The Professional Housekeepers Association (PHA) organised the 5th Young Visionary Housekeepers National Convention and 7th Anniversary of PHA YUVA on September 14th, 2024, at Fortune Park JP Celestial, Bengaluru. The event witnessed a record crowd of almost 250 participants including YUVAs from 16 different hotel management colleges and stalwarts from hotels, the healthcare sector, facility management, aviation, and faculty members. The theme of the convention was TEHK: Technology Enabled Housekeeping.
The convention commenced with a mindful meditation session by RS Ganesh Narayan, Heritage Associate Support Partner, PHA, followed by the welcome note by emcee Stesha and Farhaan Saddiq, both YUVAs from MS Ramaiah University and IIHM respectively. This was followed by the soulful rendition of the invocation prayer by Vanshika Katoch, YUVA from AIHMCT, Bengaluru.
The convention commenced auspiciously with the lamp lighting ceremony led by Jayashree Nagaraj, Founder-President and Chairperson of PHA; Guest of Honour Bhavya Kaura, General Manager of Fortune Park JP Celestial, Bengaluru; Keynote Speaker Gunjan Bisarya, Head Housekeeping, ITC Hotels, Delhi; Sandhya AnilKumar, Chief Mentor of PHA YUVA-India, State VP-L&D PHA-Karnataka, and Assistant Professor, MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences; and Dr Thomas Mathew, National VP L&D-PHA, Professor at AIHM Bengaluru. This was followed by a welcome dance performed by Adhidev J, YUVA from Acharya Institute, Bengaluru.
PHA corporate video was presented by Elizabeth Ngoruh, Regional HoD Rooms Division & PR Head-South, IIHM, Bangalore, and PHA Executive Member PR & Media; and the PHA YUVA Corporate video was presented by Nirupama Patra, HOD, IHM Shri Shakti, and VP-L&D, PHA Telangana Chapter and Co-Convenor of this event enabled the participants to understand the initiatives and contributions made by PHA and YUVA for the fraternity.
In her inaugural address, Jayashree Nagaraj welcomed the guest of honour Bhavya Kaura; keynote speaker Gunjan Bisarya and other esteemed guests, collaborators, PHA life members, YUVA mentors, and PHA YUVA member participants to the convention. She encouraged the PHA YUVA members to make the most of this platform by staying updated on industry trends and engaging in meaningful networking with industry leaders, making it one of the most memorable days of their lives
Bhavya Kaura in his opening remarks identified the use of technology in housekeeping as an efficient, time-saving tool, which will not only help in streamlining different processes but also help in improving guest satisfaction. He commended PHA’s efforts in nurturing the budding generation of hoteliers, emphasising that such initiatives are essential and timely for the industry’s growth and future.
In her keynote address, Gunjan addressed the need to bridge the generation gap and create an ecosystem to cater to the expectations of Gen Z. She advocated the need to lead a sustainable life and emphasised the need for digital transformation in every sector.
A panel discussion on the topic ‘Housekeeping management with automation and digitisation was moderated by Sunita Srinivasan, Professor at T John College, Bengaluru. The industry star members for the panel were Lakshmi, Head of the Department, Housekeeping, Apollo Hospital, Bengaluru; Moumita Majumdar, Executive Housekeeper, ITC Windsor, Bengaluru; Satyabrata Samal, Associate Director of Housekeeping, Clarks Exotica, Convention Resort & Spa, Bengaluru; Manoj Kumar Chaturvedi, Area Manager, Olive by Embassy, Bengaluru; and Praveen Kumar Dubey, Assistant Manager-Cabin Support Services, Vistara, New Delhi.
During the panel discussion, all members discussed their experiences of using technology in day-to-day operations, employee resistance toward incorporating AI, and its impact on job orientation. Concluding the session, Madhu Chandok, Founding Partner-PIP2020 and Advisor of PHA, emphasised that AI cannot replace the need for human resources and housekeepers need to keep themself focused to curate the guest experience taking assistance from AI.
In his address, Ajay Jain, CEO and Co-founder of Bed and Bath Depot.com, Bengaluru and Managing Director of Just-Linen Group, explained the need to standardise the quality and inventory management of the linen. He also provided insights into challenges faced by hoteliers while selecting linen for the organisation.
A research presentation on the topic ‘Housekeeping AI technology-enabled-setting a road map’ was given by Dr Madhu Chandhok, Director and Founding Partner-PIP 2020; Dr Rachna Chandan, Assistant Professor at BCIHMCT, New Delhi; and Sandhya Anilkumar, Assistant Professor at MSRAUS. Highlighting the role of automation in housekeeping operations, the researchers explained the impact of AI on different housekeeping processes, strategies, and manpower.
Setting the milestone in presenting budding hoteliers’ perception, the YUVAs deliberated on ‘Revolutionising Housekeeping Operations’. Moderators for this panel discussion were Kasab V Desai, IIHM, Bengaluru; Anjita Sharma, MSR University, Bengaluru; Aarya Pareek, IHM, Chennai; Shalini Asthana, AIHMCT, Bengaluru; Naqiya Hussain, IHM, Hyderabad; and Benny Johnson from St Josephs College, Pala. During the discussion, panel members presented their opinions on AI implementation strategies, sustainable strategies, data-driven housekeeping, and strategies to address challenges driven by the implementation of AI.
Exploring the potential of L&D through PHA and its benefits was presented by the prominent YUVA members. Presenters for the session were Naveen, VIT School of Hotel & Tourism Management; Puja Dhara, IHM Shri Shakti, Hyderabad; Chandhana, AIMS, Bengaluru; Adithi AN, IHM, Chennai; Ankita Biswal, IHM, Chennai; and Tej Ganapathy, IIHM, Bengaluru.
YUVAs shared the knowledge on PHA as a tool for Learning and Development. Ranajit Behera, Senior Maintenance Manager, Services, at Bengaluru International Airport Limited, conducted an engaging ice-breaker session for the PHA YUVA members. The session was designed to be both informative and interactive, creating an ideal environment for young professionals to connect, learn, and engage with each other. The ice-breaker took the form of a quiz, which focused on various aspects of the hospitality and housekeeping industries, including technology trends, operational best practices, and sustainability initiatives. The questions tested the participants’ knowledge while also encouraging them to think critically about the evolving landscape of housekeeping management. Rhea, Ankita Biswal, and Paresh emerged as the winners of this highly engaging, AI-driven intellectually stimulating quiz. Their performance reflected a deep understanding of the industry and a passion for learning, making them stand out among their peers. The ice-breaker session not only provided a fun and interactive way to kick off the event, but it also set a positive tone for the rest of the event, encouraging participation and active engagement from all attendees.
The expert talk delivered by Girish Prabhu, CEO of Instio Experiences, was one of the most anticipated sessions of the event. His presentation on ‘AI in Housekeeping: Redefining Service for the Modern Era’ offered a forward-thinking exploration into how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the housekeeping landscape and the broader hospitality industry. He highlighted the need for the hospitality industry to embrace AI as a tool that complements human expertise, rather than replacing it. He encouraged housekeeping professionals and hotel management teams to adopt AI technologies thoughtfully, integrating them into existing workflows to maximize their potential for efficiency and service enhancement.
Another presentation session on the topic ‘Latest technology being adopted in Hotel brands and allied industries’ was done by the team of YUVA members. They explored different verticals of housekeeping in their presentations. Benjamin S and Arya from IIHM, Bangaluru, presented on the implementation of ‘AI in the Airports’; Vinay Raju and Emmaculate, from IHM, Chennai, presented on ‘AI facilities in GRT group’; Naqiya Hussain and Gaurav Pathak, IHM, Hyderabad, presented ‘AI in ITC hotels’; and Alen J Dominic and Benny Johnson from St Joseph’s Institute of IHM & CT explained and presented on ‘AI in Casino Group of Hotels’.
To support the emerging hoteliers, several PHA member organizations like Clarks Exotica Hotel, Bengaluru; Country Inn Hotel, Bengaluru; JP Celestial Hotel, Bengaluru; Lifestyle; PVR; St Mark’s Hotel, Bengaluru; and Sterling Mac Hotel, Bengaluru, came forward and provided meal coupons and lifestyle coupons for the participating members. Additionally, an educational exhibition was organised offering attendees the opportunity to gain valuable insights and engage in one-on-one interactions with YUVA members. Service-based ancillary industry brands such as Raenco, Naija Organics, Bed and Bath Depot.com, Diversey, and Instio Experiences Pvt Ltd, showcased their products at the venue, further enriching the learning experience.
The convention proceedings progressed with the presentation of awards for various competitions organized by PHA. IHM Shri Shakti, Hyderabad, received the award for ‘Leaf Art Designing,’ while MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences was honoured for the ‘Uniform Designing’ competition. The winner of the ‘Room Designing’ competition was GIHM&CT, Nagpur. The Champion’s Trophy was claimed by MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, and the prestigious Overall Champion of Champions Trophy for the 5th Young Visionary Housekeepers’ National Convention & 7th PHA YUVA Anniversary was awarded to the International Institute of Hotel Management, Bengaluru (IIHM), for their all-round performance.
Cultural Extravaganza was presented by PHA YUVA members from IHM Shri Shakti, Hyderabad; IIHM, Bengaluru; South East Asian Group of Institutions, GIHM, Nagpur; MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences; IHM, Chennai; Acharya Institute of Management and Science, Bengaluru; and Army College, Bengaluru. All participants grooved to the PHA anthem presented by RS Ganesh Narayan and concluding the convention, Dr Jitendra Das, Chief Convener proposed the vote of thanks. The convention ended with the national anthem.
