A turning point for Singapore’s hospitality industry

The impending closure of SHATEC, Singapore’s first dedicated hospitality school, marks a significant turning point in the evolution of the city-state’s tourism and hospitality sector.

Founded in 1983 by the late Pakir Singh, then-president of the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA), SHATEC – short for Singapore Hotel Association Training and Education Centre – was established with a bold vision: to cultivate local talent for a fast-growing industry dominated by foreign professionals.

Pakir foresaw the need for a new generation of skilled Singaporeans who could rise through the ranks and lead the hospitality scene on their own terms.

Over the past 42 years, SHATEC has trained approximately 40,000 students, many of whom have gone on to hold senior positions in hotels and hospitality businesses both in Singapore and abroad. Its legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of the local industry.

Arthur Kiong, CEO of Far East Hospitality and a member of SHATEC’s pioneer batch, reflected on the milestone with both pride and poignancy.

“I was in the first batch of SHATEC, and now it is closing at the tail end of my career,” he told WiT. “I feel saddened but grateful that it has created careers for thousands of people like me who chose to enter the hospitality industry.”

Kiong acknowledged the changing educational landscape, noting that SHATEC was once the only institution of its kind in Singapore. Today, aspiring hospitality professionals have multiple avenues, from ITEs and polytechnics to universities and private institutions.

Arthur Kiong, CEO of Far East Hospitality and member of SHATEC’s pioneer batch, told WiT, “I feel saddened but grateful that it has created careers for thousands of people like me who chose to enter the hospitality industry.” Photo courtesy of Arthur Kiong and Far East Hospitality.

“SHATEC’s relevance has changed since its establishment. It pioneered professional training for our industry. Now others – with better funding and resources – can further that mission. It’s a lesson that we need to adapt and evolve with the rapid pace of change.”

The news of SHATEC’s closure has sparked an outpouring of memories and tributes on LinkedIn from alumni and industry professionals, many of whom credit the school – and its visionary founder – for shaping their careers.

Juliana Soh, Director at the Singapore Institute of Hospitality, wrote:

“Shatec has produced many graduates over the last 42 years. Many are teaching at polys and ITEs, while others are GMs, CEOs, COOs, and executive chefs. It is indeed an industry school that met its founder’s objective. We are sad to see its closure but let’s continue to keep up the Shatec spirit.”

Nareintheran Thamilselvan, now in medical social work, added:

“It was more than a school; it was where my passion for hospitality grew. The industry has lost a cornerstone, but its legacy will live on in all of us who walked its halls.”

The closure, while not officially confirmed by SHA, appears all but certain. Local media reports say SHATEC has scaled down operations in a “business containment exercise,” resulting in the retrenchment of 42 staff. Its Bukit Batok campus has been put up for sale at approximately S$18 million (US$14 million), with the lease expiring in 2051.

SHATEC will continue to run its ongoing continuing education and training (CET) programmes and teach its final batch of pre-employment training students until March 2026 or the agreed end date, whichever comes later, according to a joint statement with the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU).

SHATEC board chairman Loh Lik Peng noted that the school is still in the early stages of reviewing its long-term plans and that the sale of its property is part of a broader asset management strategy.

While the sun may be setting on SHATEC, its legacy shines on. Though institutions like Republic Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic, NTUC LearningHub, and TMC Academy now offer hospitality training, SHATEC – and Pakir Singh – will be remembered as the spark that ignited a generation of Singapore’s hospitality leaders.

Header image credit: SHATEC Facebook

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