HAPA® Awards Malaysia Series 2023-2024 - Night at the Oscars

HAPA® Awards Malaysia Series 2023-2024, a remarkable event jointly organized by HAPA® Group and Taylor’s University, concluded on the 10 May 2023, 8 months after the launch of the partnership on 9 September 2022, leaving a lasting impact on all who attended. The awards night, which celebrated resilience and excellence in the hospitality, culinary and tourism industries, was a resounding success, thanks to the collective efforts of the 40 dedicated volunteers from Taylor's School of Hospitality, Tourism, and Events (SHTE). The event was an exquisite showcase of talent and achievement with a total of 210 trophies, 145 resilience frames and 71 plaques presented to deserving recipients.

The atmosphere was filled with excitement and anticipation as industry leaders, both renowned and emerging, gathered under one roof. For the volunteers, it was an extraordinary opportunity to meet and interact with these influential figures, fostering connections and gaining insights into the key players of the hospitality, culinary and tourism sectors. Joining such a prestigious and large-scale event was an unreal and exhilarating experience. The opportunity to interact with people from the hospitality, culinary and tourism industries, witness their expertise firsthand, and contribute to the event's success was truly remarkable. It provided them with a unique perspective and a chance to broaden their horizons.

The volunteers played pivotal roles in various aspects of the event including acting as brand ambassadors, managing registrations, ensuring crowd control, coordinating food and beverage arrangements, operating the audio-visual console, accompanying winner interviews and overseeing the virtual and physical stages for the awards. Their hard work, dedication and professionalism were evident throughout the event, contributing significantly to its seamless execution. The event provided an invaluable opportunity for the volunteers to experience live event operations firsthand. They witnessed the meticulous planning and execution required to make an event of this magnitude a success. This hands-on experience offered them a glimpse into the fast-paced and dynamic nature of the hospitality, culinary and tourism industry, expanding their knowledge and preparing them for future endeavors.

The grand atmosphere, coupled with the chance to meet professional entrepreneurs and industry leaders, made the event truly unforgettable for the volunteers. It allowed them to gain deeper insights into the hospitality, culinary and tourism industry, learn about new trends, and forge meaningful connections. Additionally, they relished the opportunity to work alongside their fellow Taylor's student volunteers, creating new friendships and memories. Prior to the event night, other student volunteers were part of the nominations and judging committees who worked tirelessly to support the overall process of the HAPA® Awards Malaysia Series 2023-2024.

The students in the nomination's committee were able to connect with industry players while those in the judging committee assisted in the important process of liaising with judges and ensuring the completion of the judging process for all 14 awards categories which consisted of HAPA® Best Tourism Destinations, HAPA® Best HR & Talent Development in Hospitality, HAPA® Travel & Tour Establishments, HAPA® Best 30 Hotels and Resorts, HAPA® Best 20 Bars, HAPA® Best 30 Chefs, HAPA® Best Cafes, HAPA® Best Service Excellence in Hospitality & Tourism, HAPA® Best 30 Restaurants, HAPA® Elite Entrepreneur of the Year – Icon of Hospitality & Tourism, HAPA® Best F&B Personality, HAPA® Best Hospitality & Tourism Personality, HAPA® Best Service Excellence in F&B and HAPA® Best F&B Entrepreneurs.

In conclusion, HAPA® Awards Malaysia Series 2023-2024 was an outstanding event that celebrated resilience and excellence in the hospitality, culinary and tourism industries. The dedication and hard work of the 40 Taylor's University, School of Hospitality, Tourism and Events volunteers, combined with the grand ambiance, exquisite decorations and the opportunity to meet industry leaders, made it an unforgettable experience. The event not only provided valuable insights into the industry, but also fostered new relationships and created lasting memories for all involved.

Exploring Potential Collaborations with Wisma Putra that Benefits University & Wider Community

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia has recently hosted a meeting with Prof. Dr. Neethiahnanthan Ari Ragavan, Executive Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, Taylor's University to explore potential collaborations and partnerships. Prof. Dr. Neethia was accompanied by Prof. Dr. Anindita Dasgupta, Head of School, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wan Puspa Melati Wan Abdul Halim, Head of Department, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

The meeting was chaired by HE Dato' Syed Bakri Syed Mohamad (Undersecretary), together with Mr. Norafizan Bin Mustaffa (Principal Assistant Secretary) and Ms. Nabila Lukman (Assistant Secretary) from the South and Central Asia Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia.

It was a fruitful meeting, with both parties exchanged ideas and explored opportunities for future collaborations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed strong support for Taylor's University’s initiatives, recognizing the institution's reputation as a leading Center of Higher Education in Malaysia. The Ministry also expressed a keen interest in exploring ways to collaborate on initiatives that would benefit both the university and wider community.

Taylor’s University has a strong track record of working with government agencies and industry partners to develop innovative programmes and solutions. With the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taylor's University is well-positioned to continue its mission of providing high-quality education and making a positive impact on society.

Explore Italy Like a Wine Enthusiast Gourmet Tour 2023

After 4 years of travel restriction imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Taylor's Culinary Institute (TCI) has organized a culinary and gastronomic tour to Italy. The trip covered the visitations of iconic F&B products from Milan, Verona, Venice and Nizza in Italy. Altogether, 14 students from various Taylor's University schools gained valuable insight into the production of different types of food, culture and tourism of Italy.

The first destination was Milan, the group visited the Duomo di Milano, the main cathedral in Milan where the students were able to admire the great workmanship of the building. The group has also visited one of the 6 in the world ‘Starbucks Reserve Roastery’ and got to experience how Starbucks roast their beans in house with some exclusive coffee belong to the Milano roastery. Then, strolling at Viale Papiniano, one of the best open-air markets where they have all their fresh produce, local snacks, food and drinks.

The group ended their night with a memorable boat cruise experience in the Canal Naviglio Grande, home to the last of Milan’s arterial waterways. This romantic canal district has plenty of history, style and charm. After that the group proceeded to Verona by train from Milan Centrale built in 1864 which is one of the most beautiful train stations in Europe. After arriving in Verona, they visited Castel S. Pietro situated on top of a hill overlooking the town. For lunch, the group had an opportunity to taste the local red risotto and Italian pizza.

Finally, a visit to the fictitious home of Romeo & Juliet and behold her statue and “The Balcony.” While in Verona, the students also paid a visit to Venice which is located at the mouth of a huge lagoon which is being fed by two rivers. The group enjoyed a cup of coffee at a 90-year-old coffee shop, then they were off to a little corner shop for cicchetti, the Venetian way for stopping the cravings for food like Spanish tapas and a small glass of wine. The tour ended with a visit to Piazza San Marco-St. Mark’s Square, which is the principal public square of Venice.

After Verona, the group took a private bus to the region of Emilia-Romagna. They visited a factory which produces 3 famous and protected food items namely Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto de Parma and Balsamico di Modena. From this visit, the students got to see and understand how the traditional cheeses are made in Italy, how long is the process and why are some of the cheeses are more expensive than the others. Students also had the chance to taste the different types of cheeses that paired with the Italian smoked/cured ham.

Afterward, the group arrived in the Piedmont region of Italy and started at a UNESCO World Heritage Site called the cellars of Bosca Winery in the town of Asti. The winery produces the famous Asti sparkling wines according to the Champagne method. The students experienced their underground cellar where they store the wine, and the bottles that are undergoing the fermentation/ageing process. Nevertheless, students also met Luigi-an Italian farmer and a small-time wine producer who own Bersano Wineries. Beside the wineries, there is a museum with old tools and equipment used for hundreds years to produce wine.

The last highlight of the trip was truffle hunting & tasting @ La Casa Del Trifulau with lunch. Students learned how truffle growers hunt the truffle with a dog and also given opportunity to taste freshly picked truffle. It was a fantastic experience! Finally, stopped by at the village of the famous Barolo wines and ended the evening by having a cooking class and farewell dinner at La Morra winery. Students were taught how to cook 5 dishes and they made their own fresh pasta.

All in all, it was a very rewarding, eventful and educational trip for all of them to expose themselves to interesting and different culture in person!