HotelTraining.com introduced the first reservation sales training program designed specifically for delivery via the Internet in August 1998.  The STAR (SalesTraining for Agents in Reservations) workshop is more effective and less expensive than traditional seminar style training programs.   The workshop teaches agents to sell a reservation using an easy and enjoyable interactive format that includes text, and audio.  Instant feed back on performance is provided by way of multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank answers as well as quality assurance shops. 

All reporting, including audio, can be deposited on the web site for client review 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  Constant and consistent delivery of training materials using an interactive format with audio enhances learning and improves retention by as much as 60%.  Interactive review sessions provide positive re-enforcement for correct answers as well as hints to help guide the participant when incorrect answers are given.

�The traditional on-site reservations training seminars have become too expensive for most hotels and reservations centers when you consider the turn over rate in reservations�, said Jay Delerno, President of MacDel Inc., d/b/a hoteltraining.com.  Moreover, the thousands of dollars spent for on-site training are inefficient and often ineffective.  He went on to say, �On-site training is a one-time event.  The turn over rate for reservations is over 30% annually.  With access to Internet based training, employees can access our workshop 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  They can work at their own pace and revisit our STAR training program as frequently as they wish.� 

Delerno, doing business as Revenue Source One, has been an independent sales and marketing consultant to the hotel industry since 1987.  Before that time, he spent 16 years at the property and corporate level in sales and marketing of companies such as Marriott, Picket Hotels, and Integra.  A component of his consulting, implemented in 1993, has been Quality Assurance Surveys, shopping calls to central reservations centers, hotel reservation, group sales and catering offices. Thousands of �shops� were executed over the years and the results of these shops were used to create the STAR workshop.  After reviewing many available software programs he selected one that would be easy for participants to use and would provide detailed reporting capabilities on the participants� progress and performance.  �I always resisted offering training � Delerno said,
�because I could not find a way to do it better and with less expense to my clients. Then I came up the with idea of using the Internet, which allows me to support my clients with professional training solutions at less than half the cost of traditional seminar style reservation training programs.� 

With a monthly fee of $250 for a hotel with 150-250 rooms, the annual cost for the STAR Workshop is less than half the cost of a 2-day on-site program and it is available to all hotel employees 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Quality assurance survey calls are available with the STAR workshop for a fee of $35 each.  A Guest Services Workshop will be introduced at the HITEC show and be demonstrated at the HotelTraining.com booth, number 1723.  A third workshop, Group Sales / Catering Sales, will be available in October.  HotelTraining.com also develops private label and custom training programs to be hosted on its web site, which are available to clients through restricted password access.  A free sampling of the STAR workshop is currently available on their web site, <http://www.hoteltraining.com>