The endorsement ceremony for Macao Hospitality and Tourism Industry Practitioners Fund was held today at Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT). Fifteen industry partners attended the event. The Fund is established by the University of Nevada Las Vegas Singapore Campus (UNLV) to provide additional scholarship to UNLV's Master of Hospitality Administration (MHA) Executive Program in Macao. The fifteen endorsers of the Fund include: ·Global Gaming Expo Asia (G2E Asia)
·Galaxy Entertainment Group
·Grand Emperor Hotel
·Grand Lisboa Macau
·Grand Hyatt Macau
·Holiday Inn Macau
·Hotel Lan Kwai Fong Macau
·Hotel Lisboa Macau ·L'Arc Macau
·Melco Crown Entertainment
·MGM MACAU
·Sands China Ltd.
·Shun Tak Holdings Limited
·Waldo Hotel Macao
·Wynn Macau Dr. Fanny Vong, President of IFT started the ceremony by delivering opening remarks, followed by Dean Donald D. Snyder, Dean of The William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Both expressed their gratitude to the industry partners for supporting the Fund which in turn helps to raise the level of tourism in Macao. UNLV's MHA programme is offered in partnership with the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) Macao. Both are committed to providing quality, comprehensive graduate education to industry professionals in Macao. The programme was launched in 2010 with an augural batch of 10 students among whom 6 are IFT alumni. IFT is proud of its graduates who are optimistic about the future of the tourism industry and are willing to invest time in further equipping themselves to get prepared for the upcoming opportunities and development in Macau. They will graduate at the end of this year and be invited to the graduation ceremony at UNLV Singapore Campus. This fund provides an opportunity for industry partners to show their support for members of the hospitality and tourism industry who wish to further their professional development through higher education. With this funding, students will receive additional scholarships to enroll in the UNLV Macao MHA programme at tuition of MOP121,000. Background on UNLV and IFT
UNLV has a 50-year history of academic excellence and its graduates can be found in key management positions in leading hotels throughout the world. The Singapore Campus, which opened in August 2006, is UNLV's first international campus and has a current student population of close to 500 students. UNLV's Singapore Campus is accredited in the United States and recognized by the Singapore Ministry of Education. IFT, established in 1995, is a public institution of higher education that offers degree and professional programs in a wide range of tourism-related disciplines such as hospitality, tourism business, heritage, events, retail and marketing, leisure and entertainment, sports and recreation, creative and cultural studies, and culinary arts. IFT has received various awards in recognition of its achievement in quality education. In 2008, IFT was awarded the "Medal of Merit for Tourism" by the Macao SAR Government for its contribution to the development of the tourism industry. Contact Information for media interview
For more information or to arrange for interviews with either Dr. Andy Nazarechuk, Dean of UNLV Singapore, or Dr. Fanny Vong, President of IFT Macao, please contact: For UNLV SingaporeMs. Jenny WeinmanManager of Graduate Programs(65) 6332-9538 ext. 610jennifer.weinman@unlv.edu.sg For IFT MacaoMs. Frida LawSenior Public Relations Officer (853) 8598-3182frida@ift.edu.mo
