Hotel Management Grand Prix 2024: Cultivating Hospitality Leaders Through Innovative Simulation Competition

Taylor’s University School of Hospitality, Tourism and Events in partnership with Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) and Russell Partnership Technology, organized the 2nd edition of the Hotel Management Grand Prix 2024 in April and June 2024. Sixteen teams from various prestigious hotels and resorts in Malaysia participated in this exclusive Hotel Management Business Simulation Competition which aimed at developing future leaders in the hospitality industry. The competition allowed participants to run a simulated hotel using simulation software, testing their managerial skills such as team building, decision-making, problem-solving, and communication.

On April 15, 2024, Mr. Isaac Mohan Raj, the Chief Executive Officer of Malaysian Association of Hotels, and Prof. Dr. Neethiahnanthan Ari Ragavan, Executive Dean of Taylor's University Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, delivered opening remarks for a workshop on 'Managing Hospitality Businesses in a Simulated Environment'. The workshop, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kandappan Balasubramanian and supported by Dr. Shantini Thuraiselvam along with the organizing team from Taylor’s University, was followed by a 14-day simulation wherein the participating teams strategized to gain a competitive edge in managing hotel businesses.

The top four participating teams from the competition presented their final presentations on May 16, 2024, at the M Resort & Hotel Kuala Lumpur, showcasing their presentation, communication, and conflict management skills to a panel of five jury members, they were Mr. Mondi Mecja, Country General Manager of Ascott Malaysia, Mr. Bipan Kapur, Complex General Manager of Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel & Convention Centre and Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur City Centre alongside with Associate Prof. Dr. Joaquim Dias Soeiro, Associate Prof. Dr. Kandappan Balasubramanian and Dr. Shantini Thuraiselvam from Taylor's University.

On May 17, 2024, the Malaysian Association of Hotels marked its 50th anniversary with President YBhg. Datin Christina Toh, alongside the EXCO and Committee Members, spearheading the celebration. They were joined by Tourism Malaysia Chairman, YBhg. Datuk (Dr.) Yasmin Mahmood, accompanied by the Director-General of Tourism Malaysia, Mr. Manoharan Periasamy, and other distinguished guests.

As part of the celebration, an award ceremony honored the winners of the Hotel Management Grand Prix 2024 competition, with the 'Go Getters' Team from Hilton Kuala Lumpur emerging as the Champion and receiving a cash prize of RM3,000. The 1st Runner-Up was 'The Sentral' Team from Hotel Sentral Kuala Lumpur, followed by the 2nd Runner-Up team from Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, and the 3rd Runner-Up Team 'The Kippers' from KIP Hotel Kuala Lumpur, receiving a cash prizes of RM2,000, RM1,000 and RM500 respectively.

Lighting Refugee's Dream Through Education: Train the Trainer Initiative by Taylor's School of Education

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as of the end of February 2024, there are 187,020 registered refugees and asylum-seekers in Malaysia, including approximately 51,640 children under the age of 18. Refugee children, like all children, have the fundamental right to life, survival, and development. However, living in exile, refugee children are often deprived of a normal childhood. In Malaysia, they lack access to the formal education system and instead rely on an informal parallel system of 128 community-based learning centers.

Since 2023, the School of Education has joined forces with Taylor’s AIESEC on the "Light A Refugee’s Dream: Train the Trainer" initiative. This collaboration aimed to conduct teaching and learning workshops for Malaysian youth volunteers who are subsequently placed in specific learning centers, where they assist in teaching refugee students on various subjects. This partnership fostered solidarity and cooperation among the School of Education, AIESEC, and Malaysian Youth Volunteers. AIESEC is the world's largest non-profit youth-run organization. It is an international non-governmental not-for-profit organization that provides young people with leadership development, cross-cultural global internships, and volunteer exchange experiences across the globe. The organization focuses on empowering young leaders to make a positive impact on society through actions.

The opening ceremony for this initiative took place in Taylor's University Lakeside Campus. Esteemed guests and passionate advocates, including Malaysian youth volunteers, postgraduate students, teachers from refugee centers, and an AIESEC representative, gathered to shed light on the plight faced by refugee education in Malaysia. Taylor's School of Education emphasized the importance of nurturing young talent with a commitment to community service. Through workshops and support from the school, we aimed to provide more meaningful learning experiences for refugee students. During the keynote address, Ms. Mahi Ramakrishnan, the Founder of Beyond Borders Malaysia, shared insights from her extensive work with marginalized communities, emphasizing the importance of quality education and enhancing overall quality of life.

Ms. Angelina Tay, Volunteer Teacher and Coordinator at Living Waters Learning Centre, along with her students, provided valuable insights into the operations of a typical refugee school system and the common challenges they face. These presentations highlighted the pressing need for collective action from society and volunteers to address the educational challenges confronting refugees. As impact makers, it is our responsibility to ensure that education, a fundamental human right, is accessible to all, including millions of refugees children worldwide who are currently deprived of quality learning opportunities. As educators and advocates, we must address this injustice and work towards a more inclusive and equitable society.

Not to Prove or Disprove Any Religions!

In a bid to learn beyond textbooks, Taylor’s American Degree Transfer Programme students currently taking the 'World Religions' module, embarked on a voluntary field trip to various temples in Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown. Led by enthusiastic Lecturer, Mr. Clarence Ngui Yew Kit, the trip proved to be an immersive experience filled with discovery and camaraderie. Setting the tone for the day, the field trip began with a hearty breakfast at a traditional Hainanese kopitiam. Armed with enough food for fuel, the walking tour began at Chan She Shu Yuen, a Cantonese Chan Clan Association. The serenity of the venue, accentuated by the aroma of incense and glow of red lanterns, provided a tranquil background to understand the importance of ancestral worship in Confucianism.

Next on the itinerary was the Gurdwara Sahib Polis, a Sikh Temple, where the students were warmly greeted by the temple keepers. Engaging in dialogue and observation with the temple keepers, Russel Vir Singh and Farandeep Singh, the two Sikh ADTP students, shared their firsthand understanding of Sikhism. The journey continued to Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, where vibrant colorful Hindu deities and melodious chants captivated the senses. Amidst the colorful surroundings, students were given the task to search for the vahana of Murugan. A student, Navinaa Vickeneswaran quipped, “The search was so fun and insightful as it combined textbook learning with real-life experience.”

The students visited two more Chinese temples, the Guandi Temple and the Sin Sze Si Ya Temple, the former dedicated to the God of War and hero of the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, while the latter commemorated the Founder of Kuala Lumpur, Kapitan Yap Ah Loy. Reflecting on their experience, students expressed gratitude for the opportunity to engage with different faiths and cultures. Rainaf Akif described it as a “Very interesting learning experience”; while Zainab Mohsinbhoy shared her excitement of her first time visiting a Sikh temple, emphasizing the novelty of such an experience.

Tan Ching Yow, reflecting on the day’s events, encapsulated the sentiment of the group, recalling the memorable moments shared, and the camaraderie made at each religious site. He also recalled the culinary delights savored along the way and how the immersion trip concluded with nasi biryani at an Indian restaurant at Lebuh Ampang. In a world divided by religious and cultural differences, this field trip served as a poignant reminder to World Religions module’s motto of “Not to Prove or Disprove” any religions. This eye-opening firsthand experience and meaningful interaction showed the importance of embracing diversity and mutual understanding in the context of Malaysia and the wider globalized world.