"As a global centre of excellence in hospitality and tourism education and research, we serve our industry and academic communities through the advancement of education and dissemination of knowledge".

For 40 years, the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has refined our distinctive vision of hospitality and tourism education, becoming a symbol of excellence in the field. From our humble beginnings as a diploma-conferring department, the SHTM has risen to become one of the largest hospitality and tourism schools in Asia, and amongst the top such schools worldwide. With more than 70 academics drawing from 21 countries and regions, the School ranks among the top hotel and tourism schools in the world, exemplifying our motto of Leading Hospitality and Tourism. 

More than 1,400 students are enrolled in the SHTM. All of our world-class academic staff possess hospitality or tourism industry managerial experience, an important quality in an educational programme that provides practical and specialised business education.

Our active Advisory Committees consist of international industry leaders and educators, who advise us on curriculum and development matters. This guidance helps ensure that our curricula mirror the realities and fulfill the needs of our industry, both for today and the future.

While we are committed to achieving global excellence in hospitality and tourism education, we continue to forge strong synergies between the industry, PolyU, students and academic staff – partnerships that are at the heart of our success.

Through Hotel ICON, our groundbreaking teaching and research hotel and a vital aspect of our paradigm-shifting approach to hospitality and tourism education, we are advancing teaching, learning and research, and inspiring a new generation of passionate, pioneering professionals to take their positions as leaders in the hospitality and tourism industry. With it, we are moving from pursuing a vision of hospitality and tourism education to becoming a truly global icon.