec. 55 and Dhriti Rava – The Park, New Delhi

6. Art of Towel Folding – 2024 (Sp. Ability): Kunj Bihari Mahor – India Habitat Centre, Rajeev Kumar – Lemon Tree Premier, Aerocity and Udham Singh – The Suryaa, New Delhi

7. Art of Towel Folding – 2024 (Students): Habeeb Muhammed K K – Chennais Amrita and P Siva – Chennais Amrita

8. War of Spirits – 2024: Vir Singh – Radisson Hotel Sec-29 Gurugram

9. Art of Table Setting – 2024 (Professionals): Rohit Joshi – The Suryaa, New Delhi

10. Art of Table Setting – 2024 (Sp. Ability): Anshul – Radisson Blu Marina and Arun – Radisson Blu Marina

11. Art of Napkin Folding – 2024 (Students): Riya Nagpal – Indian Hotel Academy and Sunny – Indian Hotel Academy

12. Sweet Sensation – 2024: Tanmay Chugh – Radisson Udyog Vihar

13. Dressing a Cake – 2024 (Students): D Balaji – Chennais Amrita

14. Ornamental Breads – 2024: Ravi – Crowne Plaza Okhla and Pankaj Panday – The Suryaa, New Delhi

15. International Confectionary – 2024: Nilesh Kumar – Eros Hotel, New Delhi

16. Kebabs – 2024: Lalit Sharma – Redfox Aerocity

17. Indian Regional Cuisine – 2024: K Baskar – Eros Hotel, New Delhi

18. Halwai – 2024: Rajesh – Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Sahibabad

19. International Cuisine – 2024: Vishal – India Habitat Centre

20. Biryani Competition – 2024: Sachin Yadav – Radisson Blu Plaza, Mahipalpur

21. Minutes Challenge – 2024 (Professionals): Ajay Bhardwaj – Taj City Centre Gurugram

22. Minutes Challenge – 2024 (Students): Shubham Singh Rawat – Indian Hotel Academy

Women Role Models in STEM Shine at myAvtar Career Conference, 2024

STEM Shine at myAvtar Career Conference, 2024

Bengaluru, May, 2024: Avtar Group, India’s leading Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Solutions firm, hosted the myAvtar Career Conference (MACC) at Karnataka Trade Promotion Organization (KTPO), Bengaluru today.

myAvtar Career Conference (MACC), the career extravaganza brought together inclusive companies and a vast pool of women talent from the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) under one roof. Participating Companies included, Aditya Birla Group, Publicis Sapient, Broadridge Financial Solutions India Limited, Moody’s, Renault Nisan Tech, IBM India, Google Cloud, HDFC ERGO, ACT, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Gallagher, Happiest Minds Technologies Limited, Stryker, Verisk, AKJ Somaiya Institute Of Management, among many others.

Tailored for Women in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM), MACC offered a unique platform to connect, collaborate, and converse with like-minded professionals, industry-leading companies, and renowned experts in the industry. The conclave was an ecosystem designed to foster learning, sharing, and networking for women in the STEM field; an opportunity to explore new horizons in the STEM field, to grow personally and professionally, and to unlock a world of possibilities. The conference witnessed a large gathering of students, educators, professionals, and industry leaders who shared their knowledge, experiences, and insights.

Avtar Group also announced the winners of their inaugural “Women in STEM” Awards. This Awards recognize and celebrate the outstanding achievements of women who are making significant strides in the STEM fields. In STEM Icons 15 plus years of work experience category, Vaijayanthi Srinivasa Raghavan Senior Director, UPS India Technology Centre, Priya Kanduri, CTO, SVP – Cyber Security Services, HappiestMinds Technologies Limited, Deepti Singh, Deputy General Manager- Head of Department System Installation, Renault Nissan Tech have received top 3 awards. In STEM Divas 8-15 years of work experience category, Subbulakshmi Ramkumar, Deputy Manager, RNTBCI, Yogita Bhanwaria, Senior Manager, Biocon Biologics Limited, MuthuSusithra Devarajan, Team Manager, Broadridge Financial Solutions have received top 3 awards. In STEM Stars 2-8 years of work experience category, Nishtha Mahendru, Consultant, Applied Innovation Exchange, Capgemini, Nidhi Raut, Sr. Engineer, Renault Nissan Technology Business Centre India (RNTBCI), Indujaa Thangavel, Broadridge Financial Solutions have received top 3 awards.

“One of the key sectors that has the potential to boost women’s workforce participation, is the STEM industry. While 43%of STEM graduates are women, they make up only 28% of the STEM workforce. Moreover, women drop out of the workplace due to childbirth, childcare and elder care. Consequently, only 3 percent of women hold CEO posts in the STEM Industry. While research has established that improving women’s workforce participation can boost India’s GDP by 27%, more women in STEM would set the stage for inclusive innovation and solution designs that are equitable for all. Women have historically been underrepresented in STEM, yet they bring invaluable perspectives and ideas to these fields. MACC awards recognizes the exceptional talent, the brilliance, and diverse perspectives of women in STEM,” said Dr Saundarya Rajesh, Founder – President, Avtar Group announcing the awards at the myAvtar Career Conference today in Bengaluru.

“Through MACC, we are acknowledging the remarkable work being done by women in STEM and also addressing the systemic barriers they face. Our goal is to create an environment where every individual, regardless of gender, has the opportunity to thrive and drive progress,” added Dr Saundarya.

At the conference, three organizations with the “Best Programs for enabling women in STEM”Biocon Biologics Pvt Ltd, Kyndryl and Molecular Connections Pvt Ltd were also recognized.

In addition to the awards, the myAvtar Career Conferences hosted a series of panel discussions, skilling tracks conducted by IBM, Google Cloud, Johnson & Johnson and Publicis Sapient exclusively for women. The event also provided a platform for knowledge exchange, mentorship, collaboration, further strengthening the presence and influence of women in the STEM field.

The conference hosted in the hybrid mode –saw an attendance of over 3000 women at the on-ground event, while there were over 2000 attendees virtually. Companies opened up jobs from entry-level to senior-level positions across India – Bengaluru, Chennai, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Pune, Bhubaneshwar, Madurai and Coimbatore.