The Marine Hotel Association’s (MHA) new Culinary Advisory Council will be awarding scholarships to emerging culinary talent on cruise ships sailing globally in a first-of-its kind initiative.

The not-for-profit MHA is looking ahead to its annual Conference and Trade Show, taking place in Naples, Florida, April 2-4.

The event brings together food and beverage and hotel vendors along with key decision makers from cruise lines, and the new Culinary Advisory Council features chefs from a number of cruise brands that will be heavily involved in the Florida event.

The Council will be nominating and recommending chefs working onboard cruise ships for the MHA 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.