Query to Qualification: Hospitality Education Information-seeking Behaviors, Trends and Search Network In India (2015-2025)

This research paper presents an analysis of information-seeking behaviours and the search of prospective hospitality education students in India during 2015-2025. The research looks at digital transformation in regard to educational queries, enrollment trends, the growth of institutions as well as how technology adoption affects students' decision-making processes. Utilizing quantitative analysis of enrollment data, search trend behaviors and institution-level responses, this paper collaboratively shares significant shifts in how students are researching, comparing and choosing hospitality education programs. Highlights of findings indicate: a 179% increase in online program students; dismal enrolments for traditional hospitality courses, with YOY declines of -15 to -20% since the pandemic and pervasive changes among searchers, who increasingly consume their information digitally first. This study uses mixed-method analysis integrating secondary data from national testing agencies, institutes reports and digital search analytics to comprehensively summarize the hospitality education landscape in India.