The talent crunch: Why fresh graduates are fleeing the hospitality sector

As occupancy peaks, hospitality firms find themselves competing with retail, e-commerce, real estate and IT for employees

Behind the façade of impeccable service, glitz and glamour associated with the hospitality sector lies an unpleasant reality: Fresh graduates from hotel and hospitality management schools are ditching the profession in favour of other industries in the services sector. Even those who have put in a few years of service are leaving for greener pastures.

A large portion of the existing workforce, said Sanjay Bose, executive vice-president and head - HR, at ITC Hotel Group, have returned to their home locations or picked up alternative careers/livelihoods. “To add to this mix, the campus hiring pipeline, which has been the main channel