With an overall experience of more than 15 years and having worked in India, London and Edinburgh, hospitality industry expert Deb Chakraborty has seen it all. Having spent ten years in the country, he maintains that New Zealand is a “land of opportunity” for the new migrants if they know where to look.
“For those arriving in New Zealand, it might look like the hospitality market is much smaller and the opportunities are slim. However, in my opinion, if you are flexible and know where to look, there are many options around you,” he says.
Chakraborty earned an International Hospitality Management degree from IIHM Kolkata in 2007 before moving to Edinburgh, UK.
The itch to pursue a Postgraduate qualification in Hospitality Management brought Chakraborty to New Plymouth, New Zealand in 2013.
His journey towards success in the new professional landscape was difficult and involved many challenges.
“Coming to New Zealand, I had to restart my career in Hospitality from scratch. I started my career in New Zealand as a cleaner and worked my way as a hotel manager in a short span of time. I think I could do it because I could blend my knowledge from past work experiences in the UK and educational qualification to achieve my goals.”
Chakraborty, who comes from a family of teachers and professors, always had a strong urge to share his experiences and knowledge with the next generation of professionals.
Continuing with this strong desire, Chakraborty decided to teach Hospitality at a professional institution. Reflecting on this, he shares, “I was thrilled to land a job as a hospitality tutor at Aspire2 International’s Christchurch campus. I had a wonderful experience teaching and mentoring international students, many of whom were from India.”
In 2020, COVID hit and there were no more international students. This impacted the entire education sector. “Hospitality department at Aspire2 International was dissolved in 2021 due to lack of students.”
He took up a role at Novotel Cathedral Square as an Assistant Manager for a brief time.
“However, in 2022, I got an opportunity at Ara Institute of Canterbury where I currently teach level 5, level 6 and level 7 hospitality students and also look after student placement for their practicum.”
Working as a placement coordinator for hospitality students gives Chakraborty a unique opportunity to interact and visit hotels and restaurants throughout Canterbury, giving him unique insights into the hiring trends and processes of the industry post-COVID.
Sharing some tips for the jobseekers, Chakraborty says, “Hospitality encompasses various areas like hotels, motels, apartments, restaurants, and cafes. There are numerous job openings within each of these fields. It’s also important to understand that Hospitality extends beyond just food and lodging; it’s not reliant on just chefs or housekeepers. The industry also needs managers, accountants, IT professionals, lawyers, and more. Hence, there are more opportunities than we usually know.”
Chakraborty says it's crucial for the students to know what their passion is. “Most of the time, you start this career from the bottom of the ladder and work your way up step by step. It is important to be patient and learn as you go. I see a lot of people study Hospitality but do not use their educational knowledge in the industry,” he says.
“Sometimes it helps if you go to the hotel and hand in the CV. I have done it myself. Check online if there is a requirement and walk in and drop your CV. If the hotel is already looking for someone they will be happy to meet a candidate who "walks the extra mile". You never know you may get a job on the spot. I got my first hotel job in NZ like this,” Chakraborty adds.
Commenting on the hospitality and tourism industry in New Zealand post-COVID, Chakraborty says, “There is definitely a buzz in the market right now. The industry is gearing up for the upcoming summer season. International companies are investing in New Zealand hospitality industry and the government is helping as much as possible. I can see that hotel occupancies are going up and as a result, the staff requirement in Hospitality has increased a lot compared to last year.”
When asked about the number of international students coming to New Zealand to study Hospitality, he says, while there are some delays at the immigration NZ level, we see the trends and interest in the hospitality industry programmes is gaining momentum.
Chakraborty comments on the performance of Indian-origin students in the New Zealand hospitality industry, saying, “I frequently meet many Kiwi-Indians who are performing very well at all levels, making a mark with their dedication and knowledge. I know quite a few Indians who are working in top management roles in some of the most well-respected New Zealand hotels.”
More recently, Chakraborty has joined a professional company specialising in purchasing and selling tourism establishments, such as motels, B&Bs, restaurants, cafes, vineyards, and more. “I got the ‘Rookie of the Year’ award for achieving the highest number of leads and listings. This additional role ties up nicely with what I am doing teaching and mentoring the upcoming generation of hospitality industry experts,” he says.
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