- NIPS Kolkata hosts an industry expert series.
- Professionals from IHCL, ITC Hotels and Marriott participated.
- Sessions covered recruitment, grooming and career readiness.
The series drew participation from professionals at IHCL/Taj Hotels, ITC Hotels, Fairfield by Marriott Kolkata, Pride Plaza Hotel Kolkata, The LaLiT Great Eastern Kolkata and Taj SATS Kolkata, according to the institute. Sessions covered key aspects of recruitment readiness, professional development and industry preparation.
"We at NIPS Institute believe that hospitality education does not just end in the classroom, the textbook, and the exams,” said Vivek Pathak, NIPS founder and director. “What the industry needs today are skilled and competent professionals who can adapt to different situations with confidence.”
A personal moment in the series was shared by Shekhar Mukherjee, Taj SATS, former general manager, who shared his experience battling kidney cancer and how it shaped his understanding of leadership and empathy. He recalled how Ratan Tata personally reached out to his doctor to enquire about his health during treatment.
"Being a leader is not just about making the organization successful; it is also about showing concern for people," Mukherjee told students.
HR leaders from ITC Kolkata, including Devabrata Bhattacharya, cluster head of human resources, Rameez Ahmed, human resources manager and Manav Mirchandani, deputy human resources manager, ran an interactive session on management trainee pathways, interview techniques and what the recruitment process looks like from the industry side.
Students also heard from Sowmya Sengupta, IHCL/Taj, area director of learning and development for East and Northeast India, Sudipta Halder, Fairfield assistant human resources director and Rishu Ranjan, Pride Plaza, learning and development manager. Their session focused on management trainee opportunities and developing a professional attitude early in hospitality education.
Mukherjee also pointed out that students should approach interviews, presentations, tests, and commitments with sincerity and readiness.
Earlier this year, the Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council conducted the IndiaSkills 2026 regional competitions in Bhubaneswar, featuring 156 participants across five hospitality skill categories.
