Empowering Youth with Hospitality Careers in India, ETTravelWorld

Marriott International has launched Project Prarambh, an initiative aimed at creating pathways to formal employment and long-term careers in hospitality for young people from vulnerable communities across India.The initiative has been launched in partnership with The Job Plus and the Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) under Marriott’s Serve 360 sustainability and social impact framework. It will provide young people aged 18 to 30 with industry-relevant training, workplace exposure and mentorship to help them prepare for formal employment.Project Prarambh will be delivered through a network of training partners across India. Over the next two to three years, the programme aims to train 500 young people, focusing on skills, workplace readiness and confidence required to pursue careers in the hospitality sector.Kiran Andicot, Senior Vice President, South Asia, Marriott International, said: “People have always been at the heart of our success. Our people-centric culture is what enables us to create exceptional experiences for our guests, and investing in people has always been central to who we are as an organisation. At the same time, the hospitality industry continues to face a significant need for skilled, industry-ready talent, making it important that we play our part in creating pathways for young people to build careers in the sector. Through Project Prarambh, we are bringing these two priorities together, building people while supporting the community we operate within, and strengthening the industry’s talent pipeline. We are grateful to The Job Plus and the Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council for their collaboration and expertise in helping us take this ambition forward.”The programme is intended to provide participants with access to their first formal employment and regular income, particularly for young people who are among the first members of their families to enter the formal workforce.Vinay Jaswal, Vice President, HR Ops (South Asia), HR Tech & Analytics (APEC), Marriott International, said: “Our approach to People & Culture at Marriott goes beyond creating a great workplace for our associates; it is also about thinking more broadly about how we can contribute to people’s journeys at different stages. Initiatives such as Project Prarambh reflect this belief, each addressing a different opportunity to enable greater participation, growth and inclusion. By investing in their development at an early stage, we can help them take that first step with greater confidence and open possibilities that can have a lasting impact on their lives and those of their families. For us, this is an important part of what it means to put people first.”Natwar Nagar, Founder, The Job Plus, said: “We are very pleased to partner with Marriott and THSC on Project Prarambh. We look forward to building on this association over the long term and working together to create more opportunities for young talent to enter, grow and build careers in the industry.”Rajan Bahadur, CEO, Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council, said: “As the Tourism and Hospitality sector continues to grow rapidly, the need for a skilled and industry-ready workforce has never been greater. CSR-led skilling initiatives can play a critical role in bridging this gap by providing young people with the right skills, practical exposure, and opportunities to build sustainable careers. This initiative is a step towards strengthening the talent ecosystem and preparing our youth for the growing opportunities in the sector.”The Job Plus will support the identification and preparation of young people seeking to enter the organised workforce, while THSC will contribute industry-aligned training, assessment and certification to help participants develop skills relevant to the sector’s workforce requirements.