Bob Little Press and Public Relations - A record number of hospitality employees are downloading training in an online initiative by industry membership body, the Institute of Hospitality


Media Centre Echelon Learning Master List PRESS INFORMATION ISSUED ON BEHALF OF: Echelon Publishing Darwin House, 236 South Ealing Road, LONDON W5 4RP tel 020 8568 1500; fax 020 8560 6612; web http://learningmatters.com London, UK: 4th October 2007 Record self-training by hospitality employees A record number of hospitality employees are downloading training in an online initiative by industry membership body, the Institute of Hospitality http://www.instituteofhospitality.org/content/ and learning provider, Echelon Publishing http://echelonpublishing.co.uk/ The global membership of the Institute of Hospitality represents professional managers in the hospitality, leisure, sports and tourism industries and promotes the 'highest professional standards of management and education'. Areas in which the managers are employed include hotels, contract catering, restaurants, pubs and clubs, as well as leisure outlets, theme parks and sports venues. The Institute's Training Library - at http://www.learningmatters.com/instituteofhospitality/ - offers over 400 downloadable training modules for use by trainers, managers and supervisors. Each solution is proven to work under live training conditions in hospitality environments and comes with full instructions, exercises and a feedback checklist. The Training Library includes training modules on topics such as Communication Skills; Customers with Specific Needs; Impression Management; Customer Service Skills (all levels); Project Management, and Telephone Skills. The solutions - priced at Ł5 - can be accessed by individuals using credit cards or at a discount by groups on a corporate account basis. "It's a modest price to pay for learning that's up-to-the-minute, proven and easy to access," says the Institute’s Head of Information Services, Janine Mills. "Since we focused solely on selected training, modules uptake has increase by some 500 per cent. Most members who have used the resource pick and mix from the material available to put together training programmes for delivery by managers and supervisors to catering, bar, front of house and housekeeping staff. "Echelon hosts, manages and updates the library content for us, enabling us to focus on complementary online activities such as our digitised guides on food safety, health and safety and business management." Leisure is one of the UK's fastest growing industry sectors. Recent research indicates that the UK population is set to see an increase in the numbers of 15 - 24 year olds and 55 year olds. By 2010, the number of over 60s will have increased by 3.1 million, showing the increasing importance of the ‘grey’ market while certain sectors will benefit by attracting the younger consumer. High disposable incomes, changes in consumer demand, low inflation and unemployment rates are current factors contributing to the robustness of the industry and these trends look set to continue. Echelon has a lengthy track record of working in the hotel and hospitality sector and a developed understanding of leisure industry needs. Its consulting division has developed and managed customer service programmes on behalf of Sheraton, Rank Leisure, Holiday Inn, Queens Moat House. The company last month (September 2007) completed recruitment, selection, induction and customer care training for customer-facing staff at the new St Pancras station in time for its re-opening as London's high-speed rail terminal. Further information from http://www.instituteofhospitality.org/content/ http://www.learningmatters.com/instituteofhospitality/ http://echelonpublishing.co.uk/ ends Editor Note: About Echelon Learning Echelon Learning is a consultancy-led publishing house that integrates electronically-delivered knowledge and learning into the development of management skills and business performance. Echelon Consulting spearheads the company's service with the development of new content in meeting clients' requirements. This is usually derived from analysing employee knowledge and learning needs captured during client learning programmes. Where appropriate, Echelon Publishing then offers this new content to a wider audience by publishing the material in generic format. This is made available in the form of easy to use 'learning nuggets' and is complimented with business development information licensed exclusively from one of the market's best-known providers, Bloomsbury. Echelon e-Learning provides the electronic systems which enable content to be published, distributed and usage tracked, and offers work-based solutions to a global audience. Now Echelon's blended learning based on a bespoke site populated with material selected to support specific courses, builds knowledge prior to the event and refreshes application when back at the desk. About Echelon Publishing Echelon technologies help organisations place solutions at people's fingertips, whether solving everyday business and work-related problems or helping gain qualifications and continued professional development. Echelon: Has a content management system enabling informational or learning material to be developed or converted into XML so that it can be published and distributed in text and/or via the web. Has a learning management system to provide ready access via the web to highly structured information, which is easily searched and retrieved, and whose usage can be tracked and learning logged. Publishes and/or reformats content for professional bodies and commercial organisations to help students and employees maintain or develop requisite skills throughout their careers. Supports people from the outset of their careers in working with professional bodies to develop and deliver the learning content required by students in preparing for examination. Frees up the knowledge and learning contained within a business so that people have ready access to these resources in helping them to solve problems or develop their careers. Works with a number of blue chip organisations and professional bodies, including: COMMERCIAL BUPA Coventry Building Society Lincoln Financial Moat House Hotels Modernisation Agency (NHS) Novartis Pharmaceuticals NHS Logistics Vodafone INSTITUTIONAL Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountants Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply Construction Industry Training Board Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators Institute of Chartered Accountants in E & W Institute of Civil Engineers Royal Town Planning Institute

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