IHM-Hyderabad Hosts Annual Awards Ceremony for Academic Year 2024-25
Hyderabad: The Institute of Hotel Management, Hyderabad (IHM-Hyderabad), a central government institute under the Ministry of Tourism, held its Annual Awards Ceremony for the academic year 2024-25 with grandeur and pride, celebrating academic excellence, placement achievements, and overall student accomplishments. The event witnessed the presence of esteemed dignitaries from the hospitality, spiritual, and academic sectors, making it a truly inspiring occasion for the budding professionals of the institute.
The ceremony was graced by Sri Pradyumna Krishna Dasa, Spiritual Leader (ISKCON); Mrs. Yamuna Ranga Rao, Founding Principal, IHM-Hyderabad; Dr. Raja Rao, In-charge Principal, Osmania Medical College (OMC), Hyderabad; Mr. Sailesh Mathur, Group General Manager, Hotel Abode; Mr. Pankaj Sampat, President, HRATS, Area Director, IHCL, & GM, Taj Krishna; Mr. Abhishek Menon, General Manager, ITC Kakatiya and Mr. Sanjay Thakur, Principal, IHM-Hyderabad. Other notable guests included Mr. Srinivas Indukuri, Director HR, Taj Krishna & Taj Deccan; Mr. Arnold Lobo, L&D Manager, ITC Kakatiya, Mr. T. Chandra Mohan, Principal, Chennais Amirta and Mr. Karunya Teja, Faculty at Chennais Amirta and a proud alumnus of IHM-Hyderabad.
The ceremony commenced with a soulful Ganesh Vandana, followed by the National Anthem and a heartfelt tribute to the victims of the recent Pahalgam attack. The dignitaries joined students and faculty in observing a moment of silence in their honour.
Principal Mr. Sanjay Thakur extended a warm welcome to all the dignitaries and expressed his heartfelt gratitude. Our Heads of Departments felicitated the guests, and Mr. Thakur reaffirmed the institute’s dedication to nurturing future leaders in the hospitality industry.
Academic achievers of the institute and exceptional sports performers from catering colleges across the city were honoured during the event as a part of the Yamuna Ranga Rao Trophy: Inter-College Sports Meet. The winners received their awards from Mrs. Yamuna Ranga Rao, herself. Another highlight of the evening was the felicitation of winners from the Inter-collegiate Flower Arrangement Competition, who were applauded for their creativity and excellence on stage. This chapter of the competition saw participation from hoteliers in the Professional Category, which was won by Dolphin Hotels.
A proud moment for the institute came as two students placed at Ritz Carlton, Naples were recognized, along with 60+ students placed as Management Trainees in leading hotel chains across India. Additionally, over 100 students who secured placements across sectors like QSRs, FMCG, Fashion & Jewellery Retail, Co-working Spaces, Airport Outlets, Hotel Aggregators, Corporate Catering, and Facility Management were acknowledged for their versatility and preparedness for dynamic careers.
A memorable part of the event was the insightful speech by Sri Pradyumna Krishna Dasa, who emphasized the importance of Emotional Quotient (EQ) and Spiritual Quotient (SQ) to create the much-necessary balance in professional and personal life.
Dr. Raja Rao shared a moving account of how hospitality education at IHM-Hyderabad transformed his son’s life, underscoring the far-reaching impact of this field.
Mr. Pankaj Sampat spoke about the evolution of the hotel industry, highlighting the emerging opportunities available for young graduates. He emphasized how a career in hospitality offers the unique privilege of meeting and interacting with some of the most influential personalities across the world. He also noted that the dynamic nature of the industry provides professionals with an exciting
“kick” every single day, while Mr. Abhishek Menon shared his inspiring journey in the hospitality industry, narrating how he started his career and rose through the ranks to become the General Manager of the very same ITC Kakatiya. With heartfelt conviction and a dash of humour, he expressed that being a hotelier is not just a profession for him, but a calling—one he wouldn’t trade for anything else.
The dignitaries also released the 39th edition of the institute’s Annual Magazine Cackle, based on the theme “Food and Spirituality”, during the ceremony, showcasing student creativity, achievements, and institutional highlights from the past year.
