Saurabh Bharti- Academic Professional Revolutionizing Hospitality Education with Industry Expertise

 

Saurabh Bharti, Assistant Professor - Senior Scale Accommodation Operations – Front Office, WGSHA, Manipal

 

Could you introduce yourself to our audience?

 

I am a native of Himachal Pradesh and am at present working as an Assistant Professor, Senior Scale, Department of Accommodation Operations—Front Office at ITC Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Udupi, Karnataka, India.

 

Previously taught at the Department of Hospitality, University Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Chandigarh University, Punjab, ITFT College Mohali, and Garden City University Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

 

Graduated and post-graduated in Airlines, Tourism, and Hospitality Management from IKG Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, Punjab, India. Also pursuing a Ph.D. in the field of sustainable tourism development and management at Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, Punjab, India.

 

On the professional front, possess excellent and diverse work experience of 8 years in the hospitality industry with leading national and international hotel brands—ITC Sonar Kolkata and The Ritz Carlton Bengaluru, India—and now have been in the teaching profession for more than seven years. Also, a budding entrepreneur and hospitality management business consultant. Started mushroom cultivation business at native place during the COVID-19 lockdown period in 2020-21. Love to work meticulously and has been acclaimed for expertise in projects.

 

My main areas of interest include travel and tourism, hospitality, aviation and event management, counselling and mentoring, training and research, culture and heritage, environment, entrepreneurship, human resource management, hotels and resorts operations, revenue management, customer relationship management, soft skills, massive open online courses (MOOCs), yoga and meditation, sports, and community development in an organized and sustainable way.

 

Above travel and music enthusiast, environmentalist, avid reader of literature, cinema lover, art and craft connoisseur, seasoned academician, author, entrepreneur, consultant, mentor, former hotelier, and doted father, I continue to wear many hats, but above all, I still believe and consider myself that I am, and I will always be a student of the myriad experiences that life holds out.

 

 

Could you tell us about your educational and professional journey that spans over 17 years in the industry?

 

It is very interesting and challenging, with some ups and downs. I closely observe how things are changing around us and the impact they create. Throughout my career journey so far, I have had different life experiences of work and folk culture, language and cuisine, art and craft, and the history of places and organizations. I worked as a news reporter in a leading daily newspaper and a consultant studying abroad and the immigration process. I also worked as a sales agent for a famous spice maker brand. All these were small and part-time jobs during my college days. I worked in the front office department with ITC Hotel—The Sonar Kolkata, which is a well-established brand property. During the job, I got the opportunity to meet various celebrities and personalities, handled the IPLs team, big weddings, and company promotion events, and faced difficult times due to the impact of the Mumbai Taj Hotel attack. After 5 and a half years of tenure there, I quit and enrolled in a master's degree program as well as joined the pre-opening team of the front office at the 1st Ritz-Carlton hotel of India in Bengaluru. There I spent two years, in between finishing my postgraduation and moving into academics. My first teaching assignment as an assistant professor was at Graden City College (now a university) in Bengaluru in the Department of Tourism Studies. I taught tourism management and entrepreneurship there at the UG and PG levels for one year and two months, then, due to some family reasons, left the job. Shifted to Chandigarh and joined the ITFT college as a tourism faculty, where I was once a student. Got married and again changed jobs, joined the University Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management at the famous Chandigarh University, and opted for the PhD program at LPU Jalandhar, Punjab. I taught front office operations and management, tourism and hospitality management, resorts and event management, theory, and practical subjects at UG and PG levels. During my tenure with CU, I learned crisis management by virtue of the COVID-19 situation. In teaching, I managed various portfolio assignments successfully: front office PMS lab, subject, class in charge, mentor, examination duties, event management, board of study member, dept. newsletter editor, alumni association, NAAC, MOOCs, DQAC member, students club, Indian Red Cross Society, training and placement, soft skills, admission drive, online reputation management, field trips in the capacity of coordinator. Handled departmental inspection visits. Besides this, organized guest lectures, conferences, meetings, and seminars also deliver expert talks at various schools and colleges across the country. Keep attending national and international conferences, workshops and seminars, webinars, and symposiums. I am a member of many national and international professional bodies/ organizations/ associations related to tourism and hospitality management, and social welfare activities; the list includes Art of Living, Tourism Cloud, Indian Red Cross Society, British Council, Indian Tourism and Hospitality Congress (ITHC), International Society for Development and Sustainability (ISDS) Japan, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), International Chamber for Service Industry, Green Peace, International Council on Hotel, Restaurants and Institutional Education (ICHRIE), FICCI, PATA and CII, PhD Chambers of Commerce, All India Management Association and Tourism and Hospitality Skills Council of India to name a few. Besides this, I published a few books, patents, articles, chapters, and papers related to management. Post a 5-year successful stint at Chandigarh University, keeping my professional aspirations got a chance to join WGSHA (Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration at Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Udupi, Karnataka). So, now working again in South India.

 

I am actively engaging in raising awareness about sustainable tourism management practices, women empowerment, youth skills development at the community level, and social media platforms.

 

In these many years of professional journey, nurtured thousands of talents. Observing my notable work in the education segment, I got the Global Hospitality and Tourism Leadership Award for Best Assistant Professor—Front Office from Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut, UP, India, during the 8th International Conference ATITHI 2023 held at their campus. Received Prominent Teacher Award 2023 by the International Institute of Organised Research and conferred the Education Icon Award 2022 for Contribution to Student Development by Kiteskraft Productions.

 

 

What are your current roles and responsibilities as an assistant professor, Senior Scale?

 

Teaching and training UG and PG students in the hotel management program. Student club activities, guidance and research work, subject content, question paper framework and course curriculum pack design, module leader, examination invigilation, visitor/guest lecture facilitator, front office department internal quality assurance cell, student club social and life skills in charge.

 

 

What are your areas of expertise in the hospitality industry and academia?

 

Hotel front office operations and management, entrepreneurship event management, soft skills, human resource management, tourism and hospitality management, marketing, customer relationship, counselling, mentoring, teaching, training, and research.

 

 

What motivates your passion for hospitality and education, and how do you maintain this enthusiasm?

 

As the hospitality and education streams keep evolving with time, a lot of new things come up in this area, which always creates interest. My passion for hospitality and education stems from a deep appreciation for human connection and the transformative power of knowledge. In hospitality, the ability to create memorable experiences for others is incredibly fulfilling. It’s about making people feel valued, comfortable, and special. Seeing the joy and satisfaction on a guest’s face when they’ve had a wonderful experience is a powerful motivator.

 

In education, the opportunity to facilitate learning and inspire others is immensely rewarding. The process of helping someone grasp new concepts, develop skills, and achieve their goals drives my enthusiasm. Education is a tool for empowerment, and being a part of someone’s educational journey is both a privilege and a responsibility.

 

Additionally, I find inspiration from the success stories of those I’ve served or taught. Observing the positive impact of my work on others reinforces my passion. Balancing self-care and personal development are also crucial, as it ensures I remain energized and motivated to give my best. Believing in the fundamentals of consistent learning, time management, and adjustment according to situations of the surrounding environment, I constantly keep updating myself with the latest information and exploring the different verticals of the subject domain, change, adopt, and apply the best sustainable practices, thus maintaining this enthusiasm.

 

 

What methodologies do you employ to ensure effective knowledge transfer and training in your sessions?

 

To ensure effective knowledge transfer and training in my sessions, I employ a variety of methodologies tailored to different learning styles and needs.

Here are some key approaches I use:

 

• Active Learning: I incorporate activities that engage participants directly in the learning process. This includes discussions, group work, problem-solving exercises, and hands-on activities. Active involvement helps reinforce learning and enhance retention.
• Multimodal Instruction: I use a combination of visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic teaching methods to cater to different learning preferences. This includes using slides, videos, interactive demonstrations, and practical exercises.
• Clear Learning Objectives: I set clear, measurable learning objectives at the beginning of each session. This helps participants understand what they are expected to learn and achieve by the end of the session.
• Real-World Applications: I connect theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios. This makes the material more relevant and helps participants see the practical value of what they are learning.
• Scaffolded Learning: I break down complex concepts into manageable chunks and build on them progressively. This helps learners develop a deeper understanding step-by-step.
• Formative Assessment: I incorporate regular, informal assessments to gauge understanding and provide immediate feedback. This can be through quizzes, polls, or quick exercises or assignments that help me identify areas that need further clarification.
• Interactive Technology: I leverage technology such as interactive whiteboards, learning management systems, and educational apps to create an engaging and dynamic learning environment.
• Collaborative Learning: I encourage peer-to-peer learning through group projects, discussions, and collaborative problem-solving activities. This fosters a sense of community and allows participants to learn from each other.
• Personalization: I tailor my approach to the individual needs of learners whenever possible. This might involve providing additional resources, offering one-on-one support, or adjusting the pace of instruction.
• Continuous Improvement: I seek feedback from participants and continually reflect on my teaching methods. I use this feedback to adjust and improve future training sessions.
• Flipped classrooms are an innovative instructional strategy that reverses the traditional learning environment by delivering instructional content, often online, outside of the classroom. In a flipped classroom, students first gain exposure to new material outside of class, typically through video lectures, readings, or other resources. The classroom time is then used to deepen understanding through discussion, problem-solving activities, and hands-on practice.
• Being friendly and firm while at the same time keeping control by line of difference to ensure discipline. As every student has different learning capacity, I mould my class accordingly. I do praise them for their good work, give them constructive feedback, and also avoid scolding students in class but inform them personally about their conduct. By combining these methodologies, I aim to create a supportive and effective learning environment that facilitates knowledge transfer and empowers learners to apply what they’ve learnt in practical, meaningful ways.

 

 

What advice would you offer to students who are preparing for careers in the hospitality field based on your own experiences?

 

With a strong personal conviction based on my experience of industry, I would like to say that the whole game in this world is of your mantle make-up. If you are mentally prepared, you can work anywhere in any kind of situation around the world. Always remember your role you have to play; no one else will come and play it for you. Parents can decide and pay your fee, friends can support and motivate you, teachers can guide, or sometimes they may scold for your welfare, but end of the day it is you who need to work to achieve your goals. So, set your priorities, utilize your time, work in an organized manner, keep updating and adjusting accordingly, and definitely you will get success. There is no shortcut, and be honest in your approach.

 

As hospitality sector jobs are specific skills-orientated, therefore, you need to develop those necessary skills and competencies, especially the communication and coordination skills as well as relevant technical skills, by keeping yourself updated with the latest trends and technologies to remain in the competition of the industry. When you are working in a hotel or restaurant, you are like an actor who is performing on a stage. Your actions speak volume.

Whatever you do there, it reflects directly or indirectly your institutional learning, the organization's job background and family values, the culture of the region, state, or country, and your capabilities to handle the matters through leadership, team management, and effective communication. You should be confident, knowledgeable, well-groomed and well-behaved, sensitive, caring, courteous, and empathetic, energetic, creative, and punctual to deliver the assigned services with passion as guests look value for the money to gain a quality, memorable experience. Considering this, it should be a balancing act. Whatever you choose, check and give your 100%. No one is perfect, but there is always scope for improvement. As nothing is permanent in the world. Our struggle in life starts before our birth and remains till our death. Always show your willingness to learn by keeping your ego away and emotions floating; accept if you committed a mistake; and stop comparison or being judgmental. It is a fact. You can’t make everyone happy but can treat everyone fairly. You will feel the difference and magic of change at your personal and professional level engagement in growth.