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Educational Institute Introduces Certification
for Lodging Owners
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March 2008, Orlando, Florida � When George Chen, president of Formosa Gardens, an Orlando-based development company, built his first hotel property in 1997, he earned the Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) designation from the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (EI).  But if he were starting in the hotel ownership business today, he would pursue the Certified Lodging Owner (CLO) designation, the newest professional certification offered by EI. 
            
�I wish I�d had this program before I built my first hotel. It would have answered so many questions and saved me time, effort, and money,� said Chen, who is owner of the Comfort Suites Maingate at the entrance of Walt Disney World. �The CLO offers a comprehensive look at the essential knowledge that hotel owners need to be successful.� 
            
The CLO validates the knowledge of current hospitality owners, but also provides prospective hotel owners with study materials to strengthen their understanding of issues like lodging operations, property analysis, financial considerations, hotel franchising, and management companies.  
            
The only prerequisite for qualifying for the Certified Lodging Owner designation is current ownership of one or more hotel properties. Qualifying candidates can purchase the 18-chapter study guide and certification exam as a package, and take the CLO exam within six month of acceptance into the program. 

Those who are contemplating hotel ownership may purchase the CLO study guide separately to learn more about their potential investment. Then, after they become hotel owners, they can apply to take the exam and earn the certification. 

�For several years, we have had requests to offer a certification program for owners who are not involved in the day-to-day operations of a hotel,� explained Barbara Blankenship, EI�s senior director of professional certification. �While the CHA designation can be earned by owner-operators, it covers a lot of knowledge that an owner who is not a general manager doesn�t necessarily need.  EI conducted a survey of owners to determine the competencies that were important for hotel owners.� 

The CLO is appropriate for all hotel owners, from small independent property owners to large-scale hotel investors with multiple properties under multiple flags. 

�Owners are different from managers; they need to worry about financing, regulatory issues, how to evaluate the worth of a property, and other investment details,� said Chen. �The CLO addresses these subjects very effectively, and unlike the CHA, does not assume any prior knowledge of the hotel industry. It�s very student-friendly for those who are new to the world of hotels.� 

Chen commented that he planned to bring the CLO program to the attention of friends and colleagues who own hotel properties in Florida and California. 

�It provides an excellent foundation for anyone who owns a property or who is considering purchasing a hotel, because it covers subjects that really matter to owners,� he said. �It�s clear that EI took a lot of time to create something very solid for hotel owners and investors.� 

The CLO study guide and exam are available from EI for $650.00, or $450.00 for AH&LA members.  The study guide alone is $250.00, or $200.00 for AH&LA members. For a limited time, candidates may purchase the study guide and exam for only $500.00, or $350.00 for AH&LA members, by referencing offer code OWNER. 
For additional information or to download a CLO application, visit the EI Web site at www.ei-ahla.org/certification_clo.asp
 
Established in 1953 as a nonprofit educational foundation of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the Educational Institute�s mission is to support AH&LA by becoming the preferred provider to the lodging industry, hospitality schools, and related hospitality industries both domestically and internationally by developing and providing quality resources to train, educate, and certify hospitality professionals.

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Contact:

Elizabeth Johnson
Marketing Manager
517-318-2359
[email protected]
www.ei-ahla.org

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Also See: New Edition of Supervisory Skill Builders Prepares New Leaders for Role / November 2007
Educational Institute, Workplace Languages Offer English-Spanish Phrase Guides for Hotel, Restaurant Industry / October 2007
Educational Institute Introduces Four New Professional Certification Designations / July 2007
New Edition of Hospitality Today Textbook Now Available / July 2007
Educational Institute to Offer Sunrise Basic Training DVDs / May 2007
Educational Institute Training Content Now Available on iPod® / May 2007
New Edition of Hotel Investments Book Debuts at ALIS Conference / January 2006
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