CHART and Maritz Partner and Release Report Benchmarking Employee Training Investments and Practices in the Hospitality Industry

Hospitality companies can now compare training budgets, training department
structure, time allocated by training content and positions, dollars spent on
external resources, and training delivery methods, among other benchmarks.

CHICAGO--(Business Wire)--
The Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers (CHART), in partnership with Maritz
Research, announced today the release of the 2009 State of Training and
Development in the Hospitality Industry Report. This first-of-its-kind report
reflects answers collected from 140 CHART hotel and restaurant trainer members
in an online study. The free report is available in an easy-to-read and share
PowerPoint format at www.chart.org, or those attending the NRA Show can visit
CHART`s booth #955 in the Power of Partnership Pavilion for more information.

"For the first time, learning professionals and business leaders in the
hospitality industry can compare their training and development practices
against substantive data in the areas of learning investments, learning hours
per employee type, delivery methods, instructional design, content areas, and
use of internal versus external resources," said Tara Davey, CHART`s Executive
Director.

The CHART survey showed participants` companies spending, on average, a total of
$2 million annually on training, including salaries, benefits, travel and
in-house development of training materials. The results mirror the economic
state of the industry, with 53% of respondents reporting a decrease in their
training budgets over the past 18 months.

Within industry segments casual dining reported the biggest hit to their
training budgets, as 64% said their budgets had been cut. Other hard hit
segments were upscale restaurants and hotels. However, quick service/fast casual
restaurants fared better as people have traded down from pricier restaurants.
Only 26% reported that their training budgets had been cut, while 39% reported
an increase. Likewise, the quick service/fast casual segment spent more, with
participants` companies reporting, on average, a total of $3.1 million annually
on training.

CHART member John Kelley, Senior Director of Training and Development for White
Castle Systems, Inc., which owns more than 400 White Castle restaurants, reports
an increase in their training budget. "We are seeing a shifting of resources as
our leadership knows that it is all about the customer experience," Kelley said.

"In this economy and brutally competitive environment, training needs to be
focused on creating that unique customer service experience that will set the
organization apart and make people feel like returning," stated Rick Garlick,
Senior Director of Strategic Consulting for Maritz. "Savvy operators realize the
connection between engaged employees, delighted guests and operational
performance. This report can help focus training and incentives on customer
service for maximizing profits."

CHART, www.chart.org, is a non-profit professional association founded in 1970.
As the leading resource for the development and advancement of hospitality
training professionals and their organizations, CHART has more than 600 members
from more than 400 multi-unit restaurant and hotel companies. Members include
all facets of hospitality training, learning and performance professionals; from
entry level to senior executive. The organization`s mission is to develop
hospitality training professionals to advance industry training practices and
improve operational results by providing access to education, tools and
resources.

CHART
Tara Davey
Executive Director
800.463.5918
chart@chart.org
or
CHART
Lisa L. Marovec, FMP
Sr. Director of Marketing
312.405.2634
lmarovec@ameritech.net

Copyright Business Wire 2009