As IIHM turned 30 this year, the institute’s founder and mentor, Dr Suborno Bose talks about the road ahead
INTERVIEW BY AMIT DIXIT
Congratulations on IIHM completing 30 years. Can you tell us about the journey so far and what inspired you to start this institute?
Thank you very much. It has been an incredible journey over the last 30 years. When we started IIHM in 1993, the hospitality industry in India was still at a nascent stage. There was a clear need in the market for an institute that could provide quality education and training to the growing number of aspiring hotel management professionals.
I wanted to create an institute that could nurture young minds and provide them with the skills and knowledge they needed to excel in the hospitality industry. Over the years, we have grown from strength to strength, and we are now recognised as one of the leading hospitality institutes in the world.
That’s wonderful. How has IIHM evolved over the years, and what are some of the achievements you are proud of?
Over the years, IIHM has grown and evolved significantly. We started with just one campus in Kolkata, and now we have campuses in various cities across India, as well as in Thailand and Uzbekistan. And Singapore is opening soon. We have also expanded our course offerings to include not just hotel management but also culinary arts and patisserie.
We have just launched IIHM-X in association with Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC). These are skill centres which will provide short-term courses in hospitality in centres across India.
One of the achievements that we are particularly proud of is the success of our alumni. Many of our graduates are now in leadership positions in top hospitality companies around the world, and we have a strong network of alumni who continue to support and mentor our current students.
We have, of course, been promoting gender equality in the hospitality industry. Recently, we organised a global conference to mark International Women’s Day.
But perhaps our greatest achievement has been the International Young Chef Olympiad, which has managed to bring over 50 countries from around the world together on a common platform.
IIHM has announced its pledge to support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Can you tell us more about this initiative and why it’s important?
Yes, we are very excited about our commitment to the SDGs. As you know, the SDGs are a set of 17 goals that aim to eradicate poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. These goals are critical for creating a more sustainable and equitable future for all, and we believe that the hospitality industry has a crucial role to play in achieving them.
Sustainability is at the core of IIHM’s operations and at the heart of IIHM’s educational curriculum. IIHM is committed to all the UN SDGs, but there are four goals in particular we are very passionate about. These are followed, taught, implemented and executed by all the students and staff at IIHM. These are Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), Goal 4 (Quality Education), Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
As a leading hospitality education provider, it is our responsibility to educate our students about the importance of sustainability and social responsibility in the industry. By committing to the SDGs and bringing together 60 countries to join us in this effort, we hope to raise awareness and inspire action among the next generation of hospitality professionals.
To this end, IIHM will be signing MOUs with educational institutes in 60 countries to pledge for the attainment of SDGs by 2030. Through these partnerships, we hope to create a global network of educational institutes that are committed to promoting sustainability in the hospitality industry and raising awareness about the SDGs among hotel management students. We believe that by sensitising young minds to the importance of sustainability, we can create a more sustainable future for the hospitality industry and the world at large.
That’s a great initiative. How do you plan to involve the students and faculty in promoting sustainability in the hospitality industry?
At IIHM, we believe that education is key to driving positive change in the industry. That’s why we have integrated sustainability and social responsibility into our curriculum across all our programmes. Our students learn about sustainable practices in areas such as food production, waste management, and energy conservation, and they also learn about the importance of supporting local communities and preserving cultural heritage.
We also encourage our students and faculty to get involved in sustainability initiatives through our various partnerships and collaborations with industry organisations and NGOs. For example, we have partnered with organisations such as the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) to promote sustainable tourism and responsible hospitality practices.
IIHM has launched several initiatives in the sustainability arena. These include the Food Soldier activity by the students through which we feed thousands of people all over the country on a daily basis. From cleaning the beach in Goa to cleaning localities in Kolkata and educating underprivileged kids, there’s a lot we do for the communities around us.
Each of our campuses has multiple sustainability protocols. For example, we teach hydroponic farming in Delhi. As I mentioned before, we are supporting Zero Hunger globally. Our Bengaluru campus took the Sustainability Tourism Pledge with the Ministry of Tourism, Government of Karnataka. We are creating ecobricks in Kolkata. Of course, all our campuses run regular cleanliness drives.
Last year we also took on the Park Street Metro Station to promote the message of sustainability. It has now been rebranded as IIHM Park Street Metro. Being an educational hub of Kolkata, a lot of students pass through the Park Street Metro Station daily.
We have plastered the entire metro station, from the platform to the exteriors, with information on the SDGs and knowledge about sustainability. We have turned the entire metro station into a huge educational platform for the SDGs.
That sounds like a comprehensive approach. How do you see the hospitality industry evolving in the next decade, and what role do you see IIHM playing in that evolution?
The hospitality industry is constantly evolving, and we expect to see some significant changes in the next decade. One of the biggest trends we see is the growing focus on sustainability and responsible tourism. As more and more consumers become conscious of their impact on the environment and local communities, hotels and other hospitality businesses will need to adapt their practices to meet these expectations.
At IIHM, we see ourselves playing a crucial role in shaping the future of the industry by educating and training the next generation of hospitality professionals for a sustainable future.
Your marquee annual event, the International Young Chef Olympiad, has proved to be a game-changer, hasn’t it?
Indeed. When I conceptualised it 10 years ago in a pub in London, I could never have imagined it would take on this kind of scale. The 9th edition which concluded recently saw participation from over 50 countries around the world. This was the first physical version of the Olympiad since the pandemic and it was heart-warming to see such a great turnout. Next year is the 10th edition of YCO and we are really looking forward to it.
Why is it important for hotel management students to be aware of the SDGs, and how will this knowledge help them in their careers?
Hotel management students are the future of the hospitality industry, and it is essential that they are aware of the SDGs and their importance. The hospitality industry has a significant impact on the environment, and it is our responsibility to ensure that our graduates are equipped with the skills and knowledge to promote sustainability in the industry.
By raising awareness about the SDGs, we can sensitise our students to the importance of sustainability and encourage them to adopt sustainable practices in their careers. This knowledge will not only help them in their careers but will also enable them to make a positive impact on the environment and society.
In fact, to raise awareness about the importance of sustainability in the hospitality industry, I have just finished writing a companion volume to my bestselling book The Art of Hospitality. This one will be called The Art of Sustainable Hospitality and will be out soon.
What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the hospitality industry in achieving the SDGs?
The hospitality industry faces several challenges in achieving the SDGs, including the lack of awareness and understanding of sustainability issues, the high cost of implementing sustainable practices, and the lack of regulatory support. Additionally, the hospitality industry is highly competitive, and there is a tendency to prioritise short-term profitability over long-term sustainability.
What is your vision for IIHM’s future?
For dreamers like me, the sky is the limit. Our vision is to become the best hospitality education institution in the world and to expand our footprint to over 50 countries in the world.
