Hospitality is at the forefront of global economic development, leading other industries in the speed of its growth and the innovation with which it is shaping experiences for consumers. Yet that dynamic scenario brings with it an increasingly difficult-to-satisfy demand for highly qualified talents who can lead the industry into the future. Globally renowned for its foresight and capacity to devise solutions to such thorny problems, the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at PolyU has established a world-spanning tripartite relationship with the EHL and the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston to offer the pioneering Master of Science (MSc) in Global Hospitality Business programme.

Describing the tripartite programme as “the first of its kind”, Prof. Kaye Chon, Dean of SHTM, elaborated that “the MSc in Global Hospitality Business raises the bar for higher education in one of the world’s fastest growing industrie.” Indeed, with an international, business-centred and highly demanding curriculum, the programme is offering students first-hand insights into the specificities of hotel and tourism markets on three continents, along with strong professional exposure. This has had immediate benefits. Swiss student Rubina Insam, who has broad commercial and hospitality work experience, commented that even before arriving in Hong Kong she had been able to extend her network by a minimum of 50 hospitality professionals.

• Cultural immersion is key
• The Hong Kong advantage