The Marine Hotel Association’s new Culinary Advisory Council will be awarding scholarships to talented culinary professionals working aboard cruise ships in a first-of-its kind initiative. The not-for-profit MHA will host its annual Conference & Trade Show, taking place at Naples Grand Resort in Naples, Florida, April 2-4. 

The upcoming event will bring together F&B and hotel vendors along with key decision makers from cruise lines, together with the new Culinary Advisory Council featuring chefs from several cruise lines who will participate at the event, reports Cruise Industry News.

Participating cruise lines include Royal Caribbean Group, Oceania, Regent, Explora Journeys, Norwegian Cruise Line, Marella and CMI Leisure representing a large part of the quickly expanding small luxury ships and expedition market. 

The Council will be nominating chefs working onboard cruise ships for the Marine Hotel Association culinary scholarship. 

“This allows us the opportunity to highlight our extraordinary talents onboard and feature their commitment to delivering an ever-evolving world-class experience,” said Eric Barale, Vice President Culinary for the Apollo Group and Maître Cuisinier de France. “I am truly excited to be able to support and recommend our chefs at sea for the MHA scholarships that focus on the culinary education, development, advocacy and career navigation of our talent. 

“The MHA conference and Trade Show will also provide a unique one-on-one networking opportunity for our vendors and teams to address, encourage and visualize the future of trade on the high seas,” he added.