"Only since the 1980s have we started to promote Taiwan as a leisure destination," he said.
Though he's never run a hotel overseas, Chou travels extensively to keep abreast of the latest developments in the hotel industry. His hectic schedule — Chou, like most general managers, lives in the hotel that he runs — also meant he had little time for anything else. That changed, however, in 2000 when he underwent surgery for a stomach ailment.
"That was the very first time that I had nothing to do and I was in Taida (National Taiwan University) hospital. I had time to write a book." Describing the experience as cathartic, Chou took the chance to reflect on his life and accomplishments.
The fruit of his labor, Five Star Diploma (五星級文憑), chronicles the development of Taiwan's tourism industry. Sprinkled with anecdotes and information culled from his 30 years of experience in the hotel industry, the work includes chapters on the history of the industry and managing a hotel.
After the book was published, Chou was invited to teach an International Tourism course at Tamkang University, as part of its international business program.
While teachers in other disciplines lament the faltering abilities of their students, Chou only has praise for his: "In the past the students only listened to what their teachers told them to do. Now the teacher tells them to do something and the student thinks it's bullshit. They want their own space to create. My students are very good."
By many measures, the three-year English-only program, which includes a year of study in abroad, has been a success. Students from the first graduating class were all hired straight out of school.
Chou says the program's success is an example of how the tourism industry is catching up to international standards.
"Creativity. That's the key now, and I always tell my management, 'you always have to think about change and never stop learning new ideas,'" he said.
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