Invercargill hospitality professional Candice Scarlett has returned from a career-changing trip to Asia after winning the 2024 Scott Richardson Memorial Scholarship.

The Southern Institute of Technology graduate spent September and October in Malaysia and Singapore, visiting luxury hotels and completing an internship at the world-famous Marina Bay Sands resort.

Scarlett, who works as Assistant Restaurant Manager at Meld at the Langlands in Invercargill, used the scholarship to visit hotels she'd long dreamed of experiencing, including the Ritz Hotel and Park Royal Collection Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

"The hotel has a beautiful modern design, and they've incorporated nature into every aspect of it. It's reflected in the service as well. They highlight the unique cultural diversity of their food and service; people stay there for those quality experiences," she said of the Park Royal Collection Hotel.

At the Ritz Hotel, she was impressed by the personal touch. "They are very personal with their service, especially their butler service with coffee in your room in the morning; they'll bring chocolates to your room. It's exemplary service."

The highlight of her trip was a month-long internship at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, where she worked during the Formula One Grand Prix. "MBS has its own river; they have their own jet and yacht. I've never seen so much wealth in my life. They attract the top 1% of the super wealthy. The service cars for people are Rolls Royces," Scarlett said.

During her internship, she worked across the resort's 1,850 rooms in in-room dining, experienced restaurants including Gordon Ramsay's and Michelin-starred Cut by Wolfgang Puck, and worked at the exclusive Sky Residence Club on the 52nd floor.

"One of the highlights was working in the bar on top of Marina Bay Sands and watching the sunset over the city - it was breathtaking," she said.

The experience wasn't without challenges. Securing the internship took six months of work by SIT Chief Executive Bharat Guha and scholarship trust chairperson Ethan Flack, an Invercargill chef.

"Bharat helped me so much with my trip to Singapore. It took six months with two people working on my behalf, to get in [to Marina Bay Sands]," Scarlett explained. "Because it was such a short internship (1 month) it was difficult. Bharat and Ethan both worked on it."

The breakthrough came through Flack's connection with the resort's Vice President of food and beverage.

"And without Bharat's help in finding accommodation, I wouldn't have been able to go. I'm very grateful to him for his support of my career goals," Scarlett said.

The annual scholarship supports young Southland hospitality professionals to gain overseas experience and bring their learnings back to the region.

Scarlett said the trip validated her Bachelor of Hotel Management studies at SIT. "The ethics, international business, accounting papers – the degree is a more global qualification. Singapore has diverse cultures in the workplace; you need to know how to interact with everyone."

The experience has already influenced her work back home. "It has encouraged me to be more aware of the small details that shape a guest's experience, while also recognising the importance of cultural awareness and adaptability within the team."

She plans to return to international hospitality, with Marina Bay Sands high on her list. "One of my aspirations is to return to Marina Bay Sands, where I fell in love with the culture, kindness, and professionalism."

Flack said Scarlett maximised the opportunity. "Candice is a great example of maximising the result of many peoples' efforts; [she] grabbed the opportunity with two hands. It's now up to Candice; she will continue to play her part in passing on her knowledge, learnings and experiences so we as a community continue to grow."

Scarlett is currently studying a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Management at SIT while working at the Langlands.

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