
Let’s talk about why the best hotel management institutes in India should excite you if you’re keen to work in the hospitality industry. Hotel management is an intricate artform, creating memorable experiences for guests while keeping large operations running smoothly. It’s certainly not an easy field to work in, but can be deeply fulfilling for those with a passion for hospitality. It is also a field where you learn the most through practical, hands-on experience – which is where the best hotel management programs come in.
Below, we break down the various intricacies making hotel management a promising career.
The Core Components of Hotel Management Programs
A comprehensive hotel management program may cover the following:
Hotel functioning: Understanding the mechanics of a hotel, its departments, essential procedures, safety protocols, and managerial skills.
Front desk administration: Becoming knowledgeable about the procedures for reservations. It also includes guest check-in and check-out and customer service.
Food and beverage control: Includes the preparation, serving, and handling of food.
Housekeeping and supervision: Learning how to clean, maintain, and care for hotel rooms and amenities.
Revenue surveillance: Optimizing hotel pricing and maximizing earnings.
Commerce and Hospitality marketing: Knowing how to use both offline and online marketing to increase sales.
Customer relationship management (CRM): Put your energy into giving visitors outstanding service and fostering long-lasting relationships.
Event management: includes organizing and running banquets, conferences, and events.
Culinary arts: The skill to prepare food in unique ways and present it in a pleasing design.
Human Resources: Involves recruiting new people with specific skill sets, keeping in mind the hotel’s policies and labor laws.
Entrepreneurship: Hotel management is a large-skill business. You learn to manage it at a micro-level. This helps you inculcate the necessary skills to become a successful entrepreneur later in life.
Now that you understand what a hotel management program entails, let’s jump into the best hotel management institutes in India to train you up for a great career in the field!
IHM Pusa (New Delhi)
Established in 1962, IHM is the top-ranked hotel management institute under the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (NCHMCT). It is also backed by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
The institute offers excellent learning experiences along with international opportunities. This will help you understand multinational cuisine and different cultures. It is also affiliated with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). Sanjeev Kapoor (Celebrity Chef) is its most renowned alumnus.
Courses Offered
Students from all streams can enroll in these courses. For admission to IHMs, the national entrance exam is NCHM JEE. IHM Pusa has a wide variety of courses for you. The following list includes some of them.
- Bachelors and Masters courses in Hospitality Administration
- Skill development courses in cooking, food, and beverages
- Diploma courses in Bakery and Confectionary
Fee Structure
Since these are government-funded institutions, fees here are reasonable. For example, the BSc. HHA program costs around ₹4.15 lakh for the three-year course duration.
Placement Rate and Salary Packages
Reputed hotel chains and restaurants in India hire students from IHM Pusa for premium positions. ITC, Marriott, Taj Hotels, Dominos, and Reliance Industries Ltd. are some of its visiting recruiters. The highest package recorded in 2023-24 was around ₹9 lakh per annum. The average salary ranged between ₹4-5 lakh per annum.
IHM Bangalore
The Ministry of Tourism of the Indian government founded and runs IHM Bangalore. It was established in 1969. The government acknowledges IHM Bangalore as an Institute of National Importance. Its campus offers state-of-the-art kitchens, event experiences, and training restaurants. Since the institute stands in the Silicon Valley of India, it offers students a wide range of experiences.
The institute also has a great reputation in the corporate world. Its alumni include Mr. Joe Manavalan, co-founder of Licious, and Chef Manisha Bhasin, the corporate executive chef of ITC hotels.
Courses Offered
The institute offers almost all types of hospitality management and administration courses. Below, we list a few of them:
- B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Hospitality & Hotel Administration (HHA)
- Craftsmanship in Food Production & Patisserie (CFPP)
- Diploma in Bakery & Confectionery
Fee Structure
For graduate courses, the fee is around ₹3.20 lakh for the total duration of the course. Diploma courses may cost around ₹80,000, depending on the specialization.
Placement Rate and Salary Packages
IHM Bangalore has always recorded amazing placement sessions. With 209 students receiving 434 offers overall, its placement rate in 2023 was 207%. The highest package was ₹5.07 LPA, whereas the average salary ranged around ₹1.80 LPA.
Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration (WGSHA), Manipal
Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) and ITC Hotels established WGSHA. This collaboration makes it the perfect place to study hotel management. Modern infrastructure, the latest kitchen amenities, managerial methods, and a high-tech surveillance set-up are some of its outstanding services. It’s widely famous for its top-of-the-industry amenities and alumni network.
Courses Offered
WGSHA offers some exclusive courses, including:
- Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts (A four-year program)
- Bachelor of Hotel Management (BHM)
- BA in Hospitality and Services Management
- MSc in Dietetics and Applied Nutrition
- Postgraduate Diploma in Culinary Arts
Fee Structure
BHM costs Approximately ₹10.2 lakh, with ₹2.8 lakh for the four-year stay in the campus hostel. A BA in Hospitality and Services Management requires a 4-year budget of ₹16.4 lakh.
Placement Rate and Salary Packages
According to reports, WGSHA has a high placement rate of between 98% and 100%. Its regular packages start from around ₹10 LPA. Besides placements, it also provides opportunities for foreign exchange programs. It has associations with global hospitality chains. This helps WGSHA students gain multi-national exposure via internships and projects.
IHM Chennai
Along with support from the Government of Tamil Nadu & India, IHM Chennai is an ISO-certified institute. It has accreditations from HLACT, IAO, and AACBE. The GHRDC Hotel Management Institute Survey 2022 ranked it #1 in Tamil Nadu. Another feather in its cap is its MoU with the catering school Lycee Nicolas Appert, France.
Courses Offered
Similar to other IHMs, this institute also provides UG, PG, diploma, and certificate courses. It has an annual intake of 347 students (through NCHM JEE) in its well-established five departments. IHM Chennai offers the following courses.
- B.Sc. & MSc. in Hotel and Hospitality Administration
- Diploma in Front Office Operation
- Diploma in Food and Beverage Service
- Craftsmanship courses for specific hospitality skills
Fee Structure
The fee structure at IHM Chennai follows the standard guidelines. It costs approximately ₹3.6 lakh for the three-year bachelor courses. Certificate courses start for as low as ₹15,165. Diploma courses also cost minimal.
Placement Rate and Salary Packages
ITC, Lemontree, Hilton, and IHG are some of the top recruiters at IHM Chennai. Therefore, placement has a high-rising curve here. The highest package usually is around ₹4.8 LPA.
Chandigarh University
The University Institute of Tourism & Hospitality Management (UITHM) at Chandigarh University (CU) is emerging among the best hotel management institutes in India. Since the previous decade, it has proved its caliber via great amenities and alumni. It is widely known for its unique curriculum that focuses more on practical skills rather than on a rote-learning syllabus.
It has great infrastructure, well-equipped kitchen setups, model hotel spaces, and technological labs for hands-on learning.
Courses Offered
CU believes in innovating with changing times. The university is slowly changing the landscape of hotel management by innovating new courses. These programs include BSc programs in
- Hotel and Hospitality Management (Hon.)
- Airlines & Airport Management
- Travel & Tourism Management
- Culinary Sciences
as well as an MBA in Tourism and Hospitality Management.
Fee Structure
CU is a private university. Its tuition for a bachelor program costs ₹6.64 lakh for the entire course. They accept admission based on 10+2 results. 50% marks are mandatory to get into CU.
Placement Rate and Salary Packages
CU has been producing consistent results in its placement records for hotel management departments. Its robust industry associations help students achieve great success in very little time. One of the notable recruiters at CU has been Walt Disney. Students here have bagged packages up to ₹18 lakh per annum.
Concluding Remarks
Hotel management is a lasting and lucrative career. With the increasing travel culture and rising event industry, the demand for hospitality graduates is bound to increase. Hence, it is a wise choice if you are planning to enter this sector. The best hotel management institutes in India continue to produce renowned industry leaders. Some of them include Manjit S. Gill (Corporate Chef, ITC Hotels) from IHM Delhi, Chef Ajay Chopra (Celebrity Chef) from IHM Goa, and Ranveer Brar (Celebrity Chef, MasterChef India judge) from IHM Lucknow. Thus, if hotel management is your calling, consider these institutes to seize the opportunity for a bright future.