 Orlando,
Florida, April
2012— High school hospitality students from Monroe Career &
Technical
Institute in Bartonsville, Pennsylvania, took home the international
title in
the ninth annual American Hotel &
Lodging Educational Institute
(EI) International
Lodging Management
Program (LMP) Competition held March 28-30, 2012. The three-day
event at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort challenged students to the
real-life
work experiences in a hotel. The competition is organized by EI,
via
funding provided by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational
Foundation (AH&LEF)
and event sponsors HCareers and Heartland Payment Systems. The Monroe Career & Technical Institute team of Michelle Cotumaccio, Isaiah Griffin, Namansa Marah, and Alfredo Roman, under the leadership of teacher Patricia LeCompte, CHI, was “surprised and humbled” to take top honors at the competition. According to Leeann MacWilliams, CHSP, interim operating officer of the Pennsylvania Tourism & Lodging Association, the team never expected to win. MacWilliams stated that the students overcame many obstacles, including homelessness and the death of a parent, as they grew into a strong, cohesive team, despite coming from three different home high schools. She also noted that the team’s one senior, who wasn’t sure if he would go to college, is now applying to colleges because of the support and encouragement he received during the competition, as well as the scholarships provided to the winning teams. MacWilliams also praised LeCompte, who was recently named Teacher of the Year by PT&LA, for the many opportunities and challenges she gives her students. The Monroe Career & Technical Institute LMP program works closely with two AH&LA member properties, Split Rock Resort in Lake Harmony, Pa., and the Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort in Shawnee-on-Delaware, Pa. Twelve teams competed in this year’s competition, representing schools in Arkansas, the Bahamas, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Washington, D.C., and Wyoming. Events were held at three locations this year: the host property—Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management, and SeaWorld. Teachers and state hospitality association education directors praised the high level of industry involvement in the 2012 competition. In addition to AH&LA president and CEO Joseph A. McInerney, CHA, and incoming AH&LA chairman Ron Vlasic, CHA, vice president of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, students were addressed by Harris Rosen, founder of Rosen Resorts & Hotels, who spoke to students about success in the hotel industry and giving back to the community; and Louis Robbins, managing director of the Nickelodeon Suites Resort, who talked about about life as a hotelier and the importance of guest service. Competition judges included AH&LA executive staff members and representatives Choice Hotels International, Coakley Williams Hotel Group, East Carolina University, Fiberbuilt Umbrellas, Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton Hotels & Resorts, Niagara University, Orlando World Center Marriott, Peabody Orlando Hotel, Rosen Hotels & Resorts, SUNY Cortland, Wyndham Hotel Group, Universal CityWalk, and the University of Central Florida Rosen College of Hospitality Management. An Industry Leaders and HR Panel featured speakers from Universal Orlando Resort, the Peabody Orlando, Orlando World Center Marriott, Visit Orlando, and Sea World. Here is an overview of the winners of this year’s LMP International Competition: Overall Winners:
Hotel Operations: First place: Monroe Career & Technical Institute (PA); Second place: Okkodo High School (Guam); Third place: North Central High School (SC). Hospitality Project: First place: Okkodo High School (Guam); Second place: Waipahu High School (HI); Third place: Mountain View Academy (NH). Winning teams were awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships from the following schools: Fisher College, Johnson & Wales University, Newbury College, Niagara University, San Diego State University, Sullivan University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and Widener University. About the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute Established in 1953 as a nonprofit educational foundation of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the Educational Institute’s mission is to continue being the preferred provider to the lodging industry, hospitality schools, and related hospitality industries by developing and providing quality resources to train, educate, and certify hospitality professionals worldwide. This article is copyright protected by Hotel-Online. Reuse by other media or news outlets or organizations is prohibited. Personal use and sharing via social media tools is permitted. |