Le Meridien teams up with Cornell to offer Professional Development Programme

Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts has launched a Professional Development Programme with Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. The programme is  designed to improve the strategic management, knowledge and skills of high potential employees from hotels and corporate support offices worldwide.

Nominations for the inaugural Professional Development Programme were made by the hotel group's senior management, based on the employees’ current performance and future potential to take up key senior roles within the company.

The six-day event, which is planned to take place every six months, consists of two three-day modules. Thirty-four employees attended the first event and the subjects covered were Strategic Hospitality Management led by Dr. Stowe Shoemaker and Strategic Marketing, led by Dr.Cathy A. Enz, Professor of Innovation and Dynamic Management at Cornell University.

According to Floortje Jeukens, a course attendee who is resident manager at The Plaza Athénée Bangkok, a Royal Méridien Hotel, “This programme has given me an insight on how to approach marketing more strategically and efficiently. I will communicate more effectively, so that the team works towards the same goals to improve customer satisfaction.”

The modules focused on strategic direction; competitive positioning through understanding key strategic management concepts; how to apply key marketing concepts and principles to develop innovative and profitable marketing strategies.

“The development of people destined to become senior managers is critical to the future success of any business,” according to Julia Howard, Le Méridien’s senior vice president of human resources. “The introduction of this programme reconfirms our commitment to develop and fast track those who will make a positive difference to the way we do business in the future.” 

Delegates are tasked to work through case studies using new theories and models alongside their current skills, knowledge and experience. They are encouraged to share best practice and develop new skills by actively working with colleagues throughout the modules and by carrying out a post programme project and work plan, to embed the knowledge they have acquired and apply it to their current function. The modules are fully accredited and can be used to complete the globally recognised Cornell SHA Professional Development Programme certification.

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