Skill training in the Hospitality industry: Story of resilience and revival

Despite the challenges posed by the global pandemic, the Hospitality sector has demonstrated resilience. It has risen stronger than ever before, ready to build a sustainable future for individuals who want to work in the ever-green industry through skill development and capacity building.

Learn more about Tata STRIVE’s courses and their initiatives in skill development – https://nationalskillsnetwork.in/tata-strive/

To know more about the challenges posed by the pandemic, the resilience and revival strategy and the scope for skill development, employment and capacity building, we interacted with Mr Shiladitya Samaddar, Principal Lead- Operations, Tata STRIVE who shared their journey during and post-pandemic times along with the details about regarding the skill development training and initiatives.

Below are a few excerpts from our conversation. You can watch the full video on our YouTube channel.

Q: What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality industry?

A: Every hotel chain faced difficulty during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they showed resilience and revived in the post-pandemic era.  Now, extra emphasis is being given to three crucial factors which are being followed irrespective of the hotel chain on,

1. Hygiene
2. Technology
3. New models like cloud kitchens

The business has evolved and many brands have opened newer branches with service designs helping the industry to develop.

Q: How has Tata STRIVE been coping with the changes due to the disruptions in skill training and delivery? Has there been any change in the curriculum during the post-pandemic period?

A: The Hospitality industry has a few core skills that are always in demand.

1. Food Production
2. Service of Food and Beverages
3. Housekeeping
4. Front Office

During the pandemic, Housekeeping was the least affected among all the other areas in hospitality, as the customers needed hygienic rooms more than before.

As an organisation, Tata STRIVE has multiple courses to offer in the Hospitality segment. We have three different courses at three levels- basic, multi-cuisine and specialization level courses for the bakery segment. There are also courses for Bartending, and Food and Beverages Services among others. We also have courses for front-office executives and 10 other courses only under the hospitality segment. 

There have been changes in the curriculum. Kitchen stewarding and adaptation of technology in hospitality have increased a lot. We had to upskill our learners according to the latest technology and maintain the hygienic factor. Today, new terms like no-contact rooms and no-contact services have been created. Hence, the curriculum has expanded to ensure that these newer service designs are reached.

Q: How do you think this industry can adapt to the blended mode of learning?

A: Hospitality is one sector that needs extreme hands-on practice. You need to have rigorous practice in the lab to get used to the work. However, during the pandemic, a considerable amount of theoretical knowledge was also delivered irrespective of the departments. Currently, the focus is more on the blended mode of training. A blended model of learning needs four factors,

1. Device to use technology
2. Digital learning
3. Data availability
4. Discipline

Also read: Top 5 ways to make skill development programmes scalable https://nationalskillsnetwork.in/top-5-ways-to-make-skill-development-programmes-scalable/

Q: How do we empower small entrepreneurs (like homestays and cloud kitchens) with appropriate knowledge, skills and linkages? What is Tata STRIVE doing in this domain?

A: Despite having the best corporates and putting in all the effort, there’s still a gap when it comes to providing employment. Hence, entrepreneurship should be encouraged in our country as it will cater to generating more employment in the future. in the future. For example, Zomato and Swiggy have now become huge businesses and created many job opportunities.

Tata STRIVE has a programme on Culinary Skills that encourages the learners to set up their own restaurants and food stalls. We are also running courses in Odisha, Maharashtra and multiple other locations this year. We are also starting a training programme in collaboration with the Ladakh government where we’ll train the entrepreneurs in homestay skills.

Q: What would be your message to the youth who would like to build a career in the hospitality sector?

A: My key messages to the youth who aspire to build a career in the sector would be,

1. First, have a good trainer or facilitator is one of the most important factors for the learner.
2. It is critical to have a good industry partner. It is feasible to have a local industry partner as they are the ones who will help you with on-the-job training and give updates about the industry.