In a significant step towards strengthening India’s hospitality workforce, the Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) has been selected as a 2026 grantee by the Hilton Global Foundation.

The annual grants by the Foundation support nonprofit organisations working to enhance travel destinations, create economic opportunities, and advance Hilton’s Travel with Purpose strategy. The focus areas include workforce development, destination sustainability, and community resilience.

THSC has been recognised for its strong track record in delivering industry-aligned skills training and certification for India’s tourism and hospitality sector. With the new funding support, THSC will train more than 1,000 young people through certified hospitality programmes and offer structured placement assistance. The initiative aims to help graduates secure stable employment and build long-term careers in the industry.

“Support from the Hilton Global Foundation is yet another strong endorsement of THSC's mission to build a future-ready hospitality workforce for India,” said Mr. Rajan Bahadur, Chief Executive Officer, Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council. “This partnership will allow us to expand access to quality, industry-relevant training for young people and connect them to meaningful employment opportunities, while contributing to stronger communities and a more sustainable tourism ecosystem.”

Highlighting the importance of collaboration, Katherine Lugar, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Hilton and President, Hilton Global Foundation, said, “Today's announcement highlights the exponential power of partnership. Together with this year's Hilton Global Foundation grantees, we are delivering impact far beyond what any one organization could do alone—expanding access to opportunity and protecting the destinations where people travel.”

Established in July 2014, THSC operates as a not-for-profit organisation under the Societies Act. Its formation was facilitated by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). It is recognised as an Awarding Body under the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India.

Over the years, THSC has enrolled around 2 million candidates and assessed over 1.8 million beneficiaries. With a nationwide presence, 4,300+ training institutes, and 5,000 industry partners, the council continues to build a skilled and employable talent pool for tourism, hospitality, travel, and allied services.

The Hilton Global Foundation, Hilton’s primary philanthropic arm, supports programmes that advance destination stewardship, career development, and community resilience. Since 2019, the Foundation has contributed more than $25 million globally, positively impacting millions of lives.

With this 2026 grant, the partnership between THSC and Hilton Global Foundation is set to open new doors for young Indians aspiring to build meaningful careers in hospitality.