[Hotel Takeover Project] Taylor's Hospitality Students Acquire Real World Learning as Hoteliers

“An absolutely YES project”... "An exciting project”...

These are the amazing and assuring responses from our Bachelor of International Hospitality Management (BIHM) programme second year students who have taken part in this project. In 2019, one of its kind of Industry and Academia collaboration revolutionized by Mr. Jonathan Lai, the former General Manager (GM), Holiday Inn Express Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) and currently, the Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Hospitality, Tourism and Events.

This unique project took 43 BIHM students on designated roles to operate and manage the operations and business of Holiday Inn Express KLCC hotel, for one week, solely on their own. A semester long execution from Applications & Job Interviews, Selection, Orientation & On-The-Job Training, Takeover Week, Post Project Presentation and finally the Certificate Ceremony.

Have you ever thought of what’s the daily job of a GM?

• How does a Finance Manager manage the $$$?

• Does the Front Office Manager ever get tired of handling guests?

• If you have a dream to be a Hotel Sales Personnel … and so on, this is exactly for you.

Be inspired by living the life of a hotelier. Big thanks to the Holiday Inn Express Kuala Lumpur City Centre team, General Manager Mr. Damian de Costa, Human Resources Manager Mr. Wendy Steinhardt and Hotel Manager Ms. Yiwet, for having truly inspired and challenged the BIHM students with this Hotel Takeover project.

A sneak peek into the past Hotel Takeover project https://lnkd.in/gxksS9WV

Postgraduate Research Colloquium by Faculty of Social Sciences & Leisure Management has Gone Global!

Postgraduate Research Colloquium (PGRC) 2022 was organized by the Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management (FSLM), Taylor’s University, on 5th & 6th November 2022 in collaboration with local and international institutions - Centre for Research and Innovation in Tourism (CRiT), Malaysia; Taylor’s Toulouse University Center (TTUC), Malaysia & France; Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia; Lovely Professional University, India; University of Northampton, United Kingdom; Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management, Far Eastern University, Philippines; Institute of Education, Far Eastern University, Philippines; University of Kota, India; Banasthali Vidyapith, India; ISTHIA, University Toulouse Jean Jaures (UT2J), France; Universitas Bunda Mulia, Indonesia; School of Hospitality & Tourism, Universitas Pelita Harapan, Indonesia; J.H Cerilles State College Pagadian City, Philippines; Universitas Indonesia.

The Colloquium was started with an Opening Remarks by Prof. Dr. Neethiahnanthan Ari Ragavan, Executive Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, Taylor's University, Malaysia. Dr. Jeetesh Kumar, the Chair of Postgraduate Research Colloquium 2022 was also invited to deliver his Welcome Remarks after the Opening Session.

123 extended abstracts were presented by Research Scholars from various countries, including Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Oman, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam under the streams of Hospitality, Tourism & Events, Education and Gastronomy & Food Studies in 31 breakout rooms.

Besides the research presentations, there were six (6) workshops:-

1. Experience Sharing Session by PhD Alumni

2. Workshop: What is a Case Study?

3. Theoretical and Conceptual Framework in Social Sciences Research

4. Writing Manuscripts for Journal Publication

5. Being an Early Career Researcher: Perspectives, Experiences and Challenges

6. Postgraduate Programmes by Research in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, Taylor’s University, Malaysia

In total, the PGRC 2022 was attended by over 700 participants from 34 different nations, including Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Ghana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Senegal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Singapore, Turkey, Thailand, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

The session was ended successfully with a Thank You note by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Seyyed Mostafa Rasoolimanesh, Head of Research, Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, Taylor's University, Malaysia.

Recording of all workshops can be accessed on CRiT YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsnhUzwArTrucQhkNpHMrAg

GM Networking Dinner 2022 is Back After The Pandemic

When do GMs let their hair down? At the GM Networking Dinner of course!

A big shout out of appreciation to the 40 Senior Leaders who attended the General Manager (GM) Networking Dinner 2022 held at Thyme Restaurant, Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus. This event was held especially for the students from Master of International Hospitality Management (MIHM) programme to allow them mingle with hospitality and tourism industry leaders. The event was well attended by Hotel GMs, Tourism Industry Senior Leaders and Representatives from Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH), Malaysian Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (MACEOS) and Pacific Asia Travel Association Malaysian Chapter.

The event was organized by School of Hospitality, Tourism and Events (SHTE) ably assisted by the MIHM students. Prof. Dr. Neethiahnanthan Ari Ragavan, Executive Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management officiated the event with his Welcome Address. MIHM students Nurfitrah Abdullah and Jay Yang Kai Jie emceed the event that also included a research-sharing by PhD in Hospitality and Tourism students Muhammad Afnan Mahusain and Mildred Nuong Deri. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Joaquim Dias Soeiro, Head of School, School of Hospitality, Tourism & Events delivered the closing address for a delightful evening.

Overall, MIHM students enjoyed the GM Networking Dinner as it provided an intimate session to have frank discussions with decision-makers in the hotels.