Problem Faced by Student Trainees During Industrial Training in the Hotel Industry

Abstract

This?study is aimed to find out the issues and challenges which were faced by student trainees during their hotel industrial training. While they will also do training and internships as part of their educational experience — these experiences also come with a lot of challenges that?can affect their learning outcomes and personal growth. Methods: Mix-method study where surveys and interviews were conducted with student trainees and hotel management staff and their coordinators?to identify what are the major challenges facing them during this training. No supervision and mentorship, the communication gap, unachievable workload, Cultural issues and work-life balance were some of the principal issues identified as?the key findings of the study. They laid discovered these challenges were detrimental to academic success, personal development, and prospects in?future employment. The emotional and psychological burden?of such issues on trainees was also highlighted by the study. This study presents recommendations for educational institutions, hotel industry professionals, and students on?enhancing mentorship and effective workload management and communication. By tackling these issues, we can raise the quality of industrial training, help students perform better and produce a more?competent and confident workforce for the hotel industry.

Introduction

Summary:

Industrial training programs are essential for hotel management students to gain practical experience and bridge the gap between theory and real-world hotel operations. These internships expose students to various hotel departments, helping develop both technical and soft skills necessary for their professional growth.

Research Problem:
Despite their importance, students face challenges during training, such as inadequate supervision, excessive workload, cultural and communication barriers, and high corporate expectations. These issues can negatively affect learning, mental health, and career motivation, making it crucial to understand and address these obstacles.

Study Objectives:

• Identify the main challenges faced by trainees.

• Assess the impact on academic, personal, and professional development.

• Evaluate institutional and industry support.

• Suggest improvements for training quality.

Literature Review:
Prior research highlights poor mentorship, work overload, cultural differences, and communication issues as common problems in hotel internships. These challenges hinder skill development and lead to stress and burnout. The study applies experiential and social learning theories to emphasize the value of hands-on experience and social interaction in learning.

Methodology:
A quantitative survey was conducted with 180 hotel management students across various hotel types and locations. Data analysis examined trainee challenges and their effects on learning outcomes.

Findings - Challenges:

1. Lack of supervision and mentoring leads to confusion and limited skill development.

2. Overwork and unrealistic expectations cause stress, burnout, and reduced learning.

3. Cultural and communication barriers impede effective teamwork and guest interactions.

Impact on Trainees:

• Academic performance declines due to poor supervision and excessive workload.

• Personal skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving suffer, affecting confidence.

• Career prospects weaken due to insufficient practical experience and limited networking.

• Mental health issues, including stress and burnout, are prevalent.

Recommended Strategies:

• Improve mentorship through experienced guides, regular feedback, and shadowing senior staff.

• Balance workload with clear roles, fair task distribution, and achievable goals.

• Enhance cultural sensitivity and communication via workshops, language training, and team-building activities.

Together, these strategies aim to create a supportive training environment that improves learning outcomes, trainee well-being, and career readiness in the hotel industry.

Conclusion

The findings stressed some important challenges of student trainees in hotel industry like poor supervision and guidance, heavy workload, cultural and communication challenges, difficulty in balancing work?with life, lack of exposure to vital durations of hotel operations, financial burdens, and psychological impacts. Thus, these challenges undermined trainees in areas such as academics,?personal growth and even their career pathways and well-being. Improper guidance?and unrealistic expectations create frustration and lowered learning outcomes; and cultural differences result in communication barriers that impact teamwork and service quality. Additionally, unpaid internships and travel?expenses pose financial and logistical burdens on trainees that hinder their capacity to remain fully engaged in their training. Implications of these findings?are tremendous for a wide range of constituency. Given?the vocational nature of education, the study urges schools to reassess their internship programs to align them with industry standards and ensure students are supported. This might?include more formal hands-on training partnerships between hotels and academic institutions. The results point to the need to provide appropriate mentoring, manage long?working hours of trainees, provide cultural sensitivity training to staff. It, would not only improve the quality of training but also help the hospitality sector by producing an efficient?& competent workforce. For students, awareness of these challenges should afford them the opportunity to prepare and self-advocate during internships, and navigate the training process more?effectively. Additionally, future studies may delve deeper into the nature and extent of these challenges as a?function of country or culture; after all, the regional punctuations of hospitality may push against the training experience. Delving into the challenges associated with specific groups of students like those from varying educational backgrounds and or high and low socio-economic backgrounds may give us more insight into what?comprises the industrial training and shape the directions for improvements. Guiding questions: In conclusion, to enhance the quality of industrial training?in the hotel industry, these challenges need the solution. In conclusion, hotel professionals and educational institutions providing guidance and implementing workable solutions in support of their trainees is the best way to afford students with the skills and exposure to ensure they thrive in the hospitality sector and that the future of the profession flourishes well into?the future.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Vishakha Dhore, Nandita Sapra. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.