As the SHTM moves further up the global rankings, it continues to look further and believes that true Asian Hospitality should be innovative with a strong focus of local culture. To learn and to apply, the centre of excellence.

A team with over a hundred years of hospitality experience is brought together from international acclaimed brands such as the Shangri-La, Mandarin Oriental, Banyan Tree, and the Mira Hong Kong. Under the leadership of Mr Richard Hatter in creating a "hotel with a purpose", he has appointed key directors based on their expertise in each particular area. Mr Robert Fierz, Deputy General Manager (formerly the Director of Project for Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts) is working directly with PolyU’s Campus Development Office from project planning, control and implementation of operators and design standards to hotel opening.

With a keen understanding of the importance in creating synergy between theories and practice, Director of Human Capital Ms Judy Hou (formerly the Director of Learning & Development of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group) will dedicate her passion and experience in learning and development to create an umbilical cord between the PolyU and the hotel. Other special hires include:

Mr Ian Lee, Director of Finance and Administration (formerly the Vice President, Operation & Control of the Miramar International) and Ms Mae Wong, Assistant Director of Finance and Administration (formerly the Assistant Financial Controller of Langham Hotels Group), will gather their experience to set up a state-of-the-art accounting and financial system and at the same time reinforce direct communication between PolyU, SHTM and the our hotel.

Ms Susana Fork, Director of Rooms (formerly the Director of Front Office at the Harbour Grand Hong Kong), has just completed the hotel opening of Harbour Grand. Susana will bring together her experience in Front Desk, Guest Relations, Housekeeping and Rooms to our hotel.

Mr Edmond Choi, Director of Engineering & Environment Management (formerly the Area Director of Engineering for the Shangri-La Hotel Group in the South Eastern China region) is a PolyU alumni with over 25 years of hotel industry experience. Edmond has been involved in many hotel openings in Hong Kong and China.

Mr Michel Hadorn, Director of Restaurants & Bars (formerly the General Manager of ROKA/Zuma International). Michel, graduate of the Swiss Hotel Management School of Lucerne in Hospitality Management, is hand-picked by Mr Hatter because of his experience in running free-standing restaurants. He will bring a fresh perspective to Food & Beverage and restaurant management.

Ms Sylvia Tam, Director of Communications (formerly the founder and brand consultant of Maximize in Beijing, London and Hong Kong), has joined the team to create a unique hotel brand with her extensive experience in branding, marketing, advertising and media in Hong Kong and China. Sylvia is a graduate of UNLV in Hotel Administration.

Mr Tristan Dimacali, Director of Technology Innovation (formerly the Chief Information Officer of Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts Group), is a special edition to our team. Tristan is appointed to enhance our philosophy in driving innovation for the future. Tristan has many success stories such as the implementation of a global 24X7 automated helpdesk, the launch of Singapore's first hospitality IT diploma degree program, and the participation in Star Wars Program in US.

The mission of the management team is not only to drive and lead the hotel as one of the best in the world. We also play an important role in setting examples, new standards, and driving innovation together with SHTM, leading hospitality education to a new level by demonstrating entrepreneurship to our next generation. In this ever-changing world, we set out to be unique and stand out from the crowd. Creating a hotel that embodies the best of Hong Kong and a team that reflects what we are about. Confident and responsive, the joint effort of SHTM and the hotel management team will lead us to a success in hospitality and tourism history.

With this world-class team of excellence in place and the soon-to-be-announced topping-off ceremony, we are one step forward to be the icon showcasing some of Hong Kong’s finest.