Orlando, Florida, July 2017—The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) is expanding its outreach to the Canadian hospitality industry and has partnered with Alex Kershaw, CGSP, CHDT, a consultant who will provide a physical presence in Canada. Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Kershaw will work closely with AHLEI senior sales associate Laura Phelps, who has been the primary contact for Canadian academic institutions and hotels for several years.
“Having Alex working with AHLEI to service current clients and to reach out to new prospects will help us to grow in this ripe market,” said Brenda Moons, AHLEI’s Vice President, Sales—Hotels & Lodging. “It’s important for us to have a person on the ground in Canada to enhance our visibility.” She noted that AHLEI has much to offer the Canadian hospitality industry, from guest service training to online management courses, skills development, and more than 20 professional certifications, as well as programs on hot topics including leadership, security, and human trafficking.
Kershaw has extensive experience in relationship management, with jobs in both the private and public sectors. She has account and project management experience with leading advertising agencies and public institutions, as well as significant involvement with non-profit organizations serving women and youth, where her skills in communications, social media management, relationship management, and team building advanced the success of those groups.
“My role is to connect the dots within industry, academia, and workforce training centers and to create a stronger presence and awareness of AHLEI's hospitality training products and professional/industry credentials in Canada,” said Kershaw.
AHLEI has had a solid academic presence in Canada for many years, providing hospitality management textbooks and curriculum packages to career colleges and universities. AHLEI also partners with Tourism HR Canada and emerit to offer dual credentialing of the Certified Hotel General Manager (CHGM) and the Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA®) certifications. AHLEI and the Ontario Restaurant, Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA) are also working to finalize an arrangement to offer AHLEI professional certifications for hospitality department heads and general managers to their membership.
“I want to take a consultative approach to provide training solutions that meet the needs of clients in Canada’s hospitality sector,” said Kershaw. To request a sales presentation, contact Kershaw at akershaw@ahlei.org or sales@ahlei.org.
