October, 2001 - The Florida Hotel & Motel Association (FH&MA) has presented its 2001 Paul Brown Award for Distinguished Service to Hospitality Education to Robert A. Riedel, CHA, CHE of Tallahassee. Announced at the organization�s annual conference in Orlando, the award is named for the late St. Petersburg hotelier, Paul Brown, who founded FH&MA�s Educational Trust Fund and served as the association�s president in 1963-64.  Riedel became the twentieth recipient of the award since its inception in 1979.

Robert A. Riedel

According to FH&MA�s 2000-01 chairman, Walter Banks, owner of Ft. Lauderdale�s Lago Mar Resort, Riedel�s award recognizes his initiation of Florida State University�s (FSU) Summer Hospitality Academy, which recruits young talent to the lodging industry and gives them a preview of career possibilities.  Riedel is a member of the faculty at FSU�s Dedman School of Hospitality and Eco-Tourism.

As a former president of the American Hotel & Lodging Association�s (AH&LA) Educational Institute and the American Hotel Foundation, Riedel has an extensive background in hospitality education, which also earned the Institute�s national Arthur Landstreet award.  In addition to 20 years as founder and head of his own hotel management company, Riedel also served as president of both FH&MA and AH&LA, as well as the Florida Restaurant Association.  He is a graduate of Florida Southern College in Lakeland.