Mr. John Drummond is General Manager, Intercontinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong. His proposer, Ms. Akniyet Nygmet, currently a year-2 hotel management student stated in her nomination:

“ … John is the first person I always call upon whenever I am hesitating to make an industry-related decision. Just like all hotel managers, he is very busy, especially during covid recovery nowadays. Yet he always manages to find time in his busy schedule for me. This shows how John honors his responsibility as a mentor.
After every meeting I have with John, I get very hopeful about my career life. He always tells me “When there is passion, there is progress. What is meant to be yours will never go away from you.” John was passionate about cooking. From a young age he cooked, first in a home setting, then in a hotel, for 30 years. Years ago he was offered a promotion from chef to the position of general manager of the hotel. He was so passionate about the kitchen that many times he declined the promotion offer. He was not seeking the better position, but the better position was seeking him. When he was telling this story, I was already “dreaming strategically” of how I was mounting from a position of guest relations agent to front office manager, then became a hotel manager. This is how effective his insightful stories are. This is how a mentor should manipulate a mentee’s mind.  

John is not a mere mentor who limits the conversations to professional topics. Even as a person he is a great one. He knows how to support and inspire confidence, just like a friend. I remember when he supported my decision to settle in the Middle East and even shared tips on how to reach out straightly to general managers. I especially love how he tells me to take everything easy. Seems like a banal sharing of a friend, but hearing it from a hotel leader feels different. This is mostly how he comforts me when I am suffering indecisiveness. To conclude, John Drummond is an industry professional who deserves to be nominated for the Outstanding SHTM Student Mentor Award.”