NEW YORK, New York, November 9, 2009�The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (EI) honored the 2009 recipients of the Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) Emeritus and Master Hotel Supplier (MHS) Emeritus designations at its annual Celebration of Excellence Breakfast on Monday, November 9, at the Jacob Javits Center, during the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show in New York. 

This year�s CHA Emeritus honorees are: 

• Caroline Cooper, CHA, Professor, Alan Shawn Feinstein Graduate School and former dean of the Hospitality College, Johnson & Wales University
• Pedro Mandoki, CHA, Chairman and CEO, Mandoki Hospitality Group
• Richard C. Nelson, CHA, Vice President Emeritus, Hyatt Hotels
• Paul O�Neil, CHA, Chief Operating Officer, Kerzner International 

This year�s MHS Emeritus honorees are: 

• Kerry Hirschy, MHS, Senior Vice President, Kaba Lodging Systems
• Stanley Turkel, MHS,  ISHC, Hotel and Franchise Consultant 

In his introduction of this year�s honorees, EI�s president and COO Robert L. Steele III, CHA, stated, �Today we set aside this moment in the Fall conference to respect these individuals� long-term commitment to educational achievement and advancement through certification. The badges of honor we shine a spotlight on today are their Certified Hotel Administrator and Master Hotel Supplier certifications. They have worn these badges well, serving our industry, their companies, their properties, their employees, and their students. In an age that puts too high a premium on quick fixes, short horizons and fleeting loyalties, they set an example that long-term focus, personal development, and a non-compromised striving for excellence and achievement counts.�

The CHA Emeritus and MHS Emeritus are awarded in recognition of the recipients� long and illustrious careers in the hospitality industry. The career of an Emeritus is marked by distinguished achievement in all facets of the industry, signifying a commitment to the past, present, and future of the hospitality environment. Those so honored have played a unique role in shaping the industry�s current environment and are widely recognized as role models by their industry peers.

The Celebration of Excellence Breakfast, sponsored by American Express and Heartland Payment Systems, featured a keynote address by travel news journalist Peter Greenberg.

For complete biographical information on each of this year�s Celebration of Excellence honorees, visit www.ahlei.org/coe. 

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.