A centre of excellence for hospitality management in the heart of Bengaluru, but few takers from Karnataka

Sat Nov 23 01:30:00 UTC 2024: ## Top Hospitality Institute in Bengaluru Faces Karnataka Student Shortage

**Bengaluru, November 23, 2024** – Despite boasting a 100% placement rate with graduates securing jobs at leading hotel chains like Oberoi, Taj, and Hilton, the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) Bangalore is struggling to attract students from Karnataka. Established in 1969 and now an autonomous institution under the Union Ministry of Tourism, IHM Bangalore offers BSc, MSc, and diploma courses in hospitality and hotel administration. However, the majority of its 253 BSc, 5 MSc, and 24 diploma students hail from states like Punjab, Delhi, and Kerala.

The institute attributes this to a lack of awareness among Karnataka parents regarding the diverse career opportunities offered by a hospitality management degree. While the institute offers competitive fees (around ₹1 lakh per year), parents often fail to recognize the potential beyond traditional food service roles, overlooking career paths in facility management, customer relations, and interior design.

Faculty members highlight the irony of this shortage in a state experiencing a tourism boom. They point to staffing challenges at resorts, even in areas like Sakleshpur, where few employees are from Karnataka. IHM Bangalore is actively working to address this gap, promoting its programs through social media and outreach initiatives across Karnataka, including distributing pamphlets in Kannada. They hope to bridge the skills gap in the burgeoning hospitality sector, particularly in Tier-2 cities.