ORLANDO, Fla., April 2002-Abdel Zouari, CHA, vice president of operations, Allegro Resorts, Aruba, is the winner of the Lamp of Knowledge Award for Outstanding Student presented by the Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Zouari received the award during the 22nd annual Stars of the Industry luncheon, sponsored by Visa, on Thursday, April 4, during the AH&LA Annual Conference & Leadership Forum/The Lodging Expo, held in Philadelphia, Pa. The Lamp of Knowledge Award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional, long-term commitment to advancing hospitality professionalism through education and training.
Zouari joined Allegro Resorts in 1998, after a 15-year career with Club Med, where he had risen through the career ranks to the position of regional director of the Caribbean, in charge of operations for a dozen resorts. Despite this experience, he decided that further education was necessary to excel in his new position with Allegro Resorts.
Zouari earned the Certified Hospitality Administrator (CHA) designation, which only increased his desire to learn as much as he could in the field of hospitality management. He began taking courses through the Educational Institute's distance learning program, first completing the five-course Food and Beverage Management Certificate of Specialization. He then earned the Marketing and Sales Management Certificate of Specialization, the Human Resources Management Certificate of Specialization, the International Hotel Management Certificate of Specialization, the eight-course Hospitality Operations, Certificate, and ultimately, the 12-course Hospitality Management Diploma. Not content to stop there, he is currently working toward the Certificate of Specialization in Club Management.
Zouari also encourages his entire staff to pursue educational and professional development opportunities through the Educational Institute. He teaches the Supervisory Skill Builders program which leads to the Certified Hospitality Supervisor designation-numerous Allegro employees have earned the CHS under his direction. Many of his department managers have earned the certification appropriate to their area of responsibility, and others have completed courses through distance learning.
Thousands of people in the hospitality industry have great experience and hard work, but they don't have the proper diploma to get the job they deserve, said Zouari. I believe that EI is the answer. Training and education is so important; it is a never-ending story.
Established in 1953 as a nonprofit educational foundation of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the Educational Institute is the premier source for quality hospitality education, training, and professional certification, serving the needs and advancing the excellence of hospitality schools and industries worldwide