Photo credit © Indian Hotels Company (IHCL)

Mr. K. Mohanchandran, Senior Vice President – Operations (East and North East), IHCL, said, “As India’s hospitality sector maintains its strong growth trajectory, structured, high-quality vocational training has become a national priority. Guided by Paathya, this partnership with Tata STRIVE and ANIIDCO will enhance employability, service excellence and livelihood opportunities for island youth and existing hospitality professionals while strengthening the tourism ecosystem of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.”

The partnership will commence with a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme designed to certify and upskill 250 hospitality personnel employed across hotels, restaurants, resorts and allied establishments. The programme will be implemented across Sri Vijayapuram, Swaraj Dweep and Shaheed Dweep, covering modules on Front Office management, Food & Beverage Service, Housekeeping, Kitchen Operations, Multi-Cuisine Cooking, Bakery and Guest House Operations.

Under the partnership, Tata STRIVE will lead training delivery, assessment and certification and IHCL leveraging its hospitality leadership and operational presence in the Islands will provide industry expertise and knowledge support.

Mr. Ameya Vanjari, COO, Tata STRIVE, said, “The IHCL Tata STRIVE collaboration has been a leader in tourism and hospitality skilling. We are delighted to bring these skilling opportunities to the youth of Andaman Islands with this ANIIDO partnership. At Tata STRIVE, we are committed to creating pathways to sustainable livelihoods through industry-aligned skills development. This collaboration enhances professional competencies and strengthens employment & entrepreneurship opportunities in the tourism and hospitality sector.”

Ms. Chanchal Yadav, Managing Director, ANIIDCO, said, “Tourism is a key contributor to the economy of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and building a skilled workforce is critical to sustaining its growth and preparing for the future. This partnership will support professional development across the Islands, and enrich the long-term growth of the Union Territory’s tourism sector.”

Under its ESG+ framework, Paathya, committed to skill 1,00,000 youth by 2030, IHCL has expanded its skilling network to 80+ centres across India and has trained more than 49,000 youth since 2020, supporting employability in established and emerging tourism destinations.

The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and its subsidiaries bring together a group of brands and businesses that offer a fusion of warm Indian hospitality and world-class service. These include Taj – the iconic brand for the most discerning travellers and ranked as World’s Strongest Hotel Brand 2025 and India’s Strongest Brand 2025 as per Brand Finance; Claridges Collection, a curated set of boutique luxury hotels merging elegance with historical charm; Brij, an experiential leisure offering; Atmantan, one of India’s leading integrated wellness destinations; SeleQtions, a named collection of hotels; Gateway, full-service hotels designed to be your gateway to exceptional destinations; Vivanta, sophisticated upscale hotels; Tree of Life, private escapes in tranquil settings and Ginger, which is revolutionising the lean luxe segment.

Incorporated by the founder of the Tata Group, Jamsetji Tata, the Company opened its first hotel – The Taj Mahal Palace, in Bombay in 1903. IHCL has a portfolio of 645 hotels including 263 in the pipeline globally across 4 continents, 15 countries and over 300 locations. The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) is India’s largest hospitality company by market capitalization. It is listed on the BSE and NSE.