The Professional Housekeepers Association (PHA) hosted its Eighth National Housekeepers’ Convention alongside its 11th anniversary celebrations on May 30, 2026, at The Eros Hotel, Nehru Place, New Delhi. The convention marked a significant milestone for the association, held in the national capital for the first time and bringing together leading professionals from the hospitality, healthcare, facility management, aviation, academia, and allied industries.
Centered on the theme “Stewards of Standards” and guided by PHA’s 2026 vision, “Care, Create, Elevate,” the convention focused on “Leadership in the Art and Science of Housekeeping,” highlighting the evolving role of housekeeping professionals as strategic contributors to organisational excellence and brand reputation.
The event commenced with a welcome address by the convention emcees, followed by a mindfulness session and an invocation performance. The ceremonial lamp lighting was led by PHA Founder President and Chairperson Jayashree Nagaraj, along with Chief Guest R. Ramesh, Senior Vice President–Household Maintenance, The Oberoi Group; Guest of Honour Kanika Hasrat, Senior Regional Director–Operations, South Asia, Hilton Hospitality; Rubina Sharma, Hotel Manager, Eros Hotel, New Delhi; and Kiran Rao, President, Peppermint Robotics.
In her inaugural address, Nagaraj reflected on PHA’s growth over the past decade and emphasised the role of housekeeping professionals as custodians of quality, guest satisfaction, and brand integrity. Guest of Honour Kanika Hasrat spoke about the importance of empathetic leadership, mentorship, and understanding the diverse experiences of team members in building high-performing workplaces. Chief Guest R. Ramesh highlighted the importance of structured training and mentorship in developing future industry leaders.
A key highlight of the convention was a series of insightful panel discussions featuring senior leaders from hotels, hospitals, airports, retail, and facility management sectors. Discussions explored how housekeeping drives brand trust, customer experience, operational excellence, and sustainability. Speakers also addressed emerging trends such as technology integration, outsourcing models, workforce development, and evolving customer expectations.
Innovation remained a central focus throughout the event, with presentations by leading industry partners including Peppermint Robotics, Kinetiq Robotics, AJM Textiles, Nilfisk, and other solution providers. Delegates also participated in focused B2B networking sessions and knowledge-sharing forums aimed at strengthening collaboration across sectors.
The convention further strengthened industry partnerships through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between PHA and the Global Association for Corporate Services (GACS), reinforcing a shared commitment to professional development and knowledge exchange.
The event concluded with the presentation of the prestigious PHA Par Excellence Awards, recognising outstanding contributions by housekeeping professionals across various categories. A vibrant cultural showcase celebrating India’s diversity and the spirit of togetherness brought the day’s proceedings to a memorable close, reaffirming PHA’s commitment to advancing excellence, innovation, and leadership within the housekeeping profession.
