Bengaluru, March 4, 2022: The International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) and Kolkata Metro Railways are striking a historic handshake with Kolkata’s iconic Park Street Metro Station being renamed as IIHM Park Street Metro. This arrangement is truly iconic as the leading global institute of hospitality education in India is branding with the heart of global hospitality and cuisines in Eastern India, Park Street. However, this branding will also have a global impact as IIHM Park Street Metro will promote the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This will probably be the first time that any Metro Station in the world is highlighting the UN SDGs.
Dr Suborno Bose, the Chairman of IIHM Worldwide said, “We are extremely excited to brand Park Street Metro Station as IIHM Park Street and to promote the UN SDGs at this iconic hospitality hotspot of Eastern India. We are proud of this new branding.” Dr Suborno Bose and Kausik Mitra, Deputy Chief Operations Manager, Metro Railway, signed the MoU on March 2, 2022 to mark this historic initiative.
IIHM has been instrumental in highlighting and practising the UN SDGs to the best of its ability since 2019. Their pledge to fulfil UN SDG Goal No. 2 of Zero Hunger started in 2019 with the Food Aid initiative. Thousands of hungry people across the country were fed by the students of IIHM who became Food Soldiers to support this cause. IIHM has relentlessly supported the UN SDGs that have been highlighted through the popular and grand International Young Chef Olympiad. A Diamond Research Award was announced at the Young Chef Olympiad 2022 where students and colleges that submitted research papers on any one of the SDGs were awarded for their work.
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation, the last word in world tourism has also shown immense support and appreciation for IIHM’s work in this regard. The UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili has praised the institution for their effort to connect the youth of world through the SDGs because it is the international youth fraternity that is stepping forward to support and promote the SDGs.
With this new arrangement, the hub of global hospitality in this part of the world, Park Street, will now be promoting this global cause that every nation of the world is trying to address in its own way. Steeped in history, Park Street carries a legacy of its own right from the British Empire days.
“I am truly delighted to learn that Dr Suborno Bose and IIHM will be promoting the UN SDGs at the Park Street Metro Station. There is no other person more qualified or suitable than Dr Bose to undertake such a project. I wish them all the very best,” said Nitin Kothari, owner of the legendary Mocambo and Peter Cat Restaurants on Park Street.
“IIHM is a world class iconic brand that leads hospitality management education in sustainability and fully incorporates and supports the UN 17 Sustainability Goals. IIHM is pioneering sustainability projects and research to assist humanity in making it a better world for all. IIHM brings hope to many but especially to its students,” said Prof David Foskett, MBE, Legendary Culinary and Hospitality Educator and Best-selling author.
Anita Mendiratta, Special Advisor to the Secretary-General of UNWTO, expressed her appreciation on this special initiative, “Immense congratulations to Park Street Metro Station and IIHM for leading by example – two greatly respected hospitality partners are committed to living the UN SDGs.”
