IFH and The Leading Hotels of the World Launch Leading Learning Institute

Exclusive Program Offers Member Hotels an Array of Training and Development Opportunities

• 
  SAVE
• 
  SHARE
• 
  TEXT SIZE
• 
  PRINT
• 
  COMMENT
• 
  PDF

. December 09, 2009

NEW YORK, NY, December 8, 2009 - Last month, at The Leading Hotels of the World Annual Convention in Venice, Italy, company President and Chief Executive Officer, Ted Teng announced the inception of a new, global initiative, Leading Learning Institute (LLI). Developed in conjunction with IFH Americas, Inc., one of the largest consulting companies for training and development in the hospitality industry, the program will offer employees at member hotels a vast menu of training opportunities, ranging from management development and communications, to sales and revenue management.

Exclusively offered to the more than 450 Leading Hotels in 80 countries, LLI is slated to deliver over 80 training sessions in 20 locations around the globe. For an affordable annual fee, registered hotels will have unlimited access to all courses and can enroll their employees directly in the various training programs via an LLI customized booking platform, making registration easy. With the launch of LLI, The Leading Hotels of the World will be undertaking the largest training and development initiative in its 80-year history.

Mr. Teng stated, “Essential to our hotels' future success is customer satisfaction and revenue generation. Vital to accomplishing these two goals is properly trained staff. LLI was created to make high-quality, consistent training easily available to the largely independent hotels in our collection. In a fast-changing and evolving hospitality world, this will not only allow our hotels to attract staff but to retain them as well. Bottom line, this is all about increasing the ability for our hotels to compete with chain brands and stay independent."

IFH has successfully created customized development programs based on global know-how, but matched to local and cultural requirements delivered in over 6 languages. Mr. Teng continued by saying, “We are truly excited about this opportunity to enrich the lives of our people through learning.”

This ground-breaking initiative was devised by Patricia Smith, senior vice president human resources and organization development of Leading Hotels, and Thomas T. Kraft, member of the board and founder of IFH, both of whom will oversee and cultivate the program on an ongoing basis. The goal over the next three years is to develop LLI into one of the best company internal career development programs offered in the hospitality industry.

Steffen Weidemann, the new CEO of IFH highlights the importance of focused employee development, “The investment that a hotel makes in its hardware, must be equaled in the investment in its people. Both of these factors play a fundamental role in the overall service experience, with the employee having the larger contribution,” says Weidemann.

About The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd.

The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. is the prestigious luxury hospitality organization representing more than 450 of the world's finest hotels, resorts and spas, and is the operator of www.lhw.com and www.lhwspas.com - the online sources for your luxury lifestyle. As the largest international luxury hotel brand, the firm maintains offices in 22 major markets across the globe.

Since 1928, the company's reputation for excellence derives from the exacting levels of quality it demands of its members, each of which must pass a rigorous, anonymous inspection covering hundreds of meticulous criteria spanning from product to behavioral standards. This set of standards is the most stringent in the industry.

For reservations and information, visit www.lhw.com or telephone toll-free from the USA, Canada, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, (800) 223-6800.