Ms. DeFranco

Agnes L. DeFranco

President

Conrad University Diversity Institute

Agnes L. DeFranco began her teaching career in 1988, specializing in hospitality accounting, finance, and purchasing courses. She received her Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management, Master in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance, and Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration from the University of Houston.

Her interests in teaching excellence and improvements are evident in her early research work. These interests won her a teaching excellence award at the Conrad N. Hilton College in 1995, the Enron Teaching Excellence Award for the University of Houston in 1996, and the Outstanding Faculty Award granting by the Houston Alumni Association in 1999. She is also a Certified Hospitality Accountant Executive and a Certified Hospitality Educator Cadre member, working and consulting with the Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Lodging Association to foster the importance of teaching excellence.

In 1997, she was also recognized with the Dean's Award for Excellence in Applied Research, and the Best paper Award at the 1997 Annual International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (CHRIE) Annual Convention and Exposition. She has also been a recipient of the University of Houston Dean of Students EXCEL Outstanding Mentor Award, the Conrad N. Hilton College Alumni Association's Distinguished Young Alumna Award, and the H.J. Heinz Graduate Fellowship granted by the Educational Foundation of the National Restaurant Association, among others.

Dr. DeFranco is active in a number of local, state, and national organizations. She currently serves as a Director on the board of the Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals, and board members at various advisory boards of community colleges, school districts, and local and state lodging associations. She is also active with the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education in their Finance Committee and Future Funds Committee and the American Hotel & Lodging Association at the national level serving on the Certification Commission of the Educational Institute and the Human Resources and Diversity Council. Her research areas are hospitality finance, cost control, accounting, and cultural and diversity issues.

Ms. DeFranco can be contacted at adefranco@uh.edu

Coming Up In The June Online Hotel Business Review

"Hotel Business Review offers weekly articles for hotel management and operation and discussion on emerging growth markets."
Feature Focus
Hotel Sustainable Development: Principles and Best Practices
Sustainability is now a daily topic that affects every facet of hotel development and operations. As hotelier Hervé Houdré recently noted "The goal of Sustainable Development is clearly to secure economic development, social equity, and environmental protection. As much as they could work in harmony, these goals sometimes work against each other". In the June Hotel Business Review, some of the industry's most recognized sustainable development experts come together to identify emerging trends and discuss how sustainability is currently affecting the hotel industry. Each author presents the most important aspects of sustainable development of much interest to hotel owners, operators, investors and developers. We include perspectives and case studies on best practices from leading hotel groups and other industry players.
INSIGHTS FOR INDUSTRY LEADERS BY INDUSTRY LEADERS
"300,000 Rooms Complete, 15,700,000 to Go"
By Larry Mogelonsky, President and Founder, LMA Communications
"Destination Earth: A Customized Approach to Sustainability"
By Mark Hickey, Senior Vice President of U.S. Hotel Operations, Destination Hotels
"Why This New Standard is Going to change Hotel Energy Management Forever?"
By Robert Allender, Managing Director, Energy Resources Management
"How Two Major Hotel Companies are Turning Sustainability into Tangible Business Advantage"
By Christopher Wood, Director of Social Responsibility, ASAE Convene Green Alliance
PLUS: Green Certification - Development & Investment Outlook - Case Studies - Green Design – Sustainable Development Strategies - Green Luxury - CSR Programs - Green Facility Management