TRAINING PROGRAMME
For taking up hoteliering as a profession, a
specialized training programme has to be undertaken after passing
10 + 2 or equivalent with English as compulsory subject. The
National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology
conducts a joint entrance test for admission to the three-year
diploma programme in hotel management for institutes affiliated
to the council. To appear in the examination, the candidates should
not be more than 22 years of age as on July 1 of that year - maximum
age is relaxable up to 25 years for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled
Tribe candidates. Fifteen percent seats are reserved for SC and
7.5% for ST candidates.
The examination (which is of the objective type)
tests the candidate's ability in
(a) Reasoning and Logical Deduction
(b) Numerical Ability and Scientific Aptitude
(c) General Knowledge and
(d) English Language.
Those who qualify the written test are called
for an interviews held at Calcutta, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi,
Luknow, Mumbai. The final selection is based in the candidate's
combined performance in the written examination and interview.
There are a number of other institutes, affiliated
to various universities, which impart training in hotel management
at the diploma and degree levels. Some of the reputed hotel groups
also conduct their own training programmes.
POST-GRADUATE COURSES
Post-graduate courses in hotel management are
available for those who want to specialize in a particular field.
The details of some of these courses are given below: PG Diploma
In Hotel Administration The duration of the course is one and
a half years. The candidates should be below 35 years. He /she
must have completed a 3-year diploma, or degree course in hotel
management with relevant experience. This course is available
at the Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology,
Mumbai and New Delhi. PG Diploma In Accommodation, Operation and
Management This course is of one and a half year duration, and
the eligibility is graduation. The age of the candidate should
be below 20 years. Female candidates are generally preferred.
This course is available in various National Council Institutes.
The Department of Tourism has set up an Indian Institute of Tourism
and Travel Management at Gwalior for imparting training to tourism
personnel.
OTHER TRAINING PROGRAMMES
Those who have passed matriculation (10th) examination
and are aspiring for a career in hoteliering may undergo training
of one and a half year duration in any of the food craft institutes
located all over the country. Courses in cookery, bakery and confectionary,
restaurant and counter service, hotel reception and book keeping,
house keeping, canning and food preservation etc. are available
in food craft institutes. The admission is on the basis of marks
obtained in the qualifying examination.
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMME
The Apprenticeship Act of 1961 stipulates that
all public and private sector employers in certain technical and
trade fields, including hotels, have to take a fixed number of
apprentices. Apprenticeship consists of basic training followed
by on the job training. Various jobs inn the hotel industry, such
as those of cook, steward, housekeeper, baker and confectioner,
receptionist and hotel clerk, are covered under this scheme. The
duration of training varies from one to three years. Matriculation
or those having passed in equivalent examination are eligible
to apply for this training programme. It is not necessary that
an apprentice gets a job in the same hotel he/she completes his/her
apprenticeship.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
A course in hotel management provides opportunities
for work not only in the hotel industry but also in the railways,
airlines, hospitals, industry canteens, defence services and in
the teaching departments of various hotel management institutes.
Defence Services The Indian Army has openings for those trained
in hotel management and catering in its catering services. It
recruits Jr. Commissioned Officers in the age group of 21 to 27
who have passed 10 + 2 with science and possess one year course
certificate from a recognized craft institute.
Self-Employment
There are ample opportunities for self employment for a person
trained on hoteliering. A person having business acumen, initiative,
ability to take risks, knowledge about hotel industry, etc. may
prepare a project feasibility report and start his/her own project.
The project could be a hotel, restaurant, bar, mobilevan or outdoor
catering services. Small scale ventures such as a bakery, confectionery
shop, mobile kitchenette may also be undertaken. Contrasts of
catering form airlines, railways and other corporate houses may
be arranged. Another option is to start consultancy services after
gaining good experience in a hotel. A consultant may be required
to advice the party on hotel construction, operation and development
and can charge a certain percentage of the total cost as the consultancy
fee.
Opportunities Abroad
There is a good demand for trained and experienced hotel professionals
all over the world, particularly in the developing countries of
Asia, the Middle East and Africa. A good number of trained hotel
personnel have migrated to West Asian countries, Australia, Canada,
Germany and New Zealand, and some of them have even set up their
own business centers.
Employment Scenario
The hotel and catering industry is a major component of the travel
industry. A boom in tourism invariably provides a boost to the
hotel and catering industry. In fact, the hotel industry is the
fastest growing industry in the world, and for India it is one
of the largest sources of foreign exchange earning. The number
and size of hotel chains in the country have grown significantly.
More and more hotels are coming up in the private sector. The
concept of 'heritage hotels'- converting old palaces, havelies,
etc. into accommodation units- has added a new dimension to the
hoteliering industry.
It is said that one hotel room creates three
direct jobs and six indirect jobs, on an average. Hence, there
will be no dearth of well-paid jobs for trained hotel personnel.
The representatives of hotels visit the campuses of the various
institutes of hotel management to recruit graduating students.
They are particularly on the look-out for dedicated young men
and women who are highly motivated and have consciously chosen
this profession. In the coming years, the rapidly expanding tourism
industry is bound to increase the job market for professionals
in the field of hotel management.
