PES University Students Shine at Xenia 2026 Hospitality Competition

Students from the Department of Hospitality and Event Management at PES University showcased exceptional talent and brought home top honors at Xenia 2026, a prestigious inter-college hospitality competition hosted by Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru. Held on September 17th and 18th, 2026, the event attracted participants from various institutions and provided a vibrant platform for aspiring hospitality professionals to demonstrate their skills.

The competition featured a range of hospitality-focused events that tested participants' creativity, technical expertise, professional standards, and teamwork. Students competed in culinary arts, cocktail making, destination curation, and other industry-relevant challenges. Throughout the event, participants were evaluated on innovation, presentation, hygiene practices, safety standards, and time management.

PES University students delivered an outstanding performance, earning recognition across multiple categories. In the Cocktail Making Competition, Hani and Rahul S. from the 3rd Semester BBA-HEM program secured First Place with their impressive beverage creation and presentation skills. The same duo also won First Place in the Curating Destination competition, showcasing exceptional creativity and destination marketing abilities.

Adding to the university's success, Sohan and Sharaangi from the 5th Semester BBA-HEM program secured Second Place in the Culinary Competition, impressing judges with their innovative culinary preparation and presentation.

One of the major highlights of the event was the opportunity for students to apply their classroom learning in a competitive and professional environment. Participants demonstrated culinary creativity, technical proficiency, and the ability to perform effectively under pressure. The event also encouraged teamwork, confidence, and industry readiness while offering valuable exposure to real-world hospitality practices.

The experience proved highly beneficial for the participating students. Through the competitions, they enhanced their culinary and beverage preparation skills, improved creativity in food presentation, strengthened their time-management abilities, and developed greater confidence in presenting their work before judges and peers. Most importantly, the event provided firsthand exposure to industry standards and competitive hospitality environments.

The remarkable achievements at Xenia 2026 reflect the dedication, talent, and professional preparation of PES University's Hospitality and Event Management students. Their success serves as an inspiration to fellow students and reinforces the university's commitment to nurturing future leaders in the hospitality industry.

Congratulations to all the participants and winners for representing PES University with excellence and bringing laurels to the institution.