Hosted by the SHTM and Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP) Limited, the SHKP Hotels x SHTM Hackathon was held on 24 February 2023 and was a great success. This unique event commenced with motivational speeches by Professor Kaye Chon, SHTM Dean, Chair Professor and Walter and Wendy Kwok Family Foundation Professor in International Hospitality Management, and Mr Tasos Kousloglou, CEO of the Hotel Division, SHKP Limited.
The five
participating SHKP hotels were represented by Mr Leo Lai, Hotel Manager, Alva Hotel by Royal; Mr Christian Poda, Regional Vice President and General Manager, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong; Mr Patrick Sin, General Manager, Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour Hong Kong; Mr Pierre Perusset, General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong; and Ms Jenny Chan, General Manager, The Royal Garden, Hong Kong.
Mr Isadore Sharp, Founder and Chairman of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and Mr David Marriott,
Chairman of the Board, Marriott International, also sent encouraging words to SHTM students. According to Mr Sharp, "the best is yet to come". He further observed that "travel is innate for mankind, and despite the challenges we've faced over the past few years, I know our industry is coming back stronger than ever, and the future is bright". According to Mr Marriott, "hospitality is such a fun and dynamic business, and it brings people together from all corners of the globe". He remarked that
"today we continue to grow, both in the Asia Pacific and around the world, bringing more opportunities for our associates to grow and thrive with our company". To SHTM students, he emphasised that "we are dedicated to helping you to be the best version of yourself".
The session that followed was a panel discussion moderated by Dr Qu Xiao, SHTM Associate Professor, and Dr Abbie Johnson, SHTM Assistant Professor, with the participation of Mr Christian Poda, Mr Pierre Perusset, Mr Leo Lai,
Mr Patrick Sin and Ms Jenny Chan. SHTM students were not only privileged to benefit from the profound knowledge shared by these experienced hoteliers but also given the exceptional opportunity to network with them for their professional development during the Meet Up session that wrapped up the hackathon.
One of the highlights of the event was a presentation by the winners of the SHKP Hospitality Challenge 2023. The champion team was made up of talented SHTM students, namely Ms Yue
Chen, MSc student in International Hospitality Management, and Ms Danni Wang, Ph.D. student in Hotel and Tourism Management. The team presented their innovative business strategies and received certificates and prizes from Professor Kaye Chon and Ms Jenny Chan. The First Runner-up and Second Runner-up teams were also recognised with certificates and prizes presented by Dr Catherine Cheung, SHTM Associate Dean and Associate Professor, and Mr Pierre Perusset, General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton,
Hong Kong.
The SHTM wishes to thank SHKP Limited for their unfailing support and commitment to nurturing the next generation of hospitality leaders to advance the industry. This continued partnership will help the industry to recover and thrive in the post-pandemic era.
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