NCHM JEE 2020 postponed; NTA to announce new dates for Hotel Management entrance exam soon

Key Take Away

National Council for Hotel Management Joint Entrance Examination or NCHM JEE 2020  were scheduled to be conducted on June 22 after it was deferred. Initially, the NCHM JEE 2020 was supposed to be held on May 5. The entrance exam dates were postponed twice by National Testing Agency (NTA) in the wake of the coronavirus situation in the country. 

As per the official notification, the NCHM JEE 2020 Admit Cards will be released 15 days prior to the date of examination on the official websites -- nta.ac.in or nchmjee.nta.nic.in.

For More Information Click Below :

www.indiatvnews.com/education/news-nchm-jee-2020-postpone-nta-hotel-management-entrance-exam-new-dates-624294

Five ways hotels can use technology for a better guest experience

An interesting story about a hotel and its guest experience. The incident goes back to the early 70s when there was no internet and travellers would make hotel bookings through travel agents or phone calls. A couple in their mid-50s arrived at a hotel which was located far from the city. Little did they realise that the booking they made via phone prior to their arrival was tentative and not confirmed. On learning that the hotel was full, they were forced to look elsewhere.

The incident didn’t leave them happy as they weren’t prepared for this situation. The hotel was also helpless and couldn’t do much to accommodate them. This situation could have been avoided if both the hotel and the couple had a confirmed booking! Now imagine if this incident had occurred in today’s era: the guests would have most likely damaged the hotel’s reputation all over the Internet through negative reviews and posts. Technology has changed the way we travel, experience and share the hotel experience and I believe, the change is for good! I couldn’t have imagined myself in a situation like that of the couple. Using technology, new-age travellers are preparing their own itinerary and replacing the traditional travel agents. On the other hand, hotels are also experiencing broader visibility through platforms that bring travellers from all over the world together. They are able to use technology and provide value-added services, comfort and convenience to their guests which were not the case in the past. Here are five viable technology solutions that can help hotels serve their guests better and personalize the experience:

1. Mobile bookings are gaining popularity and have increased to 25% of online bookings by 2017. What is more interesting for hotel owners is that 40% of leisure travellers and 36% of business travellers book overnight accommodations in hotels using their mobile phones. Hotels should take advantage of this growth to engage with the travellers, especially with the rise in Millennial travellers who are highly dependent on their Smartphone. Having the hotel’s booking engine optimized for mobile viewing can offer guests a convenient option to book. Hotels can also try connecting with their guests pre-arrival through mobile apps that can help in a variety of ways, like assisting guests with directions, sending notifications of the seasonal packages and offers, or inviting a repeat stay from an old guest. Strong mobile promotions can be used as key marketing and sales strategy by hotels. Hotels can also look at integrating Beacon technology that will help them gather guest data in order to offer personalised services. The technology allows hotels to engage with the guests on a personal level by pushing special offers based on their location, request for special services, access to view maps, or connect with the hotel’s social media channels. Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Marriott International have already implemented beacon technology.

2. Tablets are growing in popularity among the new-age generation as seen in a recent survey that found that the number from 1 billion people worldwide in 2015, (representing nearly 15% of the global population) has reached 1.43 billion in 2018. So, hotels should consider providing tablets to enhance the guest experience and use it for multiple marketing purposes. Here’s how:  Front desk: Front desk is one of the busiest areas of the hotel which is mostly accessed by the guests, hence it’s good to use tablets at the front desk to check-in/out the guests and take their quick feedback. It can also be used for digital signage by displaying information on nearby attractions, local map and to encourage guests to sign up for future email marketing. Consider the OnSpot Social app that collects email addresses and guest data to engage with them through various digital marketing strategies.  Rooms: After Wi-Fi, guests are expecting hotels to provide tablets in the rooms. Seeing this rising demand, many hotels have started investing in tablets and are installing third-party apps to give their guests the control of room lights, AC, TV and more.  Restaurants/bars/spas: Another effective area where guests are more likely to engage with tablets is a hotel’s point of sale to browse through the menus and packages. Hotels can encourage guests to give real-time feedback on the services.

3. Self-check-in New-age travellers like to be on self-sufficient to save time and effort. Self-check-in technology can play a role in providing convenience to the guest while also easing the burden on the front desk staff. This technology allows guests to check-in via tablets or phones using a QR code that captures their expected time of arrival and sends the notification to the hotel. Checking-out the guest can also be done via smartphones or tablets from the luxury of the guest’s room using technology like a mobile-optimized hotel software. Self-check-in technology also eliminates errors and speeds the process. Ritz Carlton uses this technology for their guests to check-in via QR codes through their mobile app.

4. Live chat. While there have been many debates over the merits of embedding a live chat feature on a hotel’s website due to the cost and infrastructure involved, it is one of the best ways to connect with a potential guest. Live chat may be expensive, but it helps in increasing sales while providing a convenient platform for interaction. Research suggests that 52% of travellers visit your hotel’s website after seeing you on an OTA. With a live chat option, a hotel can tap into such travellers easily. This simply means that people prefer websites that can immediately attend to their queries while they are in the process of making a booking. This also helps eliminate website bounce rates as the live chat assists guests through every stage until they complete their action. Engaging potential guests through this feature will make them feel valued and can convert lookers into bookers. As many buying decisions are purely based on convenience, a live chat option could lead guests to stay and not move on to your competitor hotel’s website.

5. Door opening technology No, this technology is not for burglars, it’s for the hotel guests to open room doors using a mobile. This technology is similar to the self-check-in technology where guests receive a code on their mobile app through which they get control to their room door. Open Ways introduced this technology that uses a Crypto Acoustic Credential system for electronic access control in hotels. The system can also be integrated with many other services such as concierge or security. It can be activated on a guest’s handset without him paying a visit to the reception. Hotel chains like Hilton and Starwood provide the luxury to their guests to unlock their rooms using a Smartphone app. Travelling today is much easier than it used to be a few decades ago. Now, travelling is all about instant gratification for travellers. Millennial is a dominating segment that often looks for hotels that offer quick services and technology allows hotels to deliver what they expect. So, strike the iron while it’s hot!

About The Author

Soumyadeep Roy.

Completed hotel management from IHM Bhubaneswar (Batch 2001- 2004). I started my career with a small property in Bhubaneswar named Triumph Residency as Trainee Front Office Assistant. Then I continued my journey with different other hotels like Lemon Tree Hotels Gurgaon, Intercontinental The Grand New Delhi, The Clarks Inn Shahibabad (East Delhi), The Claridges, New Delhi and Taj Bengal Kolkata. The journey was through Front Office operation and Room Reservation. I have started my career in academics since 2017 with Amity University Kolkata as Assistant Professor.

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All views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to the author's employer, organisation, committee or other group or individual.

Top Dining-Out Trends for a Post-Pandemic Society

Florida International University's Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management projects five dining-out trends affecting restaurants, bars, and consumers that are emerging in a post-pandemic world. The trends were presented by Michael Cheng, dean of the Chaplin School.

Top Dining-Out Trends in a post-pandemic society:

• Dining-Out Trend #1 Transparency and Communication

• Dining-Out Trend #2 Innovation and Creativity

• Dining-Out Trend #3 Contactless Technology and Virtual Presence

• Dining-Out Trend #4 A Collaborative Community

• Dining-Out Trend #5 Reset!

"While these are signs that we see today, the next 12 months will give us better clarity of the way forward," said Cheng.

Hilton College Initiates First-ever Hospitality Hackathon (HC3), Sponsored by HFTP; Challenges Students From Hospitality Programs Across the Globe

Key Take Away

The University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, in partnership with Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), are addressing the immediate need for creative and thoughtful solutions that will assist hospitality companies to put their businesses back on track

The idea for the HC3 was first proposed by Arlene D. Ramirez, CHAE, CHIA, CAHTA, CHE, Hilton College instructional assistant professor, and HFTP Global past president.

The main objective of HC3 is to produce initiatives that can be easily implemented within an operation, and are not necessarily tech-centric. She floated the idea to hold a virtual student competition during the College's spring faculty meeting.

Registration for HC3 is FREE and is now open.

For More Details

www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4098978.html

https://youtu.be/Y8fJC5-z1fo

Vakkaru Maldives Appoints Iain McCormack As General Manager

Key Take Away

Vakkaru Maldives has announced the appointment of Iain McCormack as its new General Manager. A hotel management graduate of Southampton College, Iain started his career path working at many renowned hotels with over 36 years in the hospitality business and a career

With Iain’s rich multi-faceted experience in resorts worldwide and his passion for top-notch guest services, he will be a key player in enriching the stellar reputation of the Vakkaru brand.

For More Information

www.traveltrademaldives.com/vakkaru-maldives-appoints-iain-mccormack-as-general-manager/

Online Awareness Test on " Teaching Aptitude and Employability Skills for Hospitality Teachers"

5 Insights Into the Changing Landscapes of Hospitality and Higher Education

Key Take Away

Successful hospitality professionals know that multiple institutions have shifted their educational offer from the physical space into a distance-learning format in record time - proof of how the educational system can evolve.

With Covid-19 acting as a trigger for change in our educational model for more individualization, flexibility and global reach, we can now return to the original meaning of "crisis" as a turning point for better hospitality educational models in the future. The difference between success and failure often depends on how we deal with challenges and difficulties.

For More Information

www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4098730.html

U.S. Leisure and Hospitality Industy Lost 8.2 Million Jobs in 2 Months

The U.S. leisure and hospitality industry in April lost 7.7 million jobs, a 47 percent drop, and was the worst-hit sector among non-farm payrolls for the second month in a row, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics

April was the first full month where the coronavirus pandemic raged in the United States. The job losses come on top of half a million jobs lost in leisure and hospitality in March.

It was food and drinking establishments, rather than hotels, that were most-impacted in April. The bureau stated that restaurants and bars lost 5.5 million jobs in April, or 71 percent of the total decline in leisure and hospitality employment.

The April job loss in leisure and hospitality was more than three times greater than the second-most-impacted sector, education and health services, which saw a decline of 2.54 million jobs.

The two-month employment drop, including March and April, reached 8.2 million in leisure and hospitality. Some 459,000 jobs were lost in leisure and hospitality in March, versus February, as the coronavirus pandemic began to take its toll. As in April, dining establishments and bars took the brunt of the hit.

In late April, the U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Economics projected that the coronavirus pandemic would lead to the loss of 8 million jobs out of a total of 24 million in the U.S. economy. 

Cookery League by Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Ranchi

Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Ranchi is an Autonomous Institution of Government of Jharkhand established in 2019. The Institute has been set up with joint assistance from the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India and Department of Tourism, Govt. of Jharkhand with a view to provide quality education and develop. IHM Ranchi is the First and only Hotel Management Institute of Jharkhand which affiliated by National Council for Hotel Management Catering Technology (NCHMCT), Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India.

The Institute is currently offering four different demand-driven courses in core hospitality operations. The SIHM currently operates from a beautiful building in an Environment friendly location on the outskirts of Ranchi town in Brambe. During the Covid-19 Lockdown, the Institute has not left any stone unturned to keep their students spirit high by starting online cookery league for them and to share their mother’s secrete recipe, with the dual purpose of making realize the importance of mother in one’s life.

There were certain parameters for the judgment of the dish like,

a. Choice of ingredients used

b. Method of cooking

c. Explanation of dish during cooking

d. Plating and presentation

e. Innovation of new dish

f. Social media likes

Almost all the students of the institute participated in the online cookery league. A total of 26 videos were received through official email, and few were rejected too because of not fulfilling the criteria. The videos shared on social media were liked and shared by the viewers.

The winner of this cookery league was Miss Simran Shruti, the student of Food Production Diploma course and the runner was Miss Kanu Priya First year B.Sc. in H &HA student.

Winners will be awarded with gifts and certificates once College reopens. Such more cookery leagues will be held in the coming future to keep students of all the IHMs motivated and engaged during Lockdown.

Importance of E-Learning in this current situation by Rahul Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Hospitality & Tourism Administration at Sister Nivedita University

We are now entering a new era — the revolution of online education.

It is often referred to as e-learning. Online learning is seen as an innovative concept which is attracting the attention of academic institutions as well as companies in different sectors.

There is also increased use of virtual classrooms (online presentations delivered live) as an online learning platform and classroom for a diverse set of education providers. Being physically present in a classroom isn’t the only learning option anymore.

Everyone can access online education no matter whatever is the location. Although it is one type of distance learning I believe as the current situation is extremely threatening & challenging for all of us, so it’s better to have something than nothing. Education & learning is an unstoppable concept, no matter whatever is the situation. Currently, I am working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Hospitality & Tourism Administration at Sister Nivedita University (Techno India Group-West Bengal, Kolkata).

The online sessions are happening on a regular basis with participation from students & faculty members are 100 per cent. My area of specialization is Food & Beverage Operations & Management. I believe that virtual learning is an excellent platform to share knowledge even when you are working from home. Although, in this present situation when the entire world is undergoing such a severe crisis, but I believe, that it can’t stop education & learning.

So under the guidance & full support from my director Mr Sandip Mukherjee & Head Dr. Santanu Dasgupta (both from the hospitality department), I am sharing my experiences, knowledge & skills with my students via online mode. Recently I have attended a few webinar sessions where the majority of academic leaders from all over the world believes that online learning quality is already equal to or superior to face-to-face instruction.

I believe that the process of learning & teaching has improved with the use of technology. In this moment flexibility, & adaptable to change with the situation must be the prime key. As an educator, we all must spread knowledge, as education is the passport to the future. I call it a “Commitment to student education”.

EHL Named Best Hospitality & Leisure Management School In The World

LAUSANNE - 2020 QS World University rankings: Soon after the confirmation of its Michelin star, Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) has been ranked as the world's leading institution for hospitality and leisure management education.

"Switzerland continues to set the example in terms of academic excellence, competitiveness and innovation. The canton of Vaud in particular, with its centers of excellence, the ambitious development strategy of the Department for the Promotion of Economy and Innovation (SPEI), and also thanks to the intelligence of each player to leverage this exceptional network, has become a leading hub for the creation and transmission of knowledge, recognized throughout the world," 

Michel Rochat, EHL Group CEO, reacted to the news by stating that "Switzerland's tradition of excellence and its education model continue to be recognized worldwide". EHL now also ranks among traditional management schools, coming in 7th place in Switzerland. "Our positioning is no longer that of a school purely dedicated to the hotel industry. Our graduates are very competitive in a multitude of industries where the customer experience is a central tenet, such as luxury, banking or aviation. So we aren't surprised to be compared with the best business schools. With two campuses in Switzerland and one in Singapore, as well as an innovation village open to our students, we are proud of the unique offer that has been developed in recent years,"

For more info visit the site www.ehl.edu

CELEBRATING THE YOUTHFUL FERVOUR OF HOSPITALITY @ BCIHMCT Induction-cum-Independence Day Celebrations (13th – 14th August 2019)

The Orientation Programme for the fresh batch of the Academic Year 2019-20 was held on the 13th August, 2019 at the Auditorium of the lush green campus of Banarsidas Chandiwala Institute of Hotel Management & Catering Technology, witnessing more than 250 stakeholders who attended the Programme along with staff and faculty of the Institute. BCIHMCT extended a warm welcome to the First year students, their parents and guardians through the induction programme. The Programme commenced with the ceremonial Lighting of the Lamp and traditional Ganesh Vandana performed by students.

Dr. Sarah Hussain, Principal, BCIHMCT, gave insight into the mission, vision, structure and function of the college as well as SBCSST Society. Expressing her views on the career in hotel management and the importance of attendance, grooming, personality development as well as communication skills, she emphasized on the willingness to work and striving for continual growth as a significant aspect of this course. She addressed the audience and urged cooperation from everyone including parents and students.

Mr Alok Aswal, Dean Administration, BCIHMCT, briefed about the rules and regulations regarding conduct of students throughout four years at the institute. He requested the students and parents to understand as well as abide by the institutional norms.

BCIHMCT, New Delhi commemorated the Pre-Independence celebrations with great zeal and enthusiasm on 14th August, 2019. All the faculty members and students gathered at the college premises to hoist the National Flag. Dr. Hussain, spoke about the importance of freedom from all kinds of ills in the society. She encouraged everyone to follow the life’s learning from the great patriots namely Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. Senior batch students enlightened the gathering with the importance of the sacrifices of those who gave up their lives for the Freedom of India. The function concluded with the National Anthem.

Bearing the multifaceted role of trees in maintaining the environment, the scheduled Tree Plantation Drive followed the celebrations, emphasizing the environmental crisis. The special action plan was initiated by the Principal, under whose guidance the students planted a sapling in the landscape area around the institute.