Hilton Global Foundation Awards 2026 Grant to Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council to Advance Workforce Development in India

The Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) announced that it has been selected as a 2026 Hilton Global Foundation (HGF) grantee, receiving grant support to strengthen hospitality workforce development and employment pathways for young people across India.

Recipient:
Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC), India.

Purpose:
Strengthen hospitality workforce development and create employment pathways for young people across India.

Impact:
- More than 1,000 youth will be trained through certified hospitality programs.
- Structured job placement assistance will help graduates secure stable careers in the hospitality industry.

Strategic Alignment
Hilton Global Foundation: This grant supports Hilton’s Travel with Purpose strategy, focusing on:
- Workforce development
- Destination sustainability
- Community resilience

THSC’s Role:
- Established in 2014 under CII and NSDC.
- Recognized by NCVET under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.
- Has enrolled ~2 million candidates and assessed 1.8 million beneficiaries.
- Operates a network of 4,300+ training institutes and 5,000 industry partners for employment and apprenticeships.

Leadership Voices
- Rajan Bahadur, CEO, THSC: Called the grant a strong endorsement of THSC’s mission to build a future-ready hospitality workforce.
- Katherine Lugar, EVP Corporate Affairs, Hilton & President, Hilton Global Foundation: Highlighted the “exponential power of partnership” in expanding access to opportunity and protecting destinations.

Broader Context
Since 2019, the Hilton Global Foundation has contributed over $25 million to organizations worldwide, positively impacting millions of lives.

This grant positions India’s hospitality sector for stronger growth, while also aligning with Hilton’s global sustainability and community-building goals.