Orlando, Florida, April 2015—Seda Hotels in the Philippines is using resources from the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) to provide its security personnel with hospitality-focused security training and professional certification. AHLEI’s partner, Asia World Hospitality, recently conducted a Certified Lodging Security Officer (CLSO) workshop and exam session for 14 of Seda Hotels’ security staff members.

“The AHLEI courses will definitely strengthen Seda’s reputation as a safe and secure establishment and reinforce its emphasis on providing the best protection for its clients,” said Andrea Mastellone, Seda group general manager.

The Seda employees will be the first group of CLSO designees in the Philippines, continuing the hotel group’s commitment to professional development for its staff. Seda was the first Filipino hotel brand to train with AHLEI’s Guest Service Gold® and certify its employees as Certified Guest Service Professionals (CGSP®) to earn the designation of Certified Guest Service Property.

“Seda is the first hotel chain in the Philippines to recognize the need for more professionals in the lodging security sector. This is a significant milestone,” said Augustus Caesar “Ace” Esmeralda, CPP, ICPS, CLSO, managing director of Ace and Associates Risk Management, who conducted the training on behalf of Asia World Hospitality.

He noted that the group was very enthusiastic about the training, which exposed them to international standards and modern lodging security concepts. “They appreciated the new knowledge and were very passionate to learn,” said Esmeralda.

Seda Hotels is also certifying its upper-level security personnel with AHLEI’s Certified Lodging Security Director (CLSD®) designation.