Conducting a three-day course on the cruise industry as part of the Shanghai Maritime University’s Executive MBA program will be Mitchell J. Schlesinger, a former cruise industry executive.

Lecturing at the end of October in Shanghai, Schlesinger presentation includes discussions on cruise product segmentation, ship acquisition, deployment and itineraries, marketing and branding, sales management and organization, and implementation of strategic business and marketing and sales action plans.

In a press release, Schlesinger said that the Shanghai MBA program has been developed in response to the dramatic growth of the cruise market in China. “The program is designed to educate Chinese organizations and entrepreneurs who are interested in participating in the creation of new cruise companies. Previous lectures have focused on financial and operations management, and cruise terminal development.”

Schlesinger commented further: “There is a significant opportunity for the Chinese marketplace to organically develop its own cruise companies in light of the rapidly growing competition from existing brands. The sizable customer base in China looking primarily for three- to five -day cruise vacations is primed for the creation of Chinese operated cruise lines. I am looking forward to assisting the program participants learn how to build their own cruise industry.”

Schlesinger is currently president of MJS Consultants. He has previously served in executive positions at Norwegian Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Orient Lines and Voyages to Antiquity.