New Delhi: Les Roches International School of Hotel Management, Bluche, Switzerland is launching a Master of Science in Hospitality Leadership. Classes will start in January 2015. The degree’s curriculum is built on three pillars: leading oneself, leading others, and leading businesses and organizations. The announcement was made during Les Roches Leadership Series “How you can inspire leadership” on Bluche Campus by Jonathan Perks, an author, speaker and international business coach, on March 3.

The Master of Science in Hospitality Leadership is a two-semester program that allows students to pursue courses at Les Roches campuses in Bluche, Switzerland. Courses will focus on training  students how to effectively lead virtual and international teams, strategic management, conflict and negotiation and innovation and creativity. The curriculum will provide students with a global view on hospitality leadership to help them understand what it means to be a strategic and successful leader in the industry and help them complete complex scenario analyses that lead to creative solutions.

“Today, global hospitality businesses aspire to hire graduates who- not only have knowledge of the industry- but also have unique strategic leadership skills,” said Sonia Tatar, CEO of Les Roches. “The objective of this master’s degree is to develop tomorrow’s leaders and equip them with strategic thinking competencies, help them drive compelling visions and acquire competitive leadership traits. This program will give students a unique academic experience, positioning them at the forefront of the hospitality industry. We will encourage them to develop new learning approaches and adapt to a global business environment in the hospitality sector.”

This new Master of Science in Hospitality Leadership is aligned with Les Roches’ commitment to prepare students for a range of multicultural and diverse careers in hospitality management.

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), international tourism expenditure exceeded WTTC expectations, with an estimated growth of 4.0% in 2013. By 2023, travel and tourism are expected to increase the GDP contribution from US$6.9 trillion in 2013 to US$10.4 trillion in 2023. In the same time frame, the industry will grow to contribute nearly 72 million additional jobs, supporting a total of 338 million jobs around the world. As new high-end hotels are built, they will need to recruit leaders whose talents are unmatched.

“In all international companies, leadership skills are critical for success,” said Perks, who is the author of Inspiring Leadership and a frequent motivational speaker. “Leadership is about translating vision into reality and it is something you can learn over time. This new master’s program should definitely help students strengthen this skill.”