Download - ICHM - On Course Semester 2 - 2010
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OnCourse
It’s boomtime in Singapore, Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing economy. Tourism is surging ahead, and ICHM’s graduates are at the heart of the action in top jobs in exclusive properties.
Singapore dispatchesDifferent Paths > In a class of his own
Events > End of Course Ceremony > Course Commencement Ceremony > Graduation Ceremony
Internships A motivational must read > By ICHM’s founder Rex J Lipman
Tourism award Chief Executive’s comments
Singapore from India, where he was Assistant
Manager Front Office at the Mumbai Hyatt. He
was lured to the Mumbai property by graduate
Jaime Svensson (nee Footner), when she came to
the campus to speak to and recruit students. In
turn, Dharmik was on the interview panel when
Paavan Patel joined the Grand Hyatt Singapore.
‘Work hard’, is Nicholas Lacey’s advice to
aspiring hoteliers. Invest your time early—it’s
the last internship when you should be really
looking to set things up. That’s when your career
really starts.’
Marian Quek, now Assistant Housekeeper at
the Four Seasons, took Nicholas’ words to a
whole new level. She went to the property for
her first internship, and was headhunted on her
return to Singapore after graduation. She went
to ICHM on the recommendation of David Picard,
now Operations Analyst at Pan Pacific Serviced
Suites Singapore.
And so it goes . . .
The call is out from at least three of
ICHM’s graduates in Singapore. ‘We’re very
interested in recruiting graduates and
interns’, says Lili Goh, Concierge at the Ritz
Carlton. And it’s a call repeated by Dharmik
Kumar, now Assistant Director of Rooms at
the Grand Hyatt.
‘Singapore is a tiny dot in the world; however,
from a learning perspective it offers the
world. The lessons learnt here are for a
lifetime and is definitely a launch pad for
further growth’, says Dharmik.
Zhenghan (Han) Chia, a Staffing
Coordinator at the gargantuan Marina Bay
Sands integrated resort, says the property
would also be keen to look at ICHM interns
and graduates.
Dharmik, for example, describes fellow ICHM
graduate Nicholas Lacey, Executive Assistant
Manager — Rooms at the Grand Hyatt, as
his coach and mentor. Dharmik arrived in
Spotlight on Singapore
the newsletter of the international college of hotel management Y adelaide, australia Y semester 2, 2010
Photos of ICHM graduates in Singapore are shown here and they and others are profiled in this issue of On Course (see inside spread). More about them and other graduates in Singapore can be found on the website:http://www.ichm.edu.au/about-ichm/ graduate-testimonials/ spotlight-on-singapore
Dharmik Kumar
Nicholas Lacey
Paavan Patel
The success of graduates in this city of ‘bling and bustle’ with an economy accelerating at more than 18 per cent is evidence of ICHM’s
network, network, network! catchphrase in action.
Grand Hyatt
Grand it is
The newsletter of the International College of Hotel Management, Semester 2, 2010 Y www.ichm.edu.au2
Year of ‘94 Nicholas Lacey
Executive Assistant Manager—Rooms
Grand Hyatt Singapore
‘ICHM provides the foundation and the rest is up to you.’
Educated in Adelaide, South Australia
Nicholas started with the Hyatt on his last
internship when he won a position at the
Hyatt Regency Osaka, Japan. He moved
up the ranks with a number of Hyatt’s
properties in Australia, and accepted the
position as Director of Rooms at the Park
Hyatt, Seoul, Korea when that property
opened in 2005. The move to Singapore
occurred later in 2005.
At 33, as Executive Assistant Manager—
Rooms at the Grand Hyatt Singapore, he
is responsible for the areas of Front Office,
Housekeeping, Spa and Laundry. He hopes
to achieve the role of General Manager in
the near future.
‘There’s going to be a lot of opportunity
in tourism over the next few years, with
massive growth predicted in India, China
and South America especially’, he says.
Year of 2000
Dharmik Kumar
Assistant Director of Rooms Grand Hyatt
Singapore
‘If you perform it’s pretty easy to move up the ladder.’
Indian-born Dharmik’s career with the
Hyatt began while he was still at ICHM
(see cover). His love of cricket tipped
the balance to study at ICHM; it meant
studying in Adelaide and playing cricket at
the home ground of cricketing legend Sir
Donald Bradman.
Dharmik’s internships were at the
Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas, the Novotel
Century Hong Kong and the Shangri-La
Hotel Cairns. He was the first graduate to
be sponsored for a graduate management
program with Pacific International Suites
in Adelaide. The Hyatt Regency Mumbai
came next, followed 18 months later
by Singapore.
‘ICHM shaped me as a person. You grow up
in an environment of living independently
on campus with others from around the
world and going out on internships. What
we learned on campus and in practice
helps a lot.’
He says the Hyatt is a fantastic company
to be associated with. ‘I look forward to
hearing from ICHM’s upcoming hoteliers!’
Year of ‘02
Paavan Patel Assistant Manager—Grand Club
Grand Hyatt Singapore
‘I’ve seen graduates from other colleges working with us. There’s no comparison.’
Paavan Patel is a hospitality ‘natural’—
he loves travel and people.
Indian-born and educated, Paavan’s
parents wanted him to study engineering
or medicine, but on consideration his
father said: ‘Look at the future and the
service industry’.
Paavan fast-tracked into second year
because of industry experience. His
first internship was at the Adelaide
Convention Centre and his second
was at the All Seasons in Katherine, in
Australia’s outback. He worked part time
at the Hyatt in Adelaide while finishing
his degree and spent a year at the Crieff
Hydro, Scotland. He came to the Grand
Hyatt Singapore in a Front Desk role,
moving up to Assistant Manager of the
Grand Club in December 2009.
He looks to stay with the chain, and
expects to move to different properties
and potentially to other countries to gain
bigger roles.
ICHM graduates have a very strong
theoretical and practical base and can
step into any job’, Paavan says.
Singapore dispatches
Shalini Sunder is one of five graduates at
the Grand Hyatt Singapore—along with
Nicholas Lacey, Dharmik Kumar and
Paavan Patel (profiled on this page). It’s
her first job after graduating and she says
she’s loving it.
‘We recruit from all over the world’, says
Grand Hyatt Singapore’s Training Manager
Ai Phen Peh.
‘ICHM graduates are realistic in their
expectations and understand they need
to move around to experience the different
areas before being promoted. That being
said, the college’s internship program
preempts a lot of ground-level exposure
and graduates are promoted faster than
local recruits’, she says.
Shalini’s doing well and can expect to be
fast-tracked to Assistant Manager level
(if not in Singapore, then Hong Kong,
China or Dubai) after doing a year as
part of the Hyatt’s corporate leadership
training. Academically, a degree is the
Grand Hyatt’s minimum criteria for rapid
promotion.
‘Our ICHM interns and graduates have
worked out very well so far. Attitude is the
main thing combined with passion for the
industry. It’s about service from the heart’,
says Ai Phen.
At ICHM from 2006–2010, Singaporean
Shalini says of ICHM from the time you
start to when you finish you’re a different
person. ’You quickly learn to think for
yourself and be more independent’.
Shalini’s industry placements were at the
Duxton Hotel Perth, Western Australia;
the Sofitel Queenstown, New Zealand;
and the Cairns Sofitel Reef Resort (now
Pullman Reef Casino Cairns) in Far North
Queensland, Australia.
After finishing high school in Singapore,
Shalini did a bridging course at Eynesbury
College. Her parents opted for ICHM and
Australia, rather than a Swiss Hotel School
in Switzerland, because of proximity and
familiarity. With her father in the military,
Shalini says the family moved around
a lot when she was young, including to
Rockhampton in country Australia.
Shalini says she has made lifelong friends
at ICHM from the bonds that come from a
strong sense of a purpose and experiences
shared with students from so many
different countries.
Now in Front Office at the Grand Hyatt
Singapore, she says the property,
‘empowers you to do what you want,
and I’ll see where it takes me’.
Shalini Sunder Ai Phen Peh
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The gargantuan Marina Bay Sands is Singapore’s largest hotel with more than 2500 rooms and suites housed in three towers soaring 55 levels above the bay. The towers are topped by a roof garden— at 200 metres high it dominates the Singapore skyline. The property, which has around 10,000 employees, incorporates a 600-table casino and convention facilities that alone cater for more than 45,000 people. ICHM graduates Han Chia and fellow Singaporean Johnathan Ong were part of the pre-opening team.
Marina Bay Sands
ICHM’s Manager Industry Training & Development Darren Camilleri was in Singapore for a brief stopover in early in 2010. He said he was delighted to see so many graduates not only back in Singapore, but also doing extremely well—in hotels and outside them. ‘To see so many in management roles at quite a young age is a credit to them and how hard they have worked. In addition, there is a very good Singapore alumni group that stays in touch often and networks, which is great to see. As this issue of On Course shows, Singapore is going through massive growth opening up opportunities for students and graduates’, he says.
More about these graduates in Singapore (including David Picard, who has been profiled previously in On Course) can be found on the website:http://www.ichm.edu.au/about-ichm/graduate-testimonials/spotlight-on-singapore
Ritz-CarltonYear of ‘07
Lili Goh Internship: Sheraton Ningbo, China.
Position: Concierge, The Ritz-Carlton Millenia
Singapore
‘The things I learnt at ICHM I apply a lot. Looking back, ICHM gave me the scope of the whole hotel operations picture.’
Age 23, Singaporean Lili is very pleased with
her career progression. After nine months
in the job—her first after graduating—she’s
in a supervisory position. She says she is
working toward a Guest Services or Front
Office Manager role at the Ritz Carlton (or the
merged Marriott chain) within five years and
the United Nations in the distant future.
She heard about ICHM from a family friend,
and says it took her a couple of months to
settle in, but it was very interesting living on
campus with students from around the world.
Lili had worked at the Suntec Convention
Centre part time for more than three years
when she was at school, for which ICHM gave
her credit.
‘The ICHM degree has been very beneficial to
my career progression.’
Mandarin OrientalYear of ‘06 Andrew Tristan Baker Internships: Grand Hyatt Melbourne, Australia;
Pan Pacific Marina, Singapore
Position: Bar Lounge Manager
‘ICHM helped me to become self-sufficient.’
Andrew came to ICHM after finishing a
diploma in business at Singapore Polytechnic.
After a work placement at the Four Seasons,
which gave him a real taste for the industry,
he started looking around for hotel schools
globally to better his qualification.
He says the basic drawcard for ICHM was the
connection with the Swiss Hotel Association.
‘I got in touch after going online and was
given a lot of information. I also went to visit
and was given a personal tour—my parents
were very impressed with that,’ he says.
Andrew applied for the position at the
Mandarin Oriental while he was still on
campus. His plan is now to stay in Singapore
in the short term, and possibly go back to
Australia or to Europe to a boutique hotel or
independent restaurant.
‘The campus accommodation is very well
managed. While there I made some really
good friends and we stay in touch.’
Year of ‘07 Han Chia
Internships: Conrad Centennial Singapore;
Medina Perth Australia.
Position: Staffing Coordinator
‘If you really think you’d like the hospitality lifestyle, then ICHM is the place to go.’
Han went from a major property (in Food
& Beverage operations) to a smaller one,
where he said he did a lot of everything,
‘which was pretty interesting’.
A relation knew someone at the Marina
Bay Sands, and he secured an interview
from his curriculum vitae. He is in a four-
to-five member team in a Sourcing Unit—
a first point of contact for new employees.
‘Being part of the pre-opening team for
this property was very exciting’, he says.
Han is ultimately looking for a career in
Marketing within the hotel operation,
and says ICHM has set him up for that.
‘One of the best things about studying
overseas is it makes you independent.’
Year of ‘07 Johnathan Ong
Internships: Le Baroque, Singapore; Sheraton
Mirage Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia
Position: Meeting Services Supervisor
‘I was interested in getting a degree, but wanted one that was worth it; that I could apply.’
Johnathan joined the Marina Bay Sands
as Meeting Services Attendant and was
rapidly promoted to his current position.
He believes he can make Assistant
Manager of a department within three
years. He says if he hadn’t gone to ICHM he
would not have been promoted so quickly.
‘There is lot of sweat and tears in being
part of a pre-opening team. It’s supposed
to be an eight-hour shift, but when it’s
busy you just don’t go home, which is
typical of this industry. I love it.’
ICHM offered in-depth management as
well as covering the operational side of
things, which was much better than I had
been led to expect.
Four SeasonsYear of ‘06Marian QuekInternships: Four Seasons Singapore, Sea
Temple Resort, Port Douglas, Queensland,
Australia
Position: Assistant Housekeeper
‘My closest friends now are from ICHM. We did everything together so it just seems natural to keep the friendships going.’ Marian Quek says if anyone should ask her
about going to ICHM, she would first tell
them about the hours and the industry—
‘you have to be passionate about it. If that’s
what you decide to do, you should go to
ICHM because you’re given everything you
need to succeed in the real working world.’
Marian went to the Four Seasons on her
first internship. When she had finished her
studies she returned to Singapore to take
a break, but received a call from what was
her Learning Manager at the Four Seasons
(and now Human Resources Manager). She
started as Guest Services Officer at The Club,
and was promoted to a supervisory role
within a year.
StarwoodYear of ‘07
Cindy Cai Internships: RACV, Melbourne; Fullerton Hotel,
Singapore; Corporate Office, Starwood Singapore
Position: Talent Management and
Organisational Development Trainee—Starwood
Asia Pacific
‘I learnt a lot, including valuable life skills crossing paths with students from so many different cultures.’
Cindy holds a diploma in engineering from
Singapore Polytechnic, but decided after
three years it wasn’t for her. She considered
teaching, but opted for hotel management and
enrolled at ICHM after considerable research.
She is so new to her position with Starwood
Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, she hasn’t been
given a formal title as yet. Fundamentally,
she’s ‘over the moon’, being offered the
opportunity to introduce the group’s luxury
‘W’ brand to Singapore.
Cindy’s is another network, network, network!
story in action; her position arising from her
work-based ICHM degree project. ‘My boss
has been absolutely amazing in creating
opportunities for me to further my career
within Starwood, knowing that I was open to
most positions’, she says.
Different Paths
Graduate Troy Hickox was on campus in
late July—as a guest speaker, to conduct
a Masterclass and attend the Course
Commencement Ceremony.
He started as a busboy at Hong Kong’s The
Peninsula at 15, and today runs his own
Hong Kong-based consulting business
the conceptual:™group. He has taken on
managing the pre-opening of some of the
world’s hippest properties. Most recently
The Mira in Hong Kong and before that the
Venetian Macao Resort in Macao China
(2006–2008).
At ICHM at 17, Troy graduated in 1997 and
has since enjoyed a stellar rise in the industry.
He’s had a hand in the pre-openings of
numerous new hotels and the refurbishment
and rebranding of as many others.
‘Hospitality is not a job; it’s a lifestyle. You
have to take opportunities, which are only as
good as you make them. Go round asking for
responsibilities if you need to.’
According to Troy, the Swiss Hotel Association
was one of the drawcards for ICHM, helping
it stand out against other hotel schools. ‘I
remember how intense it was. In hindsight, it
was a great setup for learning how to handle
a lot of things at the same time and under
pressure’, he says.
He and fellow graduate Paul Town were both
in Macau at the same time—Troy for the
preopening of the $US2.4 billion Venetian and
Paul Town as Vice President Hotel Operations
for the US$2.1 billion City of Dreams.
‘The Venetian, which is big enough to hold
90 Boeing 747 Jumbo jets, was a once-in-a-
lifetime opportunity’, says Troy.
The conceptual:™group, for which he is
Executive Director, is an exclusive and private
collection of synergised business ventures with
diverse interests in the design, development
and management of brands, products and
services. The group aims to grow through
leveraging its resources and expertise from
hotels and spas, to bars and restaurants; travel
and technology; design and development;
media and publishing; marketing and events;
fashion and entertainment; talent and
management consulting.
Troy’s father is industry identity Fraser Hickox
(originally from Adelaide), who works with
him in the business.
Profile in brief Current • Hotel Manager/(Acting General Manager
The Mira Hong Kong• Founder Hospitality Analytics
Executive Director conceptual:hotels/conceptual:group
Past • Director Hotel Operations, Front of House
Operations and Paiza Hotel Operations, The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel
• Assistant Director of Rooms, Four Seasons Hong Kong at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
• Revenue and Front Office Manager at Le Meridien Cyberport
Education • Michigan State University—The Eli Broad
Graduate School of Management• Oxford Brookes University Business School• Swiss Hotel Association International
College of Hotel Management
Troy Hickox (right) with Darren Camilleri
Stepping up
‘I’m not interested in the next step. I want to know the next step after the next step.’
The newsletter of the International College of Hotel Management, Semester 2, 2010 Y www.ichm.edu.au4
‘Going to ICHM and getting a degree doesn’t mean you’re destined for a hotel. ICHM gives you the keys and opens up lots of doors; the rest depends on you’, says David Picard. Many ICHM graduates are proving themselves in many different fields, as these two quite recent graduates below demonstrate. In the class of ’95, Troy Hickox is in a class of his own.
Degree year of ‘08 Yan Wan Phang Internship: Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole,
Wyoming, USA
Position: Sales & Marketing Management
Trainee, Appco Group, Singapore
Yan Wan came to ICHM for the degree year
after finishing a three-year hospitality and
tourism diploma at Temasek Polytechnic in
Singapore. ICHM gives recognition to holders
of Temasek’s hospitality diploma, and a
12-month degree program is the standard.
There are similar pathways from the
Singapore International Hotel and Tourism
College (SHATEC) and other hospitality
programs worldwide.
‘For my degree I thought about going to a
university in Queensland, but chose ICHM for
its focus on hotel management and internship.
I’ve never regretted it’, she says.
A high-performing student, Yan Wan says she
got through ICHM with mainly credits and
distinctions. ‘The course had a strong focus
on strategic management and was delivered
by lecturers who really knew the industry.
They were also very approachable.’
Having just won the sales and marketing
management traineeship with Appco, Yan
Wan says she is excited by the potential of
the role. ‘It’s huge, and I’m loving it’, Appco
is a Southeast Asian sales and promotional
group, which counts among its clients some
of Singapore’s biggest organisations, such as
Singtel and the Singapore Cancer Society.
‘Everything I learnt in my degree year is
coming into play in my new sales and
marketing role. I’m stoked!’
Year of ‘02
Isabelle Lind Internships: Club & Winery, Perth, Western
Australia; Marriott Bangkok
Position: Business Development & Sales, Open
Link, Singapore
Even though she’s not 100% on her goal to one
day own her own boutique property, Isabelle
Lind says ICHM can take you anywhere.
Now in a Business Development and Sales
role with software solutions business Open
Link, Isabelle has travelled extensively. Her
father is based in Singapore and her mother
in Johannesburg, South Africa. The 26 year-old
Australian moves effortlessly between the
two countries.
After studying Spanish in New Zealand,
Isabelle went to Spain, and helped run a cigar
bar before returning to ICHM and third year,
which she describes as her best year. ‘It was
so nice to catch up with everyone’. On her
return to Singapore she worked variously in
marketing, events and communications. She
has been with Open Link for a year and says
she’s really settling into the job.
‘ICHM is quite an investment, but without a
doubt it has paid off. I’ve taken what I learnt
and used components, and I dream to one
day bring it all together in my own boutique
property in Montenegro’, she says.
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Internships July–December 2010
INTERNATIONAL
Canada Sidney Pier Hotel & SpaKrysa, Leo
ChinaLe Royal Meridien ShanghaiErnst, PaulYin, Anita Parkyard Hotel Shanghai Zhang, Maddy (Di)Pullman Beijing South Delfos, Heath Kwak, Chiara (Kyung Ha) Lee, Young Ae Li, Mandy (Meng Qing) Lo Ting Lan, Loic (Jean Alain
Loic)Zhang, Wish (Weishi)Radisson Hotel Shanghai
New WorldHurley, AnnaSheraton Hongqiao.
ShanghaiChou, Jennifer (Jun Ju)Sofitel Shanghai Jin Jiang
Oriental Pudong Arnulphy, Henri The Puli Hotel and Spa
Shanghai Hua, Catherine (Zhian)
DubaiJumeirah Beach HotelMcMurtrie, Stacey
Hong KongNovotel Century Hong KongChan, Wilmington Leung, Andric Magno, Tomas Miguel Wong, Billy
New ZealandHyatt Regency Auckland Duykers, AlenaSebel Trinity Wharf
TaurangaHenderson, VanessaSpencer on ByronWhite, DavidNovotel Christchurch
Cathedral Square Allison, Ned
SingaporeGrand Hyatt SingaporeBay, Elaine (Zhi Ying) South KoreaJW Marriott SeoulLee, SeungminMillennium Hilton SeoulJung, Ryan (Shingwang)W Seoul Walkerhill Kwon, June (Ji Yun)Grand Hyatt Seoul Kim, Su YoungLee, Ju YeonLim, Soo Min
ThailandRembrandt Hotel, BangkokChaisilwattana, RaviThe Westin Grand
SukhumvitGulati, KaranSamed Villa Resort Ottiger, Evelyn
AUSTRALIA New South WalesFour Points Hotel SheratonKuo, Allen (Cheng-Hua) Li, Josephine Phang, Stephany Rudanny, Rudanny Tokimoto, Shun (Shunsuke)Wu, Alisha (Yu-Hsuan) IBIS Sydney Airport Lee, AmyMrema, MichelleDibyono, RirihKim, SangJinThe Menzies Hotel SydneyLo, SeanSheraton On The Park Bang, David (Yo Sub)The Westin Sydney Cheng, Gavin (Kai Leung)Choi, Yoomi Nam, Ji HoonWaffy Choccy Café, SydneyYoon, Phillip
Northern TerritoryCrowne Plaza DarwinWarren, JenniferVoyages Ayers Rock ResortKitagawa, Sachie
QueenslandSofitel BrisbaneHong, Tae Young Truong, JennaPullman Reef Casino CairnsChong, Lay (Hyong Rye) Jung, Jay (A Young) Kim, Jacqueline (Ji Hye) Min, Karl (Sungki)Sheraton Mirage Noosa Tuttle, Fintan Hoang, HeidiLammers, Fenna Kim, So YoungMercelina, ChantalSteinembohner, MarcusSea Temple Resort & Spa
Port Douglas Cuk, DanielleSheraton Mirage Port
Douglas Artusso Bonomi, MariaBains, Ganeev Desouza, Sean Gibson, Maria Kaderbhai, HuzeifaLoucheva, AntoninaShapurkar, Ari Jonah Shing, OliviaSheraton Mirage Resort and
Spa Gold Coast Jeong, SujeongLee, James Hamilton Island Resort Skewes, Josaia
South AustraliaCrowne Plaza AdelaideBalan, Darren DineshHilton Adelaide Chang, Evan (Yi-Fan) Ho, Trong Quang Hwang, Sungwon Le, Ashley Nam, Kyung Min Phung, Nick Sinclair, Natalie Tian, Kevin Tran, Truc ThanhIntercontinental Adelaide De Simoni, Jake Mhlakane, Mihle Stamford Plaza Adelaide Gomez, Nataly Rosenberg, Angelica-Hazel
VictoriaThe Como HotelWard, Cherree Citigate Melbourne Tong Pena, Luis Grand Chancellor Hotel
MelbourneAswani, Kiran Griffin, Sarah Grand Hyatt Melbourne Vu, Thu Khuyen Ng, Gary (Xing Yuen)Hilton On The Park
Melbourne Hai, Phoebe (Chung Ching)Xu, James (Yan) Le Ngoc, MinhIntercontinental MelbourneTooth, AlistairLangham, Melbourne Hasanovic, Mahira
Hutchison, Casey Lim, Jun (Hyeong Jun) Syropoulo, Max Melbourne Convention
Exhibition Centre Djomel AguinaldoDuan, Yaya Lim, Jong Shin Lee, Jennifer (So Cheong) Novotel on Collins Sangedha, Gavin (Gavinder)Park Hyatt MelbourneByrne, Jack Kim, Su Jin RACV Club Hardie, Adrian Hung, Ken (Tsung-Hsien)Krevelen, VincentPascha, Kiki (Paularin)Seo, Justin (Jiwan)Sun, Sulia (Lingwen)Schagen, Martijn Sofitel MelbourneDasan, Marc Daniel Swanston Hotel, Grand
Mercure Kang, Woo Sung Lee, Myoung JaeTravelodge Docklands Jagus, Jamsheed The Westin Melbourne On
Regent Place Bentley, Joel Cole, RachelKraft, Jeremy Maulina, Asti (Dwi)Vibe Savoy MelbournePaik, Chris
Western AustraliaPinctada Resort & Spa Cable
BeachBowen, PoppyThe Kimberley Grande
KununurraCauser, LukeDuxton Hotel PerthLoh, MurphyHyatt Regency PerthKato, Yuki Lee, Hye LimNaik, Suraj Wong, Joyin (Chung Yin) Wu, Yi-Ting Novotel Perth Langley Kim, Jenny (Jung Eun)Sheraton Perth Hotel Mok, Derek (Wai Kwan)Yin, Blair
LANGUAGES
Butt, Ashley Spanish in SpainHinchcliffe, JarredHill, Sophie Juliet Yaakoup Spanish in Buenos Aires Yaworksy, Hannah Swedish in SwedenWilliams, Maria Spanish in MexicoBilegdemberel, Nasan
Korean in Korea
Students join ‘big guns’ at Great Chefs LunchAustralia’s nationally renowned celebrity
chef, Simon Bryant, this year led a team of
Adelaide’s top chefs at the annual Great Chefs
of Adelaide Lunch on Sunday 15 August at
the Adelaide Town Hall. And they were again
ably supported—back and front of house—by
ICHM students ‘choreographed’ by lecturers
Richard Hunter and Declan Kenny.
Around 380 (largely corporate) guests
attended the Anglicare SA fundraising event,
which was also supported by leading wineries,
food producers and service providers. In
this its 15th year, the lunch raised a record
$114,000 (net) in support of a pioneering
program aimed at tackling intergenerational
unemployment and welfare dependency.
‘It’s a great opportunity for our students to
test themselves in a demanding environment
at a prestigious occasion. It will lead to
memories that will last a lifetime, and the
expressions of appreciation on the day are
a boost to the students’ confidence as they
embark on their studies’, said Principal
Dan Edmonds.
The newsletter of the International College of Hotel Management, Semester 2, 2010 Y www.ichm.edu.au6
Events Ceremonies
3 4
1 Stacey McMurtrie2 ICHM third years together for the last time3 Degree students4 Kiran Aswani
1
End Of Course 2 July Held in Regency International House, the End of Course Ceremony is the occasion for awarding
Swiss Hotel Association gold, silver and bronze medals for academic achievement and ICHM’s
Bachelor Degree medals (ahead of the formal Graduation Ceremony in September).
Congratulations to Stacey McMurtrie as Dux of Third Year (January–June 2010), making it
the third consecutive year she has picked up this highest achievement award. Stacey will be
right at home at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai where she is an intern—the property was
recently voted Conde Nast Traveler’s Top Hotel in the Middle East. Kiran Aswani made the
farewell speech on behalf of all of the students.
Course Commencement 30 July Held in the Function Room of the Grand Chancellor Hotel in the city, the Course Commencement
Ceremony is the occasion for celebrating the academic achievements of returning students. It
is also the event at which new students are welcomed on to campus and second and third years
‘home’ from their internships.
2
3 4
1 Imalka Maddumapatabendi Dux of 1st Year Winner of the Cameron Sykes Memorial Scholarship and the Luke James’ Food & Beverage Incentive Award
2 Samantha Howard Dux of 2nd Year (January–June 2009) Winner Australian Hotels Association (AHA) Award (top student returning to 3rd Year)
3 Sarah Leitner Dux of 2nd Year (January–June 2010) Winner AHA Award
4 Young Hoon Woo Uhak Channel Scholarship (top Korean student returning to 2nd Year)
5 Liz Soo Yeon Kim KOSA Award (top Korean student moving to degree studies)
6 (From left) Ekaphol Narula, Nick John, Tien Phan & James Cameron Amazing Race winners, as part of Induction Week
7 Left: Sachi Fletcher & Sana Pattaramalai gave the welcoming address to new students
8 Left: Marianne Garupa, Lea Laurente, Dyan Faye Pablo & Donna May Viray All four have studied at ICHM’s sister school, Southville Foreign University, in Manila, the Philippines, and have come to ICHM to complete their bachelor degree in one year.
9-14 Formalities over
1
2 53 4
6 7 8
11 12 139 10 14
1
7
8
3 4
ICHM & SHA up close and personal
Graduation 4 September Chief Executive Officer of the Swiss Hotel
Association (SHA), Dr Christoph Juen, and
Mrs Juen were special guests at this year’s
Graduation Ceremony at the Hilton Adelaide.
The Hon. Jack Snelling, Minister of Further
Education, also joined graduands and their
families to celebrate the culmination of
years of academic endeavour. As a special
acknowledgement to Dr and Mrs Juen, the
sounds of alpenhorns (traditionally used
by herders in the Swiss Alps to call cows
to pasture) welcomed the SHA Diploma
graduands, much to the entertainment
of the guests. Dr Juen addressed students
on campus earlier in the week, where
he reaffirmed the SHA’s commitment to
quality. ‘ICHM has fulfilled perfectly the
SHA Diploma Standard since its inception
in 1992’, he said. ICHM was again delighted
to welcome Peter Lehmann Wines to the
table, and representative Paul Turale, Global
Marketing Manager for the company, who
spoke of synergies between the organisations.
Congratulations to Natalia Rodrigues as Dux
of the Degree.
1 Dr Christoph Juen2 Natalia Rodrigues 3 Hon. Jack Snelling MP4 Paul Turale5 Alpenhorns6-10 Formalities over
Megan Kalil Varsity College, Sandton South Africa
‘I’d like to stay in Australia for a while and gain
more experience, and hopefully take back what I
learn to Johannesburg.’
In Adelaide for just three weeks, Megan won
a scholarship (covering tuition, airfares and
accommodation) for ICHM degree studies. ‘I worked
hard, and I’m a good networker. I want to grow in this
industry.’
She says ICHM is a community on campus; like
being at home. ‘I’m really comfortable and like the
way we’re set to work in study groups.’
Photographed here at the Course Commencement
Ceremony, the 21 year old will complete her degree
in December.
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Right on targetICHM Finance Officer Wendy Moylan participated in the 2010
Open National Archery Tournament in sunny Queensland, as
part of the South Australian Senior State Team. The weather
was perfect and Wendy shot well and qualified to claim a
Masters World Ranking.
International College of Hotel Management
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GPO Box 249 Adelaide South Australia 5001
Freecall Australia 1800 246 875 | Telephone 61 8 8228 3636 | Facsimile 61 8 8228 3684
[email protected] | www.ichm.edu.au | www.community.ichm.edu.au
ICHM appreciates being able to publicise graduate
success stories in On Course. While most graduates
value the profile, others chose to take a more
conservative stand. It is ICHM policy to contact
graduates in the preparation of any item or article,
and if ‘no publicity’ is your preference please
clearly decline our request.
News
8 The newsletter of the International College of Hotel Management, Semester 2, 2010 Y www.ichm.edu.au
MOU with Indonesia’s STPPHIn May, ICHM signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Sekolah Tinggi
Pariwisata Pelita Hrapan (STPPH), a division of Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH), to enable
students from STPPH to study at ICHM to obtain both the Advanced Diploma of Hospitality
and the ICHM Bachelor Degree. These students can then return to Jakarta, continue their
studies at STPPH and obtain the Diploma IV, giving them a double Bachelor degree.
Graduate SurveyAs in 2009, ICHM surveyed its Degree
graduates in 2010—in the two-month period
between end of study in July and Graduation
Day. The aim of the survey is to determine the
proportion of graduates working, where they
are working and their employers. More than
60% completed the survey.
Findings
• 67% were working
• 6% were studying for a Masters degree,
6% were holidaying
• more than 90% of the December 2009
graduates were employed or studying,
and 78% of the July 2010 graduates were
employed or studying
• 91% were working in the hospitality
industry, 78% in hotels
• 57% found a position in Australia, and
China ranked #2
• Starwood was the largest employer,
followed by Hyatt and Toga Hospitality.
A copy of this survey is on the community
website www.community.ichm.edu.au
When the Swiss Hotel Association and
ICHM started planning to create a hotel
school in Adelaide about 20 years ago, we
called ICHM, ‘The Swiss Hotel Association
in the Asia Pacific Basin’. Then, there were
a few visionary optimists who predicted
that the tourism and hotel management
industry would boom in the years ahead.
But not even they could have projected
the growth that has been achieved. We
anticipated that it would lead to hotel
industry jobs for our graduates; however,
none of us really anticipated the growth
that followed.
Today we see China as the second biggest
destination for our graduates, second only
to Australia (see Internships page 5). We
see Singapore (feature story), Dubai, Hong
Kong and many other countries seeking
our graduates. This is not just nationals
getting their bachelor degree qualification
and going home: it is Swiss going to China;
Koreans going to Hong Kong; Indonesians
going to Dubai; and Australians and Kiwis
going everywhere. The opportunities
are not restricted by nationality or
destination.
Most students are starting their career
with one of the big chains (such as
Accor, Starwood and Hyatt), but there
are opportunities with smaller chains,
in boutique properties and outside the
hotel sector as well. ICHM is instrumental
in assisting students get their jobs. As
the Graduate Survey demonstrates,
help from our Industry Training and
Development team is the leading source
of that important first job. Students also
find positions while they are on their last
placement. Additionally there is contact
from one student to another . . . network, network, network! is not our catchphrase
for nothing.
We heard from graduate Troy Hickox
earlier this semester that when he and
graduate Paul Town were both opening
hotels in Macau they employed more
Chief Executive’s comments
than 15 ICHM graduates between them.
A pretty good way to launch careers!
All the global chains are aggressively
growing their Asian networks, and while
there is no shortage of buildings, there
is a shortage of well-trained English-
speaking graduates, and this is providing
great opportunities for ICHM alumni.
We see graduates move from China to
Taiwan, from the USA to Oman, from
New Zealand to Indonesia, and from
Singapore to Bahrain, and so on. There
is no question that our program with
50:50 mix of industry placement and
academic program gives our students a
big advantage. Of course, the 100-year old
reputation of Swiss Hotel Association is a
major plus. And more and more the name
of ICHM makes the difference.
A generation (or two!) earlier young
hospitality graduates sought positions
in Europe or the US. But change is
happening fast, and as our founding
fathers anticipated, Asia is looking pretty
good. I asked our Asian ‘guru’ Mark Keith,
Managing Director of HVS Executive
Search, based in Hong Kong, for his
description of the situation. He said, ‘The
Asian region, especially India and China,
is transforming in a bigger, faster, and far
more impactful manner than the 30 years
of modernising America from the 1890s, or
the earlier Industrial Revolution in Europe.
Every age has a golden time and place, and
this is the time to be in Asia; a time to be all
you want to be as Asia becomes all it can be.’
About 150 years ago the catchcry in the
USA was, ‘Go west, young man’, and it
proved to be correct, as California boomed.
Probably the accurate slogan for the
current age is, ‘Stay East, ICHM graduate’.
There are certainly a lot of career
opportunities in Asia!
ICHM picks up National Tourism AwardAt a gala dinner held in conjunction with the
Tourism Training National Conference in
Sydney in June, ICHM was awarded a National
Tourism Training Award, ‘for outstanding
support and leadership to tourism and
hospitality in Australia’.
The former Chief Justice of the High Court,
Sir Lawrence Street, presented the award
to Principal Dan Edmonds, who accepted
on behalf of all ICHM staff and students.
Sir Lawrence is a long time advocate and
supporter of the tourism and hospitality
industry.
‘Congratulations to all concerned for
their contribution to keeping ICHM at
the forefront of the industry’, said Gerald
Lipman. Well done to all!
Having achieved great successes over 70
years not only as ICHM’s founder and inaugural
chief executive, but also as a soldier, dental
surgeon, merchant banker, racehorse breeder
and trainer, travel manager, vigneron and author,
Rex Lipman ao is well qualified to write about
success.
He has drawn on these experiences, the qualities
and attributes of dozens of the world’s great
achievers and extensive research to produce The
Human Machine Operator’s Manual, a handbook for
people of all ages who aim to be more successful
in achieving their goals.
He’s narrowed the recipe for success and
happiness to five essential ingredients:
• an inspired and focused vision
• constant zest and enthusiasm
• physical and mental ruggedness of
a high order
• a positive attitude towards all criticism
• constant and conscientious monitoring.
The Human Machine Operator’s Manual is Dr
Lipman’s sixth publication, and all profits
from the sale of the book are going to promote
neuroscience education at both the secondary
and tertiary level of education.
Copies of the publication are available at
www.anjoupublications.com. Cost $35
(including postage).
The Human Machine Operator’s Manual Rex J. Lipman
Daljit appointed to Education Adelaide Board ICHM’s Director of Marketing/Operations
Daljit Rao has been appointed to the Board
of Education Adelaide, to help strengthen
the Board with new members with wide
international experience. Established in
1998, Education Adelaide is charged with
developing and expanding South Australia’s
share of the national education export
market. At the end of 2009, there were close
to 34,000 international students studying and
living in Adelaide.
Daljit’s is one of three new appointments
to the Board, with the move among a raft
of initiatives by the South Australian
Government to ensure that Adelaide
continues to be seen as a supportive and
welcoming place for international students.
Daljit Rao