Professor Guo Chao-Kun, from the Department of Hospitality Management, has been awarded the prestigious IBA Angelo Zola International Award, the highest accolade in the field of bartending. A press conference was held by the university today to celebrate his achievement and share his honor with a broader audience. President Gong Rui-Zhang likened the IBA International Award to the Oscars of the bartending world, symbolizing the utmost recognition from master bartenders globally, and noted that Guo Chao-Kun has brought great pride to Taiwan.

Guo Chao-Kun, who has dedicated over 40 years of his life to the art of bartending, is renowned as Taiwan's "Godfather of Bartending," a title he shares with his wife Xie Mei-Mei, president of the Bartenders Association. The couple has spent many years teaching and mentoring a generation of bartenders, many of whom are now successful in the industry worldwide. At today's press conference, two of his former students, personally mentored by him, performed demonstrations to honor their teacher.

The Angelo Zola International Award, a lifetime achievement award presented by the International Bartenders Association (IBA) every three years, marks the pinnacle of Professor Guo Chao-Kun's career. It is also a testament to his unwavering pursuit of excellence and innovation in the craft of bartending.

In his remarks, Guo Chao-Kun expressed that the Angelo Zola Award represents the highest recognition for outstanding achievements in bartending artistry, technical mastery, and limitless creativity. It also signifies a lifetime of significant contributions to the advancement and innovation of bartending. "I am deeply honored to have been selected for this award, especially as the first recipient from Taiwan."

President Gong added that the award not only celebrates groundbreaking accomplishments in the art of bartending but also highlights the global influence of the recipient on the industry. Professor Guo's achievements have elevated his international reputation and inspired bartenders worldwide to pursue innovation and uphold professional standards.

Vice President Professor Huang Bo-Wen, who was instrumental in organizing the press conference, further emphasized, "The Angelo Zola Award is not just a recognition of personal achievement; it reflects our commitment to the ongoing innovation and growth of the entire industry. The success of the recipients is a shared honor for the global bartending community."

Notably, Guo Chao-Kun's daughter, Guo Zhi-Ling, also serves as a faculty member in the Department of Hospitality Management at Cheng Shiu University. Despite her youth, Guo Zhi-Ling has earned numerous international awards. At the age of six, she won her first gold medal, and at 16, she advanced to compete in the 17-year-old category of the Asia-Pacific Cup Traditional Bartending Student Competition, winning the 2017 IBA World Cup Flair Bartending Taste Championship. Her charming demeanor has earned her the nickname "Bartending Sweetheart." She attended the press conference today to share in her father’s joyous occasion.

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