hospitality INdustry

We are giving below some quotations from hospitality professionals, including owners and managers. They speak in their own words about working conditions, compensation levels, career prospects, the excitement of meeting different people every day and the environment of team work and customer contacts.

"For creativity hospitality is the industry to be in. It requires a lot of effort to go wrong in this industry. If you are good at talking, you could excel in a hotel's marketing department, front office, and food service. If you are good at maintaining relationships you could excel in Personnel, Guest Relations, Event Management, Liaison, Bar, Advertising and Promotion. If you are good at cooking of course this is the industry to be in.  If you are a cleanliness freak you could excel in Rooms Division, Housekeeping. If you have a techno in you, Maintenance or EDP department can absorb you, while if you are good at Accounts the finance department is the field in the hotel industry.  If you are a good negotiator, Purchase and Inventory could be your departments of excellence.  A little hard work and perseverance could lead you to a lucrative job abroad. A course in catering brings about a lifestyle change, which is why good-paymasters like airlines to call-centers prefer students from this industry. The crux of the matter is that in whichever sphere of life you are in, putting it to work in this industry gets appreciation, and not only from peers but from the end-user guest."
- Kamlesh Barot, Director, Revival Restaurant, Mumbai.

" The hospitality industry is one of the largest providers of employment worldwide and India is no exception to it. Mooted on the traditional belief of "Athithi Devo Bhavo" the sector has grown leaps and bounds over the years and has promising growth potential.

The QSR's (Quick Service or Fast Food Restaurants) segment has carved a niche for itself in this highly competitive and ever changing hospitality sector. Studies reveal that eating out culture has posted a spectacular growth in the past five years. This growth can be attributed to the increase in the disposable income of the middle classes of the country. As a matter of fact, this sector alone accounts for the largest discretionary spending after food and grocery.

The job profile of a QSR is such that it inculcates entrepreneurial values in people associated with it. The manager, at the helm of affairs, is accountable not only for the sales, allocation of profits and customer satisfaction but also for a plethora of other challenges that groom his entrepreneurial qualities to perfection. This is one area where a large number managers and chefs have become entrepreneurs and successful owners of their own businesses.

Therefore, I strongly feel that hospitality industry offers an excellent platform to grow and develop and should be explored by people who dare to dream different!"
- Vikram Bakshi, Managing Director, Mc Donald's India North.

" Hospitality is one of the fastest growing industries in the world today.  In India, the boom has just begun, which has thrown open tremendous opportunities for successful careers.

This is an interesting work place where each day offers new challenges with never a dull moment, thereby making it extremely enjoyable.  The industry offers a well rounded personality development for the individual and although there is glamour and show business, there is also a lot of hard work and long hours as well. If you do not have a passion for service then you are not cut out for the job.  This industry recognizes meritocracy rather than tenure and it helps you to realize your full potential by creating a conducive platform for you to excel.

This is a business of people and relationships and if you like working with people and serving guests, have a positive attitude towards life and work, if you enjoy the finer things of life you would have chosen the right industry."
- Anil Chadha, Resident Manager, ITC Hotel Maurya Sheraton & Towers, New Delhi.

"The hotel industry and the role of hotel managers has changed tremendously over the last few years. Earlier in hotels for instance, there was a lot of hierarchy but now it is all lean and flat. Today you have a situation where a manager at an entry level is free to call the general manager by his name. The salaries are no less if you look at cost to company package offered to the entry-level staff, and as regards working environment both in the hotels and also in good restaurants in the country, it's at par with international standards. We have got very conducive working environment that offers not only the challenges but also the opportunities for one to deliver and grow. If you, for instance, compare any other sector with the hospitality industry in terms of working environment, we fare very well. This is where the change in attitude has also taken place and many bright students from good families have started joining the hotel management courses and making a career in the industry"
- Nalin Mendiratta, Director Rooms, Radisson Hotel, Delhi.

"Hospitality Education coupled with exposure to a quality hotel can help a youngster to develop good communication skills, people leadership qualities, forethought & vision, high sociability, versatility and flexibility, eye for detail, quick decision making, high general awareness and interpersonal sensitivity.
Travel and tourism has been one of the fastest growing job creators in the country offering opportunities in
· Lodging: hotels, motels & time-shares.
· Destination areas: amusement centers, theme parks and resorts.
· Entertainment industry: casinos, theaters and Multiplexes.
· Food service: catering, schools, hospitals, defense services, restaurants and fast food operators (both chains & independents).
· Transportation/travel industry: airlines, cruise ships.
· Leisure organizations: sporting clubs, recreation centers and country clubs.
· All the other service sectors like banks, call centres etc.
Few challenges of hospitality industry can be summed up as under
· Be prepared to " Work your way up from the bottom"
· Be willing to work on weekends, holidays, evenings, long & unusual hours.
· It may be necessary to move around geographically to get promotions.

It is undoubtedly a boom sector. Opportunities in hospitality industry can only become bigger & better in the years to come."
- Rajeev Pathak, Regional Manager Learning Services, ITC Maurya Sheraton & Towers, New Delhi.

" In earlier years, the jobs in the hospitality industry were not so popular, but now the situation is changing fast as the course in hotel management has emerged an all time favourite. This is also because it has found its acceptance in various sectors and especially in service sector related fields like call centres, cruise liners, banks, airlines, multiplexes, shopping centres and others. If you have a degree/diploma in hotel management, you have several career options open in front of you.  And there is a growing scope of working abroad as Indian hotel management graduates and hotel managers are in demand everywhere.

It is this consideration which is bringing in some bright students also to pursue a course in hotel management due to its acceptability and its attractive employment market. This basic factor has been responsible behind attracting some bright sparks among young high school leavers looking for a good career."
- Satish C. Mishra, Regional Manager - Human Resources, ITC Hotel Sonar Bangla Sheraton & Towers, Kolkata.