The Macao University of Tourism (UTM) hosted an award ceremony yesterday named “Macao Occupational Skills Recognition System (MORS) Gold Pin Competition Award Presentation Ceremony” and, according to UTM Rector Fanny Vong Chuk Kwan, the annual contest aims to drive the further advancement of the tourism and gastronomy industries.
The two-hour ceremony was held at The Parisian in Cotai.
According to a UTM statement, the competition attracted around 500 participants from 51 enterprises, competing across 12 skill categories including Western chef, bartender, and tea master. A total of 35 outstanding contestants were selected as winners, the statements said.
The statement also said that the top performers in the four categories of Front Desk Agent, Room Attendant, Western Restaurant Waiter/Waitress, and Western Cook/Chef will also each receive an international cert issued by the American Hotel & Lodging Association Educational Institute (AHLEI).
Vong said in her speech that this year’s competition covered 12 skill categories, showcasing the diverse expertise within the cultural tourism and gastronomy industries. MORS continues to align with Chinese mainland and international standards, she said.
According to Vong, for instance, the Tea Master qualification has achieved mutual recognition, while certifications like Barista have been incorporated into the “One Examination, Multiple Certification” framework, facilitating regional talent mobility. She underlined that Macau trainees have won awards in the 2025 Guangdong Provincial Barista Vocational Skills Competition, demonstrating the effectiveness of these standards,
“Moving forward, our efforts will keep focus on deepening collaboration to cultivate professionals with an international perspective and drive continuous advancement of the tourism and gastronomy industries”, Vong said.
In his speech, Macao Hotel Employees Association Chairman Lei Pou Loi said that MORS has set standards for 20 tourism-related occupations and is cultivating industry professionals through skills competitions and international certification. These standards are being promoted across the Greater Bay Area (GBA) through Guangdong-Macau cooperation, aiming to set a regional service benchmark, he said.
Lei also said that MORS not only aligns with Macau’s development positioning as “One Centre, One Platform, One Base”*, but also strives to enhance the overall image of the tourism industry and the professional level of its practitioners, contributing to Macau’s development as a Centre for World Tourism and Leisure.
* “One Centre, One Platform, One Base” is the local government’s strategic development blueprint for Macau – a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure; a Commercial and Trade Cooperation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (PSCs); a Base for Exchange and Cooperation with Chinese Culture as the Mainstream and Coexistence of Diverse Cultures. – DeepSeek
Macao University of Tourism (UTM) Rector Fanny Vong Chuk Kwan addresses yesterday’s award ceremony at The Parisian in Cotai. – Photo courtesy of UTM
