GESTO Academy is a hospitality training Initiative of Emerge Learning Services (P) Limited, Chennai which is one of the fastest growing Skill Development Institutions in India. Gesto offers Hotel Management Courses across India through 41 Campuses & delivered quality education to upwards of 2600 students for the Academic Year 2011 - 2012. Over 25000 students have benefited from its academic syllabus and training methodology in the last 9 years.

Gesto Academy estimates a huge opportunity to develop global hospitality professionals from India for operational and mid-level supervisory positions in overseas international hotels and hospitality organizations. With this vision Gesto academy has now partnered with American Hospitality Academy (AHA), South Carolina, USA to become “AHA India” and offer international programs and internship to students from India.

The program was launched by Mr. Sunil Tandon the General Manager of the TAJ holiday Village Goa, at the Club Gasper Dias Hall in Miramar. Mr. Tandon in his address was glad and excited of the curriculum and claimed that use of E- learning will bridge the gap and will help enhance learning.

The key note speaker Mr. Venkat, Chief Strategy Officer of Emerge Group, addressed the media that AHA has recognized and appointed exclusively Gesto Academy as AHA India to open AHA -International Hotel Management Schools (AHA-IHMS) and AHA- Hotel specific Schools in India. We are proud to say that our Gesto Campus in Porvorim, Goa is the first AHA school in India. He also shared the plans to open two new AHA schools in Hyderabad and Chennai during this year.

Mr.Kannan, the Managing Director of Emerge Group shared his vision to lead Indian Hospitality training industry in terms of thought leadership and develop global hospitality professionals. In our pursuit to build high class Hospitality professionals in India, we researched and concluded that the best way to do is to go with a top notch player who have done this before, Instead of reinventing the wheel, we adapted the tested and proven methodologies of AHA’s Hospitality programs and are today presenting them innovatively to the Indian students thus aiming to transform their lives and making them a global asset.

The President of AHA Ms Cindi joined the Launch along with her colleagues. She added that The American Hospitality Academy (AHA) is a full-service education and training company that delivers comprehensive programs designed specifically for the hospitality industry. Founded in 1986, AHA USA training partners include Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, Sheraton and many 4 and 5 star boutique hotels. AHA’s structured internship program provides students the opportunity to gain valuable international experience and an American certificate while developing global friendships that will last a life time. AHA’s global campuses are in the Philippines, Turkey, South Africa, Nepal and most recently India.

AHA’s culinary programs in the Philippines is accredited by the American Culinary Federation (ACF) and was the first American Culinary school in the Philippines. AHA will be working with Gesto on becoming the first ACF accredited Culinary programs in India. Ms. Katie, Director of training and development from AHA headquarters shared her views and merits of AHA programs and how it will be a boon to the hospitality education market. In 2009, AHA developed World Campus – an online learning community that connects both AHA students and faculty from around the world. Participants can study in a multicultural classroom and participate in an international networking community allowing them to engage in global discussions, and share ideas, cultures, and best practices.

Mr. Richard, Director Recruitments, added The American Hospitality Academy (AHA) has been providing hospitality training for thousands of students and young adults worldwide at premier resorts and hotels including Marriott International, Ritz Carlton, Hyatt, Starwood and Hilton for over 25 years.

AHA in the United States of America is designated by the US Department of State as a sponsor of an Exchange Visitor Program that allows AHA to issue the legal paperwork for students to take to the embassy in order to train in the USA. Our placements in the USA are concentrated in top scale hotels and resorts along the East Coast from New York City, NY to Miami, FL. Besides placements at premier hotels throughout the United States, - AHA places our AHA IHMS students in Dubai, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain with Australia and Canada being added as countries soon.

The question and answer session led into sharing of ideas and various clarifications that the participants of the conference required. The Programs are a new range of products to Gesto’s exiting courses where student can avail the benefit to excel to excellence. Mr. Siva, Principal of Porvorim campus introduced the AHA Programs Diploma in Hospitality Management (DIHM) and Diploma in Culinary Arts (DICA) which are three year programs with two year Diploma and one year International Internship.

Posted on: 31-07-2012