Get Started Building Your Credentials: Join In!!

Let me first welcome you back to campus, if you are returning for another year of study, or say hello to you if you are just joining us at SHTM. Last year, I started writing this blog about various things you should know about our undergraduate programmes in SHTM. The objective is to keep you better informed and perhaps give you some guidance with the decisions you need to make about your future here at SHTM and afterward when you join the industry. Your comments and feedback are also encouraged.

My first topic this year is one that I hope all of you will consider right from the start of the semester, how you can get started building your credentials by joining one of the many student organizations we have in SHTM. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard industry professionals say that one of the important qualifications they look for is a student who was involved in student organization activities. We also look for it in the candidates we interview for postgraduate programs. So, believe me, it is an important criteria we all consider in the hiring or acceptance process. In fact, it could make the difference between whether you get the job or admission to a postgraduate program or someone else gets it.

SHTMSA (School of Hotel and Tourism Management Students' Association) is one you are already automatically a member of by being a student in SHTM. However, the real opportunity is for you to get involved in the many activities SHTMSA has planned. We’ve got another great group of leaders this year in “Starlight”. Later in the year, some of you will even have the opportunity to consider running for office. The faculty advisor to this organization is Dr. Eric Chan who can be reached at hmeric@polyu.edu.hk

We also have three other student organizations Eta Sigma Delta, HFTP (Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals Student Chapter), and PATA Young Tourism Professionals (Pacific Asia Travel Association Student Chapter also known as YTP). You have to be invited to be a member of Eta Sigma Delta, which is based on your academic achievement. The faculty advisor to this organization is Dr. Prakash Chathoth who can be reached at hmkc@polyu.edu.hk. The other two student organizations, HFTP and YTP are open to all students who have an interest in that area of the hotel and tourism industry. HFTP starts the year off with their first meeting on 28 September at 6:30 p.m and one of the first activities is electing new offices. HFTP’s faculty advisor is Dr. Henry Tsai at hmhtsai@polyu.edu.hk and YTP’s faculty advisor is Dr. Thomas Bauer at hmthomas@polyu.edu.hk. Please feel free to contact any of the faculty advisors or check out more information on the organizations at the websites noted below.

Additionally, we have many other professional associations in our field of hotel and tourism management who have student membership options with discounted annual dues and would welcome efforts by you to form chapters here at STHM. Those include Meeting Professionals International (MPI) for students with an interest in the convention and event management field and Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) for those students with an interest in the sales, marketing or revenue management sides of both the hotel and tourism industry. I’m a member of both of these organizations and Dr. Ada Lo and Dr. Basak Denizci also belong to HSMAI. If any of you are ambitious and you want add a big plus to your credentials, be sure to let me know and I’d be glad to help you get a chapter started of these organizations.

So, now is the time to Join In! Get your new school year off to a good start and build your credentials at the same time, get involved in one of the current student organizations or consider helping get a new one started in your area of interest. I’m always available to talk more to any of you individually about it too.

Websites of STHM student organizations:

SHTMSA:
http://hotelschool.shtm.polyu.edu.hk/eng/ssupport/shtmsa_introduction.html

Eta Sigma Delta:
http://hotelschool.shtm.polyu.edu.hk/eng/ssupport/esd_introduction.html

HFTP:
http://hotelschool.shtm.polyu.edu.hk/eng/ssupport/hftp_introduction.html

PATA Young Tourism Professionals:
http://hotelschool.shtm.polyu.edu.hk/eng/ssupport/asia_overview.html