Orlando, Florida, September 2016— Ron Pohl, CHA, CRDE, is the 2016 recipient of the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute’s Arthur Landstreet Award. Pohl received the award during a luncheon on Tuesday, September 27 at The Lodging Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. Named after the Tennessee hotelier who founded the Educational Institute, the Arthur Landstreet Award is presented to an individual who has made a lasting impact on the quality of professional development and training in the hospitality industry.
Past winners of this award include Jonathan Tisch, Eric Danziger, Richard Kelleher, Mike Leven, and Joseph Kane. Best Western CEO David Kong received the award in 2012.
Pohl is senior vice president of brand management for Best Western® Hotels and Resorts and serves on the company’s executive committee. He joined Best Western in 2007 as vice president of operations. In that role, he significantly improved revenue management systems, implemented new and innovative education and training resources, and launched the industry-leading Best Western I Care® program.
Pohl demonstrates a passion for promoting hospitality studies and empowering the next generation of industry leaders. He serves on the Advisory Board for Grand Canyon University, partnering with the University on the promotion of its new Hospitality College.
He created Best Western International University – Best Western’s online education website for hotel staff and corporate employees – which includes a partnership using AHLEI courses and certifications, Rosetta Stone®, and the University of Phoenix. During the past year, 1,953 Best Western employees representing more than 1,800 properties earned the Certified Front Desk Manager (CFDM) from AHLEI. The company will offer three additional online training and certification programs targeting additional professional positions.
Under Pohl’s leadership, Best Western has made significant investments in innovative educational tools and systems to enhance operational support to Best Western hotel owners and staff. For example, as part of the I Care® Every Guest Every Time program, hotel staff participate in “Avatar training” –role-play training that allows hotel staff to improve customer service skills by practicing with a live, interactive avatar.
