Hotel Leadership Development Program

Based in the award-winning* Statler Hotel on Cornell’s campus, the Hotel Leadership Development Program (HLDP) provides students with invaluable hands-on leadership experience. Rigorous and rewarding, the program offers intensive exposure to the full range of hotel operations and on-the-job mentorship from industry leaders. You will apply the critical thinking skills and management theory knowledge gained in the classroom to real-life situations at the hotel – and your hotel experiences provide insights that you can bring back into the classroom.

To apply to HLDP, you need to have worked in one of the Statler Hotel operations departments for at least one semester. Upon acceptance to the program, you will progress through several paid employment phases – from entry-level positions to supervisor, manager, or director. Each phase requires approximately 200-300 hours of work and the completion of a parallel certification process, equipping you with the management skills and leadership experience that internship companies and employers are looking for.

Though students follow a self-directed path, you will be assigned a mentor from the Statler Hotel’s management team who will help you achieve your professional goals and guide you on your journey. To complete the program, you will need to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5, meet basic hotel administration course requirements, and demonstrate outstanding job performance and a positive attitude from day one.

*The Statler Hotel has received the AAA Four Diamond Award five years in a row and earned the 2014 Good Earthkeeping Award, the greenest award bestowed by the New York State Hospitality and Tourism Association.