Radisson to Skill 3,000 Indian Youth for Hotel Jobs by 2032

Radisson Hotel Group plans to skill 3,000 young people in India over the next seven years through a partnership with workforce firm The Job Plus and the Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC), with about 80% of beneficiaries placed in formal jobs to date.

The program runs under R.A.H.I. — Radisson Advancing Hope & Inclusion — and targets a specific labor problem: the hospitality sector's chronic shortage of trained staff in markets where formal hospitality education is scarce. Participants come from more than 14 states and regions, including the Northeastern states, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana.

Selection weighs educational qualifications, socio-economic circumstances and each candidate's stated aspiration to enter the workforce. The program prioritizes economically disadvantaged families and first-generation entrants to the formal workforce.

What does the training involve?

Each participant completes a 45-day program that prepares them for Guest Service Associate roles across three operational areas:

• housekeeping
• food and beverage
• front office

The curriculum combines classroom instruction, practical training and industry immersion, and concludes with National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) Level 4 assessments and certification through THSC. Trainees also receive placement preparation and access to multiple job interviews.

The partners frame the certification as portable beyond hotels and restaurants. Career pathways include corporate hospitality, managed workspaces and facility management.

Who pays and who supplies the pipeline?

Radisson supplies the hospitality expertise and hotel access; The Job Plus handles workforce development and employment placement; THSC provides industry-aligned training, assessment and certification. The three organizations say they will keep aligning the curriculum with industry feedback and changing business requirements.

The collaboration adds a dedicated Radisson Connect component that walks participants through hotel operations, service standards and potential career paths. Industry immersion is set to expand over the program's seven-year horizon.

Nikhil Sharma, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group, framed the investment in operational terms. "Hospitality is a people-driven industry, and investing in talent is essential to its long-term growth," Sharma said. "By aiming to skill 3,000 young people over the next seven years, we hope to expand access to career opportunities and contribute to a stronger, more inclusive hospitality workforce."

Natwar Nagar, Founder of The Job Plus, said the partnership deliberately recruits outside traditional hospitality schools, reaching young people in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, small towns, villages and underserved communities. THSC CEO Rajan Bahadur said the association extends beyond skilling to career development support.

Why the geography matters

The recruitment strategy matches Radisson's own footprint in India. The group operates more than 225 hotels in operation and under development there, and more than 50% of that portfolio sits in Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets. Its brands in India include Radisson Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, Radisson Individuals and Radisson Individuals Retreats, alongside a significant presence in Delhi-NCR.

For an operator expanding fastest in smaller markets, a trained local labor pipeline reduces dependence on scarce hospitality-school graduates in metros. The 80% placement rate to date gives the partners a working proof point as they scale toward the 3,000-trainee target over the coming seven years.