IIHM Celebrated International Hospitality Day

ON THE occasion of the 3rd International Hospitality Day, the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM), in association with the London-headquartered International Hospitality Council (IHC), at The Roseate House in Delhi, organised the ‘Best Hospitality Personality 2018 Award’. Ritesh Agarwal, Founder and CEO of OYO Rooms received the Best Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2018.

On 24th April 2016, Dr Suborno Bose, the Chief Mentor of IIHM, in association with the International Hospitality Council (IHC), instituted the International Hospitality Day as a unique initiative for recognizing, celebrating, promoting and educating the best of hospitality. Today International Hospitality Day is celebrated by over 50 countries and the world’s premier hospitality institutions to recognize the hospitality industry and its people, whose untiring efforts over the years have created memories for millions. In India, this day is celebrated by IIHM at its seven campuses in Delhi, Kolkata, Pune, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Bengaluru, in partnership with the hospitality stalwarts of the respective city.

“We need to work a lot with the students of today; there is a lot of investment that needs to go with the time. It’s a time taking process but the industry needs to be groomed. There is a lot of expectation from the industry and from the guests so the people that are being trained has to be brought to that level. Through this occasion, it is a commitment to the industry that we are there,” commented Abdullah Ahmed, Director, IIHM Delhi.

As per IHC’s Chairman Prof David Foskett, “We have much to learn from one another, from each country – traditions, culture and understanding - irrespective of religion, class or color. To be hospitable is to be human. So, let us celebrate the International Hospitality Day. Let us link arms across the world and show people through all sorts of activities the greatness and the humanity of hospitality.”

During the event, hospitality brands like The Leela Palace New Delhi, ITC Hotels, Roseate Hotels and Resorts, The Lalit Group, Accor Group of Hotels, IHG Hotels, The Park New Delhi, Radisson Hotels and many more top chains, identified one hardworking and dedicated staff who has contributed outstandingly to the hotel and to the industry in keeping with principle of ‘Service with a Smile’.

Furthermore, a panel discussion on the topic ‘Gen X and Gen Y… Are we ready for the business and the future of Hospitality’ was also held as part of the event. Abdullah Ahmed, Director, IIHM Delhi was the Moderator for the panel discussion. The panellists included Zubin Songadwala, GM, ITC Maurya, Maulina Gupta, GM-Hyatt Place, Gurugram and Vikas Kapoor, VP-Operations, Radisson Hotels Shimla and Khajuraho. These industry veterans highlighted the need for the hospitality brands to keep pace with the constant change in technology and preferences of the youth in order to stay relevant in future.   

Concurrently, IIHM also flagged off a Hospitality Goodwill tour from Pune to London whereby 3 cars will carry the message of Hospitality by road. This convoy will move from India to the United Kingdom, crossing 13 countries enroute in around two months. The countries that these cars will cover during the journey include Nepal, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, France and UK.