Mrs. Charulata Sukhija

Currently the Deputy Secretary General of Hotel Association of India (HAI), the apex national forum of the Indian hospitality, Charu has been a part of the Industry since 1985. Having started her career as a management trainee in India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC). Charu gained close to 2 decades of a rich and varied experience in hotel operations, sales & marketing, event management and other areas. She opted for voluntary retirement in 2004 to join the corporate office of International Travel House Ltd., an ITC Company that offers a complete bouquet of travel services to business and leisure travellers alike.

After close to three years, seizing an opportunity to be a part of world famous Thai Hospitality, Charu left Travel House to join Challenge Hospitality at its corporate office in Bangkok as Director for Corporate Affairs. The Company manages the Dome at State Tower, Bangkok; lebua at State Tower, Bangkok and Lake Okareka Lodge, New Zealand. lebua now manages several hotels in India as well. Personal compulsions however cut short the overseas appointment and she returned to India in 15 months. The return home was accompanied by a change in profile when a chance interaction with an ex-boss resulted in her joining HAI in June 2008 as Deputy Director to look at the vibrant and exciting industry from a different perspective and continue to serve it in an advocacy role.

Charu is an alumnus of Delhi University, Institute of Hotel Management Catering and Nutrition Pusa, New Delhi and International Management Institute (IMI), New Delhi. She has been an academic achiever .