School of Hotel and Tourism Management
The School of Hotel and Tourism Management is one of the schools at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. It was established in 1979 as the Department of Institutional Management and Catering Studies, then renamed as Department of Hotel and Tourism Management in 1992. The department was designated a school in October 2001, which became an independent autonomous academic unit within the university structure in July 2004.
The SHTM offers programmes from undergraduate degrees to doctoral degrees. In 2012, the SHTM received the McCool Breakthrough Award from the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education for its teaching and research hotel, Hotel ICON. The School is currently an Affiliate Member of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.
Programmes
The SHTM offers programmes at levels ranging from Bachelor’s degree to Ph.D. in Hong Kong and Mainland China:Programmes in Hong Kong
- Doctor of Philosophy in Hotel and Tourism Management
- Doctor of Hotel and Tourism Management
- Master of Science in Global Hospitality Business
- MSc in International Hospitality Management
- MSc in International Tourism and Convention Management
- MSc in International Wine Management
- Bachelor of Science in Hotel Management
- Bachelor of Science in Tourism and Events Management
- MicroMasters in International Hospitality Management
- Doctor of Hotel and Tourism Management
- Master of Science in Hotel and Tourism Management
Awards and Recognitions
- 2020 – Ranked No.1 in the world, according to ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects
- 2019/20 – Placed No. 1 globally in the “Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services” category in the University Ranking by Academic Performance
- 2017 – Ranked No. 1 in the world in the “Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism” subject area by the CWUR Rankings by Subject
- 2015 – Dean Kaye Chon conferred the title Walter & Wendy Kwok Family Foundation Professor in International Hospitality Management
- 2012 – Bestowed the McCool Breakthrough Award by I-CHRIE, recognising the School’s achievement with Hotel ICON
- 2011 - Dean Kaye Chon received the UNWTO Ulysses Prize
- 2009 – Ranked No. 2 in the world among the global top hospitality and tourism programmes according to a study published in the November 2009 issue of the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research.
- 2005 – Ranked No. 4 in world-ranking based on research and scholarship, according to a study published in the August issue of the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research.
- 2003 - Recognised by the International Society of Travel and Tourism Educators with an “ISTTE Institutional Achievement Award”
- 2002 – Rated among world’s top 15 programmes in research and scholarship by the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Education. In the same year, the School was chosen by the International Academy for the Study of Tourism as the home of its permanent secretariat.
- 2001 – Became one of the first educational institutions to receive the UNWTO TedQual Certification, a quality assurance system for tourism education, training, and research.
- 1999 - Designated by the UNWTO as one of its global Education and Training Network Centres.
- 1992 – Accepted as an Affiliate Member of the UNWTO
- 1989 – Recognised by I-CHRIE as an Institutional Member
Facilities
Officially opened on 21 September 2011, Hotel ICON is the teaching and research hotel built for the SHTM by PolyU. It was built on the site of Pak Sui Yuen, the former PolyU's staff quarters. Wholly owned by PolyU and an extension of the SHTM, Hotel ICON has a total of 262 guestrooms including three dedicated "Tomorrow's Guestrooms" reserved for innovations and advance research.
Mr and Mrs Chan Chak Fu Building
The building that houses the School was named after the late Mr and Mrs Chan Chak Fu, a pioneer Hong Kong hotelier, in appreciation for the contributions by Seal of Love Charitable Foundation Limited to support PolyU's development and advancement in hospitality and tourism education and research.
Gallery of Honour
Located in the SHTM lobby, the Gallery of Honour displays portraits of the recipients of the SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award. The School established this award to honour individuals who have contributed substantially to the development of hospitality and tourism in Hong Kong, Asia, and the world.
- SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients
- * 2016 – Mr. Adrian Zecha, Founder of Aman Resorts
- * 2017 – The Honourable Sir Michael Kadoorie, Chairman of The Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels Limited and Chairman of CLP Holdings Limited
- * 2018 – Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui, Founder and Honorary Chairman of Dusit International
- * 2019 – Mr. P. R. S. Oberoi, Executive Chairman of EIH Limited, the flagship company of The Oberoi Group
Designed to support the research, teaching and learning functions of the SHTM, the Che-woo Lui Hotel and Tourism Resource Centre houses a range of hotel and tourism management related reference and teaching materials, such as books, journals, magazines, statistical reports and conference proceedings. More than 120 international hospitality, tourism and food science journal titles are stocked. The centre is also equipped with facilities for student group projects and seminars.
Bistro 1979
Bistro 1979 is a student-operated restaurant providing a real restaurant setting for SHTM students to learn and experience the actual food and beverage management and operation. The restaurant has a capacity of 66 people and includes main and exclusive dining areas for its members and guests.
Vinoteca Lab
Vinoteca Lab is a wine lab used for a variety of classes ranging from basic wine fundamentals to advanced regional and international wine knowledge and specialist skills. It also hosts a variety of other classes, including wine appreciation, food and wine pairing, creative mixology, and coffee art, which are open to students, industry representatives, and the general public. Workshops organised by the Food and Wine Academy, an initiative by the SHTM and Hotel ICON, take place in this lab.
The Western Food Production Lab
The Western Food Production Lab allows students to practise and learn about food production, food hygiene and safety. Workshops organised by the Food and Wine Academy also take place here.
Samsung Digital Lab for Hospitality Technology
The Samsung Digital Lab for Hospitality Technology allows students to learn and practise the latest applications and devices used in the hospitality and tourism industry. The lab is equipped with more than 85 notebook computers running a range of business applications, data analysis software, specialised hospitality and tourism software for research applications.