The Herald spoke to Suborno Bose, chairman and chief mentor of the Indismart Group worldwide which runs the IAM and the IIHM around the country as well as in Goa. He spoke to Ajit John about the plans as well as his views on the direction the hospitality industry was taking.
Herald: What makes the concept of IAM unique?
Suborno Bose: Its a Hotel School in a typically Swiss concept- an commercial hotel attached to a Hotel Management Institute. Hence the students gets the first hand experience of learning the business of managing real hotel operations.
Herald: How is the Indismart group connected to the IAM?
SB: Indismart is the parent organisation comprising of hotel schools like IAM and IIHM in 12 locations in India and in Bangkok and also running star hotels in Goa and Kolkata, real estate and in skill development in association with NsDc, GoI.
Herald: You have two valuable brands , IAM and the IIHM , what are the specific mandates for these two verticals?
SB: IAMs are relatively small but extremely focused hotel schools with full hands on experience while IIHM is in a more generic format of institute of hotel management.
Herald: How different is the IAM from the other business schools in the country, what is its philosophy?
SB: IAM is absolutely hands on and mind on approach with the single minded focus to learn the real world of hospitality business- not just academic lessons.
Herald: Tell us about your Goa experience ie the Goa project which operates in a state that is focused on tourism and also has other institutes focused on providing training to those interested in joining the hospitality industry?
SB: Goa is a fantastic destination for hospitality education as young people are really interested in joining the industry in India or abroad. By nature Goans are great chefs and are very warm and hospitable people. Hence they make extremely successful hospitality professionals. Also they can speak good English which is a big plus.
Herald: Recently the Master Chef contest was held in Goa and other parts of the country, there was a great response from schools in Goa, how did you manage it please elaborate?
SB: The response this year as compared to last year was fantastic and overwhelming. The Schools came forward of their own to take part in the contest and it was open to students of Class 11 and 12 both as against Class 12 only last year. The format was simple- cook your own dish and bring it to the respective schools for judging and the second round is the semis at IAM campus at Nuvem. The judges select 10 best young/future chefs and the Super 10 compete in the grand finale. The winner gets a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh and a trip for two to Bangkok.
Herald: What are the changes you see in the hospitality market over the years and what are you doing to help your students handle the changing requirements?
SB: Like in all tourism segments, hospitality industry has seen the entry of large number of global giants like Starwood, Accor, Marriot, Hyatt etc in India leading to huge capacity build up. Technology is now the cornerstone of the efficient hotel operations in our country and the use of revenue management has become a very integral part of the hospitality industry. Customer care and emphashis on ‘major’ details is now the buzzword in the Indian hospitality industry where the aim is to ‘exceed guest’s expectations”.
Herald: What advice would you give to anyone interested in joining the hospitality industry?
SB: Join today before is too late. Its the sunrise industry with huge job and entrepreneurial opportunities. This is the time. This is the opportunity. This is the place. Go for it.
