Exclusive Interview | Dr Manoj Srivastava, Professor, Manipal University Jaipur
/
Editor: What are some of the trends you see impacting the hospitality industry?
Mobile bookings. There has been a large increase in mobile bookings. More guests are using their mobile devices to search and book hotels. This is one trend that is sure to continue in the years to come.
Utilizing sophisticated distribution channel management that allows the client to specify a plan for a unique hotel. For hotels seeking to tap beyond the local travel marketplace, global connectivity is vital. However, this isn’t easy. There are countless buyers (such as Travel Agents and Corporate) and sellers (competitor hotels, resorts, serviced apartments, hostels, etc.) that are a part of the global hospitality niche. In this competitive and confusing scenario,
Cloud-based systems. With the ease of access, the ability to update in real-time, and no bulky hardware, cloud-based Property Management Systems (PMS) are sweeping the industry.
Content and social media marketing. With a strong online presence, properties are able to create brand awareness, establish their authority and gain the trust of guests.
Shifting the focus to direct bookings. Online Travel Agencies take a large portion of hotels’ budgets, so properties are looking to revamp their sites to increase direct bookings instead of going through online travel agencies.
Investing in visual media. Videos and photos are a great way to show – rather than tell – guests what to expect.
Offering high-quality food. With a growing culture of foodies, guests are focusing on the quality of food available while travelling. There is a growing demand for healthy, natural & locally sourced options while on the road.
Editor: Two things you would like to change in the industry.
A happy and stress-free work environment leads to more productivity and improves the performance of the employees.
Improved Role of Human resource in employee empowerment and training. Helping the employee in his Professional, Personal and social life balance would be the key areas that need attention.
The changes which are happening in the industry must be informed to the employees and to be prepared for some modern change in their learned skills. This reskilling is somehow necessary because of the changes in the industry.
Editor: What do you expect the industry to do to support academics?
Integration
The industry could support with a partnership or in the form of MOU between academics and industry by exchanging the current requirements of the industry so that institutions could add in their syllabi and help to improve education and training to meet the industry requirement to prepare industry-ready stuff / employable at the University or Institution Level.
Integrating the needs and wants of the industry and a close partnership could give fruitful results. These can provide more comprehensive preparation at the academic level.
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?
The most important thing is to make relevant yourself to the changing conditions of the job market by avoiding the fear of unemployment and making yourself an effective employee for seeking jobs. After confronting those challenges, the focus will be on learning and relearning for upgrading the skills and to make relevant themselves in the domain.
Profile
Dr. Manoj Srivastava is a Ph.D. from Manipal University Jaipur. Over three decades of experience in Hospitality Industry & Academia, Food Production Research, resulting made 9 culinary based Limca Book of World Record. For which he was honoured with Honorius Causa from England.
As a professor in the field of hospitality, join the Hospitality Industry in 1990 when he joined the Taj Group of Hotels. He rose quickly to product development and research. Joined Australian Bakels as National Support Manager & Worked around ten years in research. Then left the industry and joined Academics to set up Maharishi Aravind School of hotel management Jaipur as HOD.
He also commissioned the Hotel school of Gyan vihar University Jaipur as Principal. And rose to be the Member Academic Council, Board of studies & the Rajasthan Technical University as Member Academic Board Hospitality education.
He later joined the Manipal University Jaipur and is a Professor at The School of Hotel Management.
As a Full Professor, also contribute as an active Member of Different Academic & Professional Bodies like Board of Studies, Academic councils, Inspection Committees, Advisor for many hospitality institutions, Curriculum development & Updating, Introduced and successfully operated new Programs like BHMTT, BBA H& T, MBA HA and Patent search, R&D, engaged as an expert of Hospitality education in Rajasthan University, Rajasthan Technical University. Indian Hospitality Congress (IHC), International Society of Hospitality Education (ISHE), MTC Global, Indian Accounting Association, Indian Council of Hospitality Education (ICHE) At Present associated as Professor, Manipal School of Hotel Management.
He is authored a Book “The Art of research in Hospitality” and wrote 12 research papers in National and International journals of repute. He is on the board of many Journal as an Editorial Board member & Reviewer of Hospitality & Tourism.
For his contribution to hospitality education in India he has received many awards and recognitions some of them are:
⮚ Made Nine Limca Book of Records as a tangible result of research.
⮚ Honorius Causa Doctorate from World records University, U.K.
⮚ For the Service in Hospitality Education. Educational Institute of American Hotel & Lodging Association,
⮚ ”Shiksha Shiromani Award” Global Achievers Foundation, Uttrakhand. ⮚ “Jewel of India Award “for education excellence. From IIEM, Delhi ⮚ “Global Education Ambassador” MTC Global Education Appointed ⮚ “For outstanding contribution to the hospitality education “Chartered Accountant Association of India honored
⮚ Ph.D. From Manipal University Jaipur
⮚ Lifetime achievement award-2020- DHS foundation, in collaboration with Campbell University, North Carolina, USA
Associations & Activities
⮚ President World chef choice federation.
⮚ Chairman-Board of Studies, MUJ / External Member: Board of studies School of J&MC, MUJ
⮚ Editorial Board Member & Reviewer “Journal of Hotel Management (JHM), Med carve International Journal. U.K
⮚ Member –Board of studies, Academic Council, Faculty Board, MUJ ⮚ Member-Anti-Ragging Committee Manipal University Jaipur
⮚ Member -ISTD(Indian Society of Training & Development)
⮚ Life-Member -International Society for Hospitality Education(ISHE) ⮚ Life-Member- Indian Hospitality Congress (IHC)
⮚ Life-Member- Indian Accounting Association (IAA)
⮚ Life-Member –Indian Commerce Association (ICA)
⮚ Ex-Member – Board of Studies (Rajasthan Technical University, Kota) ⮚ BOS Member Rajasthan ILD Skill University, Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur, S. Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, BJMC MUJ,
⮚ Ex-Chairman- BOS, SGVU – HMCT, Member – Board of Management, Academic Council SGVU.
⮚ Examiner-Rajasthan University, Rajasthan Technical University, Amity University, Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur,
⮚ Leader- Rajasthan Group in Jamboree (Scouting) at Bodh Gaya, Bihar. ⮚ First-class Scout. Received 26 Batches. Nominated for President Award in Scouting.
