The Institute of Hotel Management, Hyderabad, hosts the 4th Season of the Budding Events, unearths exceptional talent!
Hyderabad, 22nd September 2025: The Institute of Hotel Management, Hyderabad (IHM-Hyderabad), a central government institute under the Ministry of Tourism, ranked the third best institute, successfully; hosted the 4th Season of the Budding Events, comprising of National Budding Professional Competition (Manager) and National Budding Chef Competition, at its premises at DD Colony, Vidyanagar, Hyderabad. The four-day mega event, which concluded today, witnessed the participation of 8 teams in the Budding Professional and 13 teams in the Budding Chef from leading IHMs, SIHMs, and private hospitality institutes from across India and Hyderabad.
The grand inaugural ceremony was graced by Chef Sudhakar N. Rao – Director/Principal, Culinary Academy of India and a proud Alumnus of IHM-Hyderabad; Mr. Anirban Kundu, Food & Beverage Manager, Taj Deccan, Hyderabad; Mr. Sanjay Thakur, Principal/ Member Secretary, IHM-Hyderabad; Ms. Rachna Agashe, HoD, IHM-Hyderabad; Mr. Puneet Razdan, HoD, IHM-Hyderabad and other dignitaries. The inaugural also set the tone for the competitions with inspiring addresses and enthusiastic participation from students across the country.
Participants in the National Budding Professional (Manager) 2025 category competed across diverse and industry-relevant events, testing their problem-solving, creativity, and operational skills. The categories included Online Test; Pitcharest- F&B Business Plan; SoP Detective – Error Detection & Correction; Floresque – Ikebana Competition; Front Desk Showdown – Service Recovery Skills; Takeoff – Product Launch Competition; Hotel Ecothon- Digital Junior Suite Designing; Sell Me This Pen – Selling Tactics and Hustle – Cocktail Making Competition. Based on cumulative scores from these events, the prestigious titles of Mr. Budding Professional (Manager) and Ms. Budding Professional (Manager) were awarded to the most deserving candidates.
National Budding Chef 2025 – Competitions & Awards
The Budding Chef Competition featured intense rounds across multiple cuisines and themes, bringing out the best of India’s culinary student talent in Regional Indian Authentic Cookery; International Surprise Basket and Cake Decoration Competition. The rigorous competitions tested participants’ culinary creativity, technical precision, and ability to work under pressure, culminating in the announcement of the National Budding Chef 2025 Champion Team.
Valedictory Ceremony of National Budding Events 2025
The Valedictory ceremony hosted today, was attended by eminent industry stalwarts including Guest of Honour Celebrity Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi; Mr. Rubin Cherian, General Manager, Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre & HICC; Mr. Rohan George, Resident Manager, Green Park Hyderabad; Mr. John Biswas, Hotel Manager, Radisson Blu Banjara Hills; Chef Manpreet Singh Malik, Executive Chef, Taj Deccan and Mr.Sanjay Thakur, Principal/ Member Secretary, IHM-Hyderabad and gave away the prizes to the winners in the various categories. A key highlight of the event was the release of a Research Book on AI Trends in the Hospitality Industry, reinforcing IHM-Hyderabad’s commitment to innovation in hospitality education.
A series of vibrant cultural performances, including the recitation of mantras, Ganesh Vandana, soulful flute recitals, a Telangana folk dance (Bathukamma), and a thought-provoking Nukkad Natak on the theme of Swachhata added grandeur and depth to the evening, blending tradition, culture, and social awareness.
Awards & Felicitations
The following awards were given to winners across competitions, during the Valedictory Ceremony, today.
Special Felicitations
As a part of the International Housekeepers Week, the institute felicitated the following, for their exceptional role in Housekeeping
- Mr. Manikandan, Executive Housekeeper, Taj Deccan
- Mr. Bilbin K. Babu, Head of Department, Housekeeping, Taj Vivanta
National Budding Professional (Manager) 2025, Awards
- Ms. Budding Professional (Manager): Ria Shirookar, IHM Goa.
- Mr. Budding Professional (Manager): Sai Manish, Regency College of Hotel Management.
- Ms. Budding Professional (Manager) – Runner-up: Shreyshy, IHM-Chennai.
- Mr. Budding Professional (Manager) – Runner-up: Carlos Frank Marcas R., IHM-Chennai.
- Participant with the Most Contagious Smile: Roel Saldanha, IHM-Goa.
- Participant with the Best Demeanour: Abhishek Sahoo, SIHM Balangir.
- Participant with the most pleasing personality: Harsimran Singh Sodhi, SIHM Jabalpur.
- The Best Seller (Sales & Marketing Topper): Rashmeet Kaur, IHM Bhubaneswar.
- Topper – F&B Service: Shubhi Rajbhar, SIHM Jabalpur.
- Topper – Front Office: Athiya Khan, Regency College of Hotel Management.
- Topper – Accommodation Operations: Ariba Siddiqui, Culinary Academy of India, Hyderabad.
National Budding Chef 2025, Awards
- Champion of the National Budding Chef 2025: Andrea Vaz & Aditya Nair, IHM-Goa.
- Consolation Prize – Regional Authentic Indian Cookery: Andriyas Topno & Sinthia Horo, SIHM Balangir.
- Runner-up – Regional Authentic Indian Cookery: Rakesh Rout & Romit Pradhan Shiksha O’ Anusandhan University, Bhubaneshwar.
- Winner – Regional Authentic Indian Cookery: Radhika Rajwade & Badal Sahu, SIHM Raipur.
- Consolation Prize – International Surprise Basket: Vikruthi Sarangan & Saahas Reddy, Culinary Academy of India, Hyderabad.
- Runner-up – International Surprise Basket: Rajbir Rana & Sanoop Wilson, IHM-Chennai.
- Winner – International Surprise Basket: Ayush Agarwal & Mohit Gurjar, SIHM Jabalpur.
- Consolation Prize – Let the Cake Tell Your Story: Andrea Vaz & Aditya Nair, IHM-Goa.
- Runner-up – Let the Cake Tell Your Story: Shrutika Sharma & T. Chandu, Regency College of Hotel Management, Hyderabad.
- Winner – Let the Cake Tell Your Story: Cibidaran & Abhishek Krishna, Indian Culinary Institute, Tirupati.
- Chef’s Hygiene Excellence Award : Janhavi Daiv & Souvik Das, IHM Ahmedabad.
- Chef with the Best Demeanour : Pooja Kha, IHM-Bhubaneshwar.
- Chef with the Best Smile : Mohit Gurjar, SIHM Jabalpur.
- Chef with the Most Pleasing Personality : Vikruthi Sarangan, Culinary Academy of India, Hyderabad
The event concluded with resounding applause, celebrating not just the winners but also the spirit of learning, collaboration, and hospitality excellence that IHM-Hyderabad proudly fosters.