FHRAI and HRAWI to host cybersecurity and data protection summit in Indore.
In order to help hospitality stakeholders better understand and prepare for compliance under the DPDP Rules and discuss their practical consequences for the industry, the event provided a timely and impactful venue for knowledge exchange, capacity building, and conversation.
On January 4, 2026, the Hotel Omni Residency in Indore hosted a knowledge summit on “Cybersecurity and Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules, 2025” organised by the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), in collaboration with the Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) – HRAWI and the Indore Hotel Association (IHA).
Tulsiram Silawat, the Minister of Water Resources for the Government of Madhya Pradesh (MP), was the Chief Guest at the Summit. The hospitality sector was unitedly represented at the national and regional levels by FHRAI President Surendra Kumar Jaiswal, HRAWI President Jimmy Shaw, FHRAI Secretary Garish Oberoi, and IHA President Sumit Suri.
FHRAI and HRAWI have been at the forefront of establishing policies and procedures for the travel and hospitality industry for a number of decades. Understanding the changing regulatory landscape under the DPDP Act, 2023 has become crucial for the hotel sector, as guest data, digital transactions, and technology-driven services are essential. According to Jimmy Shaw, President of HRAWI, “the Knowledge Summit represented another significant milestone in that ongoing effort to future-proof the industry, and we are pleased that the event witnessed good participation from members across the State.”
The Summit demonstrated how data protection has changed from being merely a legal requirement to becoming a fundamental operational and strategic goal for organisations, especially with the DPDP Rules, 2025 bringing about a substantial overhaul of India’s data governance system.
Abhijit Parab, Partner in Cybersecurity at Ernst & Young, led a technical session at the summit that covered the intricacies of cybersecurity and DPDP compliance says “Seamless integration of strong data protection mechanisms is essential to operational integrity and visitor confidence; it is no longer a choice. By bridging the gap between legislation and real-world application, such a summit enables our members to confidently and clearly handle this new digital duty. We also value the forward-thinking tourism strategy of the Madhya Pradesh government, led by the chief minister, which is boosting investment and fortifying the hospitality sector. According to Sumit Suri, President of IHA, “Initiatives like these further reinforce the strong bond and collaborative relationship between FHRAI and HRAWI and reflect the value of meaningful engagement and growing membership through HRAWI.”
