The Hosts of the Hotel Investment Forum India (HIFI) are pleased to announce that Priya Paul, Chairperson, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels will be awarded the HIFI Aatithya Ratna Award. HIFI is scheduled for January 11-13, 2012, at the Renaissance Mumbai Hotel and Convention Centre, Mumbai, India. HIFI is hosted by Burba Hotel Network (BHN) and Horwath HTL. 

Aatithya Ratna means, “Gem of Hospitality.”  The Aatithya Ratna award was established by HIFI to honor an individual who exemplifies the extraordinary spirit of hospitality. Last year’s winner was Edwin Fuller, President and Managing Director, International Lodging, Marriott International, Inc.

Priya Paul is a prominent entrepreneur in India. Her contributions to industry and commerce, particularly in the field of hospitality, are widely respected and recognized. She transformed and expanded The Park hotels into boutique properties with excellent touches of luxury quality and service. She has received several awards and citations, including: The Federation of Hotels and Restaurants Association of India’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year award (1999-2000) and The Economic Times’s Businessperson of the Year (2002-2003). The United Kindom’s Tatler magazine rated The Park Bangalore, India, as one of the 101 Best Hotels Worldwide in 2003.

“We are very pleased to be honoring Priya Paul with this Award. She is the perfect example of that rare individual who has the vision but also the courage and self-belief to do things differently,“ said Vijay Thacker, Director of Horwath HTL, Mumbai India.