Kolkata, June 2026: In a strong step towards making hospitality education more practical, industry-connected and career-focused, NIPS Institute of Hotel Management, Kolkata organized a month-long expert series that brought senior hospitality professionals from leading hotel brands directly to its campus. The initiative was designed to give students real exposure to how the hospitality industry works beyond classrooms, textbooks and examinations. Through these sessions, students received practical guidance on recruitment readiness, Management Trainee opportunities, mock interviews, group discussions, grooming, communication, culinary fundamentals, internship learning, service values, leadership and professional discipline.
The expert series witnessed participation from distinguished professionals representing some of the most respected names in the hospitality sector, including IHCL/Taj, ITC Hotels, Fairfield by Marriott Kolkata, Pride Plaza Hotel Kolkata, The LaLiT Great Eastern Kolkata and Taj SATS Kolkata.
A major focus of the series was career readiness and recruitment preparation. HR leaders from ITC Hotels Kolkata, including Mr. Devabrata Bhattacharya, Cluster Head of Human Resources, ITC Hotels Kolkata, Mr. Rameez Ahmed, Human Resources Manager, ITC Hotels Kolkata, and Mr. Manav Mirchandani, Deputy Human Resources Manager, ITC Hotels Kolkata, conducted an interactive session where students were exposed to Management Trainee pathways, interview techniques, group discussion practice and professional presentation. The session also included mock interviews and GD exercises, helping students understand the recruitment process from the perspective of industry professionals.
Students also received valuable guidance from Ms. Sowmya Sengupta, Area Director, Learning & Development, East & North East, IHCL / Taj Hotels, Mr. Sudipta Halder, Assistant HR Director, Fairfield by Marriott Kolkata, and Mr. Rishu Ranjan, Learning & Development Manager, Pride Plaza Hotel Kolkata. Their sessions focused on internship learning, HR expectations, interview preparation, communication skills, grooming, Management Trainee opportunities and the importance of developing a professional attitude from the early stages of hospitality education.
Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Vivek Pathak, Founder and Director, NIPS Institute of Hotel Management, stated, “We at NIPS Institute believe that hospitality education does not just end in the classroom, the textbook, and the exams. What the industry needs today are skilled and competent professionals who can adapt to different situations with confidence. With such activities, where we come in contact with industry professionals regularly, our students get exposure to the working environment and what it demands of the employees. This helps them in developing the right professional attitude needed to succeed in this international hospitality industry.”
Sharing a personal experience that deeply resonated with students, Mr. Shekhar Mukherjee, Former General Manager, Taj SATS Kolkata, quoted, “As I have grown through my career, I have realized that resilience, readiness, and professionalism are some of the essential traits needed for success. During my fight against kidney cancer, I saw how much empathy and concern an organization or an individual can show for their employees. I vividly recall how Mr. Ratan Tata himself got in touch with my doctor at Tata Medical Center to convey his concern regarding my health. This made me realize that being a leader is not just about making the organization successful; it is also about showing concern for people. I request all students to take every interview, presentation, practical test, and professional commitment with sincerity and readiness. Even after gaining years of experience, there is no end to learning and preparation.”
