The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), in collaboration with the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (NCHMCT) and the Hotel & Restaurant Association of Northern India (HRANI), successfully hosted its HR Summit on Education and Career in Hospitality on November 4-5, 2024, at Hotel Le Meridien, New Delhi. The event, attended by over 200 industry leaders, educators, and government representatives, focused on the future of hospitality education and career opportunities in India.
The summit addressed key challenges facing the hospitality industry, including a shortage of skilled workers, low enrolment in hospitality courses, and high employee attrition. Discussions centered on solutions to improve the quality of hospitality education, bridge the skills gap, and create more sustainable career pathways for aspiring professionals.
Gyan Bhushan, CEO of NCHMCT, emphasized the critical role of hospitality in India’s economy, particularly as the sector recovers from the pandemic. He highlighted the potential for job creation and the need for focused education and skill development to meet the evolving demands of both customers and workers.
The summit also featured the launch of the report, Future of Hospitality: Challenges, Skill Shortages, and Solutions, developed by the FHRAI Centre of Excellence. The report, based on consultations with over 1,500 stakeholders, explores the challenges and opportunities in the hospitality sector, including the projected need for 100,000–150,000 skilled workers annually by 2029 as India’s hospitality industry continues to grow.
Pradeep Shetty, Vice President of FHRAI, stressed the importance of addressing the talent shortage, particularly as the hospitality sector is expected to generate millions of jobs in the coming decades. He urged the industry to improve education and make careers in hospitality more attractive to the next generation.
KB Kachru, President of the Hotel Association of India (HAI), highlighted the critical role of the hospitality sector in India’s economic growth and the need for collective action to address the workforce challenges.
Surendra Kumar Jaiswal, President of HRANI, echoed the importance of collaboration between industry, government, and educational institutions to ensure a sustainable future for hospitality.
The summit featured three key sessions: Career Opportunities in Hospitality, Addressing Low Enrolment and High Attrition, and Managing Human Resources in Hospitality. These sessions explored the evolving landscape of the industry, skill development strategies, and best practices for talent management.
The event successfully brought together key stakeholders to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the hospitality industry, reinforcing the importance of collaboration to create a well-trained, motivated workforce. As the sector continues to grow, FHRAI, NCHMCT, and HRANI are committed to ensuring that the future of the industry remains bright and full of opportunities for hospitality professionals.