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NEWS RELEASE

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Italian Hospitality Award 2013

The Hotel Joli of Palermo is the absolute winner of the seventh edition of the "Italian Hospitality" made ??by Isnart, the National Institute of tourism research, in collaboration with the Italian Chambers of Commerce. To reward the hotel Maurizio Maddaloni, the Isnart President, along with the president of Unioncamere, Ferruccio Dardanello, at the end of the evening gala, which was held in Rome at the Gardens of Sallust which was also attended by the Minister of Tourism, Massimo Bray and President of ENIT, Pierluigi Celli. Exceptional godmother actress Maria Grazia Cucinotta. On stage to present the winners of the actress Barbara Chiappini and radio host Tinto. 

Videos and Photos  : www.premiospitalita.it

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Educational Institute to Offer Hospitality Training and Education in Lithuania

 

October 2011, Orlando, Florida—John Lohr, an international consultant for the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (EI) stationed in Europe, recently visited the Lithuanian Hotel & Restaurant Association (LVRA) and the Vilnius-based International School of Law and Business to present the Global Academic Program (GAP) agreement and Hotel Association Agreement to the presidents of both organizations.  As a result, the International School of Law and Business,the largest private university of applied sciences in Lithuania, has become the newest international school to become one of EI’s GAP partners.  In addition, EI has entered into a Hotel Association Agreement with the Lithuanian Hotel & Restaurant Association (LVRA).

The International School of Law and Business in Vilnius, Lithuania is the country’s leading provider of professional bachelor’s degrees in hospitality, with about 800 students in the program and strong links with the industry. They are also members of the Lithuanian Hotel & Restaurant Association. The International School of Law and Business in Vilnius will become the exclusive provider of the EI hospitality management diploma to students in Lithuania.

"The International School of Law and Business, a leading university of applied sciences in Lithuania, is proud to join the education and certification program of the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute and to become its affiliate in Lithuania. As a leading provider of hospitality education in Lithuania, ISLB will build on cooperation with EI to promote excellence in academic hospitality training and professional development in Lithuania and thus contribute to improving industry standards in the country and worldwide. We are confident that this new partnership will provide valuable tools that will serve to further ISLB’s mission of creating professionals for a progressive society," said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gitana Jurgelaitien?,

Director of the university.

The Lithuanian Hotel & Restaurant Association has been very active in Lithuania and will work with EI to provide industry training and certification to hoteliers in Lithuania. Lohr will visit Vilnius in October to formally present the association agreement to the LVRA members at their yearly conference. 

Mrs. Evalda Šiškauskien?, president of the LVRA commented that we (LVRA) "are very happy to cooperate with EI and we see our partnership as a very efficient way to deliver training to our members‘ staff.  Our country (Lithuania) has big problems with emigration, which forces us to react quickly to market changes. EI‘s certification and training will be a good solution for our large training needs.“

For more information on establishing an international agreement with the Educational Institute, please call 407-999-8100 or visit www.ahlei.org/international.

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Revised Lodging Security Officer (LSO) Training Programs Addresses Current Security Challenges

 

Orlando, Florida, September 2011—The past decade has brought many new security challenges for hotels, which are addressed in the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute’s revised Lodging Security Officer (LSO) training program.

            The self-study program that includes four modular textbooks, a DVD, and a workbook with progress quizzes, is designed to increase the professionalism of security officers and other employees who perform security functions at a property. The program provides general security-related techniques as well as hospitality-specific information that employees need to know to balance security procedures and guest service.

            New and updated topics included in this new edition of the Lodging Security Officer program include:

·         Revised Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations

·         Child trafficking/protection of children

·         Expanded bomb search information

·         Anti-terrorism/signs of terrorism

·         Foodborne illnesses

·         Active shooters

·         Handling the death of a guest

·         Hostage situations

·         Shelter-in-place

            Subject matter experts who provided insight and direction on the program’s revision included loss prevention professionals from Marriott International (Carol D. Owens and Daniel Danson), Starwood Hotels and Resorts (Clarence Izzard), InterContinental Hotels Group (Amanda Crosby), Hyatt Hotels (Todd Locke), Hilton Hotels & Resorts (Mike Dove),and Interstate Hotels & Resorts (Jim Cunningham).

            The Lodging Security Officer program can be used to prepare for the Certified Lodging Security Officer (CLSO) designation, one of three professional certifications that AHLEI offers for hotel security personnel.

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Spanish Translation of AHLEI’s Eye on Awareness™ Program Expands Employee Awareness of Security Issues

 

Orlando, Florida, September 2011—The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI), has translated its security and anti-terrorism online training program into Spanish. 

Eye on Awareness^TM—Entrenamiento Para Hoteles Sobre Seguridad y Anti-Terrorismo, offers web-based, interactive hotel anti-terrorism and security awareness training to line-level lodging employees, who are considered front line observers of possible suspicious activity.

 “We want all line-level employees to feel confident that with the proper background knowledge and a keen sense of observation, they can play a vital role in keeping their property and guests safe,” said Robert L. Steele III, CHA, president and COO of the Educational Institute. “By offering this program in Spanish, many more employees will have access to this critically-important information.”

Approximately 22 percent of U.S. hotel employees are Latino, and in some areas of the country, a hotel staff may be as much as 75 percent Hispanic.  The Spanish version of Eye of Awareness™ will also benefit EI’s customers in Spanish-speaking countries worldwide.

The Eye on Awareness^TM training program provides hotel employees with the knowledge needed to recognize, report, and react to suspicious situations at their properties.  It teaches them how to understand those activities and report them.  The program is geared toward all employees who may have contact with guests, including housekeeping, maintenance, front desk, guest services, food and beverage, transportation, and parking.

           

The course focuses on suspicious activity reporting, and what types of activities are suspicious. It also includes information on recognizing suspicious packages.  While most of the content is aimed at preventing incidents, the program also instructs employees what do in an active shooting situation, including how to stay alive and assist others. The online training program includes interactive, multimedia lessons enhanced by review questions that assess employee comprehension.

The program is $30 for AH&LA members and $45 for nonmembers. For information, visit www.ahlei.org or call 800-752-4567 or 517-372-8800.  Outside the U.S. and Canada, call 407-999-8100.