THREE hotel leaders from the Capital have attended an internationally-renowned hospitality programme in the United States.
The general managers of the Roxburghe Hotel and The Point Hotel, as well as the managing director of the Edinburgh-based Crerar Hotels group, took the ten-day intensive course at Cornell University, near New York.
The general managers programme (G
MP), at the university's school of hotel administration, aims to develop leadership and management skills through practical learning and strategic thinking. More than 30 hotel managers from across the world attended the course.
The Edinburgh hoteliers attended after securing scholarships from the Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scotland.
Neil Ellis, general manager at The Point, believes Scotland can learn from the approach to hospitality in the US. He said: "The States are the world leaders – they genuinely believe in tourism and service, and good service is rewarded financially.
"People need to work hard to earn extra money and some may see that as insincere but grassroots hospitality in the US is fantastic.
"Everything I have ever experienced in America really has been top notch. If it is a false smile you soon notice."
He said the course would help the managers come back and pass on what they have learned to staff and fellow hoteliers in order to boost tourism in the city.
"The tourism industry in Edinburgh is facing a mini crisis," said Mr Ellis. "There are a lack of beds and the service needs to be improved. Edinburgh has fallen down the rankings year by year and we need investment in infrastructure and transport."
David Cochrane, chief executive of HIT Scotland, said: "We were very impressed with all three hoteliers' knowledge and understanding of the Scottish hospitality sector and the challenges facing the industry in the future.
"The strategic knowledge and leadership skills these hoteliers will develop during the GMP will be an invaluable experience and unquestionably assist them in their careers."
Cornell University's hotel school was created in 1922 and is recognised as a world leading hospitality training centre.
Chris Wayne-Wills, general manager of the Roxburghe Hotel, said: "As you work your way through a career, you get a lot of training, then you become a general manager and stagnate a bit.
"The programme was a big networking opportunity to meet and share ideas with managers from Australia, New Zealand, Brazil."
John Wilson, managing director of independent hotel chain Crerar Hotels, added: "It's all about learning and coming back as better managers of people."
