Friday Dec 27, 2024
Friday Dec 27, 2024
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By Divya Thotawatte
International celebrity food expert and television show host Rashmi Uday Singh recently in Sri Lanka announced her current journey of giving back to the industry through her new initiative Hospitality Hope, the world’s first non-profit job portal.
A global hospitality job portal, Hospitality Hope is free-to-use and entirely financed by the personal savings of Uday Singh as she works to assist and cater to all job seekers and employers of the industry. Considering the increasingly saturated and competitive landscape of the industry, the platform is designed to be a no-cost, one-stop solution for all aforementioned parties.
Over a meal at Shang Palace at Shangri-La Colombo, Uday Singh said, “I have written 40 books. I didn’t want to write another one more even though 70% of the research for my 41st book is ready. I wanted to do something more meaningful, something that made me happy. In this world there is so much dog-eat-dog competitiveness and meanness. I want to send out a signal of sunshine and happiness and hope, especially for the young ones.”
The award-winning cookbook author explained that along her long journey within the hospitality industry, she had realised that a lot of young chefs needed internship opportunities which were limited where access was costly and challenging as well. Since Uday Singh had been the Chairperson of the region’s World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy for the past 17 years, her friendships with significant figures in the industry could benefit her cause, she explained. Hence, the platform is endorsed by many renowned chefs, restaurants, brands, etc. internationally including celebrity chefs Gordon Ramsey, Gary Mehigan, Sanjeev Kapoor, etc.
The idea for the job portal sprouted during the pandemic when Uday Singh started posting job alerts on her Instagram page to assist different chefs, restaurants, hotels, etc. Her vision began to take shape as she worked on creating the platform during breaks in her cancer treatments, which she had been undergoing for the past two years.
She said that the project brought her much enjoyment, pleasure and energy. “There are no sponsors, fees or subscriptions. There is no revenue model at all. It is totally free and runs on my savings. I want to give back to the hospitality industry for the love they have given me for so many years. I want to help the community.”
Uday Singh’s rich and diverse professional life spans numerous successful and impactful career paths. After dedicating 13 years to her role as a tax revenue officer, she has since flourished over the decades as an award-winning food guide, author, columnist, reporter, and TV anchor, earning recognition and a celebrity status on an international scale. Her enduring passion for food and writing has contributed well to her career.
She is not merely a World Gourmand Award winner but her achievements also include receiving the “Chevalier knighthood of arts and letters” for her work by the government of France. Now, fuelled by her kind and altruistic spirit, she envisions Hospitality Hope as a key platform dedicated to supporting the hospitality world.
Visit hospitalityhope.com
for more information.
