With Macao’s hospitality and tourism industry poised for growth amidst global shifts in consumption of travel products, Professor Eve Ren Lianping’s message resonates: she says passion, adaptability, and knowledge are essential for the next generation that will lead the sector
In the rapidly-changing world of hospitality and tourism, one academic has clarity on what it takes to succeed: passion. Prof. Eve Ren Lianping, Coordinator for Postgraduate Programmes at UTM, asserts that this attitude is crucial, especially for young professionals navigating their early years in the industry.
She says passion is what sustains professionals through challenges and fuels innovation in their thinking.
At UTM, Prof. Ren integrates this belief in her teaching, aiming to ignite students’ interest and commitment to the field. She makes good use of the University’s curriculum base, so that her teaching blends theory with practice, and stresses the importance of hands-on experience and a global perspective.
With over two decades dedicated to higher education across Greater China, Prof. Ren’s own journey is marked by a commitment to research and teaching. She holds a Doctorate in Hotel and Tourism Management (D.HTM) from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and has published more than 60 academic papers, as well as serving in the editorial boards of leading scholarly journals. These include the Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research and the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management.
Her research interests include tourist behaviour, tour guiding, strategic management in the tourism and hospitality industry, and tourism education. She says being involved in research contributes positively to her teaching, as well as to her focus on sparking students’ interest in acquiring knowledge and keeping abreast of the latest trends.
Prof. Ren expects a continued rapid recovery in Macao’s tourism sector post-COVID-19, coupled with transformative changes. She notes that the industry’s technological landscape is evolving, and that consumer behaviour is changing. This highlights it is crucial for students to be adaptable and to stay well-informed. UTM, she adds, nurtures this type of outlook in students thanks to its curriculum, including via courses such as Strategic Management.
As she guides what will be the next generation of industry leaders, Prof. Ren remains steadfast in her belief in encouraging their resilience and readiness for the task. Understanding market dynamics and cultivating personal strengths are key to staying competitive, she advises.
Editor: UTM Public Relations Team



