PolyU SHTM is ranked no. 2 in the world among academic institutions in hospitality and tourism based on total research output in the 11 leading hospitality and tourism journals over the 15-year peroiod from 1992 to 2006. This is another concrete proof that SHTM is committed to achieving global excellence in hospitality and tourism education.

The league table appears in the study "A World Ranking of the Top 100 Hospitality and Tourism Programs" which will be published in the November 2009 issue of the Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research. This year PolyU's ranking has moved up from the 4th place in 2005 to the 2nd place in 2009, and it remains the only non-US based institution in the top five. The top five institutions in the rank are Cornell University, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Michigan State University, University of Nevada at Las Vegas and Pennsylvania State University.

It is also worth noting that for a more recent 5-year period from 2002 to 2006, the same study reveals that PolyU is ranked no. 1 in the world, which clearly indicates PolyU's leadership in research in more recent years.

SHTM is well known as the pioneer of hotel and tourism education in Hong Kong. Since 1979, the School has graduated generations of talented students who suit the rigorous requirements of the hospitality and tourism industry. Its recent achievements include:

• 2009 – Second ranking in the world among academic institutions in hospitality and tourism based on research and scholarship, according to a study published in the November issue of the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research.
• 2005 – Top ranking among Asian institutions and fourth in world-ranking based on research and scholarship, according to a study published in the August issue of the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research.
• 2003 – Institutional Achievement Award from International Society of Travel and Tourism Educators (ISTTE) for innovation and contribution to the field of tourism education.
• 2002 – Designation as World Headquarters and Secretariat for the International Academy for the Study of Tourism (IAST).
• 2000 – TedQual (Tourism Education Quality) Certification from United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
• 1999 – Designation as Asia's only university among the 16-member UNWTO Education and Training Network.

As a global centre of excellence in hospitality and tourism education for the 21st century, SHTM is well poised to lead the world's hospitality and tourism education in the years to come.