ABOUT MHA'S SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS

Founded in 1985, the Marine Hotel Association is a not-for-profit international organization, which represents the cruise line marine hotel segment and its supporting supplier community.

MHA has made a commitment to professional development and growth by providing annual scholarships to the employees of its member companies.

The Association is proud to be the driving force behind successful training programs offered in conjunction with its continuing education partners: Cornell University School of Hotel Administration and Florida International University - Miami.

As the single most important activity for the Marine Hotel Assoication, the scholarship program is the culmination of all efforts and the most worthy rechanneling of revenue back to the industry as a direct benefit.

MHA is pleased to make the following courses available:
Professional Development Program – Cornell University, School of Hotel Administration
High Performance Leadership Program – Florida International University - Miami

Full details on participation may be obtained by contacting MHA offices: (415) 332-1903, or email us at scholarship@mhaweb.org.

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Three-day courses developed in conjunction with Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration.

Ithaca Campus: June 26th - July 12th, 2008

Brussels, Belgium: July 10th - July 23rd, 2008

Learn prevailing management techniques, presented by internationally recognized Cornell faculty members and industry leaders.

Leadership and Motivation

Course Focus: The futurist John Naisbitt writes that “we are managing at a time when Human Resources have replaced financial resources as the most strategic resource.” Few question this opinion. Clearly, among the most important questions in management today are how to motivate workers to peak performance, and what leadership attributes are required to do so. This course is designed with these two questions in mind. Using cases and participatory exercises the subjects of Leadership and Motivation are explored in such a way as to transcend cultural differences while, at the same time, respecting them.

Key Benefits: Leadership is approached by first having participants examine their thinking styles. For this purpose the psychometric known as “The Lifestyles Inventory” is used and is central to tailoring the course to the particular needs of each student. Motivation is handled directionally. We discuss the motivation of direct reports, but also of the people over whom the manager has no direct control; that is, colleagues (peers) and the “boss.” Abundant video examples are used to illustrate how the principles being taught are actually applied in the workplace.

Topics include:
Paradigm shifting
Turning around negative attitudes
The changing workforce
Empowerment and independence
Teamwork

Instructor:
Ithaca, Robert B. Perry, M.S., President, Robert B. Perry Associates
Brussels, Robert B. Perry, M.S., President, Robert B. Perry Associates
Levels 1, 2

Managerial Behavior and Team Effectiveness

Course Focus: Participants will explore how individual behavior is related to management style and how to effectively incorporate that behavior into a management team.

Key Benefits: The “Turnaround Case Study” and other instruments are used to enumerate this behavior and form an integral part of this course.

Topics include:
The personal-inventory process
Decision-making
Action planning
Management stereotypes
Management reaction
Peer evaluations
Problem solving and efficiency

Instructors:
Ithaca, Robert M. Chase, M.B.A., Professor, School of Hotel Administration
Ithaca, Robert B. Perry, M.S., President, Robert B. Perry Associates
Levels 1, 2

Managing People: Essential Skills for Leadership*

Course Focus: Understanding yourself is a prerequisite for managing others. Through experiential activities, personal assessments, and interactive feedback, participants will enhance their understanding of their managerial styles and interpersonal skills and strengthen their abilities to lead others in their hospitality organization.

Key Benefits: Participants will obtain key insights into their interpersonal skills and the managerial styles they currently use. They will learn how to overcome any blockages that are impeding their ability to manage others and how to strengthen their skills to lead people more effectively.

Topics include:
Your personality traits and their influence on your management style
How to motivate and coach others to higher levels of performance
How to give feedback so it is actually heard and used
How to turn work groups into teams
Making the most of conflict
Helping others to cope with and learn from change
Ways to solve problems creatively
Your leadership style — strategic action planning

Instructors:
Ithaca, Kate Walsh, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, School of Hotel Administration, Cornell University
Brussels, J. Bruce Tracey, Ph.D., Associate Professor, School of Hotel Administration, Cornell University
Levels 1, 2

*Those who have previously completed “Managing People: Enhancing Effectiveness” or “Managing People: Essential Skills for Managerial Effectiveness” should not enroll in this course due to significant content overlap.

Strategic Leadership

Course Focus: Strategic failures are often the result of poor implementation and ineffective leadership. Effective execution of strategies is the key to operational success and long-term performance. By providing ideas, frameworks and tools, this course will examine the activities and competencies required for the effective execution of strategies.

Key Benefits: This course will explore the process by which leaders can transform strategies into action. Attention is given to the roles and skills required of successful leaders to carry their companies forward. To lead tomorrow’s organizations, participants will refine their approaches to designing and changing operational activities. Direction setting, managing key shareholders, and leading change will be discussed in the context of building your leadership skills.

Topics include:
Direction setting in a changing competitive environment
Aligning the operation with the intended direction
Leading and managing strategic change
Benchmarks and key performance indicators
Creating the innovative organization
Building a knowledge management system through your employees
The role of the general manager in defining key implementation tasks and activities

Instructors:
Ithaca, Cathy A. Enz, Ph.D., Lewis G. Schaeneman Jr. Professor of Innovation and Dynamic Management
Ithaca, Ali V. Kasikci, M.B.A., Managing Director, The Peninsula Beverly Hills
Level 1, 2

Strategies for Effective Self-Management:
The Core Competencies of Personal Development

Course Focus: Self-management includes the ability to deal with failures constructively, adjust behavior to respond to feedback, and understand one’s own strengths and weaknesses - all key skills senior leaders in the lodging industry need to possess. In this course we use exercises, cases, and other diagnostic tools to help participants gain personal understanding and effective self-management.

Key Benefits: Participants will improve their ability to handle multiple demands and priorities, work constructively under pressure and stress, and view problems in an objective manner. The importance of emotional intelligence for executive success will be examined.

Topics include:
Strategies for effective self-management
Communication and feedback skills
Behavioral models, both self-driven and employee enabling
Diagnostic tools such as multiple frame analysis
Developing high-performance work teams
Managing diverse cultural groups

Instructors:
Cathy A. Enz, Ph.D., Lewis G. Schaeneman Jr. Professor of Innovation and Dynamic Management
Robert Marx, Ph.D., Professor of Organizational Behavior, University of Massachusetts at Amherst
Levels 2, 3

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HIGH PERFORMANCE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

High Performance Leadership for Cruise Industry Professionals
Marine Hotel Association Scholarship Foundation & FIU School of Hospitality & Tourism Management

April 28 - May 2, 2008
August 4-8, 2008
October 27-31, 2008

Kovens Conference Center
Florida International University - Miami

A unique program designed and developed by the Marine Hotel Association in collaboration with Florida International University to meet the needs of management in today's fast-paced cruise industry.

Program Introduction

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.

Maximizing leadership capabilities begins with having an understanding of one's unique leadership strengths and opportunities. Once participants are aware of what to do, it is important to strengthen their skills and apply this knowledge for maximum results.

This program is geared towards the unique needs of leaders in the Cruise Industry. We begin the program by identifying each leader's personalized strengths, with a concentration on individual leadership styles, enabling individuals to broaden their leadership approach for optimal results. Workshops will take place in a collaborative, highly interactive environment using case studies and participants' own work-place experiences to allow individuals the opportunity to explore situations, techniques and solutions in real-world scenarios.

Participants will gain strategies for leading through change and building effective teams. Specific tools for effective planning; time-management; problem solving; conflict resolution; communications; training and performance management will be learned, equipping Cruise Line Professionals with the necessary leadership capabilities to tackle challenges they meet in today's Cruise Sector.

Program Objectives

Participants will be engaged in a series of learning events which will enable them to:
• Develop awareness and understanding of their own leadership style and build an action plan to optimize on strengths
• and improve areas of opportunity.
• Learn how to set priorities and align actions with strategic imperatives, improving productivity and removing time-wasters
• through focused goal-setting.
• Learn ways to engage, involve and motivate team members, through alignment of individual and organizational goals.
• Develop skills, techniques and tools to manage employee performance on a daily basis, and to optimize employee
• productivity and effectiveness.
• Explore the benefits of functional teams and develop approaches for organizing individuals into highly effective work-groups.
• Learn how to create a positive work-environment through appropriate identification of problems and conflict resolution.
• Develop effective communication skills and techniques to effectively communicate ideas and thoughts powerfully,
• convincingly and persuasively.
• Explore models for effective implementation of change initiatives and enhance individual and group capabilities to facilitate
• change towards mutual goals.

Program Curriculum

This hands-on program is delivered over a 5 day intensive workshop using a mix of tutor led group workshops, lectures, in-depth case-studies and adventure orientated outdoor exercises. Participants are challenged to examine their own practices and reflect on developmental needs, commencing with a pre-course assessment and resulting in a highly individual personal development plan. Topics covered over the 5 day program include:
• Leadership Style: Characteristics and Competencies of Effective Leaders
• Strategic Alignment: Aligning People Practices with Company Purpose and Direction
• Strategic Problem Solving and Decision Making
• Motivational Theories: Strategies for High Involvement
• Performance Management: Coaching for Maximum Performance
• Effective Goal Setting and Continuous Development
• Effective Communication Strategies
• Conflict Resolution
• Identifying & Analyzing Learning Needs
• Closing the Performance Gap through Training
• Effective Training methods and Techniques
• Leadership essentials for the Cruise Industry
• Personal Action Planning

Program Expectations and Approach

Participants will be expected to complete a 360° assessment of leadership style prior to attendance and complete some pre-course assignment work. The program will be designed to create a quality learning experience through interaction, challenge and support, and idea exchange. The mix of participants from different cruise lines will create a excellent environment for exploring ideas and challenging assumptions, and this opportunity will be utilized extensively throughout the program. The role of the instructors will be to encourage and stimulate these discussions while providing contexts for practical application of theory.

Participant Mix

The High-Performance leadership program is designed for individuals who have over 2 years experience in management roles in the marine hotel sector. Participants are top-performers who have been recognized for their leadership potential and placed in positions of authority.

Companies are encouraged to nominate a cross-functional selection high potentials which will allow the program to make optimal use of learning transfer between participants.

Faculty

The High Performance Leadership Program is designed and delivered by FIU faculty representing a unique mix of accomplished academics, business leaders and skilled facilitators. The team includes professionals with extensive cruse industry background now serving as adjunct faculty at FIU. All of the faculty remain involved and connected to emerging business needs and possess an in-depth understanding of business operations both strategic and tactical.

Admission Requirements: Admission is selective and based on professional achievement and current position in the cruise sector. No formal educational requirements apply, but proficiency in written and spoken English is essential.

Program Fee: The program fee of $800.00 covers tuition and case materials. (Accommodations and evening meals are not included.)

Accommodation: Reasonably priced hotel accommodation is available in close proximity to the Universities conference centre, situated at the Biscayne Bay campus and can be arranged by prior notice. Please contact the MHA office for more information.

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HPL ALUMNI LIST & BLOG

This blog is a place where alumni from the High Performance Leadership (HPL) program and anyone interested in Leadership Development in the Cruise Sector can find a forum to discuss progress, share ideas and post items of interest.

Every program produces such a great team dynamic we hear again and again that this is one of the most valuable features of the program. We also hear that participants would like to have a venue to continue sharing ideas and best practice; so here it is!

Click Here to view the HPL Alumni List

Click Here to view the HPL Alumni Blog

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OUR EDUCATION PARTNERS

The Marine Hotel Association is proud to be associated with its education partners:

Cornell University, School of Hotel Administration
Florida International University - Miami

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REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Contact Information:

Email: scholarship@mhaweb.org
Phone: 415.332.1903
Fax: 415.332.9457

Register Via Mail/Fax:

MHA-CourseApp.pdf

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