Where Healthcare meets Hospitality

Allium Healthcare and SHATEC, the international hotel and tourism school in Singapore, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on training to develop staff for a new model of bespoke care, uniting healthcare and hospitality.

Hospitality and healthcare are perhaps unlikely bedfellows, but a new venture in Singapore aims to show that the two can be a perfect match.

Allium Healthcare, developer and operator of Singapore’s first premium nursing home and provider of tailored programmes and therapies for the aged, believes the partnership with the hospitality industry will enhance personalised care to its clients.

“Our vision and commitment to service excellence goes beyond nursing services, physical structures and aesthetics. Infusing hospitality into the training of our staff is crucial to this commitment,” said Bernie Poh, chief executive of Allium Healthcare.

SHATEC says its maiden step in moving beyond training for the hospitality industry in Singapore is part of its strategic plan to share the hospitality DNA with other service sectors.

The MOU with Allium Healthcare is a first with the healthcare industry. SHATEC’s chief executive, Margaret Heng said, “SHATEC has come a long way as the preferred hospitality training and educational institution for hospitality.

“Partnering Allium Healthcare in a new domain will allow us to train and infuse soft skills in hospitality to the healthcare industry so as to bring service levels to another plane”.

The week-long intensive hospitality learning and development programme will be a boost to Allium’s personalised care model for nurses and Care Concierges who are closely involved in the care of its clients.

The customised learning modules will cover the art of hospitality, housekeeping in hospitality, food and beverage service, and basic culinary skills involving meal planning and preparation of Western and local meals.

This will be done through case studies, class discussions and role-play. SHATEC will also facilitate hospitality networking platforms by integrating and connecting with hospitality professionals for cross-sector development and training.