Reinforcing its commitment to inclusive growth and nation building, Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) continues to expand its skilling and employability initiatives across the country, with a focused push in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K).

Gaurav Pokhariyal, Executive Vice President – Human Resources, IHCL, said, “At IHCL, we believe that skilling is a powerful catalyst for employment generation and social transformation. Our focused initiatives in Jammu & Kashmir are aimed at empowering youth with industry relevant skills, enabling them to build sustainable careers in hospitality. By fostering partnerships and creating accessible training ecosystems, we are committed to uplifting communities and contributing to the region’s long-term development.”

Under its ESG+ framework of Paathya, and its goal to upskill 100,000 youth by 2030, IHCL has been actively driving livelihood creation by equipping youth with industry relevant skills in hospitality. To support this mission at scale, IHCL has significantly expanded its skilling infrastructure, growing its network to 83 skilling centres across India, spanning emerging and underserved destinations where tourism potential is high but access to structured training has historically been limited. As part of its broader skilling agenda, IHCL has trained over 42,000 youth across India, responding to the growing demand for skilled talent in the hospitality sector.

With a special emphasis on Jammu & Kashmir, IHCL has undertaken multiple initiatives to empower local youth and create sustainable employment pathways. The company has partnered with organizations such as REACHA with the support of Indian Army to establish a skill centre in Uri, offering specialised training programmes, while also collaborating with Tata STRIVE to train youth across Baramulla and Kupwara in bakery and food & beverage services aligned with local employment opportunities. Further strengthening its regional focus, IHCL has also collaborated with IIT Jammu to design structured skilling programmes that combine academic excellence with industry exposure. These initiatives are tailored to build a future ready workforce while supporting the socio-economic development of the region.

IHCL with 83 skilling continues to invest in talent pools to support deserving youth and their families across 21+ states in India including New Delhi, Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka and Jammu & Kashmir.