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The hospitality industry is a key member of the service sector and
is linked directly to domestic and international tourism. According
to the World Tourism Organization (WTO), tourism has become one of
the most important economic, social, cultural and political
phenomena of the twentieth century. Hospitality comprises a wide
range of services such as accommodations, food and beverage, events
and activities etc. With the world becoming a global village, travel
for pleasure and business has increased manifold and is expected to
rise further in future making travel and tourism as the world's
largest industry. This has resulted in increased demand for
hospitality services worldwide that conform to internationally
acceptable service standards. This has resulted in great demand for
skilled manpower all over the globe. In a report on Hotels in India
by HVS International in 2004, 'Assessing Trends and Opportunities',
available rooms of all approved and unapproved hotels was estimated
to be close to 90,000. Taking into account an estimated demand
growth of approximately 18 per cent over the next few years, another
65,000-80,000 rooms will need to be added, across the country, in
the next five years. This speaks volumes about the manpower
requirement as well.
The history of modern hotels in India is not old. In 1903,
J.R.D.Tata constructed the Taj Mahal Hotel in Bombay. It was the
first hotel of international standard and repute, built by an
Indian. About three decades later, in 1934, in the northern climes
of India, Rai Bahadur Mohan Singh Oberoi, acquired his first
property, The Clarkes Hotel, Shimla. Post independence, government
realized the importance of tourism and set up a new corporation
India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC). In 1975, ITC entered
the fray with the Chola Sheraton in Chennai, and eventually entered
into a marketing alliance with Starwood, a relationship that stood
rock solid for its length, till some time back. The last decade has
witnessed foray of almost all leading international hotel chains
into India. With the further increase in projected demand of hotel
rooms as India hosting Commonwealth Games in 2010, the celebrations
in Indian hospitality industry has just begun. |
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