Seminar participants included: Martin Soran, Asian American Training & Marketing, Shanghai, China; Jenny Jiang, Nanjing Sinporo Hospitality Management Training Center, Shanghai, China; Zahra Perdew, Disney University, Orlando, Fla.; and Karen Wapole and Katy Anderson, American Hospitality Academy, Orlando, Fla.

According to Barbara Blankenship, EI�s director of professional certification, training-and certifying-trainers is crucial to the success of today�s hospitality operations.

�In today�s competitive environment, the edge goes to companies with the highest level of customer service, which is why well-trained employees are so vital to the success of the company,� she explained. �Trainers in today�s business environment need a systematic approach to enhance the performance of employees as measured by qualitative and quantitative results. The CHT certification will provide these trainers with the tools and techniques to assess training needs, develop cost-effective programs that optimize training efforts, and align them with organizational goals.�

The preparation seminar for the CHT certification exam covers a broad-based body of knowledge, encompassing all levels of training within the hospitality organization. It focuses on identifying key elements in the learning process and recognizing the steps in developing a comprehensive training program. The interactive nature of the seminar also gives certification candidates the opportunity to learn from one another in an informal environment.

�It is our hope that these trainers will return to their home operations fired up with enthusiasm about training and certification,� said Blankenship. �These are the people who will make a difference in the level of professionalism of the employees with whom they work.�

Certified Hospitality Trainers can make a measurable difference in performance at their properties when they use their skills as part of a comprehensive training program that includes line-level certification and professional development of line-level and supervisory personnel through the Certified Hospitality Department Trainer (CHDT), also available from the Educational Institute.

To be eligible for the Certified Hospitality Trainer program, applicants must be currently employed in a qualifying position such as a training executive, director or department head at a lodging hospitality company or restaurant, with at least three years of full-time experience, or have two years of such experience plus at least a two-year degree in human resources or hospitality from an accredited institution.

Fees for the CHT are $350 for AH&LA members; $425 for nonmembers. For more information or to request a CHT application, please contact EI�s Professional Certification department at 888-575-8726 or 407-649-8252.

About Educational Institute
Established in 1953 as a nonprofit educational foundation of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the Educational Institute (www.ei-ahla.org) is the premier source for quality hospitality education, training, and professional certification, serving the needs and advancing the excellence of hospitality schools and industries worldwide.

Contact:
Elizabeth Johnson
ejohnson@ei-ahla.org
Academic and Allied Marketing Manager
517-318-2359
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