Indian hospitality industry lacks well-trained talent

New Delhi: Though world-famous for its warmth and service, Indian hospitality industry needs a better transition from institute to industry, says Disruption guru and former CEO of Marriot's subsidiary Starwood Hotels Frits van Paasschen.

"A welcoming spirit and generosity comes naturally to people here. It is no surprise that India's hospitality brands are well regarded around the globe for their exceptional service and standards.

"One challenge, however, in the local landscape is the lack of well-trained talent to fuel these brands to expand their reach and rise to even greater heights," Paasschen told IANSlife.

Paasschen was attending the Indian School of Hospitality's conclave on 'Big Ideas: Reimagining Hospitality for Tomorrow'.

Insisting that Indian hospitality education has gone well beyond traditional hotel training in the last few years, in terms of more international collaboration and exposure and more emphasis on professional training, Paasschen said: "Most importantly, we're seeing growing collaboration between institute and industry. This connection not only leads to updated curriculum and better internships, but also produces graduates who are more industry-aware and better prepared to bring positive change to their employers."

Author of bestselling book 'The Disruptors' Feast', Paasschen has written about the trends that are shaping the world of the future.

"As an industry, we still have far to go. So much of travel is uncertain, inconvenient and impersonal. Among many changes, I believe we will see new levels of personalisation, giving each person what they want and knowing them well enough to anticipate what they will want when they come to new places."

A Harvard Business School graduate, who has worked with the likes of Disney, Nike, and Coors Brewing Company, Paasschen bets on machine learning to be the next big disruptive event, even though he fears it might put many out of their jobs. His solution? Reskilling through an education ecosystem with high investment.