Travel companies in India are ramping up recruitment efforts, especially for mid-level and senior talent, propelled by the government’s push on tourism and a significant boost in the interim budget presented last month. Recruitment firms told ET they are seeing a 30-50 per cent rise in mandates from travel companies, looking to tap continued rise in consumer spending on tourism post the revenge travel boom. Companies are scouting for talent in not just product, engineering, revenue, and supply chain, but also those with specialised skills in AI and automation.
Hospitality and consumer tech companies are emerging as hunting grounds for such talent, which can command compensation packages ranging fromINR 70-80 lakhs, reaching up toINR 1-2 crore for CXO appointments.
The travel market in India, estimated at USD 75 billion in FY20, is projected to reach USD 125 billion by FY27, according to data from industry body FICCI.
“Expansion in the travel sector picked up last year as companies looked to expand business verticals and new projects, invest in technology to reduce dependency on partners, and strengthen support functions to ensure process efficiencies,” said Anshul Lodha, managing director of Michael Page India.
The recruiter has seen nearly 50 per cent jump in mandates from travel companies, primarily in mid- and some senior-level appointments, Lodha said.
Looking ahead, the Amadeus research outlines the top priority technologies for both 2024 and 2029, with machine learning, data analytics, and cloud computing emerging as perennial favourites across all sectors. The findings emphasize a collective industry vision towards harnessing the power of technology to drive innovation and efficiency in the years to come.
There is a rise in mandates from firms in the travel sector, especially those catering to airlines, vacations, and luxury hotels, said Anuj Roy, managing partner, Fidius Advisory. “With increased spends in these segments, companies want to build capabilities and refine product platforms. A majority of the hiring is for engineering, product, P&L, and marketing,” said Roy.Claricent Partners has seen almost 30 per cent increase in mandates from travel companies as compared to previous months, for profiles to head technology and innovation.
“Post pandemic, people are investing in travel in a big way. With the rise in the country’s economy and increased spending power, travel is seeing an all-time high with not just Indians going to foreign destinations but also a steady rise in foreign travellers coming to India,” said Jyoti Bowen Nath, managing partner, Claricent Partners.
