Dear APacCHRIE members and friends:
I am delighted to serve as President of APacCHRIE for the following one-year term (2021-2022). APacCHRIE was founded in 2002 by the initiative of Professor Kaye Chon as a spin-off from ICHRIE. Now it has become one of the six Federations that represent academia, industry and education in hospitality and tourism. APacCHRIE has grown as a representative academic association in the Asia Pacific region. All its achievements are attributable to members’ unanimous support for and steadfast commitment to our Federation.
I joined our Federation as a board member in 2010 and since then have served in a variety of positions. I have observed APacCHRIE’s continuous evolution and prosperity with delight. I really appreciate Past Presidents’ endeavors and dedication, and I will follow in their footsteps to continue their legacy and devotional spirit. Specially, despite many challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Immediate Past President, Ms Margaret Heng showcased excellent leadership and strong commitment that helped us to maneuver through the difficult times.
In 2021, we are facing a gloomy status quo due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in late 2019, and has so far caused more than 4 million deaths worldwide and paralyzed industrial ecosystems. Some of the most severe impacts have occurred in the hospitality and tourism industry. Stringent social distancing measures between regions and countries hit the airline industry and tourist destination economies. These effects threatened job security and social/national stability. Interestingly, the pandemic has produced paradigm changes in global business, facilitating ‘Go Mobile’, ‘Go Digital’, ‘Go Internet’, ‘Go Virtual’, ‘Go Technology’ and ‘Go Contactless’. The business environment has totally changed to exploit the advantages of digital technology. COVID-19 encompasses both opportunity and danger, like Janus’s two faces. For example, many international conferences have been conducted using virtual technology and online meeting technology businesses are experiencing an upsurge in trade, while traditional event companies have been suffering in many ways.
Confronting this grave global environment, we have to work hard to provide solutions or better ideas to all relevant stakeholders, from individual to international levels. We need to collaborate and make every effort to converge our wisdom, knowledge, and know-how in order to reboot hospitality and tourism businesses. We believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
As President, I feel truly fortunate to be able to contribute to the ongoing success of APacCHRIE together with my fellow board members. It is my primary duty to seamlessly communicate with APacCHRIE members and listen to their requests. Your constructive suggestions and ongoing encouragement will help our Federation to step up. We will do our utmost to make our academia, industry, education and society better. I wish you good luck, good health, and safety. All the best!
Yours sincerely,
Sam Kim, PhD, CHE
Professor
School of Hotel and Tourism Management
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University