Every summer since 1928, tens of thousands of hotel and restaurant managers from around the globe have traveled to the Cornell campus to improve their knowledge and network with their peers.

The Cornell Hotel School has now added a Professional Development Program (PDP) in Singapore to supplement its programs in the United States and Europe, giving hospitality professionals on three continents the opportunity to enrich their learning close to home.

These global executive education programs build on a rich tradition. With the opening of programs in Europe in 2002 and now in Singapore, industry professionals are able to attend Cornell’s seminars more easily than ever before.

The program in Singapore is part of the Cornell-Nanyang Institute (CNI), a new alliance that offers the first masters degree program in hospitality management based in Asia, as well as Professional Development Program courses.

“These gatherings provide hospitality managers and executives a learning environment where they can share ideas, acquire new knowledge and tools, and build a global network of professional peers,” says Tom Kline, director of Executive Education at the Cornell Hotel School.

“Attendees report that their operations benefit from the concepts they learn and put into action. The most common returns are higher revenue and profits, improved efficiency, reduced employee turnover, and enhanced guest satisfaction.”

Last summer 431 professionals attended Cornell PDP in Brussels and on the Cornell campus, arriving from over 60 countries. The first Singapore PDP courses were held this past January, where 84 additional participants gathered from 13 countries. Attendees ranged from presidents, vice presidents, and general managers in the more advanced courses, to directors, managers, and assistant managers.

Dr. Judy Siguaw, dean of the Cornell-Nanyang Institute, says feedback from the first CNI PDP class demonstrates the value of the coursework.

“Participants quickly saw that the knowledge and skills they acquire will enable them to increase efficiency and profitability in their roles,” Siguaw says. “As hospitality organizations invest in the development of their employees, I believe they will find the Cornell and Cornell-Nanyang Institute executive education courses to be most relevant and cost-effective.”

A participant from the January 2006 Singapore program agrees.

“Interacting with hotel professionals from all over the world was a great learning opportunity,” says Shridhar Nair, food & beverage manager at The Leela Kovalam Beach hotel in India. “I took back a lot of things that I plan to implement to drive greater efficiency and superior profits at my workplace.”

This summer, hospitality professionals can choose from a diverse series of intensive three-day courses on topics specific to hospitality management. In June, July, and August 38 courses are available on the Cornell campus in Ithaca, New York; 15 courses are offered in Brussels; and 16 courses are offered at CNI in Singapore.

Courses are available in Financial Management; Marketing; Strategic Management and Leadership; Human Resources Management; Real Estate and Development; Planning and Design; Foodservice Management; and Revenue Management. Cornell Certifications are available in 12 subject areas.

For more information, visit http://www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/execed/pdp, or call 607.255.4919.