Hospitality Education & Career Growth: An Interview with Ms Divya Suri, The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group

The hospitality education landscape in India is evolving rapidly. Today, many corporate groups also offer educational courses to equip students with the real-world skills required to make a successful career in the Hospitality and Hotel Management industry. Careers360 got in touch with Ms Divya Suri, Executive Director at Lali Suri Hospitality Group, for more insights on hospitality education and career opportunities. Ms Divya Suri oversees the Group’s end-to-end education journey — from early learning at Step by Step Noida, middle school at Step by Step Panchsheel, to the Lalit Suri Hospitality School and skill development programmes that prepare students for industry-ready careers within The LaLiT ecosystem.

Here’s the full interview
Q1. What has prompted hotels and hospitality groups to launch their own education and training institutes?

A. Most hospitality groups today recognise that there is a gap between classroom education and the realities of running a hotel. Hospitality is a people-driven business and students learn best through real-world exposure.

My mother, Dr Jyotsna Suri, always believed we were not just building hotels, but nurturing the people behind them. That vision inspired us to strengthen hospitality education through The LaLiT Suri Hospitality School, where students learn directly inside a functional hotel environment alongside experienced professionals. We also believe the industry must do more to attract and prepare young talent for hospitality careers.

Q2. How do hospitality programmes ensure strong employment outcomes?

A. Strong outcomes come from making students industry-ready from day one. At The LalLiT Suri Hospitality School, students train in a live luxury hotel environment and interact regularly with celebrity chefs, hospitality stalwarts and leaders through workshops and masterclasses.

This practical exposure builds confidence, professionalism, and adaptability. As a result, we have consistently achieved 100% placements, with graduates finding opportunities across leading hospitality brands in India and overseas.

Q3. What core competencies do modern hospitality programmes focus on?

A. Technical skills are important, but hospitality today also demands emotional intelligence, adaptability and leadership. Students must know how to anticipate guest needs, respond calmly in challenging situations and manage teams confidently.

Our focus is on three areas: operational excellence, cultural awareness and leadership readiness. The goal is not just to prepare students for their first job, but to help them grow into future hospitality leaders.

Q4. What is the financial investment required and what justifies the cost?

A. For us, education has always been a long-term investment in people and communities. The LaLiT’s commitment to learning extends beyond hospitality through our Step by Step schools in Panchsheel and Noida, reflecting our belief that quality education and skill development are essential to building a stronger society and industry.

The real value of an industry-led hospitality programme lies in how quickly students become employable and how well prepared they are for long-term career growth. At The LaLiT Suri Hospitality School, students learn inside a functioning hotel environment, gaining hands-on exposure and practical experience from day one.

Q5. After training, are graduates absorbed within The LaLiT or do they explore wider opportunities?

Both and we see that as a positive sign. Many graduates choose to build their careers within The LaLiT because of the growth opportunities and exposure we offer.

At the same time, we are equally proud when students go on to work with leading Indian and international hospitality brands. Our focus is on creating skilled professionals who can succeed anywhere in the world.

Q6. With India being degree-focused, are you seeing a shift towards skill-first hiring?

A. Absolutely. The industry today values practical capability and attitude as much as formal qualifications. Employers want professionals who can adapt quickly and deliver real guest experiences from day one.

At The LaLiT, skill development has always been central to our philosophy. When we opened hotels in destinations like Bekal, Srinagar, Khajuraho, and South Goa, we also helped create local hospitality ecosystems by training and employing local talent. Hospitality as an industry now needs to encourage more young people to see it as a dynamic and rewarding career path.

Q7. Do you see hotel-led education institutes becoming more widespread? What would it take for this model to scale?

A. Yes, especially with the growing focus on skill development and vocational education in India. The hospitality industry is recognising the need to build talent more actively rather than relying only on traditional education systems.

However, this model works only when education is treated as a long-term commitment and not just a branding exercise. Hotel-led education requires patience, industry involvement and a genuine investment in people — because building talent is ultimately as important as building properties.