Candice, who is currently Assistant Restaurant Manager at Meld at the Langlands in Invercargill, was awarded the Scott Richardson Memorial Scholarship in 2024, which saw her travel to Asia in September and October 2025, to visit some much-admired hotels she had on her bucket list, including the Ritz Hotel and the Park Royal Collection Hotel, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.
The annual scholarship is awarded to one young hospitality professional currently establishing a hospitality career in Southland, to facilitate travel to an overseas location to gain new hospitality experiences and then bring back their learnings to Southland.
Candice’s first stop in Kuala Lumpur was the Park Royal Collection Hotel where she stayed two nights. “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.”
Then there were two nights at the Ritz Hotel, before Candice flew to Singapore. “The Ritz was on my bucket list, and I wrote about them on my scholarship application, so I got to fulfil that wish,” she says. While there she was taken on a tour of Kuala Lumpur. “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.”
Continuing to the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) in Singapore, Candice experienced firsthand the standard of service in a 5-star luxury resort while the Singapore Formula One was on. “My trip was delayed so I could be there during the F1,” she explains, adding “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.”
During her internship, Candice worked in the in-room dining area (for 1,850 rooms), and experienced world-class restaurants such as Gordon Ramsay’s, high-end Japanese restaurants, and worked in Michelin-star restaurant, Cut by Wolfgang Puck, as well as 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.” The iconic silhouette of the hotel has appeared in movies such as Crazy Rich Asians.
“It’s such a fast-paced place, you even need to learn how to walk quickly. And it had strict rules: you’re not allowed to eat food or drink on the subway or in its stations. Malaysia to Singapore was completely different – Singapore is more western. Malaysia was very bustling, with a lot more cars.”
Candice says while she was doing her bachelor’s papers she thought, “Why are we doing this?” However, as soon as she went to Singapore, she understood why. “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.”
And it wasn’t all smooth sailing securing the internship. Candice heaped praise on SIT Chief Executive, Bharat Guha, who is originally from Singapore, and Invercargill Chef, Ethan Flack, who is the Trust Chairperson and helps to facilitate the scholarship.
“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],” Candice explains. “Because it was such a short internship (1 month) it was difficult. Bharat and Ethan both worked on it.” In the end, it was a kiwi – Mr Flack knew the resort’s VP of food and beverage, which saw them succeed and secure Candice’s placement. “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.”
Candice says her gaining her Bachelor of Hotel Management through SIT has been the impetus for her increased confidence and drive to pursue opportunities she once only dreamed of. “Going to Singapore and working at Marina Bay Sands was unforgettable.”
“I am so thankful for all the guidance, opportunities, and experiences that SIT has given me. Studying here didn’t just give me a qualification, it gave me the skills, confidence, and courage to chase my dreams and step into the world with ambition and purpose.”
Eventually, Candice intends to gain further experience working in hotel resorts internationally. “One of my aspirations is to return to Marina Bay Sands, where I fell in love with the culture, kindness, and professionalism. Experiencing that environment motivated me to grow and develop within a well-established international company.”
“I see my qualification helping me build the leadership, management, and business skills needed to work globally. It will support me in progressing into higher management roles and give me the confidence and knowledge to succeed in the international hospitality industry.
The memorable trip has given Candice a new perspective on hospitality, particularly through experiencing the cultural diversity and service standards across Asia.
“In places like Singapore, service is fast-paced, attentive, and strongly influenced by the many cultures that shape the region. Observing how these cultures intertwine within hospitality helped me better understand how service can be adapted to meet the expectations of a wide range of guests.”
In her Assistant Restaurant Manager’s role, the experience has influenced the way Candice approaches service and leadership. “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.”
“The exposure to the Asian hospitality market has helped me think more broadly about service standards and how we can continue to evolve the guest experience in our own environment.”
She adds that the pace and energy of Asia gave her “fresh eyes” on her work. “Cities like Singapore operate with an incredible sense of efficiency, precision, and pride in service. Being immersed in that environment made me reflect on my own day-to-day work and the ways service flows during busy periods.”
Since returning home to Invercargill Candice reveals “I’ve become more aware of the rhythm of our own service culture and the opportunities to refine it. My experience encouraged me to look at my role with a renewed viewpoint — focusing on efficiency, teamwork, and maintaining a high level of service even in fast-paced moments.”
The experience has also allowed Candice to step back and appreciate the strengths of the hospitality culture at the Langlands. “Ultimately [It’s] helped me to incorporate new ideas and perspectives that help strengthen our approach to service.”
“I would like to sincerely thank Ethan Flack for all his efforts on my behalf, and the Scott Richardson Memorial Trust in selecting me for their scholarship. It has been career-affirming and life changing; I couldn't be happier with what the scholarship allowed me to experience and I'm thankful to see that I’m on track to reaching my goals – the scholarship has helped to place them within my reach.”
Mr Flack stated it was a privilege to play a part in helping Candice achieve her goals and gain her placements; he acknowledged the many others he worked alongside within the trust and wider community who also played a role in helping opportunities come to fruition for the scholarship recipients.
"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," he said.