Posted inOperations

Challenges being faced in attracting fresh talent to hospitality

In conversation with Mehul Sharma, Founder and CEO, Signum Hotels and Resorts on how hospitality education needs to evolve in the new normal

Mehul Sharma, Founder and CEO, Signum Hotels.

There lies a stark difference in terms of acquiring fresh talent and fostering their education when compared to the pre and post-Covid times within the Hospitality Industry. The Hospitality Industry was among the few which took a big blow during the Pandemic but has revived, not completely. Working in Hospitality was associated with Luxury, and Pride before the Pandemic but now it has somehow been associated with fear of instability.

It was quite evident in the Covid times that most Industries underwent a huge layoff, and Hospitality was no different, which fathoms the seeds of prevalent uncertainty.

As per the UNWTO recommendations (on average), for a three-star hotel, per 10 rooms, there should be at least 8 people. For a four-star hotel, 12 people, and for a five-star, at least 20 people.

This directly implies that there should be an employee strength of 1,500 for a hotel with 100 rooms.

The post-Covid education of new employees has to be done in accordance with the new normal. Hence, regressive training and effective retention practices are to be put to use. Hospitality works on human satisfaction, and the same applies to the employees working there.

While talent acquisition, it is indeed hard to locate the precise fit for the abilities required. Highly professional applicants are like sparkling fishes withinside the enterprises equipped to poach them at the primary instance. This adds up to the stress and uncertainty.

Another vital undertaking in hospitality recruiting is to manage a team of workers from diverse histories and nationalities. The hospitality enterprise has the maximum cosmopolitan team of workers network however managing it in a hotel may become a nightmare for the human source office.

The evolution of the curriculum in the hospitality management schools is of vital essence and needs to get altered significantly not just regarding the health and hygiene of the hotels but also the revenue management. Apart from the education and experience provided in hospitality schools, a practical hands-on experience is incomparable. One such brand evolving as a pioneer in hospitality education is Signum Hotels and Resorts by restructuring the learning curve in hospitality.

Speaking of the hospitality training landscape evolution at some point during the pandemic it is perceived that Digitalisation is one of the most substantial recent developments in training and is also one of the most substantial in the hospitality industry.

Just like any other sector hospitality enterprise is also amidst combat for its survival. The need of the hour is to upskill and cross-skill one’s self to be relevant withinside the enterprise. In this period of survivability, college students also are specializing in up-skilling and re-skilling themselves to locate employability throughout a variety of industries.

Among various technological tendencies reshaping schooling, digitalization has had an extensive effect on economies, businesses, and societies, above all. The Digital generation brings innovation and offers college students personalized schooling and lifetime learning, which is reflected in their ability to organize work and provide first-class service.

Digitalization has made learning much handier with superior statistics and technologies. It has delivered innovation to the enterprise, nurturing college students with the proper skills. With the evolving expectancies of consumers, who’re usually looking for more modern stories, hospitality schooling is assisting the enterprise to maintain up with rising needs and new tech. It allows aspirants to live up to date with new marketplace necessities in addition to the advantage of a deeper understanding of issues via real-life experiences powered with the aid of using digital learning.

It is evident that the Pandemic has had impacts farther stretched than one could imagine. The hospitality industry has to evolve a more secure environment for its employees along with the change in the patterns of training.

It is believed that the industry will overcome the current hindrances, in good time, hopefully!

Grand Jury meet
(Top L-R): Manoj Bhat, MD & CEO, Mahindra Holidays; Jatin Khanna, CEO, Sarovar Hotels & Resorts; Ranjit Batra, President, Hospitality, Panchshil Realty; Sanjay Sethi, CEO & MD, Chalet Hotels; Satyen Jain, CEO, Pride Hotels; Gaurav Pokhariyal, EVP, Human Resources, IHCL (Bottom L-R): Sonica Malhotra, Joint MD, MBD Group; Zubin Saxena, Senior VP & Country Head - India, Hilton; Souvagya Mohapatra, MD (India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan), Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts; Ranju Alex, Area VP - South Asia, Marriott International; Sanju Soni, Senior VP, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts; Chef Rakesh Sethi, Corporate Executive Chef, Operations, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group; Vikram Cotah, CEO, GRT Hotels & Resorts; Vikramjit Singh, Chairman & MD, Alivaa Hotels & Resorts
Posted inEvents

Hotelier India Awards 2024: The Grand Jury Meet