FHRAI sees shortage of 150,000 workers in luxury hotel market by 2029
The Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) estimates a skilled worker shortage of 150,000 in the luxury hotel market alone by 2029, and the American Hotel & Lodging Association has reported that 81% of hotel owners are unable to fill open positions. As such, the future is bright for enthusiastic, well-trained, and globally focused hospitality professionals.
These insights were given as Atlanta’s Kennesaw State University and India’s AURO University formed a partnership to help students succeed as leaders in this growing industry.
The partners also reported that the global hospitality industry is expected to see revenues grow by more than 5% by 2027 while facing significant staffing shortages.
To help address this problem, Kennesaw and AURO University are joining forces to prepare students to meet the industry’s global talent needs.
Kennesaw and AURO recently signed an agreement that will see hospitality management programs at both institutions host faculty and student exchanges throughout the year.
These exchanges will provide students in India and the US with valuable international perspectives on the hospitality industry and enhance overall cultural awareness.
“The hospitality industry is global by its very nature,” said Robin Cheramie, dean of the Michael J. Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University.
“Almost any organization our students work for will have international guests and clients or will operate in multiple countries. Partnering with AURO means our students will be better able to compete in the global marketplace,” Cheramie said on 3 Oct 2023.
Leaders from both Universities met on the Kennesaw State campus and signed the memorandum of understanding formalizing their partnership. Dean Cheramie was joined by AURO University’s founder and president H.P. Rama, AURO’s Chief Operating Officer Suresh Mathur, and the director of Kennesaw State’s Hospitality Management program, Leonard Jackson.
AURO University was established in 2011 by Rama, who is also the founding chairman of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association and current chairman of Auro Hotels, which develops a portfolio of more than 37 Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott locations worldwide. While AURO University offers a full range of degree options, the institution has developed a worldwide reputation for producing quality hospitality industry professionals.
Students in AURO’s hospitality program currently complete a one-year internship in the US as a required part of their studies. The Kennesaw State partnership will see these students spend part of their time in the US at the Kennesaw campus meeting students, working with faculty in the Coles College, and learning about the Metro Atlanta hospitality industry.
The partnership will also allow Kennesaw State students to visit India. Hospitality management faculty plan to establish a new education abroad experience to India for Spring 2024, where students will visit AURO’s campus in Surat and tour the surrounding area. Fiinews.com
