Stage One:
Three Intensive Residential Study Modules (three months)
The first stage consists of three intensive five-day residential study modules in three different cities, two in Europe, one in Asia. Each study module will include direct experience of outstanding hospitality and service. Development coaching sessions are provided for every participant before and after the study modules. Supervised leadership co-development sessions in peer groups form part of each study module.
Study Module One
in Amsterdam
BUILDING THE HOSPITALITY MODELS OF TOMORROW
Your philosophy of hospitality today – what will it need to work in tomorrow’s world?
Discontinuities in society, hospitality and other service industries that challenge business-as-usual paradigms for forward-thinking leaders.
Visits and speaker themes: premium travellers’ evolving needs, how to integrate impact into hospitality value chains, breakthrough service innovation cases.
Commit to pursuing self-mastery practice throughout the five months of the programme and set your development goals.
WHY AMSTERDAM?
In recent years, Amsterdam has been at the forefront of tourism innovation. It is the first major city to have developed a multi-stakeholder tourism strategy, “Tourism that works for everyone”. With its young and vibrant cohort of hospitality entrepreneurs, a number of concepts based on innovative business models have emerged in the city.
A hub of impact business, the headquarters of B Lab Europe and home of SDG House (UN Sustainability Development Goals). Amsterdam was the first to use the sustainability framework ‘Doughnut Economics’ as a platform for its development strategy.
During the first module participants will be inspired by the energy of the city and its ability to innovate. We’ll also study the Dutch business culture as a platform for our intercultural management sessions.
THEORY
Global sector context, trends, innovations, strategies. Hospitality models, guest needs, intercultural luxury, deep service, impact and sustainability, leadership gaps.
A SAMPLE OF WHAT WILL BE COVERED DURING THE FIRST STUDY MODULE
Exploring today’s changing context: macro and sector trends, sustainable business trends and ESG.
Envisioning the future of the hospitality sector by understanding its past, using scenario techniques.
The senior manager’s strategic toolbox for impact-based hospitality innovation.
Enabling the conditions for business model innovation through stakeholder engagement.
Hospitality as an art and a craft: principles, philosophy and practice.
SOFT SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
Observation and intent: in the city where great artists such as Rembrandt and Van Gogh are omnipresent we’ll shape our observation and creative skills. Encounters with Dutch egalitarianism and cooperation models will prompt our shared reflection on leadership and culture.
PROJECTS
A group study on business model innovation related to our industry context, trends and shifting hospitality needs.
COACHING THEMES
Individual coaching: personal learning and development objectives, purpose and road map.
Facilitated group co-development: your leadership style.
COMPANY VISITS (EXAMPLES)
City of Amsterdam strategy department, innovative hospitality start-ups, Booking.com.
Study Module Two
in Kyoto
DISCOVER THE KEYS TO DELIVERING DEEP SERVICE
Challenge your service paradigms through carefully selected visits and direct experiences in Kyoto, the historical capital of Japanese hospitality and tourism.
Visits and speaker themes: discovering the essence of hospitality through Japanese cultural practices, selfless service as a product of discipline and self-mastery, how effective leaders step aside to achieve extraordinary results.
Successful service models start from impacts and relationships with guests and employees, rather than real estate development.
With peer support rethink the business model you are currently serving.
WHY KYOTO?
Close to Imamiya Shrine in Kyoto, Ishiwa-san serves grilled mochis, as his family has for over 1000 years. Home to centuries-old family businesses known as ‘shinise’, Kyoto has gifted us the world’s oldest, most complete tradition of hospitality, known as ‘omotenashi’ (deep service).
At the same time, Kyoto is way ahead of the curve on major societal issues such as shrinking and ageing population, over-tourism and difficulty in maintaining age-old traditions. Which makes it the perfect place to discuss business model renewal.
THEORY
Omotenashi culture, operations, business models and value chains. Change leadership, communication, employment, HR management and motivation. Self-mastery at the heart of leadership.
A SAMPLE OF WHAT WILL BE COVERED DURING THE SECOND STUDY MODULE
Japanese principles of deep service.
Adaptive leadership and links between leadership and hospitality.
Integrating deep service in the value proposition and business model.
Developing a relevant HR offer in line with deep service principles.
Learning and career development in today’s professional context.
Concept of learning organisation in hospitality sector.
How to achieve consistency in operations.
Understanding the role of personality and emotions.
Leading change in different environments and contexts.
Cognitive neuroscience and its implications for leadership.
Changing gear on your personal learning journey.
SOFT SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
Deep service mindset and posture.
Ikebana (flowers), Chanoyu (tea ceremony), Togei (ceramics), Shodo (calligraphy), Shiatsu (healing massage), Kodo (incense), Zen Buddhist philosophy.
We will observe, learn and practise at least one of these disciplines.
PROJECTS
Together we explore how self-mastery and omotenashi can be integrated into luxury hospitality models.
COACHING THEMES
Individual coaching theme - personal discipline and impact.
Facilitated co-development - working with convictions and beliefs as a leader.
COMPANY VISITS (EXAMPLES)
Leading Kyoto hotel, restaurants and shop concepts representing the full spectrum of hospitality strategies.
Ceramics workshop hosted by sixteenth-generation potter.
Private visit to Todaiji temple, Nara, one of Japan’s oldest shrines.
Kyoto’s oldest incense shop, Shoyeido.
Study Module Three
in Freiburg & Basel
COMMITTING TO NEW WAYS TO LIVE AND LEAD
Translate the Amsterdam and Kyoto experiences into a renewal of your hospitality philosophy and personal vocation.
Visits and speaker themes: innovative designs for light-footprint living, integrating impact in the way we live and do business, innovative models of employment and people development in a service context, cases of business model design to integrate positive impact.
Envisage in concrete terms how you will apply learning from the study modules in your own workplace.
Formulate an aspirational change leadership assignment to engage with in your workplace, including how to pitch the changes you want to see to colleagues and teams.
Set your personal development goals for the next two months and commit to stretching impact targets that will ensure everybody sees a difference in your leadership and management practices.
WHY FREIBURG & BASEL?
In 1996 Freiburg Vauban became the very first district of a major city to aim for what is now called net zero. A group of visionaries created Quartier Vauban, where community and sustainability went hand in hand to create a positive-impact living model.
Life here is based on aligning individual choices with the collective interest. Quartier Vauban was completed in 2006 when the last row of positive energy houses was completed.
Living with a planet-positive footprint is possible - and inspiring! This is why Freiburg is our host city for this last study module and Quartier Vauban our springboard for the next phase.
THEORY
Impact integration in luxury value creation and business models and what this means for innovation, HR and motivation, organisation design, leadership, service and operations, target setting and defining success.
A SAMPLE OF WHAT WILL BE COVERED DURING THE THIRD STUDY MODULE
Demonstration of new ways of living.
Positive impact business model and operations.
Strategy implementation and change management.
Setting and managing impact targets.
Leadership for positive impact.
SOFT SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
Creating a hospitality ritual from soft skills learned in study Modules One and Two.
PROJECTS
How to implement learnings related to business model alignment and leadership of change back in your workplace.
COACHING THEMES
Individual coaching - personal impact on colleagues and team.
Facilitated co-development - your change leadership challenge in the coming months.
COMPANY VISITS (EXAMPLES)
Quartier Vauban and other successful demonstrations of new ways of living including encounters with residents and founders and hospitality concepts delivering planet-positive solutions.
Stage Two:
Leadership Assignment in the Workplace (two months)
As the intensive study modules of Stage One draw to a close, working closely with your mentor, your coach and your peer group, you will already have scoped your Change Assignment, set yourself clear leadership goals and developed a road map to transform your management practice in preparation for Stage Two.
And it is likely you will feel highly motivated to start driving radical change in earnest and at speed. However a roadmap alone will not be enough for you to fully succeed. We are well versed in the challenges that can arise when leading change, especially when you need to perform at the very highest levels in your current role at the same time. So we have structured Stage Two to offer every participant the support necessary to turn theory into daily practise.
The final part of the Programme includes two further individual coaching sessions, a facilitated co-development session with your peers, and an additional call with your mentor. We will also provide a Kepler Leadership Log in which to record progress with your Assignment throughout Stage Two, and every Participant must complete a progress report at the end of the 5th month in order to graduate the Programme.
Although this marks the end of this course, we continue to offer support after you leave us. Every graduate of the KIHA Senior Executive Programme will be invited to join the Kepler Community of Practice, which gives access to a global network of executives and leaders who are also committed to the self-mastery, impact and transformational leadership required to reimagine luxury hospitality and conscious tourism everywhere.