Applications for Innholder Scholarships are now open. Download an application form here.
Innholder Scholarships are designed for early career professionals looking to develop their management and leadership capabilities, helping to broaden their business expertise.
To apply for the Innholders Scholarship, applicants must complete and submit an application form, complete with an up-to-date CV and a headshot.
A 2-minute video briefly introducing yourself and explaining where, how and why you started in your career in hospitality will also need to be submitted as part of your application.
There are two courses available for award. You are given the opportunity to select your preferred course however this is not always guaranteed, and an alternative course may be offered.
Talent Development Programme at Cranfield University, Buckinghamshire, UK
The General Managers Programme at Cornell University, New York, USA
Those accepted onto the course are also invited to several meetings throughout the year to discuss hotel management and the wider hospitality industry as a whole, as well as receive support to further develop their skills.
The deadline for applications is midnight Tuesday 31 August 2026.
There are two courses available for award. You are given the opportunity to select your preferred course however this is not always guaranteed, and an alternative course may be offered.
Talent Development Programme at Cranfield University, Buckinghamshire, UK
This programme is designed for early career professionals looking to develop their management and leadership capabilities, helping to broaden their business expertise and improve confidence and competence. The Talent Development Programme will challenge participants to develop greater managerial visibility, credibility and maturity, raise their own organisational leadership, capability and influence, as well as add managerial value without formal authority and power.
Comprising of 2-3 days virtual learning, ten days residential split into two visits, as well as review sessions after six and twelve months.
Students will learn to:
- Make the transition from an operational into a managerial role
- Develop a wider perspective on management and business
- Become better informed about management thinking
- Understand the politics and social dynamics of organisations
- Create a competitive strategy
- Learn effective marketing management
- Understand finance and management accounting
- Improve operations and supply chain management
- Improve strategic management of people
- Challenge the status quo in constructive ways
- Create change through good practice
- Improve knowledge
- Manage politics
- Become an effective leader and inspire teams
- Differentiate between good and bad managerial practice
The General Managers Programme at Cornell University, New York, USA
This programme is designed for general managers overseeing full-service hotels, as well as senior hospitality professionals such as managing directors and executive assistant managers.
You will learn to identify key challenges and opportunities facing hospitality businesses today, explore ideas for innovative hospitality products and services, assess your strengths as a leader, as well as how to enhance the guest experience, ultimately moulding decision makers into strategic thinkers.
The General Managers Programme takes on strategic property-level issues with depth and precision, while challenging participants to learn from a new network of colleagues who bring a worldwide perspective to the table.
Composed of two live virtual courses completed over two months and a five day immersion experience with Cornell faculty.
Students will learn to:
- Creating competitive advantage through analysis and strategy
- Understanding hotel asset management and contracts
- Creating a culture of leadership and planning for future success
- Using financial management to create value
- Strategic marketing and building relationships
- Developing and implementing a change process
- Using demand management to improve results
- The roles of motivation and ethics in leadership
- Strategic utilisation of human resources
Applications are now open. Click here to download an application form.
Please complete this application form, answer all questions and provide the following:
A 2-minute video (maximum) briefly introducing yourself and explaining where, how and why you started with a career in hospitality. Perhaps something about your current job role and place of work and any other professional or personal information you wish to share. Due to the likely file size, applicants should send their video using a file sharing service such as WeTransfer. When sending, please ensure that the video file is entitled ‘Innholder Scholarship 2026 – 7’ followed by your name. Video files should be in .mp4 format
An up-to-date CV, either as a Word of PDF file.
A recent head & shoulders image, either as a JPG or PNG file.
An endorsement from either your General Manager/Managing Director
Please return the application form and the supporting information to Alistair N Sandall, Executive Secretary Secretary@masterinnholders.co.uk
The deadline for applications is
The deadline for applications is midnight Tuesday 31 August 2026. Applicants who are invited for interview at Innholders’ Hall in London must be available on Thursday 15 October 2026. No alternative arrangements for interview are possible.
Graduates of the Innholders Scholarship are invited to join the Innholder Scholars upon completion of the programme and use the post-nominal IS where appropriate. Managed by an Executive Committee, the Innholder Scholars focuses on five key areas:
- Events
- Giving back
- Membership engagement
- Stakeholders
- Communication
Each member of the Innholder Scholars Executive Committee sits on one of the above working groups and in addition, general alumni members are encouraged to take an active role in these groups.
View the full list of Innholder Scholars.
The current chairman of the Innholder Scholars is Richard Lee IS.
Meet the 2025 Innholder Scholarship recipients!
- Leo Forte, Hotel Manager at Rubens at The Palace
- Daniel Greenock, Director of F&B at Gleneagles
- Christie Hayes, Hotel Manager at Penmaenuchaf Hotel
- Jacques Hobson, Director of F&B at The Belfry
- Joshua Jay-Bates, Hotel Operations Manager at The Headland
- Gilles Louis, F&B Manager at Pennyhill Park
- Tom McMillan, Hotel Manager at The Dixon, Tower Bridge
- Katariina Reissaar, Director of Operations at RAF Club
- Wioletta Rowinska, Rooms Division Manager at The Beaumont
- Murray Scott, General Manager at The Hoxton
- Mark Thewlis, Hotel Manager at Foxhills Hotel & Spa
- Mark Walsh, Hotel Manager at The Westminster, Curio by Hilton
Graduates of the Innholder Scholarships are invited to join the alumni community of Innholder Scholars upon completion of the programme and use the post-nominal IS where appropriate.
The Innholder Scholars committee is composed of several graduates of the Innholder Scholarships who oversee the graduate network and help support with the creation of various events throughout the year.
The current Innholder Scholars committee is comprised of the following members:
Please click below to view the most up-to-date version of the Innholder Scholars Constitution, which outlines guidance and rules for all Innholder Scholars.
