Press Release: Travel Industry Association
October 15, 1999
WASHINGTON, DC -- The Waldorf Astoria Hotel has been awarded an Odyssey Award in the category of Education, Training
and Employment by the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA). The hotel won the award for the Learning Center,
a three-classroom educational facility located within the hotel.
The Learning Center was created to provide each hotel employee with the opportunity to learn skills that would
advance his or her career and create a culture that encourages constant learning and changing in order to anticipate
the needs of hotel customers.
The five-year-old Learning Center offers classes in a number of subjects for front line employees including English
as a second language, a GED preparation program, and computer classes in Word, Excel and computer-based language
training. There are also classes in wine tasting, creating exceptional customer service, CPR and valuing diversity.
The Learning Center also offers a management development program that includes training in supervisory and leadership
skills, labor relations, coaching for service delivery, behavioral interviewing, managing diversity and financial
skills, as well as ad-hoc programs tailored to specific needs.
Odyssey Award winners will be formally honored at the Annual Awards Banquet that takes place on October 21, during
the October 20-22 TIA Marketing Outlook Forum in Pittsburgh.
SOURCE: Travel Industry Association