Asem Bhakta
Special Correspondent North East
New Delhi: The Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) hosted THSC Connect 2026 on the theme “The Power of Partnerships” at Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
The day-long conclave from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM brought together government officials, industry leaders, CSR heads, and training partners to strengthen India’s tourism and hospitality workforce.
Programme Highlights
The programme began at 10:00 AM with registration, followed by Lamp Lighting at 11:00 AM.
Inaugural Session
Mr. Rajan Bahadur, CEO, THSC delivered the Welcome Address.
Keynotes were delivered by:
Mr. Prashant Sinha, COO, NSDC
Prof. (Dr.) Ashok Kumar Gaba, NCVET
Mr. Amit Meena, IAS, Director, MSDE
Col. Mahendra Singh Payal, NSDC announced the THSC & NSDC Academy Collaboration.
Chief Guest Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, IAS, Secretary, MSDE reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to Viksit Bharat@2047.
CSR & Policy Session
Speakers included Dr. Monica Banerjee, InterGlobe Foundation, Ms. Divya Krishan, The Job Plus, Mr. Vaibhav Verma & Mr. Prakash Das, THSC, and Mr. Amol Bajaj, THSC.
The session ended with the Agreement Exchange & Launch of International Job Portal.
Panel Discussions
After the Special Address by Ms. Jyoti Mayal, Chairperson, THSC, four Sessions were held:
Session 1 – 5 Panelists: Partnerships That Perform — Dr. Akbir Khan, SAS Skills, Imphal highlighted NE India’s potential.
Session 2 – 5 Panelists: Future Workforce
Session 3 – 5 Panelists: Future of Learning
Session 4 – 3 Panelists: Unlocking State Potential — Mr. Lairenjam Niranjan Singh, CEO & Founder, JCRE, Imphal shared insights on skilling in Manipur.
Manipur Receives Three Awards & Recognition
Manipur’s contribution to skilling was recognised on the national stage:
Meidingu Institute of Aviation and Hospitality, Manipur — Training Partner Award & Industry
Partner Award
SAS Skills, Manipur — Training Partner Award
Strong North-East Participation
From Manipur: Classic Hospitality Training Institute, SAS Skills, JCRE, and Meidingu Institute of Aviation and Hospitality.
Ms. Meeta Asem, Manager, Classic Hospitality Training Institute also attended.
The discussions emphasised the need for closer collaboration between training institutions and industry to ensure that younghip professionals receive relevant, practical and employment-oriented skills. The event also provided a platform for industry leaders and training partners to exchange perspectives and explore opportunities for future collaboration.
THSC Connect 2026 reaffirmed the importance of partnerships in building a skilled, industry-ready workforce and supporting the continued growth of India’s tourism and hospitality sector.
