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With hotel occupancy rates on the rise, hospitality industry draws more students By Naomi Lobo

If you are visiting India and need to check in to a hotel - any hotel, it's better to book in advance. Most five-star hotels are witnessing an average room occupancy rate of over 80 per cent and it's only getting busier.

Radley Andrade, an American tourist, who visited Mumbai recently, tried to find a place in one of the luxurious hotels but had to shell out much more than he imagined. "All the rooms were booked so I had to pay more for the suites," he says.

With more foreigners doing business with India, and with more Indians travelling, the hospitality industry is witnessing an unseen high. "The industry is flourishing. There will soon be around 500 to 700 properties that will gain stature not only in the metros but in the B towns as well," says Dominic Costabir, director, Hospitality Training Institute, (HTI). With the expansion of theme restaurants, and boutique, luxury and business hotels, individuals are getting into the habit of a luxurious lifestyle. Whenever commerce develops in a country, it is backed by tourism and hospitality services.

"Because of the BPO and retail industry, India is now an investment hub for foreign delegates to enter the market. The government is liberal, allowing international brands to set up home. It's all about the Indian consumer and consumerism," says Nirmal Trivedi, general manger, Peninsula Grand.

There are hotel chains that are arriving in India to satisfy the global customer and are even making way for career opportunities. With the industry driven by foreign, domestic tourism and business travel, the demand for well-trained quality personnel has grown impressively. The main divisions are operations, front office, housekeeping, food and beverage, accounting and sales.

"My students are inspired by Sanjeev Kapoor. They intend to be just like him," says Costabir. The food and beverage department is the core of the hotel industry and is responsible for the food that is presented, prepared and served, while the front desk attracts youngsters who are aspiring airhostesses and flight attendants.

The total manpower employed in the travel, hotel and restaurant industry is over 2.6 million. Of this, two-thirds are employed in the hospitality industry. Though there are more than 175 recognised catering institutes throughout the country, it is still insufficient to cater to the expected growth of the hotel industry.

Earlier, five-star hotels would entertain a candidate even if they were not fluent in English, provided they had trained knowledge and a hotel management degree. "Today, the same hotels are looking for glamour. They make it a point that the front desk applicants are familiar with the city. Some hotels have instructions that candidates who look good and communicate decently can also fit the bill. There is a need for female models at the front desk," says Costabir.

Students once out of institutes can begin earning Rs 3,000 to Rs 15,000 - depending on their negotiation skills at the company they want to be employed in. HTI provides courses that range from two months to two years, though there are many more institutes like the Institute of Hotel Management at Dadar that offers courses ranging from a duration of three months to an MSc in Hospitality and Hotel Administration.