Mr. Gladvin Rego, Principal, Lexicon Institute of Hotel Management. 

Editor: Tell us about your journey. How did it all start?

For me, it began with a chance conversation with a relative who got me interested in the industry and I ended up clearing the JEE and getting a seat at Mumbai IHM. The journey in the industry was challenging but enjoyable and taught me various aspects of service-oriented business. Having worked with standalone start-ups gave me an insight into how entrepreneurs operate.

I switched from operations in the industry to teaching when I found my calling in education and have thoroughly enjoyed my past 25 years with hospitality teaching and training.

Editor: What do you think it takes to succeed in this industry?

One must love the work that they are doing. Unless you have passion for the task at hand it is just a job. The second most important thing is to form relationships and networks. Since it is a people-oriented industry one needs to work with and through people. Having a pool of associates to back you up, will get you by the toughest of days in the industry.

Editor: What according to you can trainees do while they are training at hotels to make it a win-win for them & the hotel/unit? 

Trainees should have specific goals that they should set in every aspect of their training and plan to achieve them. This could be in terms of skills to be acquired, knowledge gained, or just information about how systems and processes work in a particular area. When you go into the butchery with a specific goal of learning how to debone chicken, mutton, and fish; you are most likely to achieve these goals.

This will assure your enthusiasm stays high as you accomplish one goal after another that you have set for yourself. This in turn will create a positive image about you in front of your hotel colleagues. Focusing and achieving professional goals will prevent getting complacent due to routine jobs and also provide you direction during the internship.

Editor: What are some of the trends you see impacting the hospitality education industry?

Blended learning and flipped classes are here to stay. Going forward, all ritualistic content will be available through technological inputs or podcasts. Education will become contextual rather than content-oriented. Industry leaders will be involved strongly in the education process as the demand to have well-trained human resource grows. 

Editor: What do you expect the industry to do to support academics?

 The industry is already playing a positive role in the nurturing of young talent. Associating with various boards of studies, helping changes in curriculum, providing support through practical inputs about systems and operations, guest lectures, and being visibly present at events in colleges. 

The industry needs to project an image of a good employer to the budding talent. There needs to be a change in the attitude toward handling interns. The work culture is demanding, and it is most likely that students who have negative experiences whilst training will be lost to the industry forever. 

Editor: What makes Lexicon the place to be?

At Lexicon Institute of Hotel Management, the course content is developed and implemented by the Hoteliers in the Governing and Advisory Council, which makes it a relevant and industry-centric institute hence called a hotel school - “By the Hoteliers, For the Hoteliers”. 

The Institute already has several collaborations with hotel companies like Marriott, Accor, and Sarovar Hotels and Resorts to place our students for internships and jobs. There are several more collaborations happening in the Hotel and Aviation sector to assist students to find jobs easily in other hospitality sectors.

The institute has practical workstations like Kitchens, bakeries, restaurants, Guest rooms, Housekeeping Workstations, Simulated Front Office Centre, Language labs, Innovation labs, Seminar Halls, and Boutique Culinary Theatres and Auditoriums.

The mission is to create “Day Zero Professionals”, a hotel professional who is ready with the skills and knowledge required to perform a task before he leaves college. Working on specialized equipment, handling modern software programs, or interacting with guests in real-life situations are skills that are imbibed in the college through a redesigned curriculum.