Hospitality / Hotel Management in India

The Hospitality and Hotel Management sector is one of the fastest-growing industries worldwide, offering careers in hotels, resorts, tourism, aviation, cruise lines, event management, and luxury services.

In India, top institutions like Institute of Hotel Management (IHMs), National Council for Hotel Management & Catering Technology (NCHMCT)-affiliated colleges, private universities, and state tourism institutes offer BHM (Bachelor of Hotel Management), B.Sc Hospitality, Diploma, and MBA in Hospitality programs.

Admission is based on national, state-level, and institute-level entrance exams, along with merit-based admissions in many private institutes.

Types of Hospitality Colleges & Seat Intake in India

Type of InstituteNo. of CollegesSeats (Approx.)
IHMs (Central & State) under NCHMCT75+12,000+
Private Hospitality & Hotel Management Institutes300+30,000+
Universities with Hospitality Schools200+20,000+
State Tourism & Hospitality Colleges50+5,000+
Total~625+~67,000+

Introduction

Pursuing a Hospitality & Hotel Management degree in India is an excellent choice for students passionate about travel, tourism, event planning, luxury management, food & beverage services, and guest relations.

The curriculum includes practical training in hotels, restaurant management, culinary arts, event planning, airline management, customer service, and entrepreneurship skills.

With India’s booming tourism industry, rising international visitors, growth in aviation, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Events), and luxury segments, hospitality graduates enjoy tremendous opportunities in India and abroad.

Why Choose Hospitality Management in India?

  • Fast-Growing Industry: Tourism & hospitality contributes significantly to India’s GDP and global economy.
  • Global Career Prospects: Work opportunities in international hotel chains, cruise lines, airlines, luxury resorts, and tourism boards.
  • Skill + Experience-Based Profession: Hands-on internships, industry exposure, and live training are integral.
  • Diverse Career Opportunities: Explore hotel operations, culinary arts, event management, travel & tourism, aviation management, resort management, and corporate hospitality.
  • High Demand Abroad: Countries like UAE, USA, Singapore, Australia, and Europe actively hire skilled hospitality graduates.
  • Entrepreneurship Opportunities: Many graduates start their own restaurants, cafes, resorts, catering, and event management businesses.
  • Flexible Study Path: Courses range from diplomas (1–2 years) to graduate degrees (3–4 years) to postgraduate MBAs in Hospitality/Tourism.

Hospitality Course Details

ParticularsDetails
Name of the CourseBachelor of Hotel Management (BHM) / B.Sc Hospitality / BBA in Hospitality
Popularly Known asHotel Management / Hospitality
Level of CourseUndergraduate (Diploma, UG, PG options also available)
DurationUG: 3–4 years, Diploma: 1–2 years, PG: 2 years (MBA/PGDM)
InternshipMandatory industrial training (6 months – 1 year in top hotels/resorts)
EligibilityPassed Class 12 with minimum 45–50% marks (any stream)
Minimum Age17 years
Regulating BodyNCHMCT (National Council for Hotel Management & Catering Technology), AICTE, State Tourism Boards
Number of Colleges600+
Number of Seats~67,000 annually

Entrance Exams for Hospitality Management in India

National Level
National-Level:
β€’ NCHM JEE (National Council for Hotel Management Joint Entrance Exam): For admission to IHMs & NCHMCT-affiliated colleges.
β€’ IIHM eCHAT: For International Institute of Hotel Management.
University Level
University-Level:
β€’ Christ University Entrance Test (BHM)
β€’ MAH HM CET (Maharashtra state entrance)
β€’ Jamia Millia Islamia (Hotel Management UG/PG)
β€’ Lovely Professional University (LPUNEST for Hospitality)
Direct Admission
Direct Admission:
Many private universities and institutes (SRM, Amity, Manipal, ITM, etc.) admit students based on Class 12 marks + personal interview.

Cutoff Trends

Cutoff requirements mainly depend on exam, college reputation, and number of applicants:

πŸ› Top IHMs (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad): NCHM JEE rank ~1,000–3,000 for General category.
🏫 Newer/State IHMs: Cutoffs extend to ~20,000–50,000 ranks.
πŸ‘₯ Private Institutes: Moderate eligibility, mostly merit + interview-based.

Key Takeaway

Pursuing Hospitality/Hotel Management in India gives students access to one of the world’s most dynamic and international career sectors. With practical learning, excellent placement opportunities, and global exposure, hospitality graduates can pursue careers as:

Career Opportunities include:
🏨 Hotel/Resort Manager
πŸŽ‰ Event Manager / MICE Coordinator
🌍 Travel & Tourism Consultant
🚒 Cruise Line Professional / ✈ Airline Cabin Crew / Ground Staff
🍽️ Food & Beverage Manager / Chef
πŸ’Ž Luxury Brand Manager
🍴 Restaurant Entrepreneur / Hospitality Startup Owner

Top recruiters include: Taj Hotels, Oberoi Group, Marriott, ITC Hotels, Hyatt, Accor, Hilton, Radisson, Indigo Airlines, Emirates Airlines, MakeMyTrip, Thomas Cook, and international cruise liners.

Top Private Hospitality Colleges

Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration

School of Hospitality & Tourism Studies, DY Patil Univ.

Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Hotel Management

Army Institute of Hotel Management & Catering Technology

Institute of Hotel Management, Christ (Deemed) University

PSG College of Arts and Science

Institute of Hotel Mgmt & Catering Technology, BIT Mesra

Amity School of Hospitality

Oriental School of Hotel Management

IIHM – Indian Institute of Hotel Management

Apeejay Institute Of Hospitality

SRM Institute of Hotel Management

Christ University School of Hotel Management

Lovely Professional University

Chitkara School of Hospitality

Galgotias University School of Hospitality

Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration

SRM Institute of Hotel Management

Indira Gandhi Institute of Hotel Management

IIFA Multimedia Hospitality & Tourism Management