La Quinta Recognized for Commitment to Employee Learning
NPVEMBER 17, 2009 - LQUniversity Wins ASTD “BEST Award” for a Second Consecutive Year, Ranks Top Among Hotel Companies - La Quinta Adds Another Award in a Year of Recognition for its Innovative Learning Programs
DALLAS (November 16, 2009) - La Quinta Inns & Suites, the fastest-growing mid-scale brand in the hotel industry, won an “ASTD BEST” award from the American Society for Training and Organization, ranking higher than any other hotel company and placing 12th overall among 39 winning organizations from Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United States. The ASTD Best Awards recognize organizations that demonstrate enterprise-wide success through employee learning and development.
According to Tony Bingham, ASTD's president and CEO, “The ASTD BEST Award winners set the standard of excellence for exceptional learning practices, and demonstrate that a skilled workforce is vital to achieving results. They use learning as a strategic tool and have the support of senior leaders who champion a learning culture.”
Christina Cernuch, La Quinta's Vice President of Operations Services, said, “LQUniversity, our key learning and training program, takes a decidedly process-oriented, operational approach for all training, communications and projects - and the results of the program have been excellent.” She concluded, “We are pleased and grateful that LQUniversity has been recognized with this award.”
This is the second consecutive year that La Quinta has been recognized with an ASTD BEST Award, placing highest among all hotel companies. Earlier this year, La Quinta's mentoring program was recognized as among the most innovative in the industry by a leading hotel trade journal magazine.