Manipal, September 2, 2026: Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration (WGSHA), a Constituent Unit of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), is hosting a delegation from Aditya Birla New Age Hospitality (ABNAH), the hospitality arm of the Aditya Birla Group,  from September 2 to 4, 2026. The visit aims to explore a long-term strategic partnership and operationalize the proposed ABNAH - WGSHA Memorandum of Understanding, towards building future talent.
The discussions will focus on campus recruitment/long-term talent acquisition, skill-development/short-term certification programs, live business projects, experiential learning opportunities/part-time degrees, and certificate programs. The two organisations will also explore innovation-led collaboration in artificial intelligence, digital transformation, guest experiences and sustainability amongst other business priorities.
Other areas of discussion include leadership-development programmes, functional-excellence programmes for supply chain management, procurement, finance, quality, maintenance, and other support functions. Opportunities for e-learning-content development, learning design studio support, training-video production and accommodation support for interns, trainees and employees will also be examined.
The partnership is closely aligned with ABNAH’s vision of becoming the most preferred house of F&B brands in the country. As ABNAH continues to build and scale a diverse portfolio of hospitality brands, developing a strong pipeline of future-ready talent and investing in industry-relevant capabilities will be critical to fuelling this ambition. The collaboration with WGSHA will create a structured bridge between academic excellence and real-world hospitality.
The three-day programme includes strategic discussions, campus and facility visits, interaction with students, MoU deliberations and meetings with the leadership of MAHE and WGSHA. The deliberations will conclude with the identification of suitable pilot projects, responsibilities, timelines and review mechanisms for 2026–27.
The proposed collaboration seeks to combine WGSHA’s academic expertise with ABNAH’s industry experience to strengthen talent development, innovation, applied learning and sustainable growth in the hospitality sector.