• 2012-03-27

University "Barleti" (UB) is the only Albanian university to become a Global Academic Partner of American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI). Established in 1953 as a nonprofit educational foundation of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the Educational Institute’s mission is to support AH&LA by becoming the preferred provider to the lodging industry, hospitality schools, and related hospitality industries both domestically and internationally by developing and providing quality resources to train, educate, and certify hospitality professionals. AHLEI is actually present in more than 60 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, Middle East and Latin America.

The cooperation agreement was signed on March 9th, 2012 in Berlin, Germany during the International Tourism Fair (http://www.itb-berlin.de/en). On behalf of UB the agreement was signed by Dr. Gazmend Zeneli, Director of Barleti Institute for Research and Development (BIRD), while AHLEI was represented by Mr. Robert L. Steele, President and COO of AHLEI. The signing ceremony was attended also by Mr. Joseph A. Mclnerney, President and CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, Mr. John S. Lohr, AHLEI representative for Europe and Mr. Enver Mehmeti, President of the Albanian Tourism Association (ATA).

University "Barleti" becomes part of the global network of over 2500 institutions offering AHLEI courses. The network includes, amongst other, the Cornell University (USA), Johnson & Michigan State University (USA), Purdue University (USA), University of Delaware (USA), University of Nevada Las Vegas (USA), Business College of Athens (Greece), Indira Gandhi National Open University (India), William Blue College of Hospitality (Australia), Swiss Hotel Management School (Switzerland), and many recognized universities in tourism and hospitality operations management.

Under this agreement, the university has received a license from the AHLEI granting the right to use AHLEI name, logos, and trademarks in all school promotional and marketing materials. The university offers AHLEI academic products, teach its courses, issue internationally recognized certificates and offer AHLEI diplomas to UB students, in additions to UB ones.