Our Story
In the dynamic landscape of hospitality and tourism, SHATEC stands tall as a beacon of excellence as it shapes the future of the industry through its unwavering commitment to education, training, and innovation. In 2023, SHATEC celebrated its 40th year of remarkable training and service excellence.
SHATEC marked its 35th year of training and service excellence in show-stopping grandeur alongside the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA), which celebrated its 57 years as the apex institution for 160 Singapore hotels. Most notably, a selection of six prominent alumni chefs of SHATEC returned to present their artistry and skill in an elegant dining menu for guests.
On 2 July 1983, a milestone was set in the history of the Singapore hotel industry when the Singapore Hotel Association* (SHA) launched its very own industry school, SHATEC.
SHA which is the apex body for hotels in Singapore since 1961 established SHATEC, with the following objectives:
- To provide training and education to fresh school leavers and career switchers for the hotel and F&B sectors – this is to ensure a continuous pipeline of talents for its hotel members and the hospitality industry
- Up-skill and upgrade the existing talents in the hospitality industry
In an era which preceded structured education in hotel management in Singapore, SHATEC collaborated with the world-renowned Swiss École hôtelière de Lausanne to develop its courses when it first started. It became the region’s first dedicated hotel school, training new entrants for the hospitality industry and conducting development programmes for industry professionals.
SHATEC defines a distinctive vision of hospitality training under the founding Chief Executive, Mr Pakir Singh, who was hailed “The Father of Singapore’s hospitality training” and a strong proponent of ASEAN regional tourism human resource development cooperation in his time.
After more than three decades and over 30,000 alumni in strength, our raison d’être continues to apply in all our programmes – technical competencies, development of leadership potential, character building and personal betterment.
Many achievements and recognitions were received over this period as well. A school for the industry by the industry, SHATEC believes that every individual can succeed given the right stimuli, and provides a caring environment where budding professionals can thrive and discover their talents.Through SHA’s strategic positioning within the hospitality industry, SHATEC supports SHA’s mandate in manpower training thus establishing a strong standing with hotel partners.
SHATECs’ standing in the hospitality education is so entrenched that SHATEC has delivered formal training programmes across numerous countries in the Asia Pacific region. Its expertise is recognised internationally and SHATEC has delivered consultancy and advisory services for projects under the auspices of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and European Community in human resource development for ASEAN tourism.
SHATEC was also one of the founding members of APETIT (Asia-Pacific Education and Training Institutions in Tourism) set up by UNESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific). Today, SHATEC is a member of the Asia Pacific Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education (APacCHRIE).
In the words of one of Singapore’s leading industry veteran, Ms Jennie Chua, “There is now a gamut of hospitality training schools in Singapore and the region – privately- run ones, polytechnics, vocational institutions, hotel chains’ own academies, you name it – but the grandmother was SHATEC”.
Today, SHATEC graduates can be found all over the world helming key positions in hotels and other hospitality related establishments. Our students continue to shine in competitions and win many accolades. They continue to be very much sought after by the industry.
In 2015, SHATEC set another milestone with the launch of the Industry Mentorship Programme. It is the first industry school to offer such a structured programme for its students.
Moving forward, SHATEC will also be playing a key role together with the Singapore Hotel Association to support the transformation of the hospitality industry through productivity initiatives, leadership development, human resource strategies and job-redesign.
*The Singapore Hotel Association (SHA) membership comprises 145 hotel entities which are represented by proprietors of hotels or appointed representatives.
Its membership accounts for some 90% of total gazetted room count in Singapore.
On 2 July 1983, a milestone was set in the history of the Singapore hotel industry when the Singapore Hotel Association* (SHA) launched its very own industry school, SHATEC.
SHA which is the apex body for hotels in Singapore since 1961 established SHATEC, a not-for-profit hospitality school with the following objectives:
- To provide training and education to fresh school leavers and career switchers for the hotel and F&B sectors – this is to ensure a continuous pipeline of talents for its hotel members and the hospitality industry
- Up-skill and upgrade the existing talents in the hospitality industry
In an era which preceded structured education in hotel management in Singapore, SHATEC collaborated with the world-renowned Swiss École hôtelière de Lausanne to develop its courses when it first started. It became the region’s first dedicated hotel school, training new entrants for the hospitality industry and conducting development programmes for industry professionals.
SHATEC defines a distinctive vision of hospitality training under the founding Chief Executive, Mr Pakir Singh, who was hailed “The Father of Singapore’s hospitality training” and a strong proponent of ASEAN regional tourism human resource development cooperation in his time.
After more than three decades and over 30,000 alumni in strength, our raison d’être continues to apply in all our programmes – technical competencies, development of leadership potential, character building and personal betterment.
Many achievements and recognitions were received over this period as well. A school for the industry by the industry, SHATEC believes that every individual can succeed given the right stimuli, and provides a caring environment where budding professionals can thrive and discover their talents.Through SHA’s strategic positioning within the hospitality industry, SHATEC supports SHA’s mandate in manpower training thus establishing a strong standing with hotel partners.
SHATECs’ standing in the hospitality education is so entrenched that SHATEC has delivered formal training programmes across numerous countries in the Asia Pacific region. Its expertise is recognised internationally and SHATEC has delivered consultancy and advisory services for projects under the auspices of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and European Community in human resource development for ASEAN tourism.
SHATEC was also one of the founding members of APETIT (Asia-Pacific Education and Training Institutions in Tourism) set up by UNESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific). Today, SHATEC is a member of the Asia Pacific Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education (APacCHRIE).
In the words of one of Singapore’s leading industry veteran, Ms Jennie Chua, “There is now a gamut of hospitality training schools in Singapore and the region – privately- run ones, polytechnics, vocational institutions, hotel chains’ own academies, you name it – but the grandmother was SHATEC”.
Today, SHATEC graduates can be found all over the world helming key positions in hotels and other hospitality related establishments. Our students continue to shine in competitions and win many accolades. They continue to be very much sought after by the industry.
In 2015, SHATEC set another milestone with the launch of the Industry Mentorship Programme. It is the first industry school to offer such a structured programme for its students.
Moving forward, SHATEC will also be playing a key role together with the Singapore Hotel Association to support the transformation of the hospitality industry through productivity initiatives, leadership development, human resource strategies and job-redesign.