The importance of leadership in the growing hospitality industry was the topic at a recent event at the Grand Central Hotel on February 11 hosted by Strathclyde Business School and its Centre for Corporate Connections.
The event saw Peter Lederer, former Chairman of The Gleneagles Hotel and Non-Executive Director of Baxters Food Group, provide his insight into the hospitality industry and the need to support the career progression of young talent.
Chris Sheppardson, founder of Chess Partnership and Chess Executive, one of the industry's leading executive management and recruitment and consultancy organisations for the hospitality industry, then took to the floor to highlight the importance of supporting individuals in their quest for self-development and how this can translate into real benefits for an organisation.
Stuart Smith, graduate of the Executive Masters in Hospitality and Tourism Leadership programme at Strathclyde Business School and Director of Events and Leisure at The Gleneagles Hotel, discussed the importance of leadership from an events perspective within the hospitality industry, drawing on his experience of playing a leading role in the planning, organising and execution of the G8 Summit and the Ryder Cup.
Suzanne Lee, a current MBA student with a keen interest in hospitality said, "It was refreshing to hear Peter Lederer and Chris Sheppardson speak on how vital both leadership and self-development are within hospitality, especially going into the future of the industry. The event also provided a great opportunity to speak to key players within the industry in Scotland and get further insight and advice of working in hospitality."
There was also an opportunity to find out more about the Executive Masters in Hospitality and Tourism Leadership programme which is delivered in partnership with Cornell School of Hotel Administration, Ithaca, New York and Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, Switzerland from programme director, Professor Alan Wilson.
For further information on the Executive Masters in Hospitality and Tourism Leadership programme, visit the website.