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Taking your Leadership Abilities to New Heights…

A unique program geared towards the specific needs of Leaders in Marine Hotel Operations, the program includes:

• A detailed series of individual leadership assessments, resulting in an individual, targeted Personal Development Plan
• Comprehensive Review of strategic leadership capabilities, to meet the needs of the evolving cruise industry
• Application of practical tools and models for
  - Effective Communication
  - Performance Management
  - Coaching
  - Conflict Resolution
  - Training & Development
  - Effective Goal Setting
• Practical tools and processes for continuous improvement in service quality
  - Cause & Effect
  - Process Review Methods
  - Cost-Benefit Analysis

This program is offered to members in conjunction with the Marine Hotel Association Scholarship Foundation, please contact MHA for further information and to book your scholarship place.

A total of 21 HPL Leaders from the industry participated with a very diverse group mix including onboard department heads, shoreside operations managers, supplier operations managers, finance directors, and managers from areas of HR and Quality Assurance.

The program re-enforced that more than ever, today’s emerging leaders in the Cruise Industry are faced with numerous and diverse challenges that make demands on their time, expertise, energies and productivity…and are expected to respond effectively and lead their people through these challenges.

All participants were provided with an understanding of their own unique leadership strengths and opportunities. Each participant reviewed a 360° assessment of their leadership style and later were evaluated on the Myers Briggs (MBTI®) Type indicator. This allowed individuals to examine their leadership approach and develop strategies for optimal results.

Throughout the week participants continued to gain tools and strategies for leading through change and building effective teams; problem solving; conflict resolution; communications; training and performance management were all on the menu. All the capabilities need to tackle challenges in today’s Cruise Sector.

Some of the most powerful learning took place through working with and sharing best practice among the various cruise lines represented. The group quickly learned that they all shared common issues and challenges in the industry and could only benefit from each others experience.

The culmination of the week, where much of the learning is put into practice, happened on the TRAC® Ropes Course. The course presented all participants with a “Challenge by Choice” series of team and individual activities. Everyone agreed that this was a unique way to put into effect many of the models the group has engaged with and really test-out what happens under pressure and deadlines ( everyday life in the cruise sector in other words!).

Participant’s course evaluation and feedback was very positive with over 90% of the scores in the good to excellent category and the majority of those giving top marks (on a rating scale of 1-5, 5 being excellent). The program will also take into consideration some specific modifications and additions the group requested for future events.

Here’s what some of the delegates had to say about their week:

“It was so clear and directly linked to our day to day needs”

“Allowed me to understand what I have to work on to make a better work environment”

“Working together made the program a success and worth all the effort”

“Goal setting and performance management was a real eye-opener”

“It opened up my world to my people”

Program Dates for 2007

The MHA Scholarship Foundation is planning to offer further High Performance Leadership Programs in conjunction with FIU, School of Hospitality and Tourism Management in 2007. With membership support we will offer up to 4 program, one each quarter. The first dates for 2007 will be in February and we are now accepting applications.

High Performance Leadership for Cruise Industry Professionals

A unique program geared towards the specific needs of Leaders in Marine Hotel Operations, the program includes:

• A detailed series of individual leadership assessments, resulting in an individual, targeted Personal Development Plan
• Comprehensive Review of strategic leadership capabilities, to meet the needs of the evolving cruise industry
• Application of practical tools and models for
• Application of practical tools and models for
  - Effective Communication
  - Performance Management
  - Coaching
  - Conflict Resolution
  - Training & Development
  - Effective Goal Setting
• Practical tools and processes for continuous improvement in service quality
  - Cause & Effect
  - Process Review Methods
  - Cost-Benefit Analysis

This program is offered to members in conjunction with the Marine Hotel Association Scholarship Foundation, please contact MHA for further information and to book your scholarship place.

The session took the form of a presentation on the available 2005 Scholarship Programs and on the effective use of the scholarship program. This was followed by a roundtable discussion on the topic of how the foundation could continue to best serve membership needs.

The feedback was conducted by assessing each of the current programs from the individual member’s perspectives and by listing recommendations. A question was put to the group regarding what future developments would be considered valuable to the membership in order to meet their employees continuous development needs.

The responses clearly requested the MHA Scholarship Foundation;

• Continue focus on Management Effectiveness, Leadership & Team Building as these are the key areas for ongoing development
• Introduce or facilitate the introduction of, Cruise Industry specific degree and graduate programs
• Provide for customized options in order for Cruise Lines to use the benefit as best fits their strategic needs

The education committee considered a number of alternative providers who could design and deliver a leadership development program and found that FIU had the most flexibility and was already an established leader in quality further education provision.

SAUSALITO, CA - Responding to the need for leaders prepared to meet the challenges of the rapidly growing and evolving cruise industry, the Marine Hotel Association (MHA) has collaborated with Florida International University to create a unique development program, “High Performance Leadership for Cruise Industry Professionals.” The inaugural session will be held November 14-18, 2005, at the Kovens Conference Center on the FIU campus.

“High Performance Leadership for Cruise Industry Professionals” offers experienced management in cruise line hotel operations the opportunity to develop the skills, knowledge and understanding they will need to assume leadership roles in the industry. The course will be available to individuals who have served more than two years in marine hotel sector management positions and have been identified by their companies as top performers.

“This exciting new program is a direct result of the feedback that MHA members provided during the Industry Training Forum led by John McGirl of People2Strategy at this year’s Conference and Trade Show,” noted MHA President Jeff Danis, who is also vice president supply chain management for Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. “It further demonstrates the association’s leadership in providing professional education opportunities to meet the needs of the cruise industry and particularly the people in the marine hotel sector who are ultimately responsible for delivering the quality vacation experiences that have made this rapidly growing and evolving industry so successful.”

Designed and delivered by FIU faculty, the program centers on five days of intensive learning experiences including tutor-led workshops, lectures, in-depth case studies and adventure-oriented outdoor exercises to enable participants to achieve the following:

• Develop awareness and understanding of their own leadership styles
• Optimize strengths and improve areas of opportunity
• Improve productivity by setting goals and priorities aligned with strategic imperatives and removing time-wasters
• Engage, involve and motivate team members by aligning individual and organizational goals
• Manage employee performance on a daily basis to optimize productivity and effectiveness
• Organize individuals into highly effective work groups
• Create a positive work environment through appropriate identification of problems and conflict resolution
• Effectively communicate ideas and thoughts powerfully, convincingly and persuasively
• Enhance individual and group capabilities to facilitate change toward mutual goals

Each manager enrolled in the program will be expected to complete a 360-degree personal leadership style assessment and pre-course assignments in advance of the formal sessions to prepare for this high-intensity experience. The program also offers graduate credits for qualified students entering FIU graduate degree programs.

The Marine Hotel Association (MHA) was created in 1985 as a not-for-profit international professional organization to represent the cruise line industry and its supporting supplier community and today boasts the largest cruise line membership of any industry association.

MHA remains the only trade association of its kind that is fully targeted to the marine hotel operations of the cruise industry, promoting communications and open competition through its programs and the annual MHA Conference and Trade Show. The association’s scholarship foundation has provided university-quality professional education for more than 12,500 individuals from the cruise industry.

For more information about MHA and its scholarship programs, visit the association’s website, www.mhaweb.org. MHA is headquartered in Sausalito, California; to contact Executive Director Caroline Pritchard, call 415-332-1903 or email mhamail@windspring.com.

The Marine Hotel Association will host the Blog and we will keep it lively and interesting with regular updates and insights from the world of developing leadership; and any other news we have to share!

All our welcome to Blog, the goal is to provide leadership insights and ideas and keep the dialogue going!

• Original HPL Press Release
• Why a HPL Program for Our Industry?
• October 2006 Program Review
• News! Next Program April 28 - May 2, 2008
• Future Program Dates for 2008