Angles of white space:

Many times, we wish we had more than 24 hours as we are unable to give time to many of our personal or professional activities . However, I have observed that many will balance their personal and professional life beautifully without any compromises. It is all about managing oneself effectively and achieving all the domains of life. One concept I have read and I practice is about ‘Angles of White Space’ which Mr.Subroto Bagchi writes in his book ‘The Professional’.

White Space according to Mr.Bagchi is the empty space that we find every day. Be it while travelling to work in a coach, waiting for meeting to start or waiting for a flight at the airport. There are many instances in a day where we can discover white space. This white space can be proactively used to complete many unfinished tasks such as reverting to all the messages, phone calls, reading & replying mails to reading books, listening to music ,  connecting with a old friend ,family  and many more…… This is the best space that can be utilized to complete several unfinished tasks. It requires little planning and organizing.

The best thing is to carry a small pocket size diary  or just a note pad will do. Write ‘things to do’ . Keep updating the diary or the pad at regular intervals. Once the task is achieved, keep ticking YES .The ones that are still NO, do it the next day. Use technology to your advantage. Evaluate the number of tasks completed before going to bed. You will be surprised to see that you have completed more than 90% of your listed tasks. That’s an achievement. It gives you immense satisfaction. Life is all about managing time which is giving time and receiving time .Remember that little steps taken everyday adds up to big results. Never procrastinate any task for lack of time .Do it today and do it now.

Graceful Exit

In this competitive world, most receive job offers or apply for jobs with other organizations. However, few of them leave the present organization without proper notice or hand over. Its not wrong to leave your present job for other prospects. However, the way one leaves matter the most .In this blog, I have penned down few points about ‘Graceful Exit’.

1.Its important that one leaves the present job gracefully. Follow the terms and conditions in the letter of appointment. Most organizations have minimum of one month notice period and at senior positions ,it may be two or more months.

2. Serve the notice period fully. Leaving abruptly will affect the organization and your credibility .Remember it’s a small networked world.

3.Work with the same enthusiasm, commitment and motivation till the last relieving date. Do not keep taking leave just because you need to exhaust the pending leave.

4.Hand over everything to your boss, colleague  or the person who has replaced you. It may be even a small thing like a company badge or a borrowed book from your company library.

5.Introduce people  and share all the contacts that you have developed to the person who has replaced you.

6.Never demotivate your colleagues   just because you are leaving .

7.Its not right to bad mouth about your present organization. Always remember, the present organization have taken care of you and also contributed towards your growth and career.

8.Thank every one on  your last relieving day. This can be done verbally or a nice mail can be sent .Also, furnish your contact number and personal email id.

9.Complete all the relieving procedures .

10 .Its always good to leave  gracefully so that you are welcome again to your previous organization  .

The 3 C’s for Effective Communication

In today’s competitive environment, the success of an individual depends largely upon they way one communicates. Communication is an integral part of any process.  The mantra for effective  communication depends on these 3 Cs which are Content, Confidence and Communication. Each ‘C ‘is most critical and vital. The absence of any one ‘ C ‘can lead to  poor communication. These 3 Cs can be applied while making Presentations, Public Speaking, Group Discussions, Interviews, Meetings , Formal or casual conversations.

1.Content: The quality of communication is based on content. Content is the subject matter which comes from Knowledge, Skill and Experience. Good Communicators work on good content. They best way to acquire content is through reading, research and constant updation.

 2. Confidence: The next important aspect to effective communication is the confidence. Communicating boldly and confidently in front of audience with positive body language creates great impact. Confidence comes from experience and constant practice.

3. Communication: This is the 3^rd C which is the most critical and vital. The effectiveness   of communication depends the chosen language, expertise in the language, grammar, clarity of thoughts, speed, body language, gestures and voice modulation.

Though these 3 C’s looks simple, each one have important role to play. Keeping these pointers in mind will certainly lead to effective communication.

Internship in a Hotel : A Great way to learn

Recently ,I submitted by  my Thesis on Internship Experiences of Hotel Management students in Mumbai for my Masters in Philosophy (M Phil ) programme.  As I was collecting the data for my research, I interacted with more than hundred students and captured their experiences. Every student of Hotel Management undergoes six month internship in a star hotel as part of the hotel management degree course curriculum. The students were from different colleges and were studying 3 year hotel management or hospitality studies. The exposure to real life situation is priceless .These are some of their positive experiences

·         Learning new skills and enriching knowledge

·         Interacting with real guests who belong to different nationalities and cultures

·         Experiencing a 5 star property which offers various products and services

·         Working with people which has enhanced the people management skills

·         Friendly Work environment & employee facilities

·         Meeting Celebrities

·         Being part of events and festivals

·         Opportunity to experience different cuisines

·         Developing Leadership & Team Management Skills

·         Change in perception and attitude

·         Taking up responsibility and being accountable

·         Enhanced career prospects

Hotel Management is one of the few courses which offers compulsory internship.  Its a great way to learn  for a career in the hospitality sector.

Hotel Management Programme : Transforming Ordinary to Extra Ordinary

I would like to share a real case study in this blog.

Case Study:

Sanjay  had scored just 40% in his class 12^th and was struggling to secure admission in a good professional college. He choose to join hotel management programme. He was just an average student in academics but possessed great attitude .He worked hard during college practical classes and participated actively  in all the college activities. He managed to secure second class in his examinations and completed his 6 months industrial exposure training in a reputed 5 star Hotel in Bangalore. He also worked in the evenings in Food Production Department and specialized in Indian cuisine. 

After completion of the course, Sanjay  joined a 5 star Hotel in Food Production Department and worked for 3 years. He acquired the right skill sets and knowledge during his course and work. He was offered a job in a 5 star Hotel in UK . Today,Mr.Sanjay is working as an Executive Chef and earning a great package. He is professionally successful.

My opinion:

Choose a course that offers a long term career. Hotel Management is one such course which offers enormous career opportunities not only in India but across the Globe .A 3 year degree course offers practical training besides the theatrical inputs. Students with average capabilities have been successful through this programme.  It has transformed ordinary students for a great career in the hotels and services sector. This course develops skill sets, managerial abilities and excellent   people management skills.

 The 6 months on the job practical internship in Hotels adds value to the programme. The programme develops positive and proactive Attitude to work in Hotels. Being a customer centric programme , the placement opportunities are plenty. As the industry is labor intensive, there is a demand for skilled and qualified manpower worldwide. Being a degree programme, there are options for higher education. Also, this course opens doors for entrepreneurship. Hotel Management is a good career option that can be explored. 

Hotel Management courses with multiple nomenclatures in India.

Over the last two decades, Hotel Management courses have gained its popularity in our country. Prior to 1990s,Hotel Management was offered as 3 year Diploma in Hotel Management & Catering Technology by Institute of Hotel Managements (IHMs) .The 3 year Bachelors  Degree course in Hotel Management( BHM )was first introduced by Mangalore University in Karnataka and later started by other Universities in India. Today, there are hundreds of colleges that have mushroomed and offer courses in Hotel Management. However, the problem that lies is with the multiplicity of nomenclatures of these courses which creates confusion in the minds of students, parents, recruiters and general public. For instance, the Institutes of Hotel Management (IHM) are affiliated to Indira Gandhi National Open University ( IGNOU) and National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology and offers 3 year BSc in Hospitality and Hotel Administration. The University of Mumbai offers 3 year BSc in Hospitality Studies. The Bangalore University & University of Pune  offers 4 year Bachelors in Hotel Management & Catering Technology, recognized by All India Council for Technical Education. There are Universities that also offers BA in International Hospitality Administration and B Com with Hotel Management. The real challenge is to choose a course that is widely accepted by the hospitality industry and facilitates placements & higher education for the students.

Choosing the right programme:

An aspirant should choose a course that is either 3 year duration or 4 year duration .The minimum eligibility for hotel management is 10+2 in any discipline. Some of the Universities insist on 50 % marks in standard 12^th.A 3 year  course should be affiliated to a university in India and recognized by University Grants commission (UGC) .The four year course should be affiliated to a University and recognized by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

(Also, refer to my earlier blog on choosing the right institute).

Choosing a right Hospitality & Hotel Management Institute in India :

Today, In India, there are hundreds of Hospitality & Hotel Management institutes that have mushroomed in every nook & corner of the country. Its a matter of great concern to students and parents to choose the right institution .Many parents are not from the hospitality background and they have limited knowledge about the hospitality and related courses. The choice is left to the student. Many a times a wrong decision taken can harm the student’s career. So, its good to keep these pointers in mind before choosing a good institute.

1. Affiliation and Recognition: The institute that offers Diploma /Degree in Hospitality Studies or Hotel Management should be affiliated to a State Board/National Council /Statutory /Deemed University and the course should be recognized by University Grants Commission (UGC) or All India Council for Technical Education(AICTE). Institutes offering diploma/degree on their own is not valid.

2. Curriculum: The affiliating body will devise & approve the course curriculum and the institutes require to follow the curriculum.

3. Teaching-Learning process: To make the course interesting and  learning effective, good institutes   incorporate creative teaching -learning process following the best practices in pedagogy.

4.Co curricular activities :Besides academics, the institute should encourage  co- curricular activities  like sports, cultural events, seminars, workshops, professional development programmes, field tours, guest lectures, intra and inter collegiate competitions and so on, focusing  on overall holistic development of the students. 

5. Faculty: Good Faculty are the back bone of any institution. The institute should have qualified and experienced full time faculty .Most institutes display the faculty profiles on their website.

6. Infrastructure: The hospitality & hotel management institute should have good infrastructure like Updated Website, Food Production Labs (Basic Training Kitchen, Quantity Training Kitchen and Advanced Training Kitchen),Training Restaurant, Front office Lab, Housekeeping Lab, Classrooms, Computer Lab with latest Property Management Software, Good Collection of Books & Journals in the Library, Cafeteria and Hostel facility. Institutes having attached star hotel will be an added advantage.

7. Course fee: The institute that charges the lowest course fee may not be the best institute. The cost of education is high today compared to the previous years. The course fee should be competitive and affordable. Banks offer educational loans to students who apply to approved and recognized institutions.

8. Industry support  & placements: The institute should have a good track record of the quality internship placements and final job placements. The institute should be supported through Industry participation in the institute activities.

9.  Research & Publications: Good institute faculty members carry out research work, author books, blogs, publish articles and take up training and consultancy assignments.

10.  Reputation & Brand Equity: Finally, the perception of the institute with the stakeholders like the alumni, parents, existing students, industry, ratings by assessment bodies, and community is an important factor and needs to be considered seriously.

(For further guidance, please contact me at  gmbhuvan@yahoo.com )        

Is there a difference between Hospitality and Hotel Management courses ?

Many students and parents always ask me if there is any difference between the term Hospitality & Hotel Management as these are very confusing terminologies. The answer is yes. Understanding the basic difference is essential and important to choose the right course or profession. Primarily, both these terms are interrelated and forms part of the larger tourism industry. However, Hotel Management is more specific to the Management of a Hotel, Resort or Food & Beverage establishments .Hotels can be of different star category. There are five star deluxe hotels, four star, three star, two star and one star hotel in India as classified by The Hotel & Restaurant Approval & Classification Committee (HRACC) . Hotel Management course focuses on operating and managing these establishments.

However, the career prospects does not limit only to hotels. As hotel industry is an integral part of the services sector, there are plenty of job opportunities awaiting for a hotel management graduate. 

In India, hospitality management is offered as  a 3 year degree programme after the class 12th with nomenclature such as BSc/BBA/BA in Hospitality Management.The 3 year programme is affiliated to an university and comes under the purview of University Grants Commission (UGC).The 3 year degree progamme does not come under the purview of  All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

Also,few universities offer 4 year degree programme in Hotel Management with the nomenclature of  BHMCT which stands for Bachelor's in Hotel Management and Catering Technology . The 4 year BHMCT programme has to be recognized by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) besides being affiliated to an university.

Hospitality Management curriculum also covers Hotel Management but the career scope is wider than Hotel Management. Hotel Management is more specific to Hotels where as  Hospitality Management opens up opportunity to the  Services Sector.  Generally Hospitality Management courses are of 3 year duration after 12 standard. Graduates of Hospitality Management can join hotels and other sector of services like the travel, tourism, airlines, retail stores,malls, super markets, multiplexes , food Courts, banking, facilities management, and so on.

The final choice is of the student. Whichever course the student chooses,he/she needs to work hard ,possess the right attitude and work with passion in order to excel in the chosen profession.


For Professional advise connect with me @ : gmbhuvan@gmail.com 

The Ever Green ‘ Gobi Manchurian’

Iam sure every Indian has tasted and probably liked this dish named as Gobi Manchurian. I always wondered where and how did this dish origin.’Gobi ‘ is a hindi name for Cauliflower and Manchurian is a sauce from the Chinese Cuisine. Gobi Manchurian is a deep fried cauliflower dish and key ingredients include corn flour, refined flour, onions, garlic, soya sauce, chilli sauce and seasonings.

This dish became popular in 1980’s.Over the last 30 years ,this dish is served in nook & corner of India and also in most overseas Indian restaurants.   I did little research on this dish although there is no documentary evidence to my findings. Some say,it was invented in Mumbai by a Restaurant  Chef as an alternative starter for his vegetarian guests.  It is also believed that this dish is from the China Town in Kolkata where Indian Chinese food is popular. My Bangalore friends tell me that this dish was born in a restaurant in Bangalore somewhere on Church Street.   

Gobi Manchurian is one of the most popular dish in India. This dish is available across the country. Be it a road side eatery ,Local Bars,Lounge Bars, Udupi  restaurant, Chinese restaurants, Indian Restaurant, Food Courts to 5 star hotels, this dish occupies prominent place in their menus. It goes well as a starter and main course .  Its also known as Gobi Manchuria , Gopi  Manchuri, Flower Manchurian and has several names to it.

There are several variations to this dish. Though, this dish was primarily made from Cauliflower,  variations like Idly Manchurian, Vegetable  Ball Manchurian, Baby Corn Manchurian, Mushroom Manchurian  and Paneer Manchurian  is also popular for vegetarians   . The non vegetarian options include Chicken Manchurian, Fish Manchurian, Prawn Manchurian  and so on. This dish has cut across all cultural food barriers in a country like India which has highly complex food preferences .  One can find Gobi Manchurian  in various styles of preparation. The Jain Style which has no Onion & Garlic, South Indian Style with Mustard,Cumin,Curry Leaves and Coriander ,the Indian Chinese style and many innovations to it. This dish also goes very well with alcoholic beverages.

This dish has sustained itself for more than three  decades. It is served not only in India but also in Indian Restaurants abroad. This is a great example of fusion cuisine. This dish is bound to stay for several decades .This ever green dish has a great future and will be enjoyed by the generations to come. So next time when you order your drink,don’t forget to order’ GOPI MANCHURI’