To strengthen hospitality education, promote Andhra Pradesh’s culinary heritage, advance tourism and expand opportunities for student skills development and industry exposure
Tirupati, 26 October 2026: The International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) has signed a landmark Strategic Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Andhra Pradesh, through the Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (APEDB), at Tirupati on 26 October 2026, during the 31st CII Partnership Summit 2026.
Represented by Dr Suborno Bose, Founder and Chairman of the Indismart Group and IIHM, and CEO of the International Hospitality Council, UK, the partnership marks a significant step towards strengthening hospitality education, culinary skills and tourism development in Andhra Pradesh. It brings together the state’s tourism ambitions and IIHM’s expertise in hospitality education, practical training and industry engagement.
The MoU focuses on four key areas: world-class hospitality education and skills development, promotion of Andhra Pradesh’s culinary heritage, destination development and sustainable tourism, and stronger linkages between education and industry. The collaboration will support training programmes, chef masterclasses, regional cuisine workshops and initiatives in food safety, kitchen management, bakery and patisserie, food and beverage service, hotel operations and tourism.
For IIHM students, the partnership opens up opportunities for greater industry exposure and experiential learning. Subject to mutually agreed programmes, students will benefit from internships, educational visits, culinary competitions, placement linkages and entrepreneurship initiatives. Engagement with regional ingredients, traditional cooking practices and local food businesses can also help students develop practical skills while understanding the cultural and economic value of India’s diverse culinary heritage.
The partnership also emphasizes sustainable hospitality practices, responsible tourism, farm-to-fork concepts, food-waste minimisation and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI). These focus areas align with the changing needs of the hospitality and tourism sectors, helping prepare students for evolving professional opportunities.
For IIHM, the MoU reinforces its role as a hospitality education institution committed to connecting academic learning with industry needs and contributing to the wider tourism ecosystem. Over the three-year partnership, IIHM and the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority will work towards skill development, stronger industry-academia collaboration and initiatives that showcase the state’s tourism destinations and culinary traditions.
This partnership represents an important step towards creating a skilled, future-ready hospitality workforce while bringing education, enterprise and regional heritage together to support Andhra Pradesh’s tourism ambitions.
Lead Image: (from left) Mr. Earnest Immanuel, Director- IIHM Hyderabad; Dr Ravindra Sannareddy, Founder & Managing Director, Sri City Pvt limited; Sri Shamsher Singh Rawat IAS, Special Chief Secretary, Youth Advancement, Tourism & Culture, Govt of Andhra Pradesh; Sri Chiranjeev Choudhary, IFS, Senior Indian Forest Sevice officer; Sri Sagili Shan Mohan IAS, Chief Executive officer, APEDB.
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