The Pakistan NextGen Hospitality Challenge 2025 (PNHC 2025), hosted at the historic Flatti’s Hotel, Lahore, showcased the very essence of leadership and foresight through the Strategic Thinking in Hospitality category. This competition segment emphasized decision-making, long-term vision, and the ability to tackle real-world industry challenges with innovation and practicality.
PNHC 2025 brought together brilliant students from COTHM campuses across the country, transforming the event into a hub of creativity, innovation, and cross-national learning. While each category tested unique skills, Strategic Thinking in Hospitality stood out as a reflection of the industry’s future leadership—requiring participants to merge analytical thinking with sustainable and globally competitive solutions.
The teams impressed the judges with their ability to evaluate complex business scenarios, design future-ready strategies, and balance profitability with customer satisfaction. From crisis management frameworks to visionary expansion plans, students demonstrated their capacity to think beyond the present and prepare for tomorrow’s hospitality world.
Ahmad Shafiq, Founder/President & CEO of COTHM, personally presented the awards in this category, commending the winners for their foresight and problem-solving skills.
“Hospitality thrives on foresight and adaptability. With strategic minds like yours, Pakistan can set benchmarks for global excellence,” he remarked.
The results for this category were announced as follows:
- 🥇 Winner Team
Abdul Rehman, Hifza Ashraf, Danish Mujahid
- 🥈 First Runner-Up Team
Anum Naveed, Afaq Alam, Aqeel Ahmed
- 🥉 Second Runner-Up Team
Rumaila Shahzad, Mueez Gurmani, M. Moiz Baloch
The Strategic Thinking in Hospitality competition at PNHC 2025 reinforced the idea that true leadership lies not only in execution but in vision—equipping Pakistan’s next generation of hospitality professionals to lead confidently in an ever-changing global landscape.
