The Hotel Division of Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP) and the College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPCE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) held an open day today for the SHKP Hotels x PolyU CPCE Experiential Learning Programme, attracting nearly 500 students. The programme provides more than 200 internship opportunities at nine SHKP hotels for CPCE students. 

On 21 March, SHKP and the CPCE signed a memorandum of understanding on a two-year experiential learning programme. Open to all CPCE students, the programme provides more than 500 hours of training at nine SHKP hotels: the world-class Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong; The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, the highest hotel in the world; W Hong Kong; the Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour Hong Kong; and five Royal brand hotels (The Royal Garden, Royal Plaza Hotel, Royal Park Hotel, Royal View Hotel and Alva Hotel by Royal). Upon completion of the internship, the students will receive a certificate of completion and will have priority in being considered for full-time positions at these hotels after graduation.

The open day was held at PolyU CPCE’s West Kowloon Campus. At the booths set up by the nine hotels, students interacted face to face with hotel staff to learn more about the unique culture of the SHKP hotels, the relevant job opportunities, career paths and the latest developments in the industry. 

Michael Lam, Deputy Vice President (Asset Management), Hotel Division of SHKP, said: “The hotel industry has strong demand for manpower, as the number of visitors has shot up since the removal of all anti-pandemic measures. The CPCE provides a wide range of courses, and the experiential learning programme is open to students from all disciplines. SHKP hopes that the internship programme will encourage more students to join the industry, providing new blood and creating a win-win situation for both the hotels and the students.”  

Professor Warren Chiu, Associate Dean (Education) of the CPCE, said: “The CPCE is honoured to collaborate with SHKP hotels to provide our students with valuable internship opportunities for them to unleash their potential and hone their professional skills before entering the workplace. The extensive work experience that they gain during the internships will certainly boost their competitiveness and lay a solid foundation for their careers.”  

Dr. Macy Wong, Head of Employability Services of the CPCE, said: “Given the stiff competition in the job market, it is not easy for students to stand out in a job interview if they have only academic knowledge and no practical experience. Internships are very good for students, as they equip them with practical skills and provide them with a better understanding of the workplace culture and what a job really entails. The CPCE has been forging a close relationship with enterprises to provide students with more internship programmes. This experience will surely broaden their horizons and help them prepare for future challenges.”

Elise Lau, Director of Human Resources of The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, shared some tips on job hunting: “The hotel industry is a service industry through and through. We pay special attention to the attitude of applicants in job interviews. Candidates stand a better chance if they can demonstrate that they are proactive and eager to help.” Debby Leung, Area Human Resources Manager of the Royal Plaza Hotel, talked about the arrangements of the internship programme: “We understand that different students have diverse interests. The interns will be deployed in different front- and back-of-house departments so that they can see how a hotel operates in the real world.” 
 

Sun Hung Kai Properties’ (SHKP) brand new flagship residential leasing property, TOWNPLACE WEST KOWLOON, will be launched in the second half of 2023. Complementing the Group’s other large-scale developments in West Kowloon, the new project will feature the modern ‘Aparthotel’ concept, the first of its kind in the market, providing an innovative lifestyle for young professionals.

With the introduction of Hong Kong’s new talent admission schemes, the demand for quality rental options from young professionals and business travellers has increased dramatically. TOWNPLACE WEST KOWLOON is a new addition to TOWNPLACE, SHKP’s residential leasing brand targeting young professionals. The landmark project will become the first large-scale ‘Aparthotel’ in Hong Kong, offering flexible daily or monthly leasing terms and modern hospitality on demand to fulfil young professionals’ desire for a quality lifestyle. 

Strategically located in West Kowloon with excellent connectivity and convenience

Only a stone’s throw from the MTR Nam Cheong Station, TOWNPLACE WEST KOWLOON will enjoy easy access to major transport facilities such as the High Speed Rail West Kowloon Terminus and the Airport Express station, providing residents with excellent transport connectivity to the mainland and the rest of the world.  It will also offer convenient access to ICC and IFC, two of the world’s tallest skyscrapers with grade-A offices, via MTR.  
The buzzing West Kowloon Cultural District is a destination for creative activities. With the opening of M+ and Hong Kong Palace Museum, the district has become a hub for young professionals to work together, and to enjoy a wide range of entertainment, leisure, arts and cultural activities. Along with the rapid development of West Kowloon, SHKP is expected to complete its integrated commercial project atop the High Speed Rail West Kowloon Terminus in 2025. Comprising grade-A offices with a gross floor area of about 2.6 million square feet and enjoying unparalleled connectivity to major mainland cities and the rest of the world, the mega project is expected to create synergy with the nearby ICC and foster the development of West Kowloon into a business, retail, cultural exchange, entertainment and transportation hub. TOWNPLACE WEST KOWLOON will support the Group’s other large-scale developments in the vicinity and meet the accommodation and daily needs of mainland and overseas talent. 

‘Aparthotel’ ⁠— a brand new leasing model with a modern twist to offer an exclusive living experience for young professionals 

Young professionals pursue a premium, flexible lifestyle with a diverse range of experiences. TOWNPLACE WEST KOWLOON is introducing the innovative ‘Aparthotel’, a hybrid short- and long-term leasing model offering flexible rental periods, ranging from days to months, and a hotel service-on-demand option. Presenting a personalized lifestyle concept for young professionals, TOWNPLACE WEST KOWLOON will provide hotel-class facilities and a panoramic view of Victoria Harbour, creating an all-round quality rental experience for residents. 

Wide range of facilities, creating an exclusive ecosystem for young professionals  

TOWNPLACE WEST KOWLOON, a large-scale residential leasing flagship project in SHKP's development blueprint in West Kowloon, will transform the traditional rental model of stand-alone living space into an all-in-one experience for young professionals.

TOWNPLACE will also partner with many international and local brands to offer exclusive experiences for its residents. This will allow young talent to meet like-minded friends and come up with innovative ideas in the TOWNPLACE Community, creating myriad opportunities and possibilities. A convenient and efficient integrated ecosystem with a wide range of facilities and services will be created, providing residents with a one-stop shop for socializing, dining, entertainment and well-being. 

Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited (SHKP) is very pleased that the Group won the tender for a commercial site on Sai Yee Street, Mong Kok. SHKP will develop it into an office-and-retail landmark in Kowloon.

SHKP Chairman and Managing Director Raymond Kwok said: “SHKP is committed to Building Homes with Heart and continually supports the development of Hong Kong. This new project signals another vote of confidence in the city by the Group following its tender success for the Artist Square Towers Project in the West Kowloon Cultural District last November. With Hong Kong on the path to economic recovery, the Group is excited to embark on this iconic large-scale commercial project, which will create strong synergy with Grand Century Place, a property owned by the Group for more than two decades. We believe the project will give fresh impetus to the development of Hong Kong.”

Mr. Kwok revealed that the Group will build a 320-metre-tall tower, the tallest commercial landmark in Kowloon after ICC, with a gross floor area of 1.52 million square feet. It will come with a walkway to the MTR Mong Kong East Station, as well as SHKP’s Grand Century Place and MOKO. As the latter two have a total gross floor area of 1.2 million square feet, the aggregate commercial space of the three developments will be over 2.7 million square feet, making the cluster the largest office-and-retail landmark in Mong Kok and a business, retail and tourist hub in Central Kowloon. 

He added that the project will provide a public rooftop viewing platform, the only such facility in the vicinity, as well as plenty of green open space to offer an unprecedented experience to visitors and residents in Mong Kok. It will also provide a public transport interchange, and an improved road network and pavements to substantially improve traffic in the area. Linked to the nearby footbridge network, the project will be seamlessly connected to the MTR Mong Kok Station, where the Tsuen Wan Line and Kwun Tong Line intersect, as well as the East Rail Mong Kok East Station, greatly enhancing the connectivity of the district. 

One of the busiest commercial cores in Hong Kong, Mong Kok is a magnet for locals and tourists of all ages. Apart from offering traditional shopping attractions, Mong Kok is a trendy place with a lot of upper-floor shops and has keen demand for new large-scale commercial complexes. SHKP developed Grand Century Place, which sits atop the MTR Mong Kok East Station, in the 1990s and has since gained a broad understanding of the local business environment. The two premium office towers, MOKO, a large-scale shopping mall, and the Royal Plaza Hotel have become a business and shopping hub with heavy footfall. 

Connected to the MTR Mong Kok East Station on the East Rail Line, the Sai Yee Street commercial project is set to tap into the enormous business opportunities arising from the full resumption of travel between Hong Kong and the mainland. With its expertise in building transit-oriented developments, SHKP will make the most of the project’s unrivalled transportation network. On top of its excellent railway connections, the project will provide a new terminus for buses, minibuses and cross-boundary coaches, allowing people in different parts of Hong Kong and the rest of the Greater Bay Area to easily access it. Through a new public transport interchange, redesigned roads, pavements and walkways, the project will improve the traffic in the area. To meet the needs of office workers and shoppers, the development will offer 800 parking spaces to complement the 400 or so parking bays in Grand Century Place. 

Scheduled for completion in 2030, the Sai Yee Street development will give Mong Kok a facelift. In addition to providing grade-A offices, a shopping mall and upper-floor shops, the project will have a rooftop viewing platform for visitors to enjoy a sweeping view of Kowloon Peninsula. The development will have plenty of green open space, including outdoor space of 30,000 square feet on the ground level. Other ancillary facilities will include footbridges to nearby stations and buildings, a community hall and other social amenities.