The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) honoured KB Kachru, President, Hotel Association of India (HAI) and Chairman – South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group, with the prestigious Hall of Fame Award at the 41st IATO Annual Convention
The award was presented by Union Minister of Civil Aviation Shri K. Rammohan Naidu at a ceremony in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, honouring his exemplary leadership and lasting contribution to India’s tourism and hospitality industry. The event was attended by Tourism Ministers and senior government functionaries from Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Karnataka, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Goa and other states, along with IATO’s President Shri Ravi Gosain and its Senior Leadership.
The IATO Hall of Fame Award honours individuals whose sustained leadership has made a lasting impact on India’s tourism and travel ecosystem. KB Kachru receives the recognition at a time when the industry is focused on expanding tourism infrastructure and hospitality capacity to support India’s Vision 2047 ambitions — a dialogue he has helped advance through his leadership at HAI and one of India’s largest hotel groups.
Commenting on the recognition, KB Kachru, President, Hotel Association of India (HAI) and Chairman – South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group, said, “The IATO Hall of Fame Award 2026 is an honour I accept with humility, and I share it with the many colleagues, institutions and professionals whose partnership has shaped this journey.
I look at India’s tourism and hospitality sector today, and I feel something I haven’t felt in years — genuine excitement for what’s coming. We stand at the threshold of a golden decade, where technology, sustainability and authentic Indian hospitality can converge to create something the world has never quite seen before. The opportunity in front of us isn’t just to grow — it’s to redefine what world-class hospitality means, on our own terms.”
The recognition underscores KB’s decades-long leadership in strengthening India’s tourism and hospitality ecosystem. Since joining Radisson Hotel Group in 1998, he has played a key role in growing its South Asia business and continues to serve on its South Asia governing boards.
IATO described KB’s journey as defined by visionary leadership, professional excellence, and a steadfast commitment to advancing Indian tourism and hospitality, noting that his guidance has left a lasting legacy and inspired generations of industry professionals.
“To the young professionals entering this industry: the future belongs to those who dare to think beyond conventional playbooks — who see skilling as a lifelong pursuit, sustainability as non-negotiable, and global competitiveness as something we earn through excellence, not imitation. I am more committed than ever to walking this path alongside you, building an industry that is not just resilient, but truly transformative for generations to come”. KB Kachru added.
KB Kachru currently serves as President of the Hotel Association of India, Governing Member of the Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council of India, and a member of the CII Tourism Committee. He has also held board roles with State Tourism Corporations and IHM New Delhi.
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