Marriott International has launched Project Prarambh, a skilling initiative aimed at preparing young people from vulnerable communities for formal employment and careers in the hospitality sector.
The programme, launched in collaboration with The Job Plus and the Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC), will support youth aged between 18 and 30 through industry-relevant training, workplace exposure and mentorship. The initiative will be delivered through a network of training partners across India.
Over the next two to three years, Project Prarambh aims to train 500 young people, with a focus on developing technical and workplace skills, improving employment readiness and providing participants with exposure to the hospitality industry.
The programme is also intended to help participants transition into formal employment, including young people for whom a hospitality job could be their first formal employment opportunity and regular source of income. The initiative is expected to focus on building skills that can help beneficiaries pursue longer-term careers rather than only securing entry-level employment.
Kiran Andicot, senior vice president, South Asia, Marriott International, said, “People have always been at the heart of our success. Our people-centric culture is what enables us to create exceptional experiences for our guests, and investing in people has always been central to who we are as an organisation. At the same time, the hospitality industry continues to face a significant need for skilled, industry-ready talent, making it important that we play our part in creating pathways for young people to build careers in the sector. Through Project Prarambh, we are bringing these two priorities together, building people while supporting the community we operate within, and strengthening the industry’s talent pipeline. We are grateful to The Job Plus and the Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council for their collaboration and expertise in helping us take this ambition forward.”
Vinay Jaswal, vice president, HR operations (South Asia), HR tech & analytics (APEC), Marriott International, said, “Our approach to People & Culture at Marriott goes beyond creating a great workplace for our associates; it is also about thinking more broadly about how we can contribute to people’s journeys at different stages. Initiatives such as Project Prarambh reflect this belief, each addressing a different opportunity to enable greater participation, growth and inclusion. By investing in their development at an early stage, we can help them take that first step with greater confidence and open possibilities that can have a lasting impact on their lives and those of their families. For us, this is an important part of what it means to put people first.”
The initiative comes amid continued demand for skilled talent in India’s tourism and hospitality sector. Through the programme, participants will receive training aligned with industry requirements, along with workplace-readiness support and mentorship to help them navigate formal employment.
For The Job Plus, the programme will focus on identifying young people with the potential to enter the organised workforce and supporting them with the skills required to work in a formal workplace. THSC will contribute industry-aligned training, assessment and certification to help ensure that the skills developed through the programme correspond with the needs of the sector.
