IIHM Bags Honour, Blending AI, Education & Indian Values in Hospitality

At a time when the hospitality sector is evolving rapidly, driven by technology and shifting customer expectations, one Indian institute has not just kept pace — it’s leading the way. The International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) has once again put India on the global education map by winning the prestigious ‘Excellence in Global Hospitality Education’ award at the Education Summit 2025 in New Delhi.

The recognition came from none other than Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who praised IIHM for its global approach to education and its role in redefining hospitality training in India. Speaking at the event, Minister Pradhan remarked, “IIHM has redefined hospitality education in India by building global pathways from Indian classrooms.” He lauded the institute’s innovative strategies, which have not only nurtured top-tier talent but also showcased India’s cultural finesse and soft power through hospitality leadership.

This isn’t just an award. For IIHM and its Chairman Dr Suborno Bose, it’s a reaffirmation of a long-held vision: that India can lead the world in hospitality education — with the right blend of technology, values, and vision.

The award was received by senior officials from IIHM’s New Delhi campus on behalf of Dr Suborno Bose, a man whose name is now synonymous with the modernization of hospitality education in India. Described as a visionary educationist and a tech-forward entrepreneur, Dr Bose has long believed that hospitality is not just about service — it’s about evolution, innovation, and inclusion.

“This recognition is a testament to IIHM’s vision of inclusive, future-forward education that fuses tradition with technological intelligence,” Dr Bose shared in a statement. “It strengthens our resolve to position India as the global epicentre of hospitality learning.”

AI + Hospitality = India’s Winning Formula?

One of the core pillars of IIHM’s recent success is its aggressive and insightful integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into its curriculum and research. While many educational institutes are still figuring out how to incorporate tech, IIHM has been ahead of the curve — thanks to the leadership of Dr Bose.

In 2024, he launched a groundbreaking book titled “Harmonizing Human Touch and AI in Tourism & Hospitality,” offering a deep and ethical dive into how AI can be integrated into the service industry without losing the essence of human interaction.

The book received wide acclaim and was launched by Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat at the Bharat 24 Summit in Goa. Minister Shekhawat described it as a “visionary roadmap” and acknowledged it as a critical document for the industry, blending tech with ethics and culture — an area where India has much to offer the world.

Global Collaborations: Creating a Borderless Classroom

But IIHM’s ambitions don’t stop at books and awards.

It is also spearheading a truly global effort to create equitable, collaborative, and AI-driven learning for hospitality students and professionals around the world. Through the Global Knowledge Sharing Declaration on AI in Hospitality Education, IIHM has brought together educational institutions and stakeholders from over 60 countries to build an open-source, brand-neutral knowledge framework focused on AI.

This initiative aims to ensure that AI education in hospitality remains inclusive and accessible, avoiding commercial silos and fostering global best practices. In an industry often driven by exclusivity, IIHM is turning that model on its head — by making global learning a shared asset.

NamAIste: India’s GPT Moment in Hospitality

One of the boldest innovations from IIHM this year is NamAIste — the world’s first generative AI platform specifically created for the hospitality industry. The AI tool, powered by a domain-specific Large Language Model (LLM), has been built in collaboration with Entiovi Technologies and is designed to support learning, operations, and research in hospitality management.

NamAIste made its global debut during the Young Chef Olympiad in Goa and was later officially launched in Delhi. The platform is a first-of-its-kind initiative, integrating AI into real-world hospitality functions — not just as a concept, but as a tangible, working solution.

Calling it “India’s gift to the global hospitality world,” Dr Bose said the AI model is “made in India, made for the world.” And that’s not just a slogan — it’s a declaration of India’s growing technological capability and intent to lead from the front.

Why This Matters to India’s Startup and EdTech Ecosystem

While IIHM isn’t a conventional startup, its startup-style innovation, agile mindset, and global-first approach make it highly relevant for India’s emerging ecosystem of education and technology.

Its success highlights a crucial trend — the convergence of traditional sectors like hospitality with deep tech and AI. It’s a model that startups can learn from: how to blend legacy values with futuristic tools, how to think global but stay rooted in Indian strengths.

With the Indian government pushing for internationalization of education and innovation-led growth, IIHM’s journey offers a case study in how an Indian institution can achieve global relevance, influence policy, drive innovation, and set new benchmarks.

A Global Indian Dream in the Making

From shaping policies to developing AI tools, from setting global collaborations to driving soft power — IIHM has shown what new-age Indian institutions are capable of. As it garners applause both at home and abroad, it’s not just building better hospitality leaders — it’s building a new narrative for India’s global identity.

And perhaps most inspiring of all? It’s doing it with simplicity, inclusivity, and the unwavering belief that India’s best export might just be its values, delivered with world-class precision and AI-powered finesse.