SYDNEY - Best Western Australia, part of THE WORLD’S LARGEST HOTEL CHAIN®, has joined forces with La Trobe University and Westpac to develop the La Trobe Best Western Australia Professional Certificate Program.

Professional development education in conjunction with industry partners is emerging as a key growth strategy for La Trobe to engage professionals and managers in life long learning. The venue for the program will be the International Hotel School at Best Western La Trobe at Beechworth.

“As new properties are continually joining the Best Western chain in Australia, we have realised many operators are new to the accommodation industry and have expressed a desire for this type of training,” says Best Western Australia CEO Rodger L. Powell. “For our more experienced hoteliers this program offers them the chance to train their managers and key hotel staff.”

The seven day intensive residential program incorporates the highly acclaimed Beyond Survival financial management seminars presented by Westpac, and as such brings together three major brands associated with the Australian Hospitality Industry. This is the first of a number of planned tripartite professional development programs being developed by the University.

The Head of the School of Tourism and Hospitality, Professor Peter Murphy and the Director of the Beechworth Campus, Ian Burke introduced the course proposal at the Best Western Australia National Convention held at Jupiters Casino on the Gold Coast in August 2002.

The School’s Lecturer in Hospitality, Brian Millar, undertook a major role in the development of the program, working closely with Best Western International Director of Education and Training John Hogan and Westpac’s National Manager, Business Advisory Stuart Donaldson to ensure the La Trobe University Best Western Australia Professional Certificate Program would be the leader in hospitality industry training.

“Many small business owners are too busy with day-to-day operations to look beyond the short-term needs and solutions for their business. However, it is essential to develop management methods that can deliver profitable and sustainable growth in the long-term, and this is where we can help,” said Donaldson. “Most small business owners find it difficult to manage staff, delegate work, cope with increasing workloads and manage the cashflow of a growing business. The most effective way to help is to provide practical advice and strategies for long term planning and management.”

The program targets the owners and managers of independent properties and new entrants to the accommodation industry, with many Best Western property owners and their staff expected to take up places. Training on the latest systems in accommodation and food services management, along with profit focused financial management tools are features of the La Trobe University Best Western Certificate Program.

In launching the course, Professor Murphy told the Best Western Australia Convention delegates that further modules would be developed to assist transition to other La Trobe programs.

The first intake is expected in February 2003.

Best Western Australia offers quality accommodation at affordable prices with 240 hotels, motels, resorts and apartments throughout Australia and is an affiliate of Best Western International, THE WORLD`S LARGEST HOTEL CHAIN® with more than 4,000 properties in over 80 countries.

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