A comprehensive approach to training specialists for effective management of a hotel enterprise

This article is devoted to a comprehensive analysis of the system of training specialists for the hotel industry in Russia and the development of practical recommendations for its improvement. The relevance of the study is dictated by a set of industry challenges: growing guest expectations, increased competition and rapid digitalization of the hotel business. Existing educational models do not always have time to adapt to these dynamic changes, which creates a shortage of managers capable of effectively managing a hotel in turbulent conditions. The main goal of the work was to identify key problems of interaction between educational institutions and industry enterprises, as well as to determine the directions of modernization of educational programs to increase the competitiveness of graduates in the labor market. The research methodology included qualitative and quantitative methods: in-depth interviews with industry experts (hotel managers, HR specialists, teachers), focus groups with students, a survey of graduates and a content analysis of educational programs of Russian and foreign universities. The geography of the study covered key regions indicative for the study of hotel business development - Moscow, St. Petersburg and the Krasnodar Territory. The results of the study revealed systemic problems in personnel training, including insufficient practical orientation of educational programs, weak implementation of modern digital technologies in the educational process, and a lack of interaction between universities and industry enterprises. Based on the analysis, a set of recommendations was developed for educational institutions, business structures and regulatory bodies aimed at creating an effective system for training competitive specialists for the hotel industry. The study is of practical value for all participants in the educational process in the hospitality industry.