November 2026

Hospitality Industry Feature

Governance & Compliance in Hospitality

Dhanraj Mulki brings over 3 decades of expertise in Legal, Corporate Governance, Compliance, Licensing, and Company Secretarial functions. Until his recent superannuation, he served as General Counsel & Company Secretary at Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Limited, overseeing compliance, legal, and secretarial responsibilities for the company and its subsidiaries.

Dhanraj’s career spans reputed Indian and global groups across industries including steel, banking, travel, hospitality, and entertainment. He has served on leadership teams and as a KMP in different companies for more than two decades.

In recent years, he has played a key advisory role with the All India Resort Development Association (AIRDA), having earlier served as Vice Chairman of its Executive Committee. He is currently AIRDA's Consulting CEO.

In this Q&A session, Dhanraj Mulki draws on his extensive industry experience to share insights on the strategic role of compliance in hospitality. His perspectives reflect both his leadership journey across diverse sectors and his active involvement with AIRDA, where he has contributed to strengthening governance and compliance frameworks for member resorts.

What were the defining challenges and achievements in your role at Mahindra
Holidays & Resorts and Ginger Hotels – TAJ group?
Managing compliance across a geographically diverse portfolio was a major challenge, requiring proactive solutions for land, property, and regulatory issues. It was important to build a strong governance culture aligned with business objectives, strengthening compliance frameworks, and positioning legal and compliance as strategic partners and drivers for growth.  Supporting acquisitions and growth while maintaining high ethical governance standards has been particularly rewarding.

How did your cross-industry experience prepare you for Club Mahindra’s operations?
Banking taught discipline, risk management, and regulatory oversight. Entertainment exposed me to customer-centric models, licensing, and intellectual property. Travel and hospitality combined property management, contracts, and compliance. Together, these experiences provided a broad perspective, invaluable at MHRIL where hospitality, real estate, travel, and technology intersect. Cross-industry exposure helped balance compliance with growth — because only thriving businesses can sustain high governance standards.

How does compliance safeguard growth and expansion for large hospitality brands?
Compliance is more than a regulatory obligation — it enables sustainable growth. For acquisitions, new partnerships and IPOs, investors look closely at governance frameworks. In hospitality, compliance identifies risks early, protects brand reputation, and builds trust with stakeholders. During mergers and acquisitions, due diligence uncovers liabilities and ensures informed decisions. Companies that embed compliance into their growth strategy scale more confidently and adapt faster to regulatory change and are rewarded by the investor community. 

What compliance areas should resort operators prioritize to remain future-ready?
Resorts operate in a diverse regulatory ecosystem. Priorities include land-title verification, zoning approvals, and environmental clearances for new properties. Statutory licenses cover health, safety, fire, environment, pollution control, food and beverage, and labour laws, which require constant monitoring. Data privacy and cybersecurity are critical as guest information moves online, while ESG considerations are gaining prominence. Future-ready resorts adopt structured frameworks, track regulatory changes, and integrate compliance into daily operations.

How is technology reshaping compliance management for hospitality companies?
Technology is shifting compliance from reactive to proactive. Modern platforms monitor regulatory changes, automate tracking, generate alerts, and provide real-time visibility across multiple locations. For companies adding properties every year, technology ensures consistency, reduces manual errors, and strengthens audit readiness. The future lies in integrating compliance systems with enterprise risk management and governance. AI and analytics will help predict risks and close gaps, enhancing efficiency and transparency while supporting better decisions.

What practical steps should AIRDA member resorts take to build stronger
compliance systems?
A good compliance framework should be seen as a long-term investment. Resorts can start with comprehensive compliance assessment and a structured calendar for licenses, renewals, and reporting. Clear accountability across departments, employee training, and technology for monitoring and documentation are essential. Periodic reviews of governance and risk frameworks ensure alignment with growth. Success in hospitality comes not from scale alone but by building trust through strong governance, ethical conduct, and consistent compliance.

How can strong governance benefit smaller resorts within AIRDA’s network?
Governance is not limited to large corporations. Smaller resorts gain credibility with lenders, investors, and customers by adopting good practices early. Clear roles, documented policies, compliance reviews, transparent reporting, and structured risk management improve decision-making and reduce risks. Strong governance builds resilience and creates a foundation for sustainable growth.

What lessons from banking and entertainment can strengthen hospitality compliance?
Banking emphasizes risk management, internal controls, and accountability — all vital for hospitality. Entertainment highlights customer engagement, intellectual property, and operational agility. The common lesson here is that compliance should enable growth, not hinder it, and become a vital business enabler. Risk-based models, technology adoption, and strong internal controls allow hospitality organizations to innovate responsibly while maintaining regulatory discipline.

Dhanraj Mulki’s insights show that compliance and governance are a strategic partner in hospitality, not a barrier. For AIRDA member resorts, a structured, strong governance framework, technology adoption, and a culture of accountability will ensure future readiness, protect reputation, and build long-term trust with stakeholders.

A 360-degree experience at The Club Mahindra Resort - Assonora, Goa.