The School of Hotel and Tourism Management at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University celebrated its 45th anniversary to mark its achievements in hospitality and tourism teaching and research.
The School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) celebrated “45 Years of Teaching Excellence” in tourism education with a gala dinner at Hotel ICON on 30 May. Nearly 300 guests from around the world attended the event celebrating the school’s 45th anniversary. The school also announced on the same day that Mr. Tsui Cheng-ho, Chairman of Ambassador Hotel Group, had been inducted into the SHTM Honour Gallery, and was presented with the prestigious SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award at the dinner.
In her welcoming remarks, Dr Miranda Lu, Executive Vice-Chancellor of the Polytechnic University, said, “2024 marks a special milestone for SHTM. For everyone in the faculty and university, the important thing to celebrate is not just the passage of time, but the scale of vision and achievements that have led to the creation of a world-leading centre of teaching and research excellence. The centre continues to set new standards in the advancement of knowledge and its contribution to the hospitality and tourism industry. I am confident that SHTM has the capacity to reach even greater heights of excellence globally and continue to lead the development of the sector in the years to come.”
In its pursuit of excellence, SHTM places emphasis on innovative research and encourages a strong research culture in tourism education among its international faculty of over 90 members from 20 countries and regions around the world. In the current academic year, more than 1,450 students from around the world are enrolled in the school’s programs, from undergraduate to doctoral levels.
Opened in 2011, the luxury hotel ICON is at the heart of SHTM’s innovative approach to education and research. This unique, purpose-built hotel not only helps develop a new generation of passionate, pioneering professionals who will become leaders in hospitality and tourism, but also allows SHTM faculty to conduct in-depth research to advise this global industry.
The school offers world-class facilities for learning and research as well as continually expanding its innovative program offerings over the years. In 2023, SHTM was awarded the International Society of Travel and Tourism Education (ISTTE) Institutional Achievement Award for the second time, exactly 20 years after first receiving the award from the association in 2003.
These great results are the result of the hard work and hard work of all our colleagues at SHTM and Hotel ICON, and would not have been possible without the support and guidance of PolyU, the members of the School’s International Advisory Board, the School’s Advisory Board, the industry and SHTM alumni. The School bids farewell to its first 45 years and aims to achieve even more global excellence in the field in the coming decades.
The celebration culminated with the announcement of the prestigious 2024 SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr. Xu Zhengho, Chairman of Ambassador Hotel Group, accepted the honour.
A respected leader in the dynamic hospitality field, Mr. Suh is a pioneer in the Korean hospitality industry. He has achieved remarkable business success by expanding Ambassador Hotel Group, one of the top hotel groups in Korea, into a group with highly diversified brands under Accor-Ambassador Korea. His achievements and contributions to the hospitality industry are extraordinary. Mr. Suh is truly a role model for future hospitality professionals and a source of inspiration to all.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Su said, “It is a great honour to receive the SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award. I am honoured to receive this award and join the ranks of past recipients whom I have admired for many years. Being involved in this exciting global industry is in itself extremely rewarding and it is an absolute pleasure to be part of it.”
“SHTM has gone from strength to strength under Dean Kay Cheong’s leadership and is now one of the few hotel and tourism schools in the world. I am extremely encouraged to see the school’s continued efforts to educate generations of hospitality leaders and drive the development of the industry as a whole. I would like to congratulate the entire SHTM faculty and staff on achieving this significant milestone on the occasion of the school’s 45th anniversary,” he continued.
Highly recognized for his exemplary achievements in hospitality and tourism education, Suh has relentlessly pursued innovation and success both within the Ambassador Hotels organization and the broader hospitality industry. His strong academic foundation, including a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) College of Hospitality and an MBA from UNLV’s College of Business, has given him a deep understanding of the hospitality industry and a passion for the profession. The numerous awards Suh has received for his contributions to the tourism industry in Korea and France further attest to his exceptional leadership and dedication.
Professor Kay Cheung, Dean, Chair Professor and Walter and Wendy Kwok Family Foundation Professor of International Hospitality Management at SHTM, heartily congratulated Su on receiving the honour and said, “SHTM is proud to be a leading presence in hospitality and tourism education and research. Our commitment to excellence is well supported by industry stalwarts and visionary leaders such as Su Jong-ho. With unwavering support from our industry partners, the school is committed to nurturing talented individuals who will be the future leaders of this highly exciting global industry.”
Vicky is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of TravelDailyNews Media Network and is responsible for the day-to-day operations and financial direction. Vicky holds a BA in Tourism Business Management from the Technical University of Athens and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales. She has many years of academic and industrial experience in the travel industry and has written/edited numerous articles for various tourism magazines.
