The Lexicon Institute of Hotel Management is a unique hospitality education institute led by seasoned hospitality veterans catering to the educational needs of aspiring hoteliers, helping them transform into future hospitality leaders. With a student-centric and holistic approach supported by an advanced curriculum and strong industry collaborations, Lexicon empowers its students to become Day Zero Professionals who will add value to their organizations as budding hospitality leaders. Its focus is on the 360-degree development of its students by integrating various relevant technical and intellectual skill-enhancing certification courses into an advanced curriculum designed in partnership with leading hospitality businesses.
With a robust ecosystem that bridges the gap between industry and academia through MOUs with hotel chains and businesses such as Marriott International, Sarovar Hotels and Resorts, Accor, Hyatt Hotels Corporation and NV Lifestyles Davidoff Cigars, Lexicon offers its students the opportunity to benefit from the guidance and mentorship of active industry professionals.
Q. How did a hotelier turn into an educationist; what draws you into this venture of yours?
Ans. Having spent two decades as a hospitality professional, learning and growing in the industry, and evolving into a leader, I wanted to contribute to nurturing the next generation of hospitality leaders. My time and journey with Marriott International were very fulfilling. My experiences were filled with valuable learnings about myself and the industry, which I carry to this day and wish to pass on to future hoteliers.
I have always believed that as we grow, we need to find newer ways of giving back to society. I relied on my passion for nurturing talent from my days as a leader in the hospitality industry and decided to take an active role in helping budding hoteliers attain their professional goals and achieve sustainable success as global hospitality leaders. My goal as hotelier turned educationist is to pass on my learnings of Putting People First, Acting with Integrity and Pursuing Excellence as a legacy to my students along with the “Believe In Yourself” mindset – that runs in their genes at The Lexicon Group of Institutes.
Q. Tell us about your journey so far and the challenges you have faced.
Speaking about my journey so far, it has been a rewarding one. Although I have been a part of the hospitality industry for over 20 years in various leadership roles, I feel I have just started this journey in the world of hospitality education and have a long way to go. To this day, I remember my time as a hospitality aspirant in college. Having faced some hardships previously, I had clear plans for my professional journey pin-pointed down to the 5 year, 10 year and 15 year milestones and the end goal of becoming the General Manager of a reputed hospitality brand. And I am proud to say I wasn’t off my target. I achieved the milestones I set for myself, and my growth was both in rank and file, beginning as an Assistant Manager. The result was that I succeeded in achieving my goals sustainably.
After assuming the role of General Manager at The Westin, Koregaon Park, I was appointed as the chairman of the Marriott India Business Council, representing India among 100 other participants worldwide and brought home the Award for “Best Business Council Award” worldwide. None of these achievements came without hurdles, challenges, difficulties and heartburns, but all were overcome by “Belief” and confidence in myself.
Being able to help young students develop into future-ready professionals has been a fantastic experience in itself. Through Lexicon IHM, I have endeavored to nurture talent, create an engaging learning environment, and provide students with every opportunity to excel, grow and innovate. Witnessing the growth in the students and watching them realize their dreams, knowing that I am on the right path, encourages me to continue my journey.
Q. What makes Lexicon IHM stand out from its competitors?
One of the distinguishing features of Lexicon Institutes of Hotel Management is that we strive to provide hospitality aspirants with the necessary skills to become Day Zero Professionals. We strive to ensure that the students have a thorough understanding of the industry and the best practices followed and are well-versed with the latest technologies used to begin their professional journey from day one. Our Governing and Advisory Council consists of eminent hoteliers and veterans with extensive industry experience who will offer relevant career guidance, mentorship, inspiration, and industry insight to help our students chart the course of their professional lives.
We have partnered with leading hotel chains and businesses such as Marriott International, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Sarovar Hotels and Resorts, Accor Hotels and NV Lifestyles – Davidoff Cigars, who have been an integral part of designing the curriculum. As part of our collaboration with these organizations, they will be taking ownership of one classroom each at the institute, where interactions with active professionals will provide our students with instructional sessions.
Among other things, we have also curated and integrated special relevant certifications into the curriculum to add to their skill sets, prepare them for the advancements the industry may undergo and equip them with adaptability to achieve sustainable professional success. These certifications include skills such as food photography, food styling, establishing a cloud kitchen, revenue management, enhancing adversity quotient, NLP and many more. This is in addition to the digital campus equipped with modern industrial kitchen set-ups, innovation lab and the First-of-its-kind Atelier in India.
Q. What is the future of the hospitality market in India?
Being a people-driven industry, the associates and the teams are key to the future of the hospitality market in India. The growth, development, and physical and mental well-being will steer the progress and scope of the operations. Today’s focus of the hospitality industry is not just on the products and services they offer but also on their teams and people who represent the businesses in front of the guests. It is the people who create the unparalleled experiences that guest expects. As a result, hospitality businesses across the globe are heavily investing in the training and development of their team members, who are the key differentiators in the market. The industry is looking to equip its existing workforce with vital skills and attributes such as adaptability, and technical and digital expertise, ensuring that the organization is future-ready.
According to a report by the IBEF, “By 2028, international tourist arrivals are expected to reach 30.5 billion and generate revenue over US$ 59 billion.” These figures highlight the bright future of the hospitality industry.
Q. What are the future plans of Lexicon IHM?
Ans. In the near future, we will continue grooming, nurturing, and transforming hospitality aspirants from various parts of the country into skilled, global hospitality leaders. While we grow and mature as an organization, we plan to expand our presence in multiple cities across India and around the globe, with announcements coming soon. At the Lexicon Institute of Hotel Management, we see a bright and inclusive future for the next generation of hoteliers.
With the Lexicon Institute of Hotel Management, we have endeavored to transform hospitality education with a focus on an advanced curriculum created in collaboration with industry experts and a robust educational ecosystem catering to the various contemporary needs of hospitality aspirants. We strive to equip our students with technical and intellectual skills that enhance their adaptability as professionals and promote holistic development. By instilling in them a belief in themselves and their abilities, we help our students achieve sustainable success and become Day Zero Professionals with a future-forward approach.
