NIPS Institute of Hotel Management Recognised as No. 1 Private Hotel Management College

NIPS Institute of Hotel Management has been recognised as the “No. 1 Private Hotel Management College” at the Times Now Leaders of Excellence – East 2026, marking a notable recognition for the institution’s contribution to hospitality education and professional training. The recognition was presented at a ceremony in Kolkata by renowned Bollywood actress Sangeeta Bijlani. Dr. Vivek Pathak, representing NIPS Institute of Hotel Management, received the award alongside Shekhar Mukherjee and Chef Joseph Uttam Gomes.

The recognition comes as the hospitality industry continues to place importance on professionals who can combine academic understanding with practical capabilities, customer service skills and the ability to adapt to changing workplace requirements. NIPS Institute of Hotel Management has positioned industry-oriented learning, practical training and professional exposure as central elements of its educational approach.

Recognition Highlights: Focus on Industry-Oriented Hospitality Education

The Times Now Leaders of Excellence – East 2026 recognition reflects NIPS Institute of Hotel Management’s stated focus on preparing students for professional careers through a combination of classroom education and hands-on learning.

Rather than limiting hospitality education to academic instruction, the institute emphasises experiential learning and interaction with the industry. Students are provided opportunities to develop professional competencies alongside their academic knowledge, with practical exposure forming an important component of their education.

This approach is particularly relevant to hospitality, where many professional responsibilities involve direct interaction with guests, operational decision-making, teamwork and service delivery. Exposure to professional environments can allow students to understand how the concepts covered in their programmes translate into day-to-day hospitality operations.

NIPS Founder Director Highlights Collective Effort

Commenting on the award, Dr. Vivek Pathak, Founder Director of NIPS Hospitality Group, described the recognition as a moment of pride for the wider NIPS community.

“This recognition is a deeply proud moment for the entire NIPS family,” Pathak said.

He credited the institute’s faculty, students, industry partners, alumni and wider NIPS community for contributing to the institution’s development. According to Pathak, the institute’s approach has consistently centred on creating an environment where students can build strong academic foundations while also gaining practical exposure and learning aligned with industry requirements.

Pathak said the recognition would encourage NIPS to continue working towards raising standards in hospitality education. He also emphasised the institute’s objective of helping students become confident, skilled and future-ready professionals. The comments underline the role that multiple stakeholders play in hospitality education, particularly when institutions seek to connect academic programmes with professional expectations. Faculty provide the academic foundation, while industry partners and practical experiences can give students greater exposure to the realities of the workplace.

Four Campuses Support NIPS’ Hospitality Education Network

Established in 1993, NIPS Institute of Hotel Management has developed its presence across eastern India, with campuses in Kolkata, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar and Shillong. The institution offers a range of programmes spanning degree, diploma, certificate and master's-level education. Alongside these academic programmes, NIPS provides opportunities for students to pursue international certifications, internships and other forms of professional and global exposure.

The institute describes its educational model as being centred on experiential learning and industry engagement. This approach is intended to help students develop a combination of academic knowledge, technical understanding, practical skills and professional competencies.

For students entering hospitality, such exposure can cover different aspects of the sector and help them understand the expectations associated with professional roles. The institute’s focus on professional development also reflects the broader requirement for hospitality graduates to combine specialised knowledge with communication, teamwork and workplace skills.

International Exposure Forms Part of Student Development

NIPS also highlights international exposure as part of its educational offering. Students have opportunities for exposure to hospitality markets including the United States, France and Germany, providing an international dimension to their learning and professional development.

The institute says its alumni have secured positions with organisations including Royal Caribbean Cruises, Carnival, American Cruise and Sodexo. Such placements illustrate the range of hospitality-related environments in which graduates can pursue careers, extending beyond conventional hotel operations into areas such as cruise hospitality, food services and international service organisations.

International exposure can also introduce students to different approaches to hospitality operations, customer service and workplace practices. For an industry that operates across global markets, understanding different cultural and professional environments can form an important part of a student's overall preparation.

Practical Training Remains Central to Hospitality Education

Hospitality is a sector in which professional skills are closely connected to practical experience. Students may learn operational principles in the classroom, but applying those principles in real or simulated professional environments can provide a different form of learning.

NIPS therefore places emphasis on practical training, internships and experiential learning alongside its academic programmes. The objective is to give students opportunities to develop professional competencies while strengthening their understanding of hospitality operations.

The institute's approach also includes engagement with industry, allowing students to gain greater awareness of professional expectations before entering the workforce. Such industry-oriented education is designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and employment by exposing students to practical situations and workplace requirements.

International Certifications and Professional Recognition

NIPS Institute of Hotel Management also offers students opportunities to pursue international certifications, adding another dimension to its academic and professional training. The institute is recognised by World Chefs, Paris, France, which it identifies as part of its focus on professional and industry-aligned hospitality education. The recognition and international orientation are positioned alongside the institute's broader efforts to connect students with global hospitality opportunities.

By combining formal qualifications with certifications, internships and industry exposure, NIPS aims to provide students with multiple avenues through which they can develop their professional profiles.

Preparing Students for an Evolving Hospitality Sector

The hospitality industry encompasses a broad range of roles and continues to require professionals who can respond to changing customer expectations, operational practices and international working environments. For hospitality institutions, this places increasing emphasis on education that goes beyond theoretical knowledge.

NIPS Institute of Hotel Management says its programmes are designed to provide students with the academic foundation, practical abilities and professional competencies required to pursue careers in the sector.

The Times Now Leaders of Excellence – East 2026 recognition places further attention on this educational approach. For the institute, the award also provides an opportunity to reaffirm its stated commitment to practical learning, industry engagement and student development.

As NIPS continues its work across its campuses in Kolkata, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar and Shillong, its focus remains on combining hospitality education with professional exposure and opportunities that can help students prepare for careers in India and international markets.

Editor’s Note

Hospitality education is one of those fields where the distance between knowing something and being able to do it well can be particularly visible. A student can learn the principles of hotel operations, food service or management from a textbook, but professional confidence is built differently. It develops through practice, interaction, mistakes, feedback and repeated exposure to situations that cannot always be recreated in a classroom. This is why the conversation around hospitality education increasingly needs to include not only what students study, but also how they experience the profession while they are still learning.

The recognition received by NIPS Institute of Hotel Management also invites a broader reflection on what a career-focused education should look like. An institution’s responsibility does not end with delivering a qualification; students also need opportunities to understand the environments in which that qualification will be used. Internships, practical training, industry interaction and international exposure can make that transition more tangible. Ultimately, the value of hospitality education lies not only in producing graduates with certificates, but in giving young people the knowledge, adaptability and professional confidence to navigate an industry built around people, service and constant change.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What recognition has NIPS Institute of Hotel Management received?

NIPS Institute of Hotel Management has been recognised as the “No. 1 Private Hotel Management College” at the Times Now Leaders of Excellence – East 2026.

2. When was NIPS Institute of Hotel Management established?

NIPS Institute of Hotel Management was established in 1993 and focuses on hospitality education, practical training and professional development.

3. Where are the NIPS Institute of Hotel Management campuses located?

NIPS has campuses in Kolkata, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar and Shillong.

4. What programmes does NIPS Institute of Hotel Management offer?

We offer degree, diploma, certificate, and master's programmes in hospitality education, along with opportunities for international certifications and professional exposure.

5. Does NIPS provide practical training?

Yes. The institute emphasises practical training, experiential learning, internships, and industry engagement in its hospitality education.

6. Does NIPS provide international exposure?

According to the institute, students can receive international exposure across markets including the USA, France and Germany, along with opportunities for international certifications and internships.

7. Which hospitality organisations have recruited NIPS graduates?

NIPS states that its alumni have been placed with organisations including Royal Caribbean Cruises, Carnival, American Cruise and Sodexo.

8. Is NIPS recognised internationally?

The institute says it is recognised by World Chefs, Paris, France, reflecting its focus on professional and industry-aligned hospitality education.