First, I’d like to welcome back all of the returning SHTM undergraduates, as well as welcome the new undergraduates in HD, BAC, BSc and BScC programmes (I assume you know all the acronyms by now).
Over the past couple of years, I have been writing blog postings like this one a few times during the semester to keep you all informed on important issues and various changes related to your studies at PolyU in SHTM. I know most of you who have been around a year or more have taken the time to read them, and a few of you have even made comments, which I appreciate. So, what the blog accomplishes is a one-way communication from me to you a few times a year. That’s a good, but what I really want is to create a dialog with you.
According to Wikipedia (yes, some of us in academics do accept it as a source of valid information), a dialog is “a written or spoken conversational exchange between two or more people”. The key word to me is an exchange. The various social media that you all use every day, such as Facebook, Twitter, QQ, Renren, etc. are incredible resources to create that conversational exchange/dialog. This is the real value of social media and it’s something your generation knows how to do well.
So, it’s time we change the dynamic of how we communicate and take advantage of the great social media tools to develop a dialog! Therefore, I’ve created a group on Facebook called: “SHTM Undergraduates” and Twitter account: “@shtmdrjones”
The “SHTM Undergraduates” Facebook group will only be available to you as undergraduates. It will NOT be open to teaching staff or any others who are not STHM undergraduates. Therefore, I’ll control the membership by approving each new member based on his/her profile and keep the group private so others are NOT able to read the postings. In other words, it is a group formed to dialog just between all of you and me, or perhaps even between yourselves on issues you want me to moderate communication on.
The Twitter connection (@shtmdrjones) will be open to anyone and everyone to follow. The purpose will be to pass along interesting news I come across from the hotel and tourism industry including re-tweets of postings by others I follow. Additionally, I’ll post any personal thoughts that happen to cross my mind that I think you might be interested in. You are welcome to re-tweet them, as well.
I will still write an occasional blog when the need to communicate is more detailed than what can be covered in 139 characters and the one-way communication from me to you is most appropriate. However, I will use the Facebook group as the primary source of passing along information about the programmes, as well as creating some dialog with you on the key issues to solicit your thoughts. You should also feel free to initiate any discussions with me and/or your classmates by posting your thoughts. My commitment to you is that I will always be open and honest. Additionally, I promise that no negative repercussions will come to you for expressing your opinions regardless of how you feel. The Tweeter connection will be industry focused.
So, please join the Facebook group today, become friends. Then, start to follow my tweets on Twitter. I’ll start to put some postings on both soon.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
How Are You Going to Spend Your Summer?
As you are all now getting ready to take or already taking your exams, you are no doubt thinking ahead and looking forward to your summer. Some of you will be graduating and going out to start your careers in hotel and tourism, which is very exciting. Others will be starting or perhaps continuing a placement. Still others may have plans to just take time off from school. However, whatever your plans, the summer is a time for you to expand your knowledge of this wonderful business of hotel and tourism management that you are pursuing through your education at SHTM.
Don’t worry, I’m not going to suggest you read another textbook, study another subject, or anything that serious. What I want to encourage you to do is explore.
So, if hotels are your interest, go visit some. Yes, just get dressed up a bit in those professional clothes you all look so good in for presentations in your classes and walk around the lobby and public areas of hotels in Hong Kong or wherever you are this summer. In fact, I’d suggest you take time to introduce yourself to a front desk person, concierge, server in the restaurant, etc. Tell them you are studying at SHTM and you want to know more about what it is like to work in that hotel. You might even walk up to a manager you see in the lobby or at a restaurant (I know that will take some courage) and say hello. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how receptive to you they’ll be. Another option if you are too timid to speak to someone, might be to just sit in the lobby or have a drink in the lobby bar for a hour or more and watch the employees and guests interact as they check-in or out. Think about what it would be like if you were running that hotel.
For those with tourism interests, I'd suggest you go visit some of the well-known tourist attractions in Hong Kong such as the Peak Tram or Avenue of the Stars. However, don’t just go to see the attraction, go to observe the tourists and employees at the attractions. Again, talking to an employee of the attraction or even few foreign tourists about their visit could be valuable time spent for you. Another thought would be going out to Hong Kong International Airport and just walk around a little and observe what everyone does. You could go up to a service desk of one of the airlines, if they aren’t too busy, and introduce yourself to them too. Attractions such as Ocean Park or Disney are even easier as you could go for a fun day, but also take time to talk to those great employees serving you while you are there. How about cruises, well you don’t even have to go on one, just go visit Ocean Terminal and see how it is done when people are checking in or arriving for a couple hours. What about travel agencies, if they have a retail store operation, stop in and ask them about travel destinations you might want to visit someday, you don’t have to buy one if you aren’t ready, just see how it’s done.
If you are doing your placement this summer, don’t just spend all your time at the company you are working for, go visit the competition too on your day off. Of course, those of you looking to start your careers, but haven’t yet found the right opportunity, you certainly should do the same and even go to the human resource office to apply for any positions they may be seeking.
Enjoy your summer and make the best of it in every way, believe me, it will pay off for you in the future.
Don’t worry, I’m not going to suggest you read another textbook, study another subject, or anything that serious. What I want to encourage you to do is explore.
So, if hotels are your interest, go visit some. Yes, just get dressed up a bit in those professional clothes you all look so good in for presentations in your classes and walk around the lobby and public areas of hotels in Hong Kong or wherever you are this summer. In fact, I’d suggest you take time to introduce yourself to a front desk person, concierge, server in the restaurant, etc. Tell them you are studying at SHTM and you want to know more about what it is like to work in that hotel. You might even walk up to a manager you see in the lobby or at a restaurant (I know that will take some courage) and say hello. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how receptive to you they’ll be. Another option if you are too timid to speak to someone, might be to just sit in the lobby or have a drink in the lobby bar for a hour or more and watch the employees and guests interact as they check-in or out. Think about what it would be like if you were running that hotel.
For those with tourism interests, I'd suggest you go visit some of the well-known tourist attractions in Hong Kong such as the Peak Tram or Avenue of the Stars. However, don’t just go to see the attraction, go to observe the tourists and employees at the attractions. Again, talking to an employee of the attraction or even few foreign tourists about their visit could be valuable time spent for you. Another thought would be going out to Hong Kong International Airport and just walk around a little and observe what everyone does. You could go up to a service desk of one of the airlines, if they aren’t too busy, and introduce yourself to them too. Attractions such as Ocean Park or Disney are even easier as you could go for a fun day, but also take time to talk to those great employees serving you while you are there. How about cruises, well you don’t even have to go on one, just go visit Ocean Terminal and see how it is done when people are checking in or arriving for a couple hours. What about travel agencies, if they have a retail store operation, stop in and ask them about travel destinations you might want to visit someday, you don’t have to buy one if you aren’t ready, just see how it’s done.
If you are doing your placement this summer, don’t just spend all your time at the company you are working for, go visit the competition too on your day off. Of course, those of you looking to start your careers, but haven’t yet found the right opportunity, you certainly should do the same and even go to the human resource office to apply for any positions they may be seeking.
Enjoy your summer and make the best of it in every way, believe me, it will pay off for you in the future.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Looking Out for Your Future
It’s been awhile since my last blog, but I think there is a great opportunity coming your way on Wednesday, March 24 … Career Day and I wanted to be sure you take advantage of it.
During your studies at SHTM, you’ve no doubt heard that the hotel, tourism, and convention and event industries value you and are keen to have you pursue your careers in the field. However, the reality is that they aren’t standing outside of your classroom doors just waiting to sign you up; you have to seek them out and let them know of your interest in their organization. The only exception to that is Career Day! This is the one day a year when they come looking for you!!
Career Day is extremely important to all final year students, of course, but it is also an opportunity for others to learn more about what options you have to pursue your career and even WIE placements. We have numerous companies and organizations coming to meet you and tell you more about what they have to offer, but you have to do your part too. You have to prepare yourself for the future. First, you have to show up to meet the representatives of the companies and organizations that will be here. Second, you have to spend time to learn what you can about the companies and organizations in the hotel and tourism field. One way you can do that is through researching the companies online in advance. Another, even better option, is by attending the information sessions they are holding during that day. It doesn’t matter if you’ve ever heard of them or not, go to the information sessions, you never know when you will discover a whole new potential career path and they will be very happy to meet you.
So, let’s all show these companies and organizations how glad we are that they’ve come to your door this one time a year and go to the Career Day activities in large numbers. They’ll be impressed with you and you’ll be better prepared for your future afterward.
During your studies at SHTM, you’ve no doubt heard that the hotel, tourism, and convention and event industries value you and are keen to have you pursue your careers in the field. However, the reality is that they aren’t standing outside of your classroom doors just waiting to sign you up; you have to seek them out and let them know of your interest in their organization. The only exception to that is Career Day! This is the one day a year when they come looking for you!!
Career Day is extremely important to all final year students, of course, but it is also an opportunity for others to learn more about what options you have to pursue your career and even WIE placements. We have numerous companies and organizations coming to meet you and tell you more about what they have to offer, but you have to do your part too. You have to prepare yourself for the future. First, you have to show up to meet the representatives of the companies and organizations that will be here. Second, you have to spend time to learn what you can about the companies and organizations in the hotel and tourism field. One way you can do that is through researching the companies online in advance. Another, even better option, is by attending the information sessions they are holding during that day. It doesn’t matter if you’ve ever heard of them or not, go to the information sessions, you never know when you will discover a whole new potential career path and they will be very happy to meet you.
So, let’s all show these companies and organizations how glad we are that they’ve come to your door this one time a year and go to the Career Day activities in large numbers. They’ll be impressed with you and you’ll be better prepared for your future afterward.
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