Experience at Hospitality Industry

I had chosen this course as I was interested in food and beverage production and was interested in Bakery and Indian kitchen. Our college faculty was much qualified and experienced as they had tremendous industry experience and they had full insight about the course curriculum so as what to teach in practical and in theory. We were divided into 2 batches according to names and there was one faculty for 26 students. Exams were conducted on time also we had mid term exam which were conducted before the final exams and the level of exam was easy and it was easy to pass.

The internship program at SRM IHM and all the IHM’s in India is mandatory in the 2nd year. To talk about my experience our batch was divided into groups A and B according to names and roll number I belonged to B batch so my internship was on winter session that is from November 2009 to March 2010 and my hotel was Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa. The stipend monthly paid was 1000rs only and most of my training was in Banquets Kitchen and then I moved to housekeeping department. In the kitchen my main work was to be buffet runner that is to replenish food items which had been consumed and all this was given to me by Chef De Cuisine of the kitchen. I learnt the practicality of the industry and the hardwork behind it. Whereas in the housekeeping department my main work was to check the minibar in the guest room. Initially it was quite hectic but later on during practice it became easy and in this I learnt the proper guest service and the hospitality provided to the guest.

Placement in SRM Chennai was quite fine being from hotel management background I saw many five star hotels coming for campus interview for selecting students and it was in the third year we got placement in the college. The five star hotel which visited our campus were : Hyatt Regency Chennai, J W Marriot, Taj Group of hotels, Starwoods, The Park and The Oberois these were some of the finest hotel which came for recruitment and the hiring was done based on department wise interview that is to say if the student has chosen kitchen as his career then he had to give food trial which included 3 course menu and he or she was selected based on food trial and interview given before. Each department had its own offer to make that is to say that selection was done for hotel operations trainee and management level trainee and these 2 posts were common in the four main departments of the hotel and the average salary offered was 3 to 4 lakhs per annum and it all depend on interview given

The fees structure was organized well as we had to pay tuition fees on the yearly basis and the same was for the hostel also. There was no scholarship as such and the students who could not manage the fees took education loan for the same In the 2nd year of our course it was mandatory for us to get industrial exposure that is to take training certificate from five star hotel and the training lasted for four months with monthly stipend of 1000 rupees and the stipend depend on hotel to hotel. On our 3rd year of study we had campus interview for job in the hotel industry.

Life at SRM University Chennai was fine as the campus was huge and besides Hotel Management course there were Engineering courses also for UG and PG students also there was Arts and Science College. There was an annual fest namely “Aarush” mainly conducted by the Engineering students and one of the Bollywood singers was called to perform on stage, there was food fest which was conducted by the final year hotel management students to display the skills they have learnt so far during their academic year and it was fun to learn from such amazing experience. Besides all the above there was NCC Cadet training provided and the students who were interested in the army joined the same so as to obtain C certificate. All these activities were provided so as to nurture the growth of the students besides studies.

The hostel facilities provided by the SRM University was up to the mark and the rooms provided were on sharing basis. There were two mess namely North Indian mess and South Indian mess and the students had the choice to have their food either from any mess and meal quality was highly maintained and hygiene was also given special attention. For registeration in a hostel the student had to register himself in the hostel office and after submission of his documents that is fees, photograph the student was allotted a hostel.

I had given JEE exam that is joint enterance exam conducted by National Council of Hotel Management and Catering Technology in the year 2008 and in this I got 6000 rank and for this I got SRM College Chennai affiliated to NCHM, Delhi and for this counseling was held in Subrato Park New Delhi, Airforce headquarters. I did not get any reservation benefit as I came under general category. Overall the counseling was smooth and I got college of my choice according to my rank