Page 21 - CIJ June 2025-Digital Edition

COVER STORY

There is an alarming whisper from the corridors of India’s professional schools:
“Housekeeping is slowly being side lined as a specialization subject and students are
not opting for it.” Why?
Interactions with some of the students pursuing hotel management revealed that
they are unaware of a career in housekeeping! “We get briefing on the various career
opportunities in front office or F&B but not on housekeeping.” Students pick up
housekeeping mostly when all other options “does not work for them”.
Well, what do they understand by Housekeeping as such? “It involves cleaning toilets
and doing rooms!” say the students. Special Correspondent Keerthana Sundar who
has been studying the challenges of housekeeping in India, brings to you a first-hand
report based on the inputs gathered from experts and students.

country which has witnessed the From a career perspective, it is believed
grooming of some of the best that there are no advancement opportunities
housekeeping professional, who have within housekeeping. In fact, as the history
won accolades not just in India but of housekeeping in hospitality holds, most
A internationally as well, is today churning of the veterans have spent their lifetime
out very few housekeeping graduates annually. being executive housekeepers or director
Despite its integral role, especially in the housekeeping in renowned hotels.
hospitality industry, housekeeping often More so, students are concerned about
faces challenges in attracting students as a lower pay scales compared to other
primary career choice. A study conducted departments.
in India revealed that only about 20%
of hotel management students opted for Meenu Tognatta, a true veteran of
housekeeping as their career choice, with the hospitality industry, joined a candid
many perceiving it as involving menial tasks online discussion that unveiled the often-
and offering limited career advancement. misunderstood, undeniable potential within
Many students view tasks, such as cleaning hotel housekeeping. She shared her insights
and maintenance, as menial or monotonous. with a few bright students from Sheila
On closer interaction with students from Raheja Institute of Hotel Management.
different colleges, it is perceived that on Despite being the very backbone of guest
floor housekeeping assigned to them are satisfaction and operational efficiency,
more of a “punishment” rather than a housekeeping struggles to attract the same
learning curve. The physically demanding enthusiasm as culinary arts, food and
nature of housekeeping roles and the behind- beverage, or front office roles. “This is
the-scenes work environment also make it rooted in outdated misconceptions,” argues
less appealing to some. Meenu Tognatta.
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