A team of four students from APU’s School of Global Hospitality and Tourism (SoGHT) successfully collaborated with Melia Kuala Lumpur to completely redesign the hotel’s staff cafeteria. The two-month project, provided hands-on experience in planning and design, including new seating and a more efficient buffet layout, was highly praised by the hotel’s management for its fresh ‘new vibe’.

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A group of talented students from the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation’s (APU) School of Global Hospitality and Tourism (SoGHT) have successfully completed a two-month collaboration project with Melia Kuala Lumpur, giving the hotel’s staff cafeteria a complete makeover. 

The project, supervised by SoGHT Senior Lecturer, Mr Shazeel Ali Sardar Ali, provided students with invaluable hands-on experience, from initial planning to final presentation.

The project was carried out in three distinct phases: an initial meeting and site visit, a mid-project design review, and a final presentation to the hotel’s senior management. 

The student team, consisting of Saad Kamran, Sheraaz Shamir, Alheena Sharmeen, and Fathmath Shaiha, worked diligently to propose a modern and functional redesign. 

Their proposal focused on key improvements, including new sitting arrangements, updated flooring and lighting, and a more efficient buffet counter layout. The goal was to enhance both the overall ambiance and operational efficiency of the space.

The students’ final presentation was held at Melia Kuala Lumpur and attended by the hotel’s senior management team, including Mr Alvaro Fernandez (General Manager), Mr Rayner (Human Resources Manager), Mr Hafiz (Chief Engineer), Chef Addy (Executive Chef) and Mr Makendhiran (Purchasing Manager).

The team was highly impressed, commending the students for their excellent communication and thoughtful planning. 

They described the innovative layout as a ‘new vibe’ that perfectly aligns with the hotel’s vision and the needs of its staff.

A project that made a difference 

The students involved in the Melia Canteen Revamp Project shared their takeaways from the experience.

“Thank you for the opportunity to be part of the Melia Canteen Revamp Project,” said Fathmath Shaiha.

“It was a valuable hands-on experience that enhanced my understanding of hotel operations and allowed me to build skills in teamwork, planning, and design. I am truly grateful to have been involved in such a meaningful initiative.”

For Alheena Sharmeen, the project was a chance to bring a brighter vision to life. 

“It was a joy to contribute to the Melia Hotel staff cafeteria revamp by proposing wall mural design ideas aimed at creating a brighter, more welcoming space for the team. I am grateful for this opportunity.”

Sheraaz Shamir, found the project to be a unique learning experience.

“This project with Melia Hotel helped me gain experience in networking and interior design,” he explained. 

“It also showed how important it is to consider lunch traffic when designing a staff canteen.”

Saad Kamran expressed his gratitude to the hotel staff for their support.

“I am grateful to Assistant Training Manager Mr Ng Zhi Yi and General Manager Mr Alvaro Fernandez of Melia KL for their kind words, support, and guidance,” he said. 

“Their encouragement and corrections showed genuine care for our hard work during the staff canteen revamp.”

This successful project highlights a strong partnership between industry and academia. 

APU extend our sincere thanks to Melia Kuala Lumpur for their collaboration, trust, and valuable feedback and look forward to future initiatives that will continue to provide students with such impactful, real-world experience.