Vol 9 Issue 2, Sep 2009 Student-Run MICE Summit an Outstanding Success Movie Conference Links Audiences and Destinations Earthquake Commemorated by Tourism Forum Teaching Hotel Reaches Pre-Opening Phase 1 Officiating guests applying a chop at the opening ceremony of the International Convention and Expo Summit Contents Message from Director of School 2 International Convention and Expo Summit 3 Students organise a very successful event Movie and Television Conference 5 Impact of audience audiovisual ‘experiences’ on tourism assessed Hotel Brand Development Forum 6 Nanjing forum considers branding progress China Tourism Forum 7 Tourism event commemorates Sichuan earthquake Forecasting Symposium 8 Focus on future at international gathering Publisher: Kaye Chon Industry Appreciation Dinner 9 Managing Editor: Pauline Ngan Industry partners thanked for their vital support Consulting Editor: Opportunity for Tourism-Led Development in Kaiping 10 Professor Kaye Chon describes his visit to a Guangdong community Armstrong-Hilton Ltd. Portrait of an Industry Leader 11 Design: Creative Path Profile of outstanding alumnus Jeremy Xu Printer: Impact Printing & Career Week 12 Graphics Co. Ltd. More time for students to consider career prospects Chair Professor’s Distinguished Lecture 13 Mr Steve Kleinschmidt on leadership and excellence Horizons is published by the School Hotel Happenings 14 of Hotel & Tourism Management Updates on the SHTM’s teaching and virtual hotels for friends, alumni, staff and Higher Diplomas Revamped 16 students of the School. Timely changes keep programmes relevant Research Horizons Contributions from readers are Highlights of staff research on hotel employee perceptions of work-life balance welcome in the form of articles issues, cultural influences on travel website use, applying Six Sigma in foodservice and photographs. All contributions organisations, the implicit effect of distance on tourist behaviour, how pre- should be sent to: Editor, Horizons, consumption mood and service recovery measures affect customer evaluations and School of Hotel & Tourism behaviour, and the combination of techniques in tourism demand forecasting Management, The Hong Kong Mainland Programmes 17 Polytechnic University, Hung SHTM Director speaks in Shenzhen and Hangzhou Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR. In Brief 19 News on the latest activities, achievements and staff arrivals The Editor reserves final editing Gold Coast Experience 22 rights on all material submitted for Student reflection on a memorable study trip publication. Student Activities 23 Student Association update and an internship in Madrid Academic Achievement Award 24 Telephone: (852) 3400 2634 Outstanding students honoured Fax: (852) 2356 1390 Mentorship Scheme 25 Email: [email protected] Mentors thanked for unstinting support Website: www.polyu.edu.hk/htm Alumni Association 27 Latest news on alumni events and achievements Professor-for-a-Day Scheme 30 Our thanks to professors for a day Upcoming Events 32 School of Hotel and Tourism Management 2 Director’s Message Message from Director of School he first half of the SHTM’s 30th anniversary was an exciting time in which we Tdisplayed our existing strengths and entered new territory. An example of both these accomplishments is featured in our cover story this issue – the International Convention and Expo Summit 2009. In its third iteration but planned, organised and managed by SHTM students this year, the Summit showcased both the talent developing at the School and prospects of the MICE sector in the region. Our coverage of events in Hong Kong also includes the Second International Conference on the Impact of Movies and Television on Tourism, which built on the emotional connection that audiences make with destinations, and the 29th International Symposium on Forecasting, chaired by the SHTM’s Associate Director, Professor Haiyan Song, and held in Asia for the first time. Turning to events in mainland China, we report on the Third International Forum on China Hotel Brand Development in Nanjing, which attracted over 500 participants from around the world. Also covered is the Sixth China Tourism Forum held in Chengdu, which was moved from its originally scheduled date to commemorate the devastating Sichuan earthquake and the subsequent recovery efforts. Of course, the School could not be successful in any of its activities or educational initiatives without the aid and advice of practising experts, and in April we had the privilege of hosting our many industry supporters at our annual Industry Appreciation Dinner. We take the opportunity to thank them again in this issue. I would also like to mention an important visit I made in July to Kaiping, which houses the only UNESCO Cultural Heritage listed site in Guangdong, to assess its potential for tourism-led development. This issue includes my reflections on the importance of the area and of social responsibility within the hospitality and tourism industry. Never satisfied with past achievements, the SHTM is always looking to the future. As we report here, the construction of our Teaching Hotel is nearing completion and we are preparing for its opening in September 2010. The best, we believe, is yet to come. Professor Kaye Chon Chair Professor and Director School of Hotel and Tourism Management The Hong Kong Polytechnic University HORIZONS International Convention and Expo Summit 2009 3 Students Excel in Running MICE Summit he SHTM reached a milestone with the student Ms Chloe Lau, the Instructor who guided the students Torganised and run International Convention and through the process, was impressed by their “active Expo Summit 2009, held from 18 to 20 May at the involvement and eagerness to learn and participate”. Gloria InterContinental Grand Stanford in Tsim Sha Tsui East. Chan, student project chief, recalled that the task “put us Jointly hosted by the School and the William F. Harrah to one practical test after another on what we had learned College of Hotel Administration at the University of in previous courses”, but noted the very positive feedback Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Singapore Campus, the from delegates. Summit attracted over 150 researchers, practitioners and representatives of industry associations to discuss the With a theme of ‘Connecting Asia Today’ the Summit growing significance of meetings, incentives, conferences was opened by Mr James Tien, Chairman of the Hong and exhibitions (MICE) in Asia. Kong Tourism Board, Mr Vincent Fung, Assistant Commissioner for Tourism, and the two Co-Chairmen, Dr Thirty SHTM students planned, organised, managed and Andy Nazarechuk, Dean of the William F. Harrah College evaluated the Summit over two semesters. Enrolled in two of Hotel Administration, UNLV Singapore Campus, and capstone MICE subjects, the students excelled at their task. Professor Kaye Chon, SHTM Director. Mr Shannon Sweeney, editor of CEI, the leading MICE sector magazine, commented that the Summit was “as solid The panel and concurrent sessions covered a range of MICE as anything organised by a private company”. themes, and an industry session allowed leading players to share current information about the MICE sector in Hong Kong. As a result of student negotiations with sponsors, site visits took delegates to AsiaWorld Expo, the Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, crowned by the Summit Dinner at the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel. Dr David Jones, SHTM Undergraduate Programme Director, commended the students for learning how to “put value in front of” sponsors to achieve outstanding results. Associate Professor David Jones speaking at the panel discussion on connecting Asia, with (from left) Ms Jane Vong Holmes, Regional Director The SHTM thanks the students for a job very well done, Asia Pacific, International Congress and Convention Association; Mr Cliff Wallace, Managing Director, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition and looks forward to watching their career paths in the Centre Management Ltd.; and Mr James Lu, Executive Director, Hong future. Kong Hotels Association School of Hotel and Tourism Management 4 HORIZONS Second International Conference on the Impact of Movies and Television on Tourism 5 On Location and Destination ecognising that one of the most common ways of R‘experiencing’ a tourism destination is through film and television, in 2006 the SHTM launched the International Conference on the Impact of Movies and Television on Tourism. Hosted for the second time over three days in May this year, the conference drew participants from around the world to the InterContinental Grand Stanford, all with an eye on the emotional connections that audiences establish with destinations they have not yet visited. Commenting after the Conference, Co-Chair and SHTM Honorary Professor Amy Chan noted that “it provided a Professor Kaye Chon (left) after the opening ceremony with Mr Alex Law, rare opportunity for academics and filming and tourism Ms Mabel Cheung, Mr Cheung Tung Jo, Mr Kwan Wai Pang (Teddy Robin), Ms Maisie Cheung, Miss Margaret Fong, Mr Michael Nisky, Mr industry representatives to meet and exchange ideas”. She Ronnie Ho, Mrs Gianna Hsu and Professor Amy Chan also expressed hope that “after this conference, the needs of the tourism industry, especially destinations, will be heard Included amongst the guests at the opening ceremony and understood clearly by the filming industry”. were Miss Margaret Fong, Commissioner for Tourism, Ms Maisie Cheng, Commissioner for Television and Entertainment Licensing, film directors