February 2012

Launch of Hospitality and Tourism Leadership programme: first cohort


Members of the first cohort join Susan Hart, dean of Strathclyde Business School, and Peter Lederer, chairman of the International Leadership School in Scotland, at the launch of the Executive Masters in Hospitality and Tourism Leadership in Glasgow.

The official launch event for the first cohort of the Executive Masters in Hospitality and Tourism Leadership took place at Blythswood Square Hotel on January 26. The group includes participants from major international companies such as Hilton, Marriott, Swisshotel and Strategic Hotels, national companies Apex and Jurys Inn, and smaller companies from both hospitality and tourism backgrounds. Several participants on the programme are attending internationally, with Strathclyde Business School being the location for the first year's classes. Strathclyde's partners, Cornell School of Hotel Administration in New York, and Ecole hoteliere de Lausanne in Switzerland, will be the location for future parts of the programme.

Senior international hospitality and tourism figures attended the launch in Glasgow to mark the start of the innovative international masters programme, designed to address a recognised leadership deficit in the global industry.

Peter Lederer, chairman of Gleneagles Hotel, and David Cochrane, chief executive of Hospitality Industry Trust Scotland, were two key representatives from the hospitality and tourism sector, while the business school was represented by the dean of Strathclyde Business School, Professor Susan Hart as well as those teaching on the programme, Professor Tom Baum, Professor Alan Wilson, Dr Marina Biniari and Dr Jonathan Levie. Professor Hart and Mr Lederer welcomed the delegates.

Professor Hart said, "International collaboration is key to ensuring this global industry, which contributes hugely to the Scottish, UK and international economies, is suitably supplied with leaders for the future. As well as the academic focus, the programme has been designed in partnership with industry, for the overall benefit of the industry.

"Participants will have the opportunity to learn from some of the world's leading hospitality, tourism and leadership academics. And because they are already experienced in their chosen sectors, will be able to learn from each other. We have been encouraged by the level of support shown by the global industry towards this programme and are already looking towards next year's programme in this fast-paced sector."

One of the first participants is Angela Vickers, Managing Director of Apex Hotels, which operates eight hotels in Edinburgh, Dundee and London.

Angela said, "The hospitality and tourism sector is an ever-changing industry which is becoming increasingly digitally-led and international in its make-up. Having the opportunity to learn from world-leading academics and network with peers will give Apex Hotels a crucial advantage during a critical period for the sector."

Strathclyde Business School is already talking to potential entrants for January 2013 - please contact Professor Tom Baum if you would like to learn more or visit www.htleadership.com

Laurence Geller, President and CEO of Strategic Hotel Capital, will be a guest speaker on the Executive Masters programme and is also a member of its International Advisory Council. He was recently interviewed for Hotel Management – the interview can be found here.

In This Issue:

 

SBS researching new technology award for Scotland plc awards

Open day at SBS for postgraduate study: March 12

Capacity audience for inaugural Strategy Club talk

'Secret Millionaire' coming to Strathclyde Business School

Ernst & Young 2012 Prize for third year MDP students

MBA event: Executive volunteering for Cranfield Trust

Economics professor's demographics lecture at Oxford

Social innovation study funding for Hunter Centre

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