By The Hospitality Human Resources Conclave 2025 was successfully concluded on 1st September at the TCCI Hall, Jawahar Nagar, Kowdiar, Trivandrum. The event was jointly organised by the South Kerala Hoteliers Forum, the Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI), and Metro Mart to address the pressing manpower challenges confronting the hotel and hospitality industry. The conclave witnessed the participation of several stakeholders, including General Managers, HR heads, and representatives from leading hotels and hotel groups.
The inaugural session began with a welcome address by Mr. Prasad Manjali, Secretary General of the South Kerala Hoteliers Forum, followed by the presidential address delivered by Mr. Reghuchandran Nair, President of TCCI. The ceremony was marked by the traditional lighting of the lamp, after which Mr. D. Venkatesan, Regional Director (South), India Tourism, delivered the inaugural address. In his remarks, he highlighted that the hospitality sector is emerging as one of the foremost employment-generating industries in the country. He emphasized the urgent need to integrate technological advancements into the education system and underscored that well-trained manpower is a fundamental requirement for the industry. According to him, the hour demands highly skilled workers, technically proficient employees, and uncompromising standards in customer service.
A special address was delivered by Mr. M. R. Narayanan, President of the South Kerala Hoteliers Forum. The session also featured felicitations by Mr. Abraham Thomas, Secretary of TCCI, Dr. T. Anantha Krishnan, Principal of IHMCT, Trivandrum, Mr. Suresh M. Pillai, Vice President of SIHRA, Mr. Sisupalan, Vice President of SKHF, and Mr. Narendran from India Tourism, Kochi. The vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. Siji Nair, Joint Secretary of SKHF.
The technical sessions of the conclave opened with insightful presentations by Mr. Rajagopal Iyer, CEO of UDS Group of Hotels, and Mr. Sherin Alphonse, Associate Vice President – HR, CGH Earth Hotels, Kochi. Their talks set the stage for engaging discussions on the evolving human resource dynamics within the hospitality sector.
The conclave featured three panel discussions that explored different dimensions of hospitality human resource management. The first session, moderated by Mr. Shinoj Joseph, General Manager of O by Tamara, Trivandrum, deliberated on the theme “People First: Rethinking HR for a Resilient Hospitality Workforce.” The panelists included Mr. Avinash, Head Manager of Brunton Boatyard, Kochi, Mr. Satheesh Kumar, Corporate HR at UDS Group of Hotels, and Dr. T. Anantha Krishnan, Principal of IHMCT, Trivandrum.
The second session, themed “AI Meets Hospitality: Tech Power with a Human Touch,” was moderated by Mr. Nanthu Oomen Raju, Director of Rajadhani Group of Hotels. Panelists Mr. Sherin Alphonse, AVP–HR of CGH Earth Hotels, Kochi, Mr. Basil George, Head HR at Tamara, and Mr. Sandeep, Head HR of Leela Raviz, Kovalam, reflected on the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence and digital transformation in the sector.
The final session, “Classrooms to Careers: Reimagining Hospitality Education for Tomorrow,” was moderated by Dr. Hari Krishnan, Assistant Professor at KITTS, Trivandrum. The panelists—Mr. Mithun Mohan, HR Manager of Marari Beach Resort, Mr. Mahesh Ramachandran, Director of L&D at Taj Kerala, and Mr. Sreekumar Perozhi, CEO of Greatbell HR Consultancy Services, Kochi—examined the crucial role of education and training in preparing future-ready professionals for the industry.
The conclave served as a significant platform for industry leaders, educators, and policymakers to share insights, exchange ideas, and explore innovative strategies to strengthen the human resource framework in hospitality. With a forward-looking approach, the event reinforced the importance of collaboration and adaptability in shaping the future of this dynamic sector.
