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’

Passionate Learning

Being a teacher for the last 16 years, I have come across many students who study and learn just to pass their examination.   Very few students are really passionate about their subject. This blog is all about Passionate Learning. While learning with Passion, there is no fear of  scores, passing or failing in a test or examination.  The focus is to understand the subject and  to get deeper into it. This learning is for life and  may be for your profession. This kind of learning will help you  to master the subject and makes you  an expert. The knowledge and skills acquired through the process will be highly indispensable.

Firstly, identifying the area of interest is absolute necessary. In Hospitality courses, students may be interested in Culinary, Bakery ,Food & Beverage Service, Front office, Information Technology, Human Resources ,Training and so on. Once chosen, learn the basics. There are plenty of books that covers basics in each subject. Getting started from basics is important as it lays a strong foundation. Once you get your basics right then  move to the next level. Read advanced books .Every author would have suggested books and articles for further reading. Try to read as many books, magazines, journals  and articles in your area of interest. Access internet for information. Visit online forums, websites, blogs, research articles and gather as much information and knowledge. Enhanced knowledge brings in new perspectives. Besides acquiring knowledge, mastering the right skills is also extremely important. Skills can be acquired only through constant practice. Working under experts and seniors will also help to sharpen the skills.

Interact and network with the right people who are experts in the field. They will guide and motivate you. Also, become a member of various forums, clubs, associations ,where experts meet and share their learning. These are excellent platforms to update.

Electronic media is also a great source of information. If you are passionate to learn about food, there are plenty of television channels that focuses on Food. Similarly there are Special Interest Channels that cover specific areas .Subscribe to these channels.

Another way to learn is to travel. Travelling and meeting people from other nationalities is a great learning and sharing experience. Visit the local markets, super markets and industry specific exhibitions. New products and services will be on offer. This is another source to update and learn.

Enroll for short courses, seminars, workshops , training  programmes  , conferences and Professional Development Programmes .These programs not only help to enhance knowledge and skills but also connects you with Passionate people.

Once you have reached certain level of expertise, then undertake research work in your area of interest and publish the findings in magazines and journals. These publications will connect you with the best in the class.

Share your learning. The more you share the more you learn.  Learn as if there is no tomorrow. 

Higher Studies after Hotel Management Graduation

I have been interacting with thousands of Hotel Management Graduate students over the last 16 years. Many students seek my help and advice to plan for their careers. Most of them want to study further and few want to work in Hotels  or join their family business. When it comes to work, majority  of them want to join the reputed Hotel brands only as Management Trainees or Executive Trainees .If they are not successful, then they  opt for higher studies or alternative careers.

When it comes to studying further, many are confused as to which course to choose. Most students think that higher education is a shortest route to a Managerial position in a Hotel. In reality, it is not so. I always tell them that work experience matters. However, many choose for studying further. Most students opt for studying Masters in Hospitality Management, Masters in Tourism or MBA in Hotel Management in India or abroad.

The placement prospects are limited for such courses .Hotels look for people with operational experience having the right skill sets. Just by having MBA in Hotel Management, Hotels cannot employ directly into the managerial position. So the question is which course they need to pursue.

 In my personal opinion the ideal course for a Hotel Management Graduate will be a General  full time MBA specialization in either Marketing, Finance, Systems  or Human Resources. I have come across many of my students who have done General MBA and have been successful in their careers. General MBA opens up opportunity in all sectors of business. With a background of Hotel Management  ,it is easy to secure placements in the services sector. However, it is mandatory for students to  appear for MBA entrance examination like the CAT,MAT etc. Securing good score in these entrance examinations will help in securing admission in a reputed business school.

 The decision of studying further should be taken during the second year of the course ideally after the Industrial Exposure Training. Once decided, prepare well for the entrance examination. There are many MBA entrance examination coaching institutes that train students .The focus should be to secure admission in a reputed business school which offers quality placements.

Being Hospitality Educator, I still encourage students to work in Hotels after Graduation. If higher education is a priority, then choose a course that can offer a long term career.

Beyond text books and facebook:

I have been interviewing students over several   years for our company’s Management Training and other training programmes . After interacting with thousands  of hotel management students its evident that most students just restrict themselves their study material and text books. Very few students go beyond text books. In today’s competitive environment, it’s essential that students update constantly.

Updation cannot be done in few days. Its a constant and continuous process. Besides technical skills and knowledge, recruiters focus on Personality, Communication, General Awareness, Grooming, Attitude, Leadership Ability, Team Orientation and Academic Consistency. Each of this trait is interrelated.  Good Knowledge leads to confidence and confidence leads to communication.

These are  10  simple ways to update constantly.

1.Read News Papers, Books, Blogs, Magazines, Websites, Surf Internet and access for information .

2.Watch good television channels relating to News –National and International, Business, Life Style, Travel, Sports, Culinary and many more.

3.Travel to places. Travelling is a great education.

4.Meet and Interact with Smart and Intelligent  people. I f you want to become smart, surround yourself with people smarter than you

5.Reflect  on your present knowledge levels  to  desired knowledge levels.

6.Connect with experts .They can guide and mentor you.

7.Use Social Media to your advantage. Follow products, people, services on Twitter. Always remember updating  is a continuous process.

8.Join Like Minded  Passionate  Communities –Photo Graphy Clubs, Technology  Clubs and so on.

9.Learn New Skills

10.Enroll into a new course .There is no age bar for courses these days.

The quest for learning should never stop. Constant learning  will help you to perform better than your peers. Its your knowledge. It cannot be taken away.Great Knowledge will take you places in your personal and professional lives.

Hospitality Education then and now

Hospitality Education then and now

I had finished my 12^th standard in science and I was looking for a degree course.My father wanted me to study engineering as he is an engineer by profession. I was not very keen to take up engineering as I wanted to study any course which does not have Mathematics or Physics.I choose Hotel Management. I joined Christ College, Bangalore  for the 3 year Bachelor’s in Hotel Management  popularly known as BHM course.  

This 3 year Degree Course was affiliated to Bangalore University and we were the first batch of 30 students .Being the first batch, we did not have any seniors in college for any advise or guidance. We had to depend on limited hotel management books that our library could offer. There were no journals or magazines relating to Hotel Management. There was no internet, computers, laptops, tablets,, smart phones ,Social Media or  24  hrs Television Channels. The only source of information was our faculty members , or limited books in the library.

Bangalore had few 5 star hotels. May be about 6 five star hotels and very few stand alone restaurants that served speciality and international cuisine. There were no shopping malls, food courts or multiplexes. Our exposure to the industry was limited to the 6 months industrial exposure training.

In  2011,when I teach Hotel Management to the my students who were born in early 1990’s ,I envy them. These students are born post Liberalization .There exposure to the industry is amazing. Most of them have travelled overseas for vacations and many have experienced star hotels as ‘Guests’. They have an indepth understanding of the Hotel & Tourism Industry before they join the course.

The greatest advantage that students of today possess is access to correct information or data. Technology has revolutionized education and has changed the way  of teaching and learning. Internet is the biggest advantage that our students have. Any kind of information is available to them.

Hospitality Education is all about practical exposure. Walk into to a super market or a food court, one can see any kind of ingredient or cuisine. In 1990’s International and Specialty Cuisine was restricted only to 5 star Hotels .Today its available in Food Courts and stand alone restaurants at affordable prices.

The exposure from Television and Internet  is  enormous. The Travel ,Food and Life Style channels enhances learning and exposure.  Websites are developed by companies for every product or service they offer. Videos from YouTube or data from Wikipedia or related sites helps in updation.

Over the last 15 years, plenty of work is done in the field of Hospitality. New concept Hotels have opened across the country.  Thousands of books, magazines and journals   relating to hospitality are published.  Up gradation of Hospitality Education Curriculum, Quality Faculty, Hospitality Research and Publications, World Class Infrastructure & Facilities and Placements in Hotels and Services Sector has changed the face of Hospitality Education.

However,one thing that remained  constant in 1990’s and today is the need for a proactive Service ‘Attitude’. This element has not changed and will never change in the near future.