The Professional Housekeepers Association (PHA) and PHA YUVA organised the 7th Young Visionary Housekeepers’ National Convention alongside the 9th anniversary of PHA YUVA on October 3, 2026, at Gokulam Grand Hotel & Spa, Bengaluru. The convention brought together nearly 450 participants, including students from 13 hotel management colleges, industry leaders, hospitality professionals, facility management experts, healthcare representatives, aviation professionals and academic faculty members.
Held under the theme ‘Housekeeping for the World (HKW)’, with the title ‘New World Housekeeping (NWHK): Connecting Dots and Establishing Directions’, the convention highlighted the evolving role of housekeeping in modern accommodation management. Discussions focused on technology, sustainability, employee well-being, guest experience and operational efficiency, while encouraging young professionals to explore zero-waste practices and sustainable entrepreneurial opportunities.
The programme commenced with a networking session for PHA YUVA members and mentors, coordinated by Dr. D. P. Sudhagar, Chief Convenor of the convention, Dean-MBA at Garden City University and Head of Strategy at PHA India. The inaugural ceremony featured lamp lighting by Jayashree Nagaraj, Founder-President and Chairperson of PHA; Chief Guest Tejus Jose, Director of Operations, ibis and ibis Styles Hotels-India; Guest of Honour Kiran Kumar, Vice President-Soft Services & Hospitality, Prestige Group; and Shafee Ahmed, Area General Manager, Gokulam Grand Hotel & Spa.
In his address, Kiran Kumar emphasised that housekeeping had evolved from a back-of-the-house function into a strategic, guest-facing discipline shaped by automation, specialised services and commercial opportunities. He highlighted the importance of personalised guest experiences, sustainability and stringent hygiene standards. Shafee Ahmed described housekeeping as a design-oriented discipline combining aesthetics with technical expertise and encouraged young delegates to strengthen their technical capabilities and prepare for leadership roles. Tejus Jose urged participants to pursue their individual career paths with passion, dedication, integrity and self-belief.
A key highlight was the formal YUVA Investiture Ceremony, during which the newly elected PHA YUVA Board members took their oath of office. The convention also featured an industry immersion session with senior professionals, followed by a fireside chat on the top priorities shaping New World Housekeeping. These sessions encouraged dialogue between emerging professionals and industry leaders on changing operational expectations and future career opportunities.
The Knowledge Capsule sessions addressed critical industry priorities. Shivakumar V, General Secretary, PHA India, presented the principles of zero-waste housekeeping through the five Rs: refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle and rot. Bindu K.C of Abad Hotels and Resorts discussed employee well-being and the importance of creativity, positive workplace experiences and teamwork. Ranajit Behera of Bangalore International Airport Limited highlighted the shift towards proactive, data-led and risk-based operations, while Indrani Sanyal of Woodlands Multispecialty Hospital underscored the role of rigorous hygiene protocols and infection control in healthcare environments. Industry partners, including Trident Group, Raenco, Sumeet Group, Diversey and Kinetic Robotics, presented their offerings and innovations. The convention also recognised six outstanding mentors through the Best PHA YUVA Mentor 2026 awards.
The Battle for Best Young Visionary Housekeeper 2026 celebrated student innovation through competitions on ‘One Idea for New World Housekeeping’ and ‘Housekeeping in 2035’. MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences won the Champions Trophy, while BGS Institute of Hotel Management received the Overall Champion of Champions Trophy.
The gathering reaffirmed PHA and PHA YUVA’s commitment to empowering young talent and advancing a more sustainable, technology-enabled and people-focused housekeeping profession.