Tamara Leisure Experiences conducted its fourth cohort of its Responsible Hoteliers of Tomorrow (RHT) internship programme and the second edition of Connect Conscious Classroom (CCC), an immersion initiative for hospitality educators. Through these programmes, TLE continues to strengthen its engagement with academia by providing students and faculty with first-hand exposure to responsible hospitality practices across its hotels, resorts and offices. The initiatives aim to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry experience, offering participants an opportunity to understand how responsible hospitality is integrated into everyday business operations.
The fourth cohort of the RHT programme brought together 20 undergraduate hospitality students from seven institutions for 45 days of immersive learning across TLE’s properties and offices. The programme combined classroom sessions, exposure to hotel operations, community field visits and interactions with industry practitioners. Participants also undertook sustainability-focused projects at their respective host properties, identifying operational challenges and presenting practical solutions.
Complementing this initiative, the second edition of Connect Conscious Classroom brought Hotel Management faculty members into TLE’s hospitality environment for a week-long immersion. The programme covered hotel operations, sustainability and community engagement, alongside workshops on teaching methodologies, emerging hospitality trends, technology and management practices. Faculty members interacted with Tamarites across various functions and destinations, gaining practical insights that can be incorporated into their academic curricula.
Commenting on the initiatives, Samir MC, CEO, Tamara Leisure Experiences, said, “Responsible hospitality is a shared journey for our industry. As India’s domestic travel market grows, building an understanding of responsible practice early in a hospitality career matters more than ever. For us, working with academia is a two-way exchange. Students and faculty bring fresh perspectives and emerging ideas into our business, and we get to share what we have learned from creating memorable experiences at our destinations responsibly. By strengthening this connection at the learning stage, we can help nurture professionals who understand that people, planet and profits must grow together. That is our contribution to a more responsible industry and to the people who will shape it in the years ahead.”
The programmes form part of TLE’s broader commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for the communities surrounding its properties. Currently, 40% of the group’s workforce is locally hired, while half of its procurement is sourced locally, ensuring that the economic benefits of hospitality extend into neighbouring communities. The group also maintains attrition levels on the lower side of industry benchmarks, reflecting its focus on building meaningful and long-term careers.
TLE’s commitment to responsible growth further extends to diversity, equity and inclusion through initiatives such as She Returns, which supports women re-entering the workforce after career breaks, and its collaboration with SAATHIYA, which creates hospitality career opportunities for youth from economically weaker sections. The group’s efforts also encompass women’s leadership development, local employment and greater transparency in human resource practices.
Additionally, TLE is advancing the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PwD) through its partnership with the Skill Council for Persons with Disability, supporting training and placement opportunities while sensitising employees towards disability inclusion.