Perry Chan

Operations Manager, SKYCITY Hotel
Bachelor of International Hospitality Management

He enjoys leading his team to provide outstanding customer service, says Perry Chan who graduated from AUT with a Bachelor of International Hospitality Management in 2009 and is now the operations manager at SKYCITY Hotel.

“My job involves ensuring that our guests are provided with the highest level of service. I enjoy coming into work knowing that I have an important role to play in the team’s development. I’m only as strong as my team, and together we play a big role in the overall success of the hotel.”

Being able to work in such a people-focused environment is one of the things he enjoys most about his career.

“I love how the SKYCITY Hotels Group is focused on its people and culture, which makes me feel empowered to invest in and grow our team’s skills for their future potential. As a group we’re all very proud that SKYCITY Hotels Group has won the TAANZ best hotel group award.”

Finding the right path
As much as Perry is enjoying his hospitality career, his initial dream was a little different: he wanted to become a chef.

“I took a couple of culinary arts courses at AUT and planned to work as a chef, however my experiences of staying in different hotels and working part-time in one expanded my horizons. I decided that I wanted to manage a hotel in the future.”

Enrolling in AUT’s Bachelor of International Hospitality Management proved to be the right decision for Perry, and throughout his time at university he had plenty of highlights.

“AUT had a curriculum that combined theory and practical learning to benefit my understanding and career progression. I got to meet like-minded people who shared that same passion for hospitality management, and we still keep in touch today. The lecturers never limited our imagination; we felt constantly challenged. I’ll always be extremely grateful for their time and guidance.

“While I was at university, I was also nominated for an AUT Blue Award for my sporting achievements in ten pin bowling, and felt honoured to be in the same space as some big sporting names.”

Advice for other students
Having worked in the hospitality industry for more than a decade, Perry has some great advice for other students.

“Our industry is constantly changing, and it’s essential that we’re adaptable to any given market environment.”

Never stop learning, he adds.

“It’s also important to keep up to date with trends and continuously learn. I’m a firm believer in being coachable, which allows you to continuously develop in your career.”