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- Training Topics Draw Record Attendance |
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| Boston, MA � July 29, 2005 - The 70th semi-annual Council of Hotel
and Restaurant Trainers (CHART) hospitality training conference, held July
23-26, 2005 at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers, attracted over 340
trainers, human resources and hospitality executives; increasing 36% from
last year�s summer conference attendance of 250.
�Hospitality businesses are increasingly recognizing the crucial role of the trainer in organizational achievement,� said Mike Hampton, Ed.D, dean of the college of hospitality management at Lynn University and CHART president. �This increase also reflects the fact that CHART membership has increased over 24%, to 618 from 498, since the same time last year; another indication of the growing importance of great people practices.� Unveiled at the conference was Blueprint for Trainer Development: A Customized Competency Model for the Hospitality Industry, a hallmark study by CHART and Batrus Hollweg International (BHI) that defines the competencies necessary for success across three roles in hospitality training. In addition to educational sessions, attendees also participated in CHART�s 5th semi-annual community service event. Held at the Greater Boston Food Bank, one of the largest Share Our Strength recipients in the Boston area, 25 participants sorted and repackaged food to be distributed to needy local families. CHART�s trademark interactive, peer-to-peer sharing sessions included 12 breakouts and three tracks for hourly staff training, management training, and executive and multi-unit training. Topics included technology in training, succession planning, how to energize training and e-learning. Four panel presentations included the President�s Panel, an annual conference
highlight featuring presidents of the top restaurant and hospitality companies
sharing insights on training and people development. The conference also
featured a �Best Places to Work� panel based on the findings of People
Report research and moderated by Chain Leader and People Report. The panel
featured CHART training and human resources professionals who shared their
recruitment, retention and compensation practices with attendees. For lodging
attendees, Jeff Higley, editor-in-chief of Hotel & Motel Management
magazine moderated an interactive discussion on �Training for Today While
Planning for Tomorrow.� A special session, �If I Knew Then What I Know
Now: Reflections from the Field,� featured lessons learned in the training
profession from four CHART lifetime, or 20+ year, members.
CHART lifetime members (from left) Pat Evans, senior director of training for Yum! Brands, Dick Gaven, Sandi Spivey, people capabilities coach for Taco Bell Corporation, and Dave Young share a laugh during the �If I Knew Then What I Know Now: Reflections from the Field� panel. The conference culminated in the Commitment to People Awards Gala, where Julia Stewart, president and chief executive officer of IHOP Corp., was recognized as the recipient of the 2005 CHART Commitment to People Award. Also at the dinner, CHART, in conjunction with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, presented a $2,500 scholarship to Michelle Garcia, a ProStart student from Roberto Clemente High School in Chicago, Illinois. CHART is one of the oldest and largest nonprofit organizations dedicated to training in the hospitality industry. Members number over 600 and represent multi-unit restaurant and hotel companies. A typical CHART member holds over 10 years of training and human resources experience and impacts over 5,000 employees in 80 units. By helping trainers do their jobs better, CHART positively impacts millions of employees, customers and companies and the industry as a whole. CHART�s mission is to develop hospitality training professionals to advance industry training practices and improve operational results by providing access to education, tools and resources. |
| Contact:
Lisa L. Marovec, FMP
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