Build a Promising Career in the Global Hospitality Industry
The hospitality and travel industry is one of the world’s fastest-growing sectors, with bookings hitting close to $1.6 trillion in 2017 according to the ‘2018 Travel and Hospitality Industry Outlook’ released by Deloitte, the US-based audit and consulting form. The segment accounts for more than one-tenth of global GDP and is going to be the single largest employer globally.
The trend is visible closer home as well where the Indian tourism and hospitality industry has emerged as one of the key drivers of growth among the services sector in India. The World Travel and Tourism Council forecasts Indian tourism sector to grow at an annual average growth rate of 7 per cent over the next decade.
Tourism is also a potentially large employment generator. According to the report, the travel & tourism sector in India accounted for 9.3 per cent of the total employment opportunities generated in the country in 2016, providing employment to around 40.3 million people during the same year. The number is expected to rise by 2 per cent annum to 46.42 million jobs by 2026
The hospitality arena in India is not only growing rapidly, but it has developed into a multi-faceted industry. There has been a rapid growth is the development of our airline sector. Indians are travelling more as compared to the past because of better connectivity and ease of flying. We have also witnessed an increase in foreign tourist arrivals. With an advancement in technology, hotel rooms can now be booked with a click of a button. From budget hotels to five-star properties and home stays to boutique resorts, there is something for every traveller. There is a growing awareness of international hospitality standards and people are demanding high-quality services in hotels and restaurants. Social and digital media also gives them a platform to review offerings and express their dissatisfaction. There are several international brands and chains that have entered the local market. And with competition being high, customers are spoiled for choice.
Hospitality industry – an opportunity for young managers
It’s no surprise that students are flocking to take advantage of the opportunities that exist within the industry and have been lining up for hospitality and hotel management related courses at institutes across the country.
The need for a world-class institute in India has never been stronger. Professional hospitality institutes are churning out well-qualified professionals every year. Trained professionals, of course, have an advantage over untrained graduates as hotels would rather not invest in training of new recruits.
In terms of human resources, this industry experiences a high turnover of skilled people. Moreover, trained hospitality professionals are absorbed by many multi-national companies including banks and IT firms.
With a flourishing tourism industry in Goa, as well as the rest of India, a lot of international chains have been entering the local market. From budget hotels to five-star properties and home stays to boutique resorts, there is something for every traveller. This, in turn, means a variety of career opportunities for hospitality students.
Embarking on a career in hospitality can be hugely rewarding. Since it is a service-based industry, in order to have a successful career, one needs to possess great people skills and the willingness to work hard. The hospitality industry is a people-intensive sector, and is in constant need of people. However, candidates opting for this sector have to go through a rigorous training program to be able to cope with the exacting standards and its growing demands.
While the opportunities are ample, students need to evaluate their aptitude for a career in hospitality before jumping right in. Candidate must be willing to work in various areas of operation as the profession may require that an employee is asked to work in management, food and beverage service, housekeeping, front office operation, sales and marketing, accounting or any other department depending upon the specific requirement.
Depending on their areas of interest and training, students can work in the areas of hotel and restaurant management, airline catering and cabin service, club management, cruise ship hotel management, hotel and tourism associations, forest lodges and guest houses, catering institutes and even set up an entrepreneurial venture of their own. With ample opportunities for advancement in this field, students that start careers in cafes, bars and lounges will soon find themselves on the fast track towards managerial levels which include taking up the position of a General Manager, Rooms Division Manager, Food & Beverage Manager, Sales & Marketing Manager, Chef and Restaurant Manager. Hospitality students also have an opportunity to build careers in various other sectors including the banking industry, IT industry, food chains, institutions, hospitals and industries that have their own cafeteria facilities and require hospitality professionals.
The hospitality industry overall provides a diverse range of experiences. It is often considered as one of the most exciting careers, but there is a lot of work and effort involved behind the scenes. However, with the positive growth of this industry, students with an inclination towards this career have a bright future ahead.
The article has been authored by Prof. Irfan S. Mirza, CHE, Director and Principle, V. M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education (VMSIIHE)-Goa. Affiliated to the Goa University, VMSIIHE offers a B.Sc. in International Hospitality Management. Students can choose to pursue further studies at the prestigious Business & Hotel Management School(B.H.M.S.) in Switzerland. VMSIIHE recently tied up with Turismo de Portugal which facilitates knowledge exchange programmes between the two countries.
