The Role of Education & Trends in Hospitality Industry

An expert in establishing and growing avant-garde educational institutions, Kunal's focus is on building high-performance teams that deliver accelerated growth and create brand equity. He was prior associated some of India’s most iconic education and aviation brands like the Kingfisher Training Academy & Aviation Services, Education Management & Consultants TC Global, and Expat Group Centre of Excellence.

Over the period, the purpose of traveling has changed. Before, it was just traveling for business or visiting a native place to spend quality time. Gen Z has revolutionized traveling; today, it is an act of wellness, rejuvenation, and enjoyment. Since then, the traveling industry has expanded into a giant industry, further increasing demand for the hospitality industry and improving the growth & development of the Indian economy, boosting skills & knowledge along with enhancements and advancements in technology. Thus, innovation has given way to many extraordinary things that no one could have imagined. 

Hospitality means extending a welcome to the guests. Today, the tourism industry is a blend of various services like transportation, food & beverages, hotels & restaurants, travel agencies, entertainment, and more. The hospitality business is growing steadily by giving way to innovations and advancements in communication technology, transportation, food, and more. The industry has become more competitive and creative in every aspect of its services.

The Role of Education in the Hospitality Industry

In the hospitality industry, the customers contribute significantly to the bottom line, becoming long-term patrons and brand ambassadors. Therefore, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC, 2022) reveals the importance of the hospitality industry as a driving force of global value creation.

Considering the technological progress and the increasing dynamics of changes, the hospitality industry is witnessing that the learning, teaching, and working environment is consistently changing. Notably, this industry is progressing by reskilling and upskilling hospitality education to refine its curriculum, assessment, and training methodology. Quality education produces a well-educated and skilled workforce, the heart and soul of the hospitality industry. The students and existing employees of the hospitality industry need direct training about the development tools and programs to thrive and improve in all while.

It is the need of the hour to create realistic career expectations in the minds of students and future ones through various models, tools, and methods. Further, proper training, in-house programs, internships, and workshops will mold and build the students and present employees by motivating and homogenizing the pace of development in terms of approach and willingness to improve soft and hard skills.

Further, the networking and development strategy is enforcing hospitality education to understand the market and to be competitive enough to surpass the demands and expectations of the customers. Nowadays, the generation would choose something unique and different to chill and refill their energy rather than sitting within four walls contemplating what is next. The tourism and hospitality industries need to upscale their standards to appeal to and attract customers.

Therefore, infusing more and more case studies will help the students critically analyze every situation and apply the approach to grasp the market. As curriculum is an enabler, it should be trendy, effective, and efficient for curating the stars of tomorrow. Moreover, the hospitality industry in itself is a vast industry that generates better employment opportunities.

Hospitality students get ample opportunities to learn about different cultures, how to provide exceptional services to guests globally, and more. This field is perfect for explorers who want to visit various places and meet new people. In hospitality, there are always new challenges to keep things interesting. It is also an industry that continues to grow globally, making it a good choice for a stable, long-lasting career.

A hospitality degree teaches invaluable communication and customer service skills to succeed in whichever career you pursue. These skills are in high demand across different types of businesses or fields like finance, sports, real estate, and luxury.

Hospitality education exposes every student to first-class experience and world-class experiences through studies like hotel management and liberal management. Hospitality education is something that grooms both skill levels and business levels.

According to Kunal Vasudeva, Co-Founder & Managing Director, ISH, "A blend of practical, theoretical and vocational approach is required, ISH balances both the aspects, skill as well as the business of hospitality”.

The hospitality students are well-trained with inclusivity and diversity which is at the forefront and core of education and training. In every aspect, from the modern to the traditional approach, every student's step is brushed with skilling, reskilling, and upskilling. The industry molds students to upscale their skills and knowledge at national and international levels.

Today, every industry and institution focuses on the environment and sustainability; with this students are subjected to comprehend what is right and wrong through the amalgamation of practical and theoretical curricula. The presence of institutions in students' lives reminds them of societal norms, culture, technology, and modernity with traditionalism. The students are exposed to what the world needs and how one can serve at the best.

Therefore, the Hospitality industry benefits both the students and the customers. It is introducing a new aspect entering a new level of economy, the hospitality economy; it underpins things like service excellence, human interaction, personalization, and the co-creation of memorable experiences. It is charging towards a breakneck speed of transformation of the hospitality industry.

From the brick-up to the operations, the hospitality industry is aspiring for innovative and meaningful ways to identify, incorporate, interact, and infuse sustainability practices in every stage. India is evolving with advancements in every industry, revolutionizing their ethos and methodologies. So, every student is trained in what the customer demands and how various industries are fulfilling those demands. Henceforth, the hospitality industry is a giant industry that is directly or indirectly involved with every other industry.

The Role of Hospitality Industry Trends in Hospitality Education

Gen Z in India is changing every aspect by introducing a new face to every experience; similarly, there is a new angle for every point with a broader perspective. Their thoughts and approach differ from millennial cohorts.  They are marching forward to choosing effortless interactions through contactless services, Artificial Intelligence solutions and automation, technology-based apps, and chatbots for immediate interaction. They are sketching out plans every weekend to shed out work pressure. Henceforth, they look for something new to explore every time. Good food and a good place streamlined and personalized accordingly is demanded by all the generations.

Social media and networking help customers make potential and informed decisions to immerse themselves in the facilities and utilize them. And this era is all about personalization and hyper-personalization, where everything is planned and sorted out via technology.  The desire is to experience wholeheartedly, staying in a place or eating in a multisensory environment that regulates all the senses is evolving rapidly.

The hospitality students are the ones who also belong to the industry, which is today at the forefront of environment, sustainability, and governance. So, they are sensitized about ESG goals, as they are the most environmentally cum sustainably conscious citizens of the country. The hospitality industry is dynamic; it changes with the evolving customer needs. Because of that, adaptability and agility are part of their DNA. Hospitality is an industry where it only talks about ethical service.

To be concluded

By and large, the Hospitality industry is emerging to score high and progress. It is scrutinizing all processes and coating them with high-end solutions to exceed the expectations of the customers and upscale the industry standards. For this, curriculum and hospitality students need to be trendy to strive for success and seek satisfaction. Brushing up the traditional approach and amalgamating it with technology will only help the tourism and hospitality industry to grow and develop. Therefore, hospitality education, technology, sustainability, and other trends all together need to go hand in hand to win over the hearts of millennials and Gen Z.

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