In this podcast, Puneet Baijal talks to us about the current tourism and hospitality trends in India and more specifically in the Gujrat region where he is currently the General Manager of the five-star Hyatt Regency Hotel in Ahmedabad.  He shares his passion for hospitality and describes how Indian culture plays a big role in the way Indians welcome guests and tourists to their country.  We ask him to explain why India has always been a popular tourist destination and continues to capture so many travelers’ hearts. Puneet also explains how India is preparing young people for the industry and what can be done to improve hospitality education and increase the number of qualified staff for the future.  We also ask him how he foresees the future of hospitality in India and the challenges that the industry will face in the coming years. Puneet Baijal is currently the General Manager at the luxurious five-star Hyatt Regency Hotel in Ahmedabad, Gujrat India.  The Hotel has been and continues to host many Presidents, Prime Ministers and global state dignitaries.  With over 25 years in the hospitality industry, predominantly in the Middle East and India, Puneet has led diverse teams of up to 48 different nationalities to deliver successful business initiatives.  He helped to secure the Best Hotel of the year in 2017 and the Best Upcoming Hotel awards for the Hyatt Regency, Chandigarh in 2018.   Puneet has repeatedly been recognised for exceptional performance: Leading F&B Director/Best GM - Hyatt, India; Best GM in Middle East - Hyatt, Doha, and Best GCC Business Leader - Roda Al Bustan, Dubai.  He has consistently achieved 95%+ in employee satisfaction scores and maintained the lowest staff attrition rate.  He has also been the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) committee leader, arranging outreach to NGO’s and underprivileged sectors of the community to share the hotel’s luxury features and offer employment opportunities.