AUSTRALIA-based Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School (BMIHMS) is planning to open four hotel management schools in India.
Two schools will be rolled out by 2Q2014 as part of the first phase, with two more to come later. Although the location and opening date for the first school has not been confirmed, industry sources say the schools may be built in New Delhi, Chandigargh, Pune or Mumbai.
The schools will offer two-and-a-half-year bachelor’s and two-year master’s degree programmes in hotel management, with majors in hotel and resort management, and also international event management.
Guy Bentley, CEO, BMIHMS, said: “Students from India constitute 10-12 per cent of the total number of students at our schools. We see it as a great opportunity to launch our schools in India.
“In addition, the growing Indian hospitality industry shows a lot of career avenues for students. The various hospitality courses that our schools offer not only ensure a successful career, but at the same time, bridge the human resources gap in the hospitality industry.”
Currently, BMIHMS runs courses in Australia, Chile, China, Japan, Latin America, Malaysia, Mexico and Thailand.
C Nagendra Prasad, chairman, Travel Express said: “There is a severe dearth of well-trained manpower in India’s hospitality sector and the whole tourism industry in general. Considering that tourism is likely to be India’s largest employment generating sector, it is imperative that reputed management schools like BMIHMS open campuses in India and grow the pool of skilled labour.”
