Exclusive Interview | Pratik Beloshe, Lecturer, Rizvi College Of Hotel Management
/ Editor HospemagTell us about your journey. How did it all start?
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step". ...so it started the same way...after completing my degree in hospitality studies i was not sure which hotel property I will start working with. But the first hotel i got was really wonderful, Holiday in Mumbai, international airport hotel. I joined the In Room Dining department as a food and beverage associate. So after working for around a year and half so I thought ,there was a time for change so I moved to a suburb hotel in front office as front office associate. After a year of working I started developing interest in academics so I decided to try my hand at teaching in colleges.
What do you think it takes to succeed in this industry?
Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do. You need to be patient. Slowly and steadily the whole thing will be built. The hospitality industry has a lot of things to offer more than any other. I feel wherever there is any food and beverage work associated with ,the hospitality person will definitely have an opportunity to work and grow.
Share with us 5 skills that you think will be critical for a hospitality career in the future.
There are various skills and etiquettes one must develop to excel in the industry, but if I want to give particularly 5 skill then it will be:
1. Patient
2. Team player
3. Adaptive
4. Passionate
5. Hard work
What are the attributes you look for while selecting or hiring?
As per the role of the industry and it's requirement a person which we look at needs to be
1. A interest to Learn
2. Passionate about his work
& 3. A person with sound basic knowledge
How do you think AI will impact our industry? Specific jobs, processes etc?
Definitely the world is on the verge of getting a new venture, or a new age. Gone are the times when computers started ruling the business and organisations. AI is the new new of today's time.
I mean to say that the AI model is not only capturing a business of any person by letting them the all the details of anything they wish. Which is slowly going to remove the human touch and maybe you may see a robot taking over the reception or the kitchen counter. A lot of hotels and hospitality management are testing the same. So the time is not that far...
What is the one app / tech solution you would love to see?
Surely maybe, AI will be the platform based app that will be helpful for daily purpose and also give a best solution for the same. Yes the time has come for Man And Machine has work together.
The future of the hospitality industry will likely be shaped by technology and sustainability.
Hard work yields rewards, especially in an industry witnessing constant growth and a persistent demand for highly skilled and experienced hospitality professionals.
Working in different countries provides students with a broader perspective and exposure to diverse cultures, which is valuable in the hospitality industry.
Resilience is key—weathering challenges while upholding service standards. Above all, it's a passion for growth that keeps the industry moving forward, embracing innovation and striving for constant improvement.
We in our Institute are also trying to build a work culture for our students, where we invite the industry for weekend jobs for our students. This initiative called "Weekend Skilling" was well received this year and 70 of our students were selected.
Do not ever run after money when you are starting your career. Remember that whatever is taught to you during your academic days, those are very basic and just to create a strong base. With the expertise of your academic learning, you cannot become a Master Chef and cannot claim a high salary. Hence it is your responsibility to work under various Chefs and to learn and when you are learning you cannot run after money.
Passion and commitment is the only key, Self motivation and setting up goals of self, and to constantly work towards your goals is the mantra.
For aspiring culinary students embarking on this delectable journey, my advice is straightforward yet profound: embrace the virtues of patience and continuous learning.
I advocate for the formalization of overtime compensation. This would not only reward employees for their additional efforts but also hold managers accountable for extending work hours unnecessarily. In the long term, this could lead to reduced attrition rates, increased employee motivation, and ultimately, an enhanced guest experience
Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do. You need to be patient. Slowly and steadily the whole thing will be built.
A lot of negative messaging has gone into the market about the hospitality industry and hospitality career. Hotels have to change their working environment that has usually been portrayed to be taxing and demanding throughout the year. The concepts of work-life balance, competitive pay package and defined work hours would definitely help the industry in attracting and eventually retaining the talented workforce.
I had conducted one survey among the Hospitality Management students in Bangalore, to identify the student’s perception on their industrial training. It was a shocking result for us that 48.34 % of students had opined that their training was only in banquets and they were not able to learn anything other than shifting of tables and other fixtures from one place to another and very long working hours.
This year I complete 20 years as a Dean of Hotel Management. My journey has been a testimony of my resilience, adaptability and love for the hospitality industry.
The industry needs to now understand the changing needs of the new generation; Hotels have to change the internal working environment that has usually been projected to be stressful and is treated as an excuse for harsh communication and limited respect.
The hospitality industry is highly customer-focused, and success often lies in providing exceptional service and creating memorable experiences. By embodying these qualities and continuously striving for excellence, you can position yourself for success in this dynamic industry
According to research around 22% Indian hospitality students quit industrial training for the reason of high working hours and many more factors. Maintaining healthy working environment is biggest challenge for hotel management personnel.
Knowledge, good communication skills, and a hunger to learn are what one needs to succeed in this industry.
Since Hospitality is a people-oriented industry one needs to work with and through people-Mr.Gladvin Rego
The industry should sponsor some activities in the college where students get the feel of belonging with the Industry.
Teachers who Train, Coach, Guide students to manage any kind of situation creates the best achievers
Research is something that can be a good collaboration between academics and industry which will benefit both.
“There is a need to introduce a new organization [nodal agency] between Industry and academic institutions. This new organization needs to work as a bridge between the two.”
The most illogical logic I heard during those days was “Bawarchi Banoge, Baira Banna Hai Kya”