The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with ETS India, the Indian arm of Educational Testing Service (ETS), to set English communication benchmarks for the hospitality sector using the TOEIC Link assessment.
Combining FHRAI’s industry expertise with ETS’s global assessment capabilities, the partnership aims to improve workforce readiness by integrating English proficiency as a measurable standard for hiring and training.
The TOEIC Link test assesses listening, reading, speaking and writing skills through practical hospitality scenarios. It is delivered online with AI proctoring, making it accessible even in remote areas.
FHRAI will select hotels and Institutes of Hotel Management (IHMs) for a pilot study. ETS India will assess hotel staff, new recruits and final-year students to define minimum communication requirements for roles like front office, housekeeping and F&B.
The pilot will include diagnostic testing, input from HR managers and data analysis to set role-specific benchmarks. ETS India will also train faculty through a Train-the-Trainer programme to ensure sustainability.
After the pilot, the initiative plans to scale nationally, establishing TOEIC Link as the hospitality sector’s standard English test. This will assist employers in hiring decisions and help candidates align their skills with industry needs.
The partnership highlights FHRAI’s commitment to raising service standards and employability, while positioning ETS India as a key player in hospitality skill development.
FHRAI president K Syama Raju commented: “With ETS India’s support, we aim to establish clear benchmarks that will help our industry meet global service expectations. It’s time we equip our workforce not just with technical know-how, but with the ability to communicate confidently and clearly.”
Sachin Jain, country manager India and South Asia, ETS, added: “By working with FHRAI, we hope to not only bridge the English communication gap but also help create a standardised, scalable framework for talent development in hospitality sector. This collaboration has the potential to become a model for sector-wide adoption not just in India but globally.”
