"It occurred to me how conservative the hospitality industry tended to be"
One of the most challenging things in life is to know enough to know that you might be wrong - even if you think you're right.
The two key words here are think and know. The knowing can only come with experience and knowledge.
Harvard University's AMDP Real Estate alumnus and CEO of both 'The Chiangmai Hotel Group’ and Vorrawut Group’, Teerawut Chanyasak says "As in any business, you are in a good position when you have both knowledge and experience." He is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Hotel and Tourism Management (D.HTM) programme at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
The More You Know, the More You Realize You Don't Know
Aristotle's quote rings true today more than ever, especially given that knowledge is shifting and changing sometimes by the second in our new digital reality.
I have recently completed my MicroMaster's Degree with the SHTM and I feel as though my brain has blossomed 100-fold. The more I study, the more I know that I don't know what I probably should know, and realize how wrong I have been about so many things.
"It occurred to me how conservative the hospitality industry tended to be in comparison with other industries and how often we reinvented the wheel because of poor knowledge management and weak implementation practices. I felt that there had to be a better way to integrate research and education with real life practice and so I was inspired to explore doctoral programs," said Carmen Lam, D.HTM graduate and Certified Organizational Coach and Consultant for Exponential Organizations and Hofstede-Insights at Crikx.
Ask Better Questions
Educators of the new age often say that 'There are no stupid questions'. I think that there are.
I used to ask those questions because I neglected to understand what I should have about certain topics.
"My doctoral studies taught me to be inquisitive and to learn the art of asking good questions," said Carmen.
To ask better questions you need to know why we are asking them, and finally, what techniques can we utilize to improve how we question - and how we respond to questions.
The D.HTM will ensure that you acquire these critical skills so that you can aptly get to the core of an issue and respond to questions directed at you from your peers in the industry.
"The program provided me with new learning tools, innovative techniques and instilled the discipline of knowledge acquisition. Best of all, it has given me the confidence to challenge and build on existing knowledge to forge new frontiers," explained Carmen.
Theses that Solve Real Problems
A good academic thesis should make a difference in the world, and at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, they encourage you to do just that.
"What appealed to me about the D.HTM was the focus on applied research to solve practical problems. I was able to study and research real challenges at work and gained useful insight for my employer while working on my thesis about the Digital Readiness of Branded Hotels in Asia Pacific" Carmen explained and after submitting her thesis it was accepted for publication in the International Journal of Hospitality Management a year later.
Hospitality as a subject is multidisciplinary. For Teerawut the advantage of the program lies in the fact that it draws on theories and practices from a diverse array of fields.
"The school's research approach encourages me to research, analyze and synthesize. I believe that D.HTM has prepared me to cope with the challenges faced by the hospitality industry" said Teerawut Chanyasak.
More Questions Lead to More Solutions
Carmen continued "This current global pandemic has provided the impetus for the entire industry to digitize and adopt contactless technologies but even before social distancing was enforced, advancements in technology and communication has already given rise to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, making it necessary for incumbents to re-examine and revamp their businesses and operations to meet the challenges of the digital era."
"To future-proof ourselves as workers and members of a fast-advancing society, lifelong learning and the ability to adapt to change is essential."
Teerawut has also created his own academic program to educate his own teams in areas that will assist with their current jobs and their future leadership roles.
"The best thing about D.HTM is its focus on Asia. The school provides a balanced theoretical and practical approach to the subjects. I have been in the program for 3 years and it has helped me greatly in managing the business with knowledge and confidence, especially going through the current COVID-19 situation." said Teerawut.
"As a professional doctoral program under the leadership of Dean Kaye Chon, the D.HTM program is no less rigorous than a Ph.D. It is not a program for the faint-hearted. It is for those with a real passion for knowledge creation, thought leadership and to contribute to the future of hotels and tourism, the D.HTM is one of most established and globally recognized programs from one of the most awarded hotel and tourism schools in the world," said Carmen
If you have big questions that need solving in the hospitality industry, a Doctor of Hotel and Tourism Management (D.HTM) will help you explore all the topics that are relevant to the industry including Environmental Analysis and Strategies in Hotel and Tourism Management, Asian Paradigm in Hospitality Management, Theories and Concepts in Tourism, Hotel and Tourism Senior Executive Seminars, Advanced Research Methods for Hotel and Tourism Management and more.
You can check out a complete list of what the program covers here.
We need you to come and help our industry solve these existential questions we're posed with especially now. Sign up here.