Vol 6 Issue 1, February 2006 - School of Hotel & Tourism ...

1Prof Poon Chung-kwong, PolyU President, and Prof Kaye Chon, Head of School, at theannouncement of the establishment of a teaching hotel for SHTM.ContentsMessage from Head of School ...................................2Publisher: Kaye ChonManaging Editor: Ada LoConsulting Editor: Ann WilliamsDesign: Creative PathPrinter: Impact Printing &Graphics Co. Ltd.Horizons is published by the Schoolof Hotel & Tourism Managementfor friends, alumni, staff andstudents of the School.Contributions from readers arewelcome in the form of articles andphotographs. All contributionsshould be sent to: Editor, Horizons,School of Hotel & TourismManagement, The Hong KongPolytechnic University, HungHom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR.The Editor reserves final editingrights on all material submitted forpublication.Telephone: (852) 2766 6310Fax: (852) 2362 9362Email: hmada@polyu.edu.hkWebsite: www.polyu.edu.hk/htmBuilding for the Future...............................................3PolyU announces plans for establishment of teaching hoteland related facilitiesNoted Hotelier Bequests US$1 million ......................4Andreas Hofer, one of Hong Kong’s most distinguished hoteliers,has made a very generous bequest that will benefit outstanding studentsBright Future for Shandong Tourism .........................5Shandong Provincial Tourism Administration signs a Memorandum ofUnderstanding with SHTM for future collaborationExcellent Performances ..............................................6SHTM rewards excellence in research and teachingMainland Update ........................................................8Mastering the Industry .............................................10Students speak about their experiences on the MSc Hong Kong programmeStrengthening Ties with Industry.............................13PolyU’s Co-operative Education Programme is renamed Work-IntegratedEducationInto the World...........................................................142005 graduates takes their first steps on the career ladder – where arethey and how are they doing?Executive Development Programmes ......................18Latest Research .........................................................20SHTM News ...............................................................23Out of the Classroom................................................26News on fieldtrips and other student activities away from campusCream of the Crop ....................................................28Ceremonies are held for the newest members of Eta Sigma Delta and forrecipients of the Academic Achievement AwardsStudents Climb Global Summit ................................29Three SHTM students are chosen to participate in the World Students’Tourism Summit 2005 in JapanRetreat in the Frame.................................................30Participants got a chance to show off their photographic skills ona recent treat to Lamma IslandOn the Agenda .........................................................32School of Hotel and Tourism Management

2Message from Head of SchoolMessage fromHead of SchoolWelcome to the latest issue of Horizons, and the first of a new year.We have plenty to talk about – and celebrate – in this issue, namely theannouncement of the SHTM teaching hotel; the news of an extremely generousbequest; the move of our latest batch of graduates into the work place; theWork-Integrated Education forum for industry partners; outstandingachievements by our staff; and the strengthening of the alumni network through the alumni dinner and Schoolretreat.Plans for the dedicated premises for SHTM including a teaching hotel were unveiled recently by The Hong KongPolytechnic University. It is anticipated that the premises will be completed in time for the 2008/09 academic year.This is a tremendous boost to our long-term development.Mr Andreas Hofer is one of Hong Kong’s most distinguished hoteliers, and I am extremely honoured that he and hiswife have made a bequest of US$1 million to PolyU to establish the Andreas Hofer Scholarship. It will support twooutstanding students of Hong Kong origin to study at the School or graduates to pursue further studies at SHTM orother leading institutions.Our class of 2005 are now well into their new careers. Although the students have graduated, we still take a keeninterest in their development. In the pages of this issue, we catch up with some of them and find out how they arefaring in the workplace.We encourage all our graduates to join our Alumni Association. This has both professional and social benefits. Giventhat so many of our alumni hold senior positions in the industry locally, in mainland China and overseas, this offersyoung graduates superb networking and mentoring opportunities. We recently held an SHTM retreat on one ofHong Kong’s most relaxing islands to which staff, Advisory Committee members, alumni and families were invited.This did a great deal to strengthen the bonds between everyone involved with the School, past and present.Several of the graduates mentioned how helpful their industry placements and internships had been in preparingthem for their move into the world of full-time work. PolyU has renamed its Cooperative Education Programme asWork-Integrated Education. We recently held a forum to update industry partners on new developments, as well ashear their views on this extremely important facet of our programmes.Last, but definitely not least, I wish to offer my congratulations to the following staff: Prof Cathy Hsu for winning theMichael D Olsen award, Outstanding Young Professors Fellowship and the SHTM Research Excellence Award; ProfHaiyan Song, for receiving the PolyU’s KC Wong Fellowship; and lecturer Ada Lo for winning the SHTM TeachingExcellence Award.You can read about all these topics – and much more –in the following pages.Professor Kaye ChonChair Professor and HeadSchool of Hotel & Tourism ManagementThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHORIZONS

3Building for the FuturePolyU hosted a Spring Reception in early February tocelebrate with industry partners and friends thelatest achievements and developments of the School,including the announcement of the establishment ofthe teaching hotel. Held at the Hong Kong Conventionand Exhibition Centre, the reception was jointly hostedby Mr Victor Lo Chung-wing, PolyU Council Chairman.and Prof Poon Chung-kwong, PolyU President. DrHenry Tang, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong SARGovernment, was the guest-of-honour.Plans for the dedicated premiseswere unveiled by The Hong KongPolytechnic University and will nodoubt further enhance SHTM’s worldleadership position in hospitality andtourism education and embrace thestrong demand for its furthercontribution to Hong Kong and theregion.The facility, which will be located adjacent to the PolyUcampus, will include a teaching hotel, conferencefacilities, teaching restaurants, research centres andclassrooms. The hotel will be positioned to providehigher quality service. The School area willaccommodate student population growth up to year2020. It is anticipated that the premises will becompleted in time for the 2008/09 academic year.Prof Kaye Chon says that the new facility will be agreat boost to the School’s long-term development.“Apart from the advantage of having various teachingand research facilities, offices, conference facilities andteaching hotel and restaurants under one roof in anexcellent location, we look forward to having newresearch laboratories to experiment with such areas asdesign, infrastructure and services in a hotel, including,for example, hotel room design, wiring and ducting,room service, business centre service and so on.”He adds: “On top of the training offered in thepremises, we will continue to arrange placements withhotels at home and abroad to ensure the broadexposure of our students.”Above:An artist’s impression of the new facility.Left:(from left) Prof Poon, the Honorable DrHenry Tang GSB, JP, Mr Victor Lo, PolyUCouncil Chairman, the Honorable MsSelina Chow JP, Chairman of the HongKong Tourism Board and Prof Chonpropose a toast to guests at the SpringReception.PolyU appointed a taskforce in November 2004,comprising industry leaders and PolyU Councilmembers, to study the need for and feasibility of thedevelopment project. Upon the recommendation ofthe taskforce, the University Council approved the planat a recent meeting.Prof Poon Chung-kwong, PolyU President, says: “Webelieve that having dedicated premises for SHTM is inline with the practice of top hotel and tourism schoolsin the world. The School is widely recognised as aleader in the region and was recently ranked numberfour in the world in terms of hotel & tourism research.But the challenge for Hong Kong ahead is huge andwe are determined to do even better. The plannedteaching hotel complex will give the visibility of aworld-class institution that SHTM deserves.“It will help enhance work-integrated education andresearch in hospitality management and help us attracthigh-quality students and the best teaching staff fromaround the world,” he adds. “Having a teaching hotelnear our conveniently located campus will alsofacilitate partnerships with industry and educationalinstitutions in the Chinese mainland.”School of Hotel and Tourism Management

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Strategic Alliances 5Shandong Province, consideredby many to be one of the majorbirthplaces of Chinese culture andan area with tremendous potentialfor tourism, is set to benefit fromthe School’s expertise.A Memorandum of Understandingwas signed in October betweenSHTM and Shandong ProvincialMr Li Deming (left) and MrTourism Administration (SPTA) forCao Xuecheng (right) presentfuture collaboration on research and a souvenir to Prof Chon.human resources capacity building inthe tourism industry. Guests were welcomed to theceremony by Prof Kaye Chon. Also officiating were MrCao Xuecheng, Deputy Director, Shandong People’sCongress, and Mr Li Deming, Director-General,Shandong Provincial Tourism Administration.Bright Future forSHTM and SPTA sign the Memorandum ofUnderstanding.Shandong Tourism“One of the biggest challenges in the hotel andtourism industry today is developing human resourcestalents and capacity building,” said Prof Chon. “I amsure that our School and SPTA will be able to joinhands together and work towards the development ofwell-trained human resources and capacities in thehotel and tourism industry in Shandong Province. Weare looking forward to a fruitful relationship betweenour two organisations in the future.”Guests included Mr Chan Lap Chi, Chairman, HKChinese Travel Association; Mr Michael Wu, Chairman,Hong Kong Association of Travel Agents; Mr Tian Xin,the Assistant Director of Asian Tourism ExchangeCentre Ltd, representing Mr Fan Gui Shan, Director; MsJanny Yau, Business Development Manager, SwireTravel Ltd; and Mr Francis Lai, General Manager, GroupTour Travel Service, Miramar Express.Shandong Province Fact Box• Located in the east of the country,occupying 156,000sq.km• Second most populous Chinese provincewith more than 90 million people• Birthplace of Confucius, Chinese thinker,educator and statesman• Played key role in development of Chinesepottery, porcelain and silk• City of Qingdao is home to Qingdao beer,one of China’s best-known brand names• 2008 Beijing Olympic water sports gameswill be held in Qingdao, where 154 relatedprojects with an estimated gross investmentof US$9.1 billion are plannedSchool of Hotel and Tourism Management

6SHTM Research and Teaching Excellence AwardsExcellent PerformancesChairman of the Board of the International Society ofTravel and Tourism Educators, and the Editor-in-Chiefof the Journal of Teaching in Travel and Tourism. Shealso serves on seven journal editorial boards. Shereceived the Best Article of the Year award from theJournal of Hospitality and Tourism Research in 2000.She is listed in Who’s Who Among Asian Americans.Prof Hsu supervising her PhD student Huang Songshan on hisdissertation titled “Mainland Chinese Travelers’ Motivation,Satisfaction, and Re-visit Intention toward Hong Kong”.Prof Cathy Hsu is the recipient of the SHTM ResearchExcellence Award for 2004/05. Born and raised inTaiwan, and fluent in Mandarin Chinese, she joinedSHTM in July 2001 and is the Associate Head –Academic Affairs. She had previously been a professorat Kansas State University, US, and prior to that, shewas on faculty at Iowa State University for nine years.She gained her MSc and PhD from Iowa, and her BScfrom Fu-Jen University, Taiwan.Hospitality and destination marketing, touristbehaviour, gaming impact and development, andhospitality education and student learning are ProfHsu’s specialist areas of research. She is the editor andchapter author of the books, Casino Industry in AsiaPacific: Development, Operations and Impact,published in 2006, and Legalized Casino Gaming in theUS: The Economic and Social Impact, published in1999, both by The Haworth Hospitality Press. She isthe lead author of the Marketing Hospitality textbook,published in June 2001 by John Wiley and Sons. Shehas also co-authored a book on Quantity Food QualityControl in traditional Chinese, published in Taiwan in1995. Professor Hsu has more than 100 refereedjournal and proceedings publications.Prof Hsu has served as a consultant to various tourismorganisations, such as the World Tourism Organization,Garden Hotels in Guangzhou, Kansas Travel andTourism Development Division, and LawrenceConvention and Visitors Bureau. She is the pastAs well as the Research Excellence Award, Prof Hsu is arecipient of PolyU’s Young Professors Fellowship for2005-2006.“To be a good researcher, you need to be hardworking and persistent,” says Prof Hsu. “Mostimportant is to have an understanding of researchmethodology. If you are not a good writer you can findother people to help you, but with the methodology,you need to understand it yourself. You also have to bevery detail oriented and to know what you want andwhere to find it. Remember that once you have doneyour data collection, it would be difficult to go backand change it. I also suggest researchers to do theirown data analysis if possible. It is this uncoveringprocess that leads to meaningful discovery.”Hospitality and tourism is a very applied discipline, shenotes. “You must always consider the ‘so what’ factorfor consultation or academic projects – ask yourself‘what will people get from this?’ This reflects theSchool’s philosophy that staff need to have industryexperience so that they know what is of interest topractitioners. My first job was at McDonald’s, and I havesince worked in hotel and restaurant management,while studying at the same time.”Although she is not working in the industry now, ProfHsu says she can still contribute to it through herresearch. “Issues that I came across when I was workingI can now address. Research is also one way to enhancethe reputation of the School and continue to raise itsinternational profile. My advice to students who areinterested in research is to get out into industry beforereturning to education. It is great to have the aspiration,but the university will still be here after you have a fewyears’ experience under your belt.”HORIZONS

SHTM Research and Teaching Excellence Awards 7Lecturer Ms Ada Lo has received the 2004/05 SHTMTeaching Excellence Award. Ms Lo joined theuniversity in October 1999 and teaches undergraduatecourses in the areas of marketing and hospitalitymanagement. She is also an active participant inresearch, with her specialist areas being travellers’information search behaviour, customer satisfaction,loyalty, market segmentation, and tourism shopping.In addition to teaching and research, Ms Lo is also incharge of the publication of the School’s monthlynewsflash and Horizons magazine.In 1989 Ms Lo was a recipient of a scholarship awardedby the Shangri-La Hotel and Resorts, which gave herthe opportunity to study for her undergraduate andmaster’s degrees in the United States. While at CornellUniversity, she was a part-time teaching assistant fortwo years and graduate teaching assistant for anotheryear – this was when the interest of teaching was“implanted”. She then worked in the hotel industry forsix years after returning from the US.Commenting on the award, Ms Lo said: “I’d like thankfirst of all my students. Without them, I wouldn’t beable to practice what I preach. My thanks go toShangri-La Hotel and Resorts – without thatscholarship, I would not have been able to studyabroad and would not have developed a fascinationwith being an academician. I’d also like to thank Godfor giving me the ability and opportunity to teach andgroom the younger generation.”Explaining her teaching philosophy, Ms Lo says: “Asan educator in a higher education institution, I seemyself as a ‘facilitator’ providing students with thebest education through various learning and teachingactivities in class and personal interactions withstudents both inside and outside the classroom. Therole of facilitator is very important in highereducation as we are here to create the appropriatelearning environment for students to construct theirown knowledge in the respective disciplines througha variety of learning experiences. More important isto prepare the students for the workplace and thecommunity by providing with them the opportunityto acquire the necessary communication, interpersonal,leadership, self-learning, and professionalskills.”She believes that students do not just learn fromclasses, textbooks and handouts, they also learn fromthe teacher. “I see myself as a role-model for thestudents, especially those Year 1 students just startingtheir university life. In addition, it is important toprovide students with a caring and supportive learningenvironment. I also see myself as a friend and I stronglyencourage them to contact me should they encounterany problems, no matter they are related to study,personal life, relationships, or career and further studydecisions.Ms Ada Lo in the classroom.As well as her bachelor’s and master’s from Cornell, MsLo holds the professional instructor qualifications forCertified Hospitality Educator granted by the EducationInstitute of the American Hotel & Lodging Associationand “Skills for the Empowered Workforce” ofDevelopment Dimensions International. She is currentlyenrolled in the PhD program at the School of Hotel andRestaurant Administration at Oklahoma State University.“Continuous reflection on one’s own teaching is alsoessential as it helps to improve teaching skills andcreate the most appropriate environment for thestudents. Keeping up with what is happening in theindustry is also important.” Finally – and perhaps mostimportantly – is that she says she enjoys being ateacher. “It gives me a very strong sense ofsatisfaction, especially when students come back afterthey have graduated to tell me how useful they foundthe course to be,” she says.School of Hotel and Tourism Management

8Mainland UpdateGraduates Celebrate MilestoneA total of 60 new graduates from mainlandChina gathered in Hong Kong in December for theircongregation. It was an extremely uplifting occasion,as the graduates, friends and families gathered at theHarbour Plaza Metropolis Hotel to celebrate theirachievements and toast to the future.To mark the occasion, Prof Kaye Chon sent a messageto the graduates: “It gives me a tremendous pleasureto write this note of congratulations to you on theoccasion of your graduation.You have worked very hard toachieve this major milestone inyour career and I know this achievement would nothave been possible without your hard work andperseverance. You must be also proud of your familiesand friends who have provided you with the necessarysupport without which your achievement would nothave been possible. Congratulations!”Scenes from the graduationcongregation for mainland Chinesestudents.HORIZONS

Mainland Update9China Programmes UpdateA total of 55 students have enrolled in the BA (Hons) in Hotel andCatering Management in Xian. Appropriately, the class started onSeptember 10 – Teacher’s Day in China! Four subjects are nowbeing taught.The MSc in Hotel and Tourism Management, coordinated withBeijing International Studies University and stationed in Beijingbegan in December with 35 students. The first subject coversmanaging human resources in the hotel and tourism industry.Students and faculty of the BA programme in Xian.Three subjects are now being taught on the MSc in Hotel and Tourism Management, coordinated withZhejiang University and stationed in Hangzhou. A total of 31 students are enrolled in the class.The MSc stationed in Guangzhou has 31 studentsstudying three subjects.Charlotte (second from right middle row) with herclassmates in the MSc programme in Beijing.Charlotte Jia Xu has recently returned to Shanghai,after working as an operations manager with AAST Inc,an international adventures tours operator, in Toronto,Canada, for two years.Tourism was one of the earliest industries in mainlandChina to be opened up to the world and enjoy a moreopen market in a competitive atmosphere. World TradeOrganization membership, the hosting of the 2008Beijing Olympic Games and other international eventsare having a tremendous impact on the travel industry,as more and more foreigners visit our country. Also,Chinese people are travelling overseas in greaternumbers than ever before. However, lack of tourismand hospitality education, especially at manageriallevel, could very well impede growth in the future.I decided to take the opportunity to upgrade my skillswith SHTM’s MSc in Hotel and Tourism Management inBeijing. I already knew that the School was the onlytraining centre in Asia recognised by the World TourismOrganization Education and Training Network and theonly Asian institution ranked among the world's top 15prolific hotel schools. This programme is divided intoeight modules, each lasting around 10 days andcomposed of two courses of full-day classes every twomonths, held at either the Beijing or Hong Kongcampus. It is perfectly designed for people inemployment who want to develop their leadershipskills, strategic thinking and pragmatic implementationin the hotel and tourism business. I had just returned toChina and was not very familiar with the status of thelocal travel industry, but this programme not onlycovers global management concepts but also analysesthe present problems of the mainland’s hotel andtourism business.My programme began in December at the InternationalCommunication Centre of Beijing International StudentUniversity. The first subject was Managing HumanResources in the Hotel and Tourism Industry, taught bylecturer Mr Tim Gao, Senior VP of TEDA Travel Group.We were assigned readings, projects, presentations andtests in the five days of the course – which wassometimes hard to cope with, but thanks to Mr Gao’sexamples taken from real-life situations and groupdiscussions I was able to understand the key points. Myclassmates are management-level executives fromdifferent sectors of the hotel and tourism industry inmainland China, so we have plenty to share with eachother. I really enjoy the class ambience.I believe this programme will aid the development ofworld-class professionals, leaders and researchers in thehotel and tourism industry in the mainland. I deeplyappreciate SHTM’s efforts in this field.School of Hotel and Tourism Management

10MSc Hong Kong programmeMastering the IndustryApplications for the Master of Science/Postgraduate Diploma programme inHotel and Tourism Management starting in September 2006 in Hong Kongare now being accepted. To find out more about whether the programme issuitable for you, and how it can help in your career, one current student anda recent graduate tell us more about their experiences.Emily Ma first came toPolyU as an exchangestudent from ZhejiangUniversity whilestudying for herbachelor degree anddecided to return tostudy for a masterprogramme. “Compared with undergraduate study,the master programme emphasises comprehensiveunderstanding of theories and knowledge, and theability to solve real situation problems,” she says.“I have relatively less working experience than otherstudents, but one of this programme’s benefits is that Ican enjoy the opportunity to meet with part-timestudents, who have a variety of working experiences.We are required to do group projects in most of thesubjects, and from these we can understand what aTEAM is: Together Each Achieve More!I feel very lucky to be studying at SHTM, and I amgrateful to all the teachers and staff who are very kindand helpful.”Mandy Lo, Assistant Manager, CorporateCommunications & Public Relations, Hong Kong TourismBoard, completed her MSc in 2005. “The two-and-ahalfyears I spent on the MSc programme at SHTM gaveme the chance to further my academic studies about thetourism industry,” she says.“At the same time, I also had the opportunity to sharemy working experience in the academic work. Mostimportantly, I’ve learnt a lot from the high level ofacademic research. This has given me a betterunderstanding of tourism development and itsperspective in future planning.”Front (left to right): Michael DavidWilson, producer and Robin WilliamSpence Galloway, presenterBack: (left to right) Cartriona McLeodHarvey, presenter and Mandy Lo,Hong Kong Tourism Board at theoutside broacast studio in Hong Kong.Online application for admission is now available atwww.polyu.edu.hk/study.For further information, please contact the ProgrammeCo-ordinator,Dr Rob Lawtel (852) 2766 6349, email: hmroblaw@polyu.edu.hkor Ms Maggie Ngtel (852) 2766 6352, email: hmmaggie@polyu.edu.hkHORIZONS

China News11School of Hotel and Tourism Management

Work-Integrated Education Forum13Strengthening Ties with IndustryThe Hong KongPolytechnic University’sCo-operative EducationProgramme has beenrenamed Work-IntegratedEducation (WIE) from thisacademic year. To mark thisdevelopment, SHTMorganised a WIE Forum inearly November with 40human resources directors and managers from 30hospitality organisations invited to attend to discussstudent learning in the workplace.Group discussion on ways to improve WIE.“The WIE programme allows our students to learnmore about the real-world working environment in thehospitality and tourism industry, and also contributesdirectly to the development of a better-preparedworkforce for the industry,” says Mr Tony Tse,Programme Director (Industry Partnerships).The prime focus of WIE is to help students develop arange of valuable generic abilities and to apply theoriesto real-life situations via provision of work-basedlearning. This formed the basis of discussions at theforum, which was held in the School's MillenniumTraining Restaurant. “Invaluable feedback and inputwere consolidated through these discussions,” says MrTse. “We believe students will become a betterpreparedworkforce by gaining meaningful hands-onexperience and practising classroom learning in theworkplace. The practising students are still at thelearning stage, therefore feedback from and coachingby their supervisors are necessary and important. That’sthe spirit we would like to foster in WIE.”Three guest speakers were also invited to share theirexperiences in co-operative education with SHTM. Theywere Mr Jody Cheung, Managing Director of KingParrot Group; Mr Jason Tse, Training Manager of TheRepulse Bay; and Ms Diana Chik, Director of HumanResources of Renaissance Harbour View Hotel. Guestswere then separated into four groups for groupdiscussion, with a representative appointed to reporttheir feedback on the relevant topic.Group 1 discussed thefeasibility of incorporating aproject related to students’studies into their placementtrainingprogramme.Participants thought it was agood idea and woulddevelop students’managerial thinking andskills, and recommended project topics includeimproving product sales, compiling customer surveyinformation, studying waste management, etc. Theyalso suggested that students could work in pairs andbrainstorm the project objectives among their teammembers, mentor and supervisor prior to the project.Group 2 examined how organisations could maximisethe benefits of participating in WIE. They reported thatcompanies should understand students’ expectationsand help develop mature personalities in order tonurture the right attitude and aptitude in the talentpool for the industry. They suggested that the 48-week internship be scheduled in the final year ofstudy, so that organisations could hire student internsas soon as they graduate.Group 3 discussed the problems of intern behaviourand learning attitudes, and how these problems canbe solved through collaboration between the Schooland the industry. They recommended that the Schoolprovide training to interns before placementcommences, including presentation skills, employerexpectations, discipline and the spirit of making acontract. The participating companies could also helpby establishing clear discipline guidelines andrequirements at the beginning of the training.Group 4 looked at the feasibility of arranging propertraining schedules at the beginning of placements. Thegroup noted these plans should be realistic, workable andflexible. The schedule may need to be changed due tounforeseeable circumstances, which may benefit bothparties. The employer and student should communicatewith each other to arrive at the best arrangement.School of Hotel and Tourism Management

14GraduatesInto the WorldSHTM obviously puts a great deal of effort and resources into ensuring that its students learn all they can abouttheir chosen subjects in particular and the industry in general, as well as benefiting from the academicatmosphere in other spheres. However, the care does not stop there. The School’s interest in them carries on afterthey have graduated – be it offering advice on their career, in particular job situations or future study programmes.Here we catch up on some new graduates just a few months into their careers. Where are they working? Whatare their experiences? How are they adapting their academic theories to life in the real world?Ruby LuiTravel TraineeSwire TravelBA (Hons) in Hotel, Catering and Tourism Managementwith a specialism in Tourism ManagementAs a travel trainee I am spending one year working indifferent departments, such as corporate travel, leisuretravel and events management, to learn the businessoperations. I attend management meetings and otherdepartmental meetings. Although I am very “green”,the management welcomes my view and opinions. Iam required to write the minutes of the meetings as asecretary does, but this does ensure I pay closeattention. Currently, I am in the Event ManagementDepartment, where I am in charge of database anddatabank establishments.I believe working with Swire Travel will drive me toachieve my career goal. It is reputable brand name andlong established as a top-quality travel agent. In fact, itisn’t simply a travel agent, but a travel managementcompany, providing a variety of services to clients. I amespecially interested in event management since I canmanage the clients' events and projects and this willbring me job satisfaction and challenges. In addition,the company is expanding and developing its business,so I should have numerous opportunities to contribute.The job is pretty much matching my expectations. Mymanagers trust me, encourage me and teach me a lot,not only in operational tasks but also in the managerialsphere. In some ways it is easier than I imagined – Ithought attending management meetings would befrightening since top management is present, but infact they respect me and listen to me. Writing minutesis one of the more difficult tasks, but I try to writedown the reason, process, pros and cons raised by theattendees – much like I jotted down notes when I wasa student.SHTM provided me a broad view of the tourismindustry and gave me knowledge and experience,especially through the placement, final-year project,exchange programme and numerous presentations,and of course the sharing and encouragement of myteachers helped a great deal. I think what I havelearned since starting my job is that management isnot just about theories in the textbooks. In reality it istheories plus feasibility, strategy, presentation andpeople – it’s complicated!My goal is to be a tourism contributor or a tourismexpert/professional. I'm planning to study for a MPhilin Tourism after several years’ work, and thinkingabout an MSc in Marketing or an MBA.HORIZONS

Graduates15Peter LeungServer, Lung King Heen Chinese RestaurantFour Seasons Hotel, Hong KongHD in Hotel, Catering and Tourism ManagementBA (Hons) in Hotel and Catering ManagementPhoto: courtesy of the Four Seasons Hotel Hong KongMy job involves daily operations in the Four Season’sChinese restaurant, including serving guests. As FourSeasons Hotel is an international chain known for itsprofessionalism, I believe it is a good starting point formy career.The job is matching up to my expectations – in fact it isnot as difficult as I thought it might be. Studying atSHTM, I learned a lot about the operation of a hoteland the importance of service. My work placement alsohelped to prepare me, as did the experiences of mytutors – these are things that cannot be learned in atextbook. Since starting my job, I’ve learned a lot moreabout food and beverage, and my reputation, as wellas to become a leader in the F&B field. I may considerfurther study – but not in the near future.Louisa LamAirport Guest Relations OfficerFour Season Hotel, Hong KongBA (Hons) in Hotel and Catering ManagementPhoto: courtesy of the Four Seasons Hotel Hong KongAs an Airport Guest Relations Officer, I welcomeguests at the arrival halls and escort them to the hotellimousine. I applied to join the Four Seasons because itis one of the top deluxe hotel groups in the world. Inaddition, it only opened in Hong Kong in August 2005– which was perfect timing for fresh graduates lookingfor a position in the industry.From SHTM I learned all about hotel operations, so Iknow what is happening elsewhere in the hotel. I alsolearned about what attitude I should have when facingguests. The most important lesson I learned at SHTMwas how to cooperate with others in a team andmaintain good relationships with them. For example,from the day we started work, we needed to come upwith many different ideas.Since joining the hotel, the new things I have learnedhave been about problem solving and handlingcomplaints. As I work at the airport, I also need tounderstand all about air-ticketing and lost baggage.My goal is to gain recognition from guests and learnmore through this experience from workingexperience.School of Hotel and Tourism Management

16GraduatesAntony HoAirport Guest Relations Officer,Four Seasons Hotel, Hong KongHD in Hotel, Catering and Tourism Managementwith a specialism in Tourism ManagementBA (Hons) in Hotel and Catering ManagementPhoto: courtesy of the Four Seasons Hotel Hong KongMy main job responsibility is to meet and greet arrivalguests with a limousine booking at the airport andassist departing guests with limousine booking and thecheck-in of their flights. Other responsibilities includearranging other transportation, such as Airport Expressor taxi, for other guests without limousine booking,making room reservations for the walk-in guests at theairport, helping guests to book air tickets or to changeflights, answering guests’ enquiries about the FourSeasons Hotel, etc.I applied for this job because Four Seasons has a goodreputation around the world and it is excellent for afresh graduate to start the career in such a goodcompany. All the job responsibilities are similar to myexpectations before I started work. Just one thing isdifferent – and that’s the early morning starts, at 5.30am.I has been hard but it is a good challenge and I havealready adapted to it.Even though I had never worked at a hotel before, mystudies had given me an idea about hotel operations.This helped me to quickly adapt to the newenvironment. It is probably quite different for mycolleagues who did not study hotel management, asthey may need to spend a relatively longer time onlearning about the operation.Since my job is to meet and greet arrival guests, I needto have a thorough understanding of flight schedulesand related information. So I need to learn more aboutit, such as how to change flights for the guests andhow to handle excess baggage, for example. Luckily, Ialso learned a lot about service management on mySHTM course, which is very useful for my current job. Ithink attention to detail is the most important thing Ilearned from my one-year placement during mystudies. In order to provide high-quality services toguests and prevent any mistakes, I need to pay highattention to the booking record and guest profiles. Forinstance, I need to check the arrival report verycarefully to make sure that no arrival guest is missed.So I think attention to details is the most importantthing l learned.My first goal is to gain more experience in customerservice before assuming a higher position. I hope I canachieve it in the coming few years and then bepromoted to supervisory level. I am sure I will carry onstudying in the future in order to enrich my ownknowledge, which can help me to carry out the job.However, I am still not sure what aspect I need tostudy more at this moment. But I think the time willtell me!Ricky LiuSales ExecutiveEquip AsiaHD in Hotel, Catering and Tourism Managementwith a specialism in Catering ManagementBA (Hons) in Hotel and Catering ManagementI have been working with Equip Asia since August2005 as a sales executive. My job involves sellingutensils, chinaware, glassware and cutlery torestaurants and bars. I chose it because I prefer to workin the hospitality-related industry and I enjoy the jobnature of sales. It is hard, though. For example, I usedHORIZONS

Graduates17to think that wineglasses were simple. In fact, there aremany different brands, types, quality, materials,shapes, volumes and pattern. However, I think I cancatch up the job within a short period of time. I havealready learned a lot about hotel and restaurantequipment and have a better product knowledge. Ihave also learned how to communicate and negotiatewith buyers.I am putting what I learned at SHTM to use, too – theSchool equipped me well in both theory and practicalareas, especially in F&B, gastronomy and wine classes.But the School was also able to teach about effectivetime management, and we were able to learn fromother’s past experiences, especially our teachers.Ricky YuPark Operations – Host IIHong Kong DisneylandBA (Hons) in Hotel, Catering and Tourism Management with aspecialism in Tourism ManagementI joined Hong Kong Disneyland (HKDL) in July 2005. Iam a Host in Park Operations, and mainly work in therides called “Rafts to the Tarzan Treehouse”, “TarzanTreehouse” and the show “Festival of the Lion King”in Adventureland. My work duties involve operatingthe rides, answering guests’ questions and crowdcontrol of guest flow.I am interested in working with tourism-related jobssuch as travel agents, theme park or airlines industry,which is why I applied for this job. I have worked forDisney before – I joined the ICP (International CollegeProgramme) of Disney during my year 2 study atSHTM. I experienced a lot in Florida during the threemonths’ internship, including making many newfriends and living independently. The second reason isthat the organisational culture of HKDL is a bitdifferent from local Hong Kong companies. Themanagers will not scold their cast members whensomething goes wrong – they give you the chance todo it again and learn from your mistakes. They alsoencourage you to apply for internal transfer todifferent posts in order to achieve personaldevelopment in your career prospects.The third reason is that HKDL is a newly establishedtheme park in Hong Kong, so I knew it would berecruiting a large number of cast members before thegrand opening. I knew I would have a goodopportunity to work there, so I applied for the job assoon as I had finished my final-year examinations.The work duties, working schedules, developmentprogramme and the benefits that the companyprovided are exactly what I thought they’d be beforejoining the company. Although sometimes I need towork under strong sunshine, I feel comfortableworking here.I think the most important experience that I took awayfrom SHTM was that I made friends with professorsand lecturers. They all have so much experience andthrough talking with them you can learn so much. Mygoal is to reach to the management level of acompany. Take HKDL as an example, we have fourguest services managers in Adventureland. I’d like toreach that level – it will not be easy, however, but I willtry my best. I think it is important to keep on learningand developing – I would like to study for an MSc, but Iwill gain working experience and life experiencesbefore I enrol.School of Hotel and Tourism Management

18Executive Development ProgrammesProfessional AdvancementA round up of recent Executive Development ProgrammesKorean Officials Updated on MICEA group of 15 officials of the Korea Ministry ofCulture and Tourism attended a MICE ExecutiveDevelopment Programme at SHTM in August. The aimof the EDP programme was to develop and enhancethe participants’ understanding of the convention,exhibition and event management field.Speakers included Prof Kaye Chon on the topic of“Convention Tourism from International Research &Industry Perspectives”; Prof Amy Chan, HonoraryProfessor, who presented a talk on “International MICEMarket”; and Mr Cliff Wallace, Managing Director ofHong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, on thetopic of “Venue Management”. To better understandthe tourism industry growth in Hong Kong and theneighbouring area, the group visited the Grand HyattHotel Hong Kong, Renaissance Harbour View HotelHong Kong, Hong Kong Convention & ExhibitionCentre and Macau Government Tourist Office.“This was a very significant visit because the group wasfrom a government ministry,” says Mr Tony Tse,Programme Director (Industry Partnerships). “The mainobjective was for them to learn more about MICEbecause it has great growth potential in Korea. TheKorean government is giving the sector a lot of support.”Officials of the Korea Ministry of Culture and Tourism attendeda MICE EDP at SHTM.SHTM would like to acknowledge the following fortheir support of the Korea programme:Prof Amy Chan, SHTMProf Kaye Chon, SHTMMr Tony Tse, SHTMDr Myong Jae Lee, SHTMDr Henry Tsai, SHTMMs Katerina TamDirector - International Conference Consultant LtdMr Cliff WallaceManaging Director - Hong Kong Convention &Exhibition CentreMr Simon LamCommercial Director - Braehler ICS (China & HK)Mr Edmund TsangGeneral Manager - Swire Travel LtdProf Thomas WongChair Professor of Nursing - Dean of the Faculty ofHealth & Social Science, PolyUMr Sang C ParkDirector - Korea National Tourist Organisation HongKongMr Stanley ChuChairman, Hong Kong Exhibition & ConventionIndustry AssociationMs Kinnie WongAssistant Commissioner - Tourism Commission,Hong Kong GovernmentMs Mabel HungSenior Manager - Hong Kong Tourism BoardMr Allen HaDeputy CEO - Asia World Expo Management Ltd.HORIZONS

Executive Development Programmes19Kaohsiung CourseStaff members from SHTM visited Kaohsiung, Taiwan,in November on two occasions, to take part in aMICE EDP with executives from the Taiwan ExternalTrade Development Council’s International TradeInstitute. The programmes were conducted atKaohsiung Hospitality College. Prof Kaye Chon andMs Karin Weber addressed participants on the firstweekend, while Prof Amy Chan made the trip on thesecond weekend.Prof Amy Chan and participants of the MICE EDP in Kaohsiung.Finnish VisitorsRepresentatives from Keskimaa Group ofFinland visited PolyU for a one-day EDP aspart of its trip to Hong Kong recently. Thegroup was led by Mr Kuisma Niemelä,President and CEO, and the co-ordinator wasMs Tuula Sillanmäki, Customer RelationshipManager, who were accompanied by 12other colleagues, all directors and seniormanagers, covering areas such as finance,property, human resources, grocery andSenior executives from Keskimaa Group of Finland visited the School.consumer goods, and hotel and restaurantoperations. They were briefed by SHTM staff as well asa representative of PolyU’s Institute of Textiles &Clothing and visited one of Hong Kong’s major fashionretail shops. Fashion retailing enjoys a high profileamong tourists to the city.CHE WorkshopThe most recent Certified Hospitality Educator(CHE) workshop took place at SHTM inDecember. The four-day programme wasattended by 17 participants, including sixfrom SHTM. The aim of the workshop is tooffer intensive, interactive learningexperiences, the latest global principles andskills that provide the best educationalexperience for hospitality students. Theworkshop was conducted by Ms Ada Lo ofSHTM.Participants of the CHE workshop held in December 2005.School of Hotel and Tourism Management

20SHTM Latest ResearchImpacts of Internet Technologyon Consumer Behaviourin China’s Hotel IndustryVincent C. S. Heung, Associate Professor and Cherry Huyan, MSc graduateThe Internet is becoming an important tool for hotel businesses in China,used by customers for hotel information, booking and purchase of hotelproducts and services. The Internet and e-commerce not only bringopportunities, but also new challenges to China’s hotel industry. In thecoming 10 to 20 years, both will become a part of the lifestyle of mostpeople in the world, who will become accustomed to searching fortourism information, choosing destinations, drawing up travel plans andarranging tour routes through the Internet.Heung (2003) points out that there is lack of research concerning whytravellers use the Internet to browse, reserve and purchase tourismproducts, and the characteristics defining this kind of traveller, despite agrowing number using it as a tool for seeking information. This study aimsto explore the impact of the Internet and e-commerce on travellers’behaviours and their implications for hotel management in China.A survey of 300 hotel customers of different demographic backgrounds inChina indicates that approximately 70% use the Internet for searchinghotel information. About 40% of mainland Chinese hotel customers and50% of overseas hotel customers use the Internet for purchasing hotelproducts and services. Findings also indicate that there were virtually nosignificant differences between mainland Chinese travellers and overseastravellers in terms of the Internet usage patterns.The study provides hotel managers with information on hotel customers’behaviour in using the Internet. The key issues are:■ The Internet is the first-choice method used for searching hotelinformation, followed by travel agencies and brochures from travelagencies. In order to exploit the potential of the Internet as a newmarketing channel in the hotel industry, managers are advised to takeHORIZONS

SHTM Latest Research21■■this online market segment into consideration. Detailed informationon hotels should be provided on the Internet so as to meet the needsof this market.The Internet is not only a source of hotel information but also amethod of purchase of hotel products. About 60% of hotel customerswho use the Internet for hotel information actually purchase hotelproducts or services. This compares favourably with the rate of 20%in the year 2000, indicating a high growth rate. Therefore, hotelmanagers should pay attention to the service quality on the Internetand ensure that it is both consistent and interactive.With respect to factors determining usage of the Internet for hotelproducts or services, it is found that convenience and timesaving, fastspeed and around-the–clock availability are the main considerations.Therefore hotel managers should simplify the online purchase processand respond quickly to customer requirements in order to meet theirneeds. Other factors such as saving money, becoming accustomed topurchasing online, more updated information provided and a greatervariety of products and services offered on different websites are alsoincluded in the considerations of Internet customers. Hotel managersshould pay attention to competitive pricing, time availability anddifferentiation of the product on the Internet to attract more e-commerce and complete greater numbers of successful e-commercetransactions. In contrast, security problems, lack of personalisedconsultation and being satisfied with current purchase practice fromtravel agents are the main reasons that discourage hotel customersfrom using the Internet for hotel products or services. Therefore it iscritical to address the issue of security. In order to gain the confidenceof customers, managers should establish security measures and ensurethat the Internet database generated from the transactions is usedjudiciously. Moreover, managers should provide more informationabout the products and services and interactively communicate withconsumers on the Internet in order to capture their potentialcustomers.References:Heung, V.C.S. (2003). Internet usage by international travellers: reasonsand barriers. International Journal of Contemporary HospitalityManagement, 15(7), 370-378.Heung, V.C.S. (2003). Barriers to Implementing E-Commerce in the TravelIndustry: A Practical Perspective. International Journal of HospitalityManagement, 22(1), 111-118.School of Hotel and Tourism Management

SHTM News23News Round-upVietnam TripDr Thomas Bauer was invited by the World TourismOrganization to undertake a Technical AssistanceMission to Vietnam for the purposes of the formulationof a strategy on human resources development intourism. During the trip, Dr Bauer visited the mostimportant tourism training institutions in Hanoi, Hueand Ho Chi Minh City and discussed with variousgovernment ministries the assessment of abilities inpreparing human resources for the boomingVietnamese tourism industry.Best PaperDr Hanqin Zhang (above, right) and PhD student IrisMao’s (left) co-authored paper on “Predicting FutureBehaviour from Past Experience: Evidence fromOutbound Chinese Tourists to Hong Kong” won one ofthe two Best Papers Awards at the 4th Asia PacificForum for Graduate Students Research in Tourism inHawaii.Top Academic Shares His ThoughtsProf Richard Butler delivered a presentation on“Whither Tourism? Some thoughts on Future Patternsand Developments” to staff and students in December.This was a wonderful opportunity for students to hearfrom the most cited tourism academics in the world,known for his “Tourism Life Cycle” theory. Prof Butlerrecently retired from University of Surrey, UK, where hewas Professor of Tourism and Deputy Head (Research)of the School of Management for the Service Sector.He had previously spent 30 years at the University ofWestern Ontario, Canada.WTO TedQualSHTM has again been certified by theWorld Tourism Organization with itsTedQual certification, attesting to thehigh quality of our TourismManagement programmes.By DesignSHTM was one of the strategic partners of Business ofDesign Week 2005, held in Hong Kong in November.The School sponsored a session on hospitality as partof the Lifestyle Asia Conference on Design, Brand andInnovation. It looked at the role of design in thesuccess of hotels, restaurants, bars and cafes, andfeatured speakers Patrick Lawrence, Group Director ofDesign for the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group; JeanMichel Offe, Group Director of Food and Beverage forShangri-La Hotels and Resorts; Adam D Tihany, creatorof some of the world’s best known restaurant andhotel interiors; and Lim Hong Lian, founder and seniorpartner of Lim, Teo + Wilkes Design Works, and ahospitality designer.His presentation offered a qualitative review of some ofthe recent major influences on tourism and looked athow these have affected the industry and their likelyfuture impacts. He then reviewed what influencesmight be expected to shape tourism in the future.School of Hotel and Tourism Management

24SHTM NewsSingapore students attend a briefing on tourism in Hong Kong.Singapore VisitorsIn collaboration with Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore,more than 70 hospitality and tourism students fromThe Tourism Academy @ Sentosa visited SHTM inNovember. The final-year students were visiting Macauand Hong Kong as part of their studies to acquireupdated information on tourism in the region. While atthe School, they received an introduction from lecturerMs Mei Ng before touring the Hotel & TourismResource Centre and the Millennium trainingrestaurant.PolyU Info DayThe PolyU Education Information Day held on 8October 2005 attracted more than 20,000 visitors.There was strong interest from students keen to findout more about the School and its programmes. ProfKaye Chon welcomed prospective students with a shortspeech, while more detailed seminars were given by DrKevin Wong, Dr Sylvester Yeung and Ms Mei Ng, withthe theme of “Reach for the Stars”. Visits wereorganised for groups of students to see the School’sfacilities including the Hotel and Tourism ResourcesCentre, Millennium training restaurant and Hotel andTourism Technology Unit.Press AttentionThe School again came out number one with regard toJUPAS applications for the BSc (Hons) programmes. TheTourism programme attracted 3,792 band Aapplications for 40 places, while the Hotel programmegarnered 4,878 band A applications for 50 places. Thisstory was highlighted in Singtao Daily, one of HongKong’s leading Chinese-language newspapers.Cliff Wallace (centre) receives mementos of his time as SACChairman, before handing over to Sylvia Cheung (centre right).New ChairmanMs Sylvia Chung, General Manager of Hotel Miramar,has been appointed the new Chairman of the SchoolAdvisory Committee. She takes over from Mr CliffWallace, Managing Director of Hong Kong Convention& Exhibition Centre, who recently completed his secondterm of chairmanship of the committee. Mr Wallace willcontinue to serve on the committee as a member.SHTM would like to thank for Mr Wallace for hisdedicated service and guidance to the School duringthe past four years.HORIZONS

SHTM News25Alumni Reunion DinnerSHTM Alumni Association participated in the AlumniReunion Dinner for Graduates of 1985 jointlyorganised by AADO and the Federation of PolyUAlumni Associations on 17 December 2005 at PolyU’sStudent Halls of Residence. The event involved thosealumni who graduated in 1985 from the former HongKong Polytechnic, Hong Kong Technical College andGovernment Trade School as a celebration of the 20thanniversary of their graduation. SHTM’s graduates of1982 and 1995 were also invited to this meaningfulevent.Great opportunity to catch up with classmates, familiesand staff of SHTM.2nd China Tourism Forum 2005The 2nd PolyU China Tourism Forum & the 3rd ChinaTourism Academy Annual Conference was held on 16-17 December 2005 in the Garden Hotel, Guangzhou.There were more than 200 participants from 10countries with the majority from mainland China.Keynote speakers at the conference included Ms HuaXin-fang, President of the Garden Hotel; Prof KayeChon; Mr Xu Jing, the Regional Representative for Asiaand the Pacific, World Tourism Organization; and MrJohn M Koldowski, Managing Director, Pacific AsiaTravel Association (PATA). Prof Ngok Lee, SeniorConsultant to the President, PolyU, was invited todeliver the opening remarks at the opening ceremony,while Prof Yu Shi-you, Vice President of Sun Yat-senUniversity, was invited to deliver the welcome address.Mr John MKoldowskiMr Xu JingMs Hua Xin-fangStaff NewsProf Haiyan Song has received theHong Kong Polytechnic University's KCWong Fellowship, which enables him tovisit universities in the Chinese mainlandto present lectures and promote furthercollaboration between mainlandinstitutions and the Hong Kong PolytechnicUniversity.Prof Cathy Hsu received the University'sYoung Professors Fellowship for 2005-2006academic semester. As part of herfellowship, Prof Hsu visited the US to attenda gaming management seminar in Reno,Nevada, and attend the ISTTE conference in Chicagoas SHTM’s representative. She also visited PurdueUniversity's Hospitality and Tourism Research Centerfor research and developmental activities.Dr Jack Kivela, AssociateProfessor, and Tony Chu,Senior Instructor, recentlyreceived the Long ServiceAward from theUniversity forcompleting their 15 years of service at PolyU.Congratulations to Jack and Tony!!Peter Hui was promoted to Lecturer witheffect from 1 October, 2005.Chloe Lau joins as Instructor. Shereceived her Master of Business inTourism from Auckland Universityof Technology with a special focusin MICE. She previously worked inthe hotel and tourism industry inHawaii, Hong Kong, Beijing and Auckland.Dr Seongseop (Samuel) Kim has joinedSHTM as a Research Fellow. He received hisMS and PhD in Recreation, Park and TourismSciences from Texas A&M University, US. Heis working as Associate Professor inHospitality and Tourism Management atSejong University in Korea and worked asDepartment Head at the university.School of Hotel and Tourism Management

26Student ActivitiesOut of the ClassroomMacao ExperienceA total of 305 year 1 students participated in a two-dayfield trip to Macao in October. Activities included a citytour, which gave them plenty of opportunity to gainbasic knowledge of the tourism industry in the city.Talks given by the General Manager (an SHTM MScgraduate), Front Office Manager and the ExecutiveHousekeeper of the Hotel Grandeur were bothinformative and inspiring.According to a survey taken after the trip, 77% of the137 who responded believed that the trip achieved thelearning objectives and more than 85% were satisfiedwith the visit.Field trip with the most number of students organised by theSchool.Leadership SkillsIn November, a group of 15 students, along withlecturer Alan Wong, took part in an Outdoor ChallengeProgramme at Tai Tong Lychee Garden, Yuen Long. Theaim of the exercise was to encourage the students toapply and experience leadership theories. “Theprogramme was divided into three sessions: Ice-Breaking Game, Team Building Game and War Game,”says student Irene Tang. “The first session gave us thechance to familiarise ourselves with each other and toexperience discipline training. We realised early on thatco-operation and rapport between group members andadequate planning were very important. It wasamazing how we gradually became aneffective and mature team. During the WarGame, we understood that goodcommunication and working on strategiesbetween team-mates were most important.”Fellow student Anita Ng remarks: “Overall,the trip was successful. First of all, weenjoyed being outdoors – a change from oureveryday lives! The most treasuredexperience was practising our leadership skills SHTM students greet aresident of Tung Wah Groupthrough the process of planning,of Hospitals’ Fong Shu Chuenorganisation, implementation and debriefing. District Elderly CommunityWe realised that all theories developed in the Centre after they had givenher living quarters a freshLeadership subject are related to day-to-daycoat of paint.practices. Everyone has his or her strengthsand weaknesses. Also, leadership skills can be developedin different styles under different situations.”Community ServiceLast semester students contributed more than 700hours to four local community organisations as apart of a new course requirement. Visiting AssociateProfessor Joseph Koppel introduced a new class,called Hospitality and Culture and provided culturebasedservice projectsinto the curriculum. Theorganisations concernedwere Hong ChiRehabilitation Centre,which serves thedevelopmentallySHTM students celebratetheir community serviceefforts at a tea receptionbased on Chinese culture.Students joined with the JW MarriottHotel staff in presenting a traditionalChinese Christmas celebration to thepatients of the Cheshire Home inChung Hom Kok.HORIZONS

Student Activities27disadvantage, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals’ Fong ShuChuen District Elderly Community Centre, HansAnderson Club, which cares for primary-schoolchildren, and Cheshire Home for extended care forpersons with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses.“Students learned that hospitality is a socially selectivetrait by actually performing a caring-based project forothers,” explains Dr Koppel. “These first-year studentsalso learned to communicate sensitively with others ofa different age group. The programme outcomes forthis new class were reached when the studentsexperienced contacting, planning and implementing aproject that the community organisation leaders feltwas necessary and significant for the well being of theindividuals being served. In one particular project ourstudents were partners in a project with a local hotelorganisation.”While the first three organisations listed above werebasically community service projects, the CheshireHome project went beyond this worthy activity. Thisparticular project is called service-learning. That isbecause students complete an assignment of individualreflection for their efforts. It was a shared experiencewith staff from local Marriott hotels. “The studentsparticipated in and led planning meetings at theRenaissance Harbour View Hotel, with several HumanResource managers present. In addition, GeneralManager Michael Nisky of the JW Marriott was mostaccommodating in the partnership with our students,”he says. The students managed an important section ofthe project, including casting for the entertainment ofthe Christmas party – they recruited Prof Koppel toplay the role of Santa Claus!Mr Nisky says: “The party is annual event for the hotel,and this time we worked closely with SHTM interns aswell as the students. Through our Spirit to Serveprogramme we encourage our associates to getinvolved in community projects as volunteersthroughout the year. Through their involvement I hopethe students can understand that to be successful inbusiness people and organisations need to be wellrounded, and this type of activity can help achieve thisgoal. And don't forget that hospitality is the nature ofour business – here we get the opportunity to giveback to the community.”On ShowYear 3 and 4 students organised anexhibition titled “HKAPM”, aboutdifferent scenes in Hong Kongduring a single day, in December. Itwas part of the assessment for theExhibition Management course. Thecourse instructor, Mr Kenith Leung,wanted the students to apply whatthey have learned in the classroomin a real situation.“Six groups of students organisedthe exhibition, which was held atPolyU,” says Mr Leung. “Fromplanning to content design, they needed to takedifferent responsibilities. During the process, theylearned how to compromise with different ideas andmanage time properly. The overall performance of theexhibition was very satisfactory. The students enjoyedthe new practical assessment method. They said thatthis assessment would help them to remember thedevelopment process effectively and could be appliedto their future career.”Kenith Leung and Exhibition Management coursestudents at their exhibition.Students of this course also weregiven the opportunity to participate in a“Sustainable Development Project” of the Communityof Development Services of St James’ Settlementbetween October to November last year. The“Wanchai Livelihood Museum” forms an importantpart of the project and students of this course servedas volunteer helpers.School of Hotel and Tourism Management

28Outstanding StudentsThe latest Eta Sigma Delta(ESD) initiation ceremony washeld in November at the SHTMResource Centre, with Mr Leo Lee,General Manager & Owner Representativeof Stanford Hotels International, and ProfKaye Chon as guests of honour. They congratulatedthe students and applauded their achievements andpotential as future leaders.Seven students, who all participated in a candlelightingceremony, led by the president, Rex Zhu,attended the ceremony. The five candles represent thepillars of ESD, namely leadership, creativity, personaldevelopment, communication and service. ESDcertificates and pins were also presented to the newESD members in the ceremony.Congratulations to the following students, all of whomhave been initiated into the SHTM Chapter of ESD:Effy Chan Hiu-yingAnna Cheng Ling-chiJennifer Fan Yin-tingPaul Hung Yu-pangThomas Shum Man-lungCherry Tam Cheuk-yinMichelle Wong Wing-szeMei Wong Mei-kuenJess Yeung Choi-manIn order to establish the ESD Scholarship for SHTMstudents, a silent auction was also held on the sameday. Including the cash cheques donated, the ESD(PolyU Chapter) successfully raised HK$12,400 for theESD scholarship. The ESD committee would like tothank the following companies for their generousdonations:Hong Kong Dragon Airlines LimitedIsland Shangri-La Hong KongK Wah International Holdings LtdMarco Polo Hotels, Hong KongSun Hung Kai Properties Ltd (Hotel Division)The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, LtdEta Sigma Delta (ESD) is a prestigious internationalsociety that unites students with exceptional academicachievement in hospitality andtourism institutions. There aremore than 90 chapters of ESDinternationally. SHTM undergraduates,whether full-time or part-time, who have completed50% of the credit hours required for graduation andhave a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above are eligible toapply for membership.The Elite of the Elite presentation ceremony was held inOctober at Millennium restaurant for the recipients ofthe SHTM Academic Achievement Award. A total of 15students who have successfully achieved average GPA3.7 or above during the semester two/summersemester 2004/05 were eligible for the award.SHTM would like to extend our heartiestcongratulations to the following students:Higher Diploma in Hotel, Catering and TourismManagement (Part-time)Catalina Chin Mei-laiBA (Hons) in Hotel and CateringManagement (Part-time Conversion)Wong Hoi-waiChan Yuen-meiChan Ho-hamMarsha Lau Ting-yanBA (Hons) in Hotel and Catering and TourismManagementConnie Chan KitChan Yim-tingHo Chi-keiHo Shuk-meiLam Che-wanLam So-manLi JialiLui Lok-yanTong Sin-manBA (Hons) in Hotel and Catering Management(Full-time Conversion)Lo Shuk-tingHORIZONS

Student Activities29Nominated by the School, three BA tourismstudents, Lam So-man, Li Jiali and Kenix Tong,accompanied by lecturer Eric Chan, attended the WorldStudents' Tourism Summit 2005, organised byRitsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU), Oita Prefectureand Beppu City in Japan in November.About 460 student delegates from 78 universities andeducational institutions in 20 countries joined the event.Keynote speakers included Dr Dirk Glaesser, Chief ofPublications, World Tourism Organization, and MrNobutaka Ishikure, Chairman, Pacific Asia TravelAssociation (PATA). Japanese Prime Minister JunichiroKoizumi shared his views about the importance ofinbound travel in Japan during the closing ceremony ofthe summit and hoped the students would take theresults of the summit back to their countries and remainactive in the promotion of tourism in the future.Mr Chan noted that the participants discussed howtourism can be a driving force for regional development,promote mutual understanding among different culturesand how it should be promoted in harmony witheconomic, environmental and socio-cultural aspects. Theparticipants also discussed how tourism is affected byterrorism, SARS and other serious problems during theconference. The SHTM students joined a series ofworkshops to discuss “Stakeholder Cooperation”, oneof the essential elements for sustainable tourism. “Theyreturned not only with increased knowledge of tourism,but with a deeper understanding of Japan gainedthrough interacting with Kyushu's rich culture and fromexperiencing Beppu's unique onsen culture,“ he says.“I was very happy to be one of the students nominatedto attend the summit,” says Kenix Tong. “This summitwas divided into two parts: the trip to Kyushu and thenthe forum. Kyushu is a wonderful destination. It offersEric Chan, Li Jiali, Lam So-man and Kenex Tong(left to right) at the Summit’s entrance.Students Climb Global Summitmany historic treasures and natural beauty. I especiallyenjoyed the Aso volcano. Besides, I appreciated that theJapanese are very friendly and polite.“During the forum, students from different countriesjoined together and discussed global tourism issues. Itwas very informative and I enjoyed hearing differentviews and opinion. It is hoped that the outcome of thediscussion can be of use to the tourism industry.”Lam So-man says that attending the summit was one ofmost memorable experiences in her life. “We had aboutfour days travelling around Kyushu, and we visitedseveral famous attractions. I was especially impressed bythe local people, they are extremely friendly and helpfulto the tourists even though there is a language barrier,”she says. “I appreciate that the School nominated us toattend this summit. It was a wonderful opportunity andvery beneficial to us as students and the reputation ofthe School.”Li Jiali says: “At end of each day, activediscussions were carried out, with theinvolvement of students from all overthe world. This was the way we learnt,shared, and made friends. During theworkshop sessions, the hottest topics intoday’s tourism industry were discussed.Different voices were raised. As atourism student, the summit providedme with an opportunity tounderstand the reality facing theindustry worldwide. Returningfrom the summit, I discovered mywill to stay within tourism hadbeen much strengthened simplybecause I see a promising and aswell as challenging future.”Japanese PrimeMinister Junichiro Koizumidelivers the closing speech (top);students took part in discussionsat the end of each day.School of Hotel and Tourism Management

30Mini RetreatRetreat in the FrameSHTM successfully held its first mini-retreat on lateNovember on one of Hong Kong’s outlying islands.Lamma Island is known for its relaxing lifestyle – andthat’s exactly what 110 participants including AdvisoryCommittee members, alumni members, faculty andtheir families enjoyed.As well as wandering through the traffic-free streets ofthe island, checking out the small shops, somemembers of the group took a leisurely walk over thehill to one of the nearby beaches. After a tasty meal ofseafood at one of the famous restaurants in the villageof Sok Kwu Wan, everyone embarked on the DisneyFireworks Cruise. As part of the activities, a photocontest on the theme of “People and Places” was held,with winners announced in three categories:professional or semi-professional cameras withinterchangeable lenses; smaller cameras with fixedlenses; and mobile phone cameras.Around 30 entries from staff and family, alumni andindustry affiliates were received. It was a difficult choicefor the independent judges, but finally their choice wasmade. Congratulations go to:Enoch Tai (Winner: Mobile phone cameras)Quinton Tse (1st Runner-up: Smaller cameras withfixed lenses)Amy Chu (2nd Runner-up: Smaller cameras with fixedlenses)Guenther Karch (Winner: Smaller cameras with fixedlenses)Cliff Wallace (Winner: Professional or semiprofessionalcameras with interchangeable lenses)Winners received a dining coupon for four at SHTM’sMillennium restaurant.HORIZONS

Mini Retreat31Professional or semi-professional cameras with interchangeable lensesWinner: Mr Cliff WallaceA “Sparkling Moment” During aHard Day’s Work!Smaller cameras with fixed lensesWinner: Mr Gunther KarchWater World – ‘set sail’1st Runner up: Mr Quinton TseThe Greening of Lamma Island2nd Runner up: Ms Amy ChuChild’s PlayMobile phone camerasWinner: Mr Enoch TaiGood FortuneSchool of Hotel and Tourism Management

32Calendar of EventsOn the AgendaKeep up to date with events concerning the latest developments andresearch in the tourism and hospitality fields.Date Event Organizer Contact22 April200623-27 April200611-14 May20066-9 June200626-29 June200626-30 June20067-9September2006October2006November2006PATA Education and Training Forum,Pattaya, Thailand55th PATA Annual Conference, Pattaya,ThailandThe 7th Biennial Conference on Tourismin Asia, “Tourism, Hospitality &Foodservice Industry in Asia:Development, Marketing &Sustainability”, Jeonju, KoreaCutting Edge Research in Tourism - NewDirections, Challenges and Applications,UK4th APacCHRIE & 12th Asia PacificTourism Association Conference,Hualien, Taiwan2006 I-CHRIE Annual Conference &Exposition, Virginia, USAInternational Conference on Impact ofMovies and Television on Tourism, HongKong, China2006 IH&RA Human ResourcesDevelopment Forum, “Education andIndustry Partnerships in HospitalityIndustry”, New Delhi, IndiaThird PolyU China Tourism Forum, HongKong, ChinaPacific Asia TravelAssociationTourism Authority ofThailand & Pacific AsiaTravel AssociationThe Hong KongPolytechnic University& Jeonju UniversityUniversity of SurreyTaiwan Hospitality &Tourism College &National TaiwanNormal UniversityCHRIEThe Hong KongPolytechnic UniversityIH&RAWorld TourismOrganization & TheHong Kong PolytechnicUniversityKaye ChonEmail: hmkchon@polyu.edu.hkPATAEmail: conference@PATA.orgKaye ChonEmail: hmkchon@polyu.edu.hkLynn PattonEmail: L.patton@surrey.ac.ukMing-Huei LeeEmail: mhlee@tht.edu.twCHRIEEmail: info@chrie.orgNicole ShumEmail: hmnicole@polyu.edu.hkKaye ChonEmail: hmkchon@polyu.edu.hkVenus LeungEmail: hmvenus@polyu.edu.hk