Indian School of Hospitality and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Announce Transformative Strategic Partnership

by Shrutee K

GURUGRAM – ( June 7, 2023) – The Indian School of Hospitality (ISH), a renowned institution recognised for its distinctive approach to hospitality and culinary education is delighted to announce a strategic collaboration with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (WHR), a global leader in the hotel industry. The transformative collaboration is built on a collective vision of growth and innovation, uniting two formidable institutions, committed to nurturing talent and driving change within the hospitality and culinary domain. 

The four-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the institutions will witness progressive initiatives including an annual scholarship opportunity by WHR for two meritorious students from Christel House Bangalore, an institution that supports economically disadvantaged students. 

The selected students will be able to enrol in ISH's undergraduate four-year degree programs in BBA (Hospitality Management) and B.A. in Culinary Arts. These scholarships are designed to promote uniform educational opportunities and cultivate inclusivity among the students of ISH. They will also incorporate tuition and residence fee for each year of the program, allowing students to entirely devote their time in honing their skills in the hospitality segment. 

Detailing his vision for the partnership, Kunal Vasudeva, Co-founder & Chief Operating Officer of ISH, stated, "we firmly believe in the transformative potential of quality education, regardless of one's socio-economic background. Our collaboration with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts further strengthens this belief, as it allows us to extend an unparalleled opportunity to these promising students from Christel House Bangalore, empowering them to pursue world-class business education in hospitality and culinary arts under the ‘Flourish’ initiative. This partnership will not only enable us to develop highly skilled professionals for the industry but also nurture conscientious leaders who will redefine the future of the hospitality landscape." 

‘Flourish’ is a unique scholarship and financial aid initiative by ISH that has enabled hundreds of hospitality aspirants from diverse backgrounds to embark on a rewarding career journey in the sector. Designed to identify, nurture, and deliver assistance to promising talent, Flourish illustrates the institute's commitment to promoting inclusive access to high-quality education for all. 

WHR will also facilitate tailored internship and placement opportunities at their properties and offices across Europe and the Middle East, offering ISH students hands-on experience and preparing them for the industry upon graduation. The partnership will pave the way for a jointly designed Management Development Program to offer mentorship and advanced training to WHR property-level managers, equipping them for future leadership roles. 

Further underlining the significance of the partnership, Nikhil Sharma, Market Managing Director Eurasia at WHR, stated, "At Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, we view our investment in the bright, young students of Christel House Bangalore as a commitment to the future of hospitality. Additionally, we recognise the significance of continuous upskilling for our existing employees, training them for the forthcoming challenges. This strategic partnership with the Indian School of Hospitality, a distinguished institution in hospitality and culinary education will enable us to shape a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future for the hospitality industry." 

This collaboration marks a new chapter for both ISH and WHR, demonstrating their shared commitment to fostering an inclusive hospitality industry. Mike Reilly, Chief People & Operations Officer for Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa at WHR, stated “We have always believed that you can do well by doing good. As a hospitality company, service is in our DNA and we are proud to have teams and franchisees around the world that actively engage in their communities, generously giving in ways to enhance the lives of others. I am delighted to see this in practice through our partnership with the Indian School of Hospitality especially as it also recognises our long-standing commitment to supporting Christel House Bangalore.” 

 About Indian School of Hospitality : Indian School of Hospitality (ISH) is an institution of higher education focused on reimagining hospitality education for today’s generation and tomorrow’s businesses. ISH is a part of Sommet Education’s global network of 18 campuses across 8 countries. The ISH philosophy is to impart lifelong skills to students to help them succeed as leaders of tomorrow – giving them the tools they need to shape one of the biggest industries worldwide. 

At its ultra-modern campus in Gurugram (Delhi NCR), ISH offers an international degree as well as diploma and certificate programs in Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Their undergraduate culinary program is offered with the expertise, know-how and industry recognition of the global École Ducasse brand, and their hospitality management program is offered in alliance with Les Roches, one of the world’s leading hospitality schools. For more information, visit www.ish.edu.in 

About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts : Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world’s largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with approximately 9,100 hotels across over 95 countries on six continents.  Through its network of approximately 845,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveller, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry.  The Company operates a portfolio of 24 hotel brands, including Super 8®, Days Inn®, Ramada®, Microtel®, La Quinta®, Baymont®, Wingate®, AmericInn®, Hawthorn Suites®, Trademark Collection® and Wyndham®.  The Company’s award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty programme offers approximately 101 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally.  For more information, visit www.wyndhamhotels.com.