New Tourism, New Directions Explored at IMPACT2021 Conference
Organised by the SHTM and its Hospitality and Tourism Research Centre together with STR and run by a group of talented SHTM undergraduate students from the Special Events Class, the IMPACT2021 Conference took place on 16 December at Hotel ICON in both online and offline forums.
As our resilient global industry re-emerged from the setbacks imposed by COVID-19, the SHTM assembled industry leaders and prominent scholars from Hong Kong and beyond at IMPACT2021 to discuss the latest industry trends and prospects and to propose solutions to problems faced by the entire sector. Themed "New Tourism, New Directions", the conference was a timely opportunity to bring industry executives, government officials and academics together to exchange insights, find new paths and reinvent tourism for a post-pandemic world.
IMPACT2021 was kicked off by Professor Jin-Guang Teng, PolyU President, and Ms Elizabeth Winkle, Chief Strategy Officer of STR, who delivered the opening addresses. Chaired by Professor Kaye Chon, SHTM Dean, Chair Professor and Walter and Wendy Kwok Family Foundation Professor in International Hospitality Management, the Opening General Session that followed was entitled "Tourism and Hospitality Industry Today: Where Do We Go from Here?". Insights were provided by Mr Dane Cheng, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board; Mr Steve Hood, Senior Vice President, Research and Founding Director, SHARE Centre of the STR; Ms Liz Ortiguera, Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA); Ms Stephanie Ricca, Editorial Director of Hotel News Now; and Ms Sarah Wang, Regional Director – Greater China of the World Travel and Tourism Council.
The Panel Discussion "Hospitality and Tourism 2030: Opportunities and Challenges", chaired by Professor Dimitrios Buhalis, SHTM Visiting Professor, and Dr Ada Lo, SHTM Associate Professor, featured two sessions. Joining the first session were panellists from the travel industry, including Mr Andrew Jones, Guardian of Sanctuary Resorts and Executive Board Member of PATA; Ms Monica Lee-Muller, Managing Director of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Ltd.; Ms Mandy Ng, CEO of Hong Kong Express Airways Ltd.; and Ms Gloria Slethaug, CEO of Connexus Travel. The second session featured panellists from the hospitality industry, namely Mr Richard Hatter, General Manager of Hotel ICON and SHTM Adjunct Associate Professor; Mr Tasos Kousloglou, CEO, Hotel Division of the Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd.; Mr Regan Taikitsadaporn, Chief Human Resources Officer, Asia Pacific of the Marriott International; and Mr Bill Taylor, Regional Vice President and General Manager of the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong.
Attention then turned to research nurtured by the SHTM, with two parallel sessions devoted to Impact Presentations by SHTM faculty and Hotel ICON Projects.
The SHTM is very proud to have organised IMPACT2021, a unique and timely platform for discussing the future of the global hospitality and tourism industry. The School will continue its efforts to support the recovery of the industry and drive its future development.
About PolyU School of Hotel and Tourism Management
The School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University is a global centre of excellence in hospitality and tourism education and research. Based in Hong Kong at the heart of the Asia-Pacific region, SHTM combines internationally recognised academic expertise with practical, industry-focused learning across hotel, tourism, food service and events management. The School is home to more than 1,500 students and an international faculty with extensive industry experience, while its pioneering teaching and research hotel, Hotel ICON, provides a unique environment for experiential learning, innovation and applied research. Guided by its motto, “Leading Hospitality and Tourism,” SHTM works closely with industry and academic partners worldwide to advance knowledge, develop future leaders and support the continued evolution of the global hospitality and tourism sector.