The term Hospitality does not merely limit itself to hotels or restaurants, it encompasses a vast arena and includes travel trade, railways, airports, airline management, airlines catering, shipping, cruise lines, banqueting, event management, retail, hospital management and banking, besides throwing open several opportunities of start-ups and small businesses. A student pursuing hotel management therefore finds in front of him or her, a whole world of openings and numerous opportunities of self-development, progress, growth and advancement within his country or anywhere in the world.
Once the basic qualities of courteousness, politeness and civility (along with the operational expertise) are developed well in a hotel employee, he finds it easy to adapt himself to the functioning of other related domains of the trade as enumerated above. Several examples of hotel managers and executives getting into event management, retail and travel trade or finding for themselves positions in shipping and airlines anywhere in the world can be cited. Secondly, the hotels and service establishments all over the world function more or less the same way, their systems might though be different, but their procedures are more-or-less the same as in India which makes the Indian students eligible to try for opportunities overseas. We therefore see students having completed their studies in India as renowned chefs in various international chains, having opened up their own restaurants cafes or are engaged with event management or high dining.
What does all this lead to? It leads to the creation of several senior positions in hotels, therefore making it possible for the hotel staff to work their way up towards gaining those responsibilities of seniority within their own hotel or in any other hotel, thus assuming greater roles as managers or executives. An expert chef, an efficient lobby manager, a passionate restaurant manager or an efficient receptionist come in the view of several guests, including the managers of other hotels and, like it usually happens, they get ready offers with improved emoluments and perquisites.
Over the last three decades several new international hotel chains have set up operations in India on a very large scale. Reports show that there has been an increase of as much as 65 % in the number of hotel rooms as independent units, guest houses, home stays and residential spas have opened up in several cities in India. These units are usually in need of trained resources and therefore try to steal staff from the existing service establishments, thereby creating a void, leading to chances for the junior people to rise.
The output of an efficient, dedicated and an enthusiastic manager, executive or staff at any level directly results into enhancing guest experience and translates straightway into gaining customer loyalty and in augmenting hotel revenues. The hotel management appreciates such resources and encourages them to do better by giving them out-of-the way increments and promotions.
In the hospitality trade numerous examples of employees having joined at the entry-level positions and eventually making it to the positions of general managers or even vice presidents are available in abundance. This industry has grown with time and is looking at forging ahead to progress even more and throwing open opportunities, openings and breaks, especially for the people who are dedicated and wish to give the best of themselves to this very fine and most progressive trade.
