Reinforcing industry-academia collaboration in hospitality education, the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Ranchi, hosted an interactive ‘Coffee with GMs’ session under its annual SMART Class Series, bringing together leading hotel general managers to mentor third-year students on leadership, operations and career readiness.
Designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry expectations, the initiative provided students with direct access to senior hospitality professionals, who shared practical insights on leadership, guest service, hotel operations and the evolving demands of the sector.
The panel featured Rohit Tiwari, General Manager, Trident Bhubaneswar; Yogesh Kumar, General Manager, Ramada by Wyndham Ranchi; Prateek Mohan, General Manager, Grand Mirage, a Member of Radisson Individuals, Dhanbad; Vijay Kumar, General Manager, Vivanta; and Alok Bhardwaj, General Manager, Le Lac Sarovar Portico Ranchi.
Welcoming the delegates, Dr. Bhupesh Kumar, Principal, IHM Ranchi, said the institute aims to develop not only technically proficient hospitality professionals but also confident and future-ready leaders capable of meeting global industry standards. He noted that regular interaction with industry experts enables students to better understand workplace expectations, emerging trends and operational challenges.
Unlike a conventional lecture, the session was structured as an open conversation, allowing students to engage directly with hotel leaders on career growth, leadership, decision-making, financial management, conflict resolution, hotel operations and the realities of managing hospitality businesses.
The speakers collectively stressed that technical expertise alone is insufficient for long-term success. Communication skills, emotional intelligence, confidence, discipline, adaptability and a continuous learning mindset were identified as essential qualities for hospitality professionals.
Sharing their experiences, Rohit Tiwari highlighted communication, general awareness and attitude as the foundation of professional success. Yogesh Kumar encouraged students to focus on patience, smart work and maintaining work-life balance, while Prateek Mohan underlined the importance of accountability, punctuality and emotional intelligence. Vijay Kumar emphasised confidence and guest-centricity, reminding students that guest satisfaction remains central to hospitality. Alok Bhardwaj spoke about presentation skills, alertness, positive thinking and lifelong learning as key differentiators in hospitality careers.
The session was jointly moderated by Aditya Bikram Bajaj, an IHM Ranchi alumnus (Batch 2021–24), and Dr. Bhupesh Kumar. The programme concluded with informal networking over lunch, enabling students to continue discussions with the industry leaders.
With initiatives such as the SMART Class Series and ‘Coffee with GMs’, IHM Ranchi continues to strengthen industry engagement and prepare students with practical exposure, leadership perspectives and career guidance aligned with the evolving needs of the hospitality sector.
