It has been nearly ten years that I have been in the city of Pune and the city still does not cease to amaze me.
Pune is one of the imperative cities in the state of Maharashtra, commonly known as the Oxford of the East due to a large number of top-notch colleges located here. Pune is positioned the number one city in India in the simplicity of living ranking index.
Queen of Deccan, Oxford of the East, and the cultural capital of Maharashtra – Pune is a city which encompasses history, heritage and cultural significance deeply associated with the Maratha empire.
Already a manufacturing powerhouse, a higher education center and IT hub, Pune is on the fast track to becoming a world-class smart city. The makeover of Pune into an important city in the political and economic fabric of the State and the country has been quite rapid, but recent. Pune is counted among evolving business centers and nine emerging cities around the world with the citation “Hosts IT and automotive companies” and offers an exponential growth rate.
Its people, weather, culture, nightlife, weekend getaways at close proximity and wide choice of food joints make Pune an unbeatable destination for the “IT” generation. Pune is the Best City to Live in India. Nestled in the middle of the Sahyadri Hills, Pune is a growing industrial and urban hub in the western Indian state of Maharashtra.
Located just two hours away from Mumbai, Pune had so far lived in the shadow of India’s financial capital, however it now has witnessed a metamorphosis from a town of the retired to a true satellite city of Mumbai. It’s the second biggest city in Maharashtra with about 512 sq km area under the Pune Metropolitan Region (PMR). This new age transformation has received considerable impetus from the hospitality sector. The city today boasts of a huge population of the youngsters, one of the highest in India. Almost 64% of the 7.4 million population is below 30 years of age with a majority portion of individuals in the 25-34 age groups.
Is that not what today’s college going youth looks for? Pune beckons !
IIHM is today India’s largest Hotel School Chain. It has evolved and our presence is now global. You may wonder why you should join IIHM. Well, the answer lies in its teaching methodology which is crisper, student centered, contemporary and more visually exciting. Its UWL UK Degree, International Internship options, YCO Global Connect, impeccable placement records and Industry Connect makes it get counted as one of the World’s best Hotel Schools. You will also be able to find us on the facebook, twitter, Instagram, TikTok and follow us.
Director-IIHM Pune
IIHM recently organized and played host to 60 countries which participated in the 6th Young Chef Olympiad which was held in the cities of Pune, Delhi, Bangalore, Goa and Kolkata. Chen Khai Loong of Taylor’s University, Malaysia was adjudged the winner by a glittering array of judges like Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, Chef Ranveer Brar, Chef Andreas Muller, Prof. David Foskett, Chef Brian Turner amongst many others on 2nd February 2020.
IIHM has an ongoing interest in the topic of innovation. This is not surprising, of course; in the world of hospitality, innovation is the name of the game. Under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Suborno Bose, today IIHM is poised to be the largest hotel school chain not only in India, but in Asia.
The Indian hotel industry, which is a significant stakeholder in the tourism sector, witnessed the effect of global slowdown, though for Pune, thanks to its IT & Auto sector, hotel industry remained in good health.
A recent survey by a leading hotel booking website gave Pune the top spot as the city offering most affordable accommodation in the country. Pune offered the best value accommodation to travellers in 2021. In the fiscal year 2019, hotel occupancy rate in the south-western city of Pune amounted to around 70 percent, an increase from the previous year. In comparison to the earlier years, the city recorded the highest occupancy in fiscal year 2019. This is expected to result in better absorption of existing supply, thereby resulting in improved occupancy in the market.
It is, therefore, with high expectations that I continue in the position of the Director of IIHM at Pune. In this capacity, I look forward to carry on expanding the valuable brand of IIHM in the western region of the country.
I also look forward to keep on working effectively with my colleagues and partners to make IIHM one of the world’s leading institutes of hospitality. In the coming years, IIHM will continue to build on its strengths and advantages. Institutions, like organisms, must evolve and adapt. Continuous adaptation is essential for every successful Institution. Therefore, my message to all the youngsters contemplating a career in hospitality is that…
Hospitality needs you!
We welcome you to Pune and be a part of the IIHM family.
Rupinder Singh Khurana(FIIHM)
Director-IIHM Pune
