Orlando, Florida, April 2013—While the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (EI) has sold its training programs and professional certifications in China for several years, it has recently restructured its representation and distribution by contracting provincial partners throughout the country and is reestablishing direct relationships with academic and industry institutions.

Leon Shi, CHE, has been hired as EI’s country manager of operations for greater China. He holds the Certified Hospitality Educator professional certification from the Educational Institute and has both hospitality industry and academic experience. He was the food and beverage outlets manager for Raffles Beijing Hotel from 2007 to 2009, and pre-opening general manager of the Jade Hotel, Wuhan. He also served as a hospitality instructor for CIBT from 2009 to 2010.

As country manager, Mr. Shi, based in Beijing, will seek out new partners in China’s provinces, provide technical assistance to partners and customers, and oversee the growth and development of EI’s presence to China’s hospitality industry. New Regional Partners and Global Academic Partner (GAP) schools include:

• Hangzhou Meihang Education Advisory Service (MEAS), ZheJiang Province
• Dalian Mei Ge Culture Communication, Liaoning Province
• Yamay Hotel Management Co., Shanghai Province
• International Education & Culture Alliance, Sichuan Province
• Colgate Holmes Academy, Suzhou
• Zhejiang Yuexiu University of Foreign Languages College of Hospitality

“A well-trained workforce is the key to employee retention, guest satisfaction, and profitability,” said Robert L. Steele III, CHA, EI’s president and chief operating officer. “We will be honored to make widely available our hospitality training programs and educational courses to one of the largest hospitality industries in the world: with over 8000 three and above star rated hotels, 1750 hospitality and tourism institutions, and an industry employing 1.5 million workers at large, EI is proud to help the hospitality industry in China achieve its goals.”

The Educational Institute offers ten of its professional certifications, including the Certified Guest Service Professional (CGSP), and 19 academic textbooks in Chinese to help meeting the education and professional development needs of the Chinese hospitality industry.

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. Please visit http://www.ahlei.org