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UNWTO Secretary-General inaugurates IIHM Global Centre for Tourism and Research on World Tourism Day 2021

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A grand celebration on the online platform was organised for World Tourism Day 2021 by the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM). On September 27th, 2021, IIHM played host to a number of eminent hospitality professionals and personalities in India and the world. The day was extra special for the institute as the much-awaited IIHM Global Centre for Tourism and Research was inaugurated on this special day.

The UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikasvili, addressed IIHM on the occasion, “We celebrate as the world cautiously reopens to travel. Now is the time to recognise our sector’s essential role as a vision of sustainable and equal development. The theme for World Tourism Day 2021 is Tourism for Inclusive Growth. We highlight the value of everyone involved in tourism, both visitors and the visited.”

Reiterating the Secretary-General’s ideas, Anita Mendiratta, Founder and President of Anita Mendiratta & Associates and Advisor to UNWTO Secretary-General said, “The global pandemic has forced us to focus on how to make a stronger tourism community in future. There are four reasons for this. Travel and tourism are important to small and medium enterprises. In the pandemic, many businesses had to shut down because they could not survive. We also have the youth level, who have been forced to look for jobs in other sectors. IIHM and the education community need to re-inspire the youth to get them to realise that this is one of the most remarkable professions. We need to make the youth feel valued, protected, engaged and supported. Then we talk about women. Eighty per cent of travel and tourism businesses are in the SME sector and 50 percent of those come through women’s employment. Finally, we have to focus on environment. Sustainable tourism development must be environmental. We need to protect everything that Nature has given us.”

Padma Shri Sanjeev Kapoor turned the focus of inclusivity towards food. “Tourism is not just transportation of one person to another, it is an experience and meeting of minds and souls. This year’s theme of Tourism for Inclusive Growth, focusses on the need to celebrate food. In the next 20 years, is time for the east and we have to start working on it now. The pandemic has taught us that we cannot wait, we have to take any corrective measures in form of environment or ourselves or in tourism or in food. The power that India can provide to food is unthinkable. We have put a lot of focus on food, specially on healthier food. Therefore, we must bring inclusiveness and sustainability in food in every step.”

The tourism industry will undergo a sea change and Dr Suborno Bose, Chairman and Chief Mentor, IIHM, emphasized on how the IIHM Global Centre for Tourism and Research will help to brace the changes. “Tourism in the post-Covid 19 era will be very different. Guest sentiment will be far different than what it was before March 2020. There will be emphasis on health and hygiene, guests will primarily be concerned about hygiene of the premises and the people associated with the industry. Students and professionals associated with the Tourism and Hospitality industries must be prepared to brace the changes and move ahead and the IIHM Global Centre for Tourism and Research is going to help them in every way possible.”

Prof David Foskett, MBE, Hospitality lecturer and author, added, “Tourism helps humanity to understand other cultures and people throughout the world. We need research, because post-pandemic, world will not be the same in terms of customer service. These are things that need research. Tourism has lots to offer and research will help us to understand how to overcome the problems and obstacles in the future.”

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AN AFTER TASTE THEY TREASURE FOR LIFE

"I am Hovaz and I come from Iran. I wanted to study in IIHM Hotel School in India and therefore I came to Kolkata. IIHM is renowned as an institute that prepares students to succeed in International Hotels, and that is what I look forward to. I am in the 2013 -2016 batch and now I am studying in the Final Year Thanks to IIHM."

HOVAZ DILANCHIAN – Cook
Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort , United States

"With a brilliant academic success behind herself, She graduated with a gold medal from IIHM. But, She had shown more entrepreneurial skills throughout the tenure of her education in IIHM than in other areas of engagements. Immediately after her education she started her own restaurant by the name The Wise Owl which has already become famous in the locality."

SIDDHIKA GHOSH – Managing Partner & Owner
The Wise Owl Steakhouse , Kolkata

"I graduated in Hospitality Management from IIHM in the year 1999. That I studied at IIHM was my advantage. After graduation I joined the kitchen. But my fundamentals were very strong and quickly rose through the ranks and today I am the Executive Sous Chef in International The Lalit, Delhi."

PRADIPTA SINHA – Executive Sous Chef
International The Lalit, Delhi

"With the help of IIHM I Graduated in hospility management and came to USA on Internship. After completing my Internship, I completed my masters in hospility management from Columbia University. I want to thank my teachers at IIHM and my colleagues who helped me to nurture my dreams in my college."

Dayapal – Food & Beverage Manager
Park Hyatt, Washington DC

"The three years that I spent at IIHM were a big transitional stage in my life. It helped me prepare myself to work with great confidence. The assignments with challenging"

AMIT DASH – Executive Chef
The Sheraton , Hyderabad

"I could not have felt more at home in a place so different from Armenia. I love every moment I spend at the IIHM Hotel School whether it is cooking up an Indian meal in the kitchen or supervising over a Food and Beverage Festival in one of the city’s favourite event management venue. There are always new skills to develop, people to meet and experiences to encounter that will help me to succeed in my future. I am also the Captain of IIHM Rugby Team. "

SEVAK
IIHM , Kolkata

"Life certainly does surprise you with its unexpected turns. I never knew that three years of long journey with IIHM would lead me to the dream hotels of many, Marriott. I cannot thank IIHM enough, along with everyone for their consistent support. And I certainly hope to continue making my IIHM proud."

SOHEE LIM
Marriott

"I am Hovaz and I come from Iran. I wanted to study in IIHM Hotel School in India and therefore I came to Kolkata. IIHM is renowned as an institute that prepares students to succeed in International Hotels, and that is what I look forward to. I am in the 2013 -2016 batch and now I am studying in the Final Year Thanks to IIHM."

HOVAZ DILANCHIAN – Cook
Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort , United States

"Like IIHM says that the difference between Extra Ordinary and Ordinary is just an EXTRA, it is so true when you finish your college and get out into the real world. The IIHMites always"

DEEPIKA – Housekeeping Executive
Westin, Chennai
AN AFTER TASTE THEY TREASURE FOR LIFE