During the HE and HR Session on People & Talent: Challenge or Opportunity When You Look Down Next 10 years at the 6th edition of BW HOTELIER Indian Hospitality Summit and Awards, panellists discussed how it is time for the sector to invest in upskilling people

Young talent is the fuel for every industry and dynamic sectors like hospitality aspire to recruit enthusiastic young leaders to accelerate their businesses. However, young talent has been hesitant to join the sector, especially after the pandemic. Sharing his views on the same, Kamal Kant Pant, Principal & Secretary IHM Pusa, New Delhi, said, ‘‘Over the last five to seven years, youngsters are no more enthusiastic about our industry that gets reflected at the time of enrolment.” Supporting his views, Dilip Puri, Founder & CEO, of the Indian School of Hospitality, shared that the figures of students appearing for entrance exams of hospitality institutions is dwindling. 

Reasoning out the trend, Vice President, Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development, Sangeetha Gandhi said, ‘‘One of the primary reasons for the recent trend is that the youngsters are being influenced by the success stories of young entrepreneurs. Therefore, they aspire to start something of their own.’’ She added that the hospitality industry is not the only one to have long hours as has been the common perception. 

Meanwhile, Sanjay Bose, Executive Vice President – HR and L&D, ITC Ltd, Hotels Division, pointed out, “The problem is the expectations from newly recruited people to work the same way as we did. But the world has changed. We should focus to recruit lesser people who have more potential and are effective.”

‘‘As an employer, it is our responsibility to give the young employees what we got,’’ Zubin Songadwala, Area Manager South & General Manager, ITC Grand Chola, Chennai. He also pointed out that when a person comes out of a hotel management institute, his expectations are high and when an employer hires him or her, it is their duty to fulfill those expectations. 

Sharing the experience of founding India’s first service hospitality platform, Job Plus, Founder & CEO, The People Network & The Job Plus, Natwar Nagar, said ‘‘We are looking at creating 10 million jobs in the next nine years. We believe the future of hospitality industry lies in skill, not in knowledge.’’ He also urged the industry to invest in education of kids who aspire to be part of the hospitality industry.