DBS Bank India has committed ₹10 crore to support the expansion of MITTI Café across India, strengthening employment, vocational training and livelihood opportunities for persons with disabilities. The partnership was marked by the inauguration of a new MITTI Café at 1 MG Mall, Bengaluru, by the Hon'ble Governor of Karnataka, Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot.

The three-year partnership between DBS Bank India and MITTI Café will support the establishment of nine cafés across India, creating employment opportunities for more than 100 persons with disabilities, providing vocational training to approximately 470 individuals, and supporting around 300 people in accessing employment opportunities.

The new café at 1 MG Mall offers customers a mainstream café experience while creating opportunities for persons with disabilities to participate in day-to-day hospitality and customer-facing operations.

Speaking at the inauguration, Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot, Governor of Karnataka, highlighted the importance of creating opportunities that promote dignity, independence and economic empowerment for persons with disabilities.

"MITTI Café shows us that inclusion is not only a social responsibility; it can also be a successful and sustainable economic model. Give people an opportunity, and their abilities will find their own way forward," he said.

Gaurav Rajput, Head of Group Marketing & Communications, DBS Bank India, said the partnership reflects the bank's commitment to creating impact beyond banking by supporting purpose-driven organisations.

"By expanding access to livelihoods for persons with disabilities, we aim to support greater economic participation and contribute to more inclusive communities," he said.

Alina Alam, Founder & CEO, MITTI Café, said the Bengaluru opening was particularly meaningful as the organisation's journey began in Karnataka.

"This café represents much more than employment; it represents dignity, independence and the power of opportunity," she said.

MITTI Café is a not-for-profit organisation focused on creating livelihood opportunities for persons with disabilities and individuals from vulnerable communities. Its cafés operate across public institutions, transport hubs, commercial locations, universities, hospitals and corporate campuses.

The organisation has served more than 22 million meals and beverages and created over 6,500 livelihood opportunities. Its network includes prominent locations such as Rashtrapati Bhavan, Rashtrapati Nilayam, the Supreme Court of India, airports and educational institutions.

The initiative follows an inclusive employment model that integrates persons with disabilities into mainstream commercial environments. Through customer-facing roles, employees gain workplace experience, professional skills and opportunities to build sustainable livelihoods.

The partnership also aligns with the broader social impact efforts of DBS Foundation, which supports initiatives aimed at improving the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable communities through financial inclusion, essential needs and purpose-driven solutions.

With the new café at 1 MG Mall and the planned expansion across India, DBS Bank India and MITTI Café aim to create more accessible pathways to employment while demonstrating how inclusive business models can contribute to sustainable social impact.

On the occasion of International Youth Day, Novotel Hyderabad Airport hosted second-year students from the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) for an interactive session focused on the changing hospitality industry and the career opportunities ahead for young professionals.

The session brought together the hotel's leadership team and hospitality aspirants for an open discussion around careers, technology, leadership and the future of guest experiences. Instead of a conventional industry interaction, the event encouraged students to engage directly with senior hotel leaders and share their views and questions.

Students explored topics including the impact of AI on hospitality, opportunities to work across the world, industrial training in India and the skills needed to build a successful career in the industry.

The leadership team included Sukhbir Singh, General Manager; Karthikeyan R, Director of Operations; Amanna Raju, Executive Chef; Mayank Uniyal, Director of Sales & Marketing; Rajaraman Vadivelu, Director of Finance; Dharaniswar Das, Director of People & Culture; and Jitendra Singh, Director of Food & Beverage.

The leaders shared insights from their respective areas, covering mentorship and career growth, adaptability, leadership, commercial awareness, sustainability, AI, digital storytelling, service excellence and personalisation. The discussion also touched on the importance of creativity, discipline and consistency in the culinary profession.

Speaking to the students, Sukhbir Singh, General Manager, Novotel Hyderabad Airport, said, “We are at the cusp of a significant change, with technology making hospitality increasingly digital. But I believe this will give us more time for what truly matters – creating meaningful human connections. We are in the human business, the experience business. Technology will assist us and take care of many mundane tasks, but it cannot replace the warmth and authenticity of human interaction. As you begin your careers, stay curious, stay open-minded, and stay authentic. The quality of your professional journey will be shaped by the questions you ask, the experiences you seek, and your willingness to keep learning.”

The programme also included an interactive culinary workshop led by Executive Chef Amanna Raju. Students were introduced to the creative and technical aspects of plating before taking part in a hands-on exercise and presenting their own creations.

Through the initiative, Novotel Hyderabad Airport highlighted the importance of stronger connections between the hospitality industry and educational institutions. The session also gave young hospitality aspirants a closer look at the opportunities, expectations and changing nature of careers in the sector.

The future of hospitality may be increasingly shaped by Artificial Intelligence, but the human element remains at the heart of the guest experience. Recognising this shift, the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) has introduced EmpaTech, a new educational philosophy built around combining empathy with technology.

The approach comes at a time when AI is rapidly transforming the hospitality journey, from hotel discovery and reservations to personalised experiences, guest communication, service delivery and post-stay engagement.

While technology is making hospitality faster and more efficient, IIHM believes the qualities that create genuine emotional connections with guests remain uniquely human.

Combining Empathy with Technology

EmpaTech represents IIHM's vision for preparing hospitality professionals who can work confidently with emerging technologies while retaining the emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills that define exceptional hospitality.

According to IIHM, the guest journey consists of multiple ‘Moments of Truth’, beginning well before arrival and continuing through booking, check-in, dining, service interactions, check-out, feedback and loyalty engagement.

Artificial Intelligence can help make these interactions more seamless and personalised. However, empathy is what gives those interactions meaning.

Speaking about the philosophy, Dr. Suborno Bose, Founder, Chairman and Chief Mentor of IIHM, said: "Hospitality has always been about people. That truth will never change. Artificial Intelligence will continue to transform the way our industry operates, but it cannot replace kindness, compassion or genuine human understanding. At IIHM, we are not preparing students to compete with AI. We are preparing them to work intelligently alongside it, using technology to create even deeper human connections. That is the philosophy of EmpaTech. The future belongs to professionals who combine empathy with technology."

Dr. Bose highlighted the evolving role of hospitality professionals, noting that the industry is moving beyond efficient service delivery towards creating memorable and meaningful guest experiences.

While AI can anticipate preferences, analyse behaviour and automate repetitive tasks, human professionals remain essential for understanding emotions, responding sensitively and building lasting relationships.

Preparing Students for an AI-Driven Industry

IIHM believes hospitality education must evolve alongside the industry. Under the EmpaTech philosophy, students are encouraged to develop technological proficiency alongside communication, empathy, critical thinking, creativity and emotional intelligence.

Ms. Sanchari Chowdhury, Director, IIHM Bengaluru and Head – South Operations, IIHM, said: "Hospitality education can no longer focus only on operational excellence. Students must learn to understand people as deeply as they understand technology. EmpaTech encourages them to embrace innovation while strengthening the human qualities that guests value most care, empathy, communication and emotional intelligence. Our responsibility is to prepare graduates who are confident using advanced technologies without ever losing sight of the people they serve."

The philosophy builds on IIHM's long-standing ‘High Tech, Higher Touch’ approach, positioning technology and human interaction as complementary elements rather than competing forces.

Human Skills Gain Importance

As AI takes over an increasing number of routine and repetitive functions, IIHM believes the value of human-centric skills will become even more significant.

For students entering the hospitality industry, this means that future career success may depend not only on technical knowledge but also on the ability to communicate effectively, understand guest emotions, solve problems creatively and build meaningful relationships.

EmpaTech therefore positions AI as an enabler rather than a replacement for hospitality professionals.

The philosophy also offers a broader perspective for students and parents navigating an increasingly technology-driven employment landscape. Rather than simply eliminating opportunities, AI is expected to reshape the skills required across hospitality and create demand for professionals who can combine digital capabilities with human understanding.

Redefining Hospitality Education

The introduction of EmpaTech reflects IIHM's attempt to align hospitality education with the changing realities of the industry.

As hotels increasingly adopt AI-powered personalisation, automation, data analytics and digital guest engagement, hospitality professionals will need to understand both the technology behind these systems and the people they are designed to serve.

The central idea is straightforward: technology can make hospitality smarter, but empathy makes it human.

Through EmpaTech, IIHM aims to prepare a new generation of hospitality professionals capable of using Artificial Intelligence responsibly while preserving the human connection that remains one of the industry's strongest differentiators.

The future of hospitality, therefore, may not be about choosing between empathy and technology. It may be about bringing both together.