Chapter 8: Pousada de Mong-Há – The Teaching Hotel of Macao
Chapter 8: Pousada de Mong-Há – The Teaching Hotel of Macao
Zhuo Li (Catherine) and Alan Cheng
Zhuo Li (Catherine), Macao Institute for Tourism Studies
Alan Cheng, Macao Institute for Tourism Studies
Abstract
Macao Institute for Tourism Studies (IFTM) utilizes a training hotel, the Pousada de Mong-Há (Pousada) to provide management and operational training to students who study hospitality related programs. This case study documents how teaching faculties and the hotel team work together to enhance students’ learning experience and practical understanding in hotel operations. The case study first examines the training model of the Pousada, followed with reflections and practical recommendations.
Introduction
The Macao Institute for Tourism Studies (IFTM) was established in 1995 as a public tertiary institution in the Macao SAR, China. The Institute currently offers degree programs at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level in tourism and hospitality. These programs include a broad range of tourism and hospitality related disciplines such as hotel, tourism business, heritage, events, retail and marketing, and culinary arts management. In 2020, IFTM, a world-class tertiary institution specializing in tourism and hospitality education, was rated 1st in Macao, 2nd in Asia and 14th globally by QS World University Rankings in the category of Hospitality and Leisure Management. In addition, IFTM also ranks among the Top 50 worldwide in the 2020 Shanghai Rankings Global Ranking of Academic Subjects in Hospitality and Tourism Management. It is also the first higher education institution to pass the International Quality Review (IQR) from the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).
IFTM has incorporated a practical component in all its hospitality programs so as to reinforce students’ learning of theoretical concepts by imparting more solid skills and knowledge to them. In doing so, it helps enrich their learning process. The Institute has achieved this goal by utilizing one of its training units, Pousada de Mong-Há (Pousada), to provide a real-world environment where students can gain relevant hospitality skills during their on-campus studies. The Pousada is located on the side of Colina de Mong-Há (a view of the facade of the Pousada is shown in Figure 1). It is operated and managed by a team of full-time staff of the Macao Institute for Tourism Studies. The training hotel contains 30 guestrooms and suites. There are superior rooms, premier rooms, deluxe rooms, accessible rooms and suites. The room-rates range from MOP700 to MOP1800 (US$90 to US$230). Leisure travelers are their primary target guests. The Pousada is located in the north end of Macao, some distance from the Cotai Strip, where large scale casino hotels and resorts are situated. Despite its limited scale, the Pousada provides a range of settings for student practice in front office and housekeeping operations.
Figure 1: Facade of Pousada de Mong Há
Practical learning