Journeys of discovery, where classrooms expanded beyond walls and textbooks came alive in the hum of retail havens, the quiet elegance of luxury boutiques, and the vibrant tapestry of cultural gems.

On 4th January 2024, two Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) School of Global Hospitality and Tourism (SoGHT) students, Shayan Akhlaq from Pakistan and Fatimath Shaiha Shareef from Maldives, joined their Senior Lecturer, Mr. Shazeel Ali Sardar Ali, for a valuable learning experience at Genting Premium Outlet (GPO) and Resorts World Genting (RWG), Pahang.

Mr. Shazeel, a seasoned explorer of the hospitality industry, is no ordinary tour guide but instead leads his students, Shayan and Fatimath, through the cold hilly roads into the centre of a retail labyrinth — the GPO and RWG.

“This was not a shopping spree. It was a treasure hunt for knowledge, a quest to unearth the secrets that lurk beneath designer labels and discount deals,” said Shayan.

Armed with their Retail Travel Operation (RTO) class notes, they navigated the vibrant malls, deciphering the pricing strategies and brand stories woven into every garment and accessory.

“We engaged ourselves in the bustling retail atmosphere, learning about the complexities of numerous brands and this visit gave us a hands-on opportunity to apply our academic knowledge, fostering a better understanding of this industry,” said Fatimath.

Stepping away from the bustling outlet, they entered the hushed sanctuary of Vocheron Constantin, a haven for luxury watches. Here, Ms. Santi Dalwin, the guardian of timepieces, revealed the delicate balance between service and excellence in the high-end retail world.

The interaction exposed students to first-hand knowledge and practical experience with the principles and practices of service management in the context of a well-known luxury brand, boosting their understanding of customer engagement and service excellence in the hospitality and tourist industries.

Learning was not confined to four walls for SoGHT’s students. In Sekinchan, Selangor, they traded concrete jungles for emerald paddy fields, immersing themselves in the art of rice cultivation with Senior Lecturer, Mr. Yeoh Tay Boon for Rural Tourism class.

The vibrant Paddy Gallery became their classroom, where agriculture bloomed not just on the land, but on canvases splashed with colours and stories to the tranquil shores of Pantai Redang.

Then there was Kuala Lumpur Tour, a tapestry of tradition and modernity tour from the sky-piercing Petronas Towers to the labyrinthine lanes of Chinatown, they chased history down bustling streets and haggled for treasures in bustling markets.

Each landmark, each interaction, was a brushstroke on their understanding of Malaysia’s vibrant tourism landscape.

School of Global Hospitality and Tourism (SoGHT)’s field trips were not just about ticking boxes on a syllabus.

They were journeys of discovery, where classrooms expanded beyond walls and textbooks came alive in the hum of retail havens, the quiet elegance of luxury boutiques, and the vibrant tapestry of cultural gems.

These budding hospitality professionals were not just learning, they were experiencing, and those experiences would become the foundation for their future endeavours in the ever-evolving hospitality and tourism industry.