Asia Pacific Journal of Research ISSN (Print): 2320-5504 ISSN (Online): 2347-4793 www.apjor.com Vol: I. Issue LVIV, January 2018 252 SOFT SKILLS FOR HOSPITALITY PROFESSIONALS: A REVIEW Pankaj Misra 1 , Dr. Ishani Patharia 2 and Anjana Pandey 3 1 Assistant Professor, Department of Hotel Management, Bhagat Phool Singh Mahila Vishwavidyalaya, Khanpur Kalan Sonepat. 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Commerce, Bhagat Phool Singh Mahila Vishwavidyalaya, Khanpur Kalan Sonepat. 3 Research Scholar, Department of Commerce, Bhagat Phool Singh Mahila Vishwavidyalaya, Khanpur Kalan Sonepat. ABSTRACT This study reviewed many research papers and articles related to the gaps between the skills inculcated by the academic institutions and expectations of hospitality industry. This paper identified that employability skills is very important for Hospitality students. From the various literatures review it was found that employability skills were also distributed in two skills i.e. technical and non-technical skills. Academic institutions were well prepared their students in technical or hard skills but somehow they were lacking in developing non-technical or soft skills among them. There is an urgent need to give more and more emphasis on Non technical or soft skills to the Hospitality students. In India, unemployment is a big challenge and it may be overcome through, more emphasis on soft skills knowledge and attributes in hospitality education by academic institutions. Therefore, the academic institutions may improve their course curriculum for the hospitality students by giving more emphasis to get Key words: Soft skills, Academic Institutions, Hospitality Industry, Course Curriculum, Hospitality Students. Introduction Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) in India governed elementary, secondary and higher education. The MHRD has been entrusted with the coordination of all stakeholders for the evolution of an appropriate skills development framework, removal of disconnect between demand and supply of skilled manpower, skills upgradation, building new skills and innovative thinking. University and Higher Education caters to all college education (Arts, Science, Commerce, etc.), while Engineering Education, Polytechnics, etc. fall under Technical Education. University Grants Commission (UGC) is the nodal body governing funds, grants and setting standards for teaching, examination and research in Universities and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is the regulatory body for Technical Education in India. Technical education plays an important role in the overall development of a nation and so has been its role in our country too. Hotel management discipline is both technical and professional in nature. Thus, it is run by different governing bodies in India like UGC, NCHMCT and AICTE. (Konard, Adenauer and Stiftung, 2015) Tourism is an important economic activity in most countries around the world. The growth of the Travel & Tourism sector in 2015 (2.8%) outpaced that of the global economy (2.3%) and a number of other major sectors such as manufacturing and retail. In total, Travel & Tourism generated US $7.2 trillion (9.8% of global GDP) and supported 284 million jobs, equivalent to 1 in 11 jobs in the global economy (World travel & tourism council, 2016).