Ask the experts at the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) and they will tell you that there are many disruptive trends sweeping through the rapidly growing hospitality industry right now. Many of these trends were accelerated by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. These industry-wide trends in turn are leading to critical shifts in what’s on offer in hospitality education globally. Only the savviest and most future-forward hospitality institutes, like IIHM, are taking cognizance of these changes and adapting their curriculums accordingly.
Among other things, the pandemic accelerated the adoption of many new technologies in the hospitality industry. Technology integration is, therefore, a major trend and hotels have started relying on technology for both operational efficiency and to enhance the guest experience. This includes everything from keyless entry to customer relationship management (CRM). Going forward, hospitality courses will provide learning and practical training in relevant areas like data analytics, CRM, revenue management systems, as well as in the rapidly expanding field of digital marketing.
ANTHONY CAPUANO
Another major driver of hospitality education is going to be sustainability. In line with UN SDGs, hospitality education programmes have started incorporating courses on waste management, green building, and eco-friendly practices. Not only has IIHM already incorporated sustainability in its curriculum, it’s also actively promoting the UN SDGs through initiatives like the Young Chef Olympiad, the Global Sustainability Congress, seminars and an upcoming book on sustainable hospitality. IIHM has taken over the Park Street Metro in Kolkata and rebranded it as the IIHM Park Street Metro and is using it to create awareness about sustainability.
Hands-on practical training is the need of the hour, especially after the disruption caused by COVID-19. This requires hospitality institutes to offer more internships, industry placements and practical training components to their students. For a people-centric industry like hospitality, it is essential for students to be able to test their theoretical knowledge in real-world settings and gain from valuable industry exposure. At the International Institute of Hotel Management, students have ample opportunities for such relevant exposure, including going on international internships. Students are also taken on international wine, whisky and culinary tours, to give them unparalleled exposure and domain knowledge which will prove invaluable in their careers.
MEGHA SHANKARANARAYANAN
Hospitality students, both men and women, need to be gender sensitised and made aware of the importance as well as many tangible and intangible benefits of women’s empowerment in the hospitality industry. A related soft skill that requires developing is cultural intelligence. Due to the increasingly international nature of the hospitality industry, there has been an uptick in the emphasis placed on teaching students how to effectively interact with people from different cultural backgrounds. This includes developing students' ability to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries, encouraging an open and accepting classroom climate, and emphasising the value of cultural variety.
Indeed, as the hospitality industry becomes increasingly global and integrated, hospitality education programs need to appreciate the importance of preparing students for international careers. International internships and exchange programmes will go a long way in developing students for an international career in hospitality. Foreign language training is a useful skill in this regard, and hospitality institutes should consider offering it in their curriculum.
As wellness tourism gains traction, courses in wellness management, spa operations, mindfulness, and holistic approaches to visitor satisfaction should also be incorporated into the hospitality curriculum. Courses on entrepreneurship and innovation can also be included. IIHM’s SAHAS entrepreneurship cell, set up by its Founder and Chief Mentor, Dr Suborno Bose, is a proactive move in this direction.
MOU WITH U.S
Hospitality education is a dynamic and evolving field which constantly has to adapt to address the changing needs of the hospitality industry. A few other things that can be kept in mind are offering customized learning paths using technology platforms, providing students access to industry mentors and masterclasses by subject experts as well as options for continuous learning throughout the career journey, given that hospitality is a rapidly changing industry. This can be done through flexi learning programs, online courses, and periodic certifications. At IIHM, an elite group of industry stalwarts who have been felicitated as FIIHMs (or Fellows of IIHM) take sessions for the students in their own field and mentor them. These are Hospitality Icons who have grown into leadership positions in the industry. Since they are themselves established, they also provide help in placement to the students.
The trends touched upon reflect the evolving nature of the hospitality industry and the need for education programs to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in a dynamic and competitive industry.
The International Institute of Hotel Management pulls out all the stops when it comes to their hospitality education curriculum. In fact, it has already onboarded many of the education trends mentioned above. IIHM offers international programs in hospitality in association with some of the leading universities in the United Kingdom. This includes the prestigious BSc (Hons) degree in Hospitality Management from the University of West London.
IIHM’s ambitious ‘Global Connect’ program allows students to go as exchange students and study in over 70 institutions abroad. The Faculty Exchange program also allows guest faculty from these institutes to come to IIHM and teach the students. IIHM boasts an international faculty headed by Prof David Foskett comprising many celebrated faculties who expose students to the latest global trends in hospitality.
IIHM’s futuristic collaborations with digital tech companies is also giving its students an edge over others. Google is creating a module on Digital Marketing which will provide IIHM students cutting-edge knowledge on Analytics and GoogleAds, Google Travel, Google Hotels, etc. Megna Shankaranarayanan, Head of Industry, Travel & FoodTech, Google, is partnering with IIHM for this project. Meanwhile, HotStats is providing IIHM students a platform to study Hospitality Marketing trends, just like STR reports, which they can use for their projects and understand revenue management, with HotStats CEO, Michael Grove overseeing the project himself.
Among IIHM’s many initiatives is the International Young Chef Olympiad which unites 60 countries on one common platform and gives students an opportunity to interact with their peers from across the world. IIHM must be one of the few hospitality institutes to offer students free global exposure through interesting initiatives like wine tours to Europe, culinary tours to France and whisky tours to Scotland, among others. This kind of privileged exposure equips IIHM students with extraordinary skills and practical experience for their careers. They are also sent for six months’ training programs abroad.
Over and above this, IIHM’s worldwide alumni network is a great support system for its students and also opens up a global world of job opportunities for them. Many of IIHM’s alumni are in leading positions in hospitality companies worldwide. These include Ashish Kumar, GM, Hyatt Kathmandu; Sarbendra Sarkar, Founder & MD, Cygnett Hotels; Kunal Katoch, MD, Playotel; Alok Dixit, GM, Marriott London Regents Park; Alok Kumar Singh, MD, Kamasutra Restaurants; Dayapal Chandolia, Director, F&B, Four Seasons, Washington DC; and Sunny Verma, GM, Mercure Glasgow City Hotel.
YCO2023
One of the things IIHM students benefit greatly from is the institute’s strong connect with the hospitality industry. This includes IIHM’s signed MOU with Marriott International. The industry connect helps with coveted placements and internships. It also ensures that the education being imparted at IIHM is industry driven and industry mentored and on point.
IIHM has also signed 50 MoUs with leading hospitality institutes in 50 countries to enable exchange of ideas, talent and knowledge between IIHM and these countries. At the end of the day, IIHM provides so much more than just a management degree. It provides a support system in a competitive industry and incubates the hospitality leaders of tomorrow with a forward-looking focus on sweeping trends like sustainability.
IIHM is currently open for Admissions for the coming academic session. Now is the time to reach out to them and create a bright career in a growing industry like hospitality for yourself. Don’t miss this golden opportunity!
This article has been produced on behalf of the International Institute of Hotel Management Kolkata by ABP Digital Brand Studio.
