eCornell Launches Online Certificate Program in Hotel Real Estate Investments and Asset Management with Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration

NEW YORK, March 19 /PRNewswire/ -- eCornell has partnered with Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration to create a six-course certificate series focused on developing a comprehensive knowledge base and tool set that enables participants to fully understand the multi-party dynamics surrounding hotel real estate and management contracts from the point of view of property owners, operators, and lenders.

The courses, authored by Jan A. deRoos, associate professor and HVS International Professor of Finance and Real Estate at the Cornell Hotel School, are adapted from his courses delivered in the school's Professional Development Program in Ithaca, Brussels, and Singapore. "Professor deRoos is widely recognized as one of the foremost authorities on hotel development in the industry," says Tom Kline, director of Executive Education at the school. "We are very pleased that he has made his popular executive courses available in an online format for eCornell. Cornell can now offer year-round, global access to this important knowledge."

The six courses focus on three main themes central to maximizing value for hotel property owners, operators, and lenders:

    -- The separation of real estate ownership and control as a vital way to
       increase value
    -- The valuation and financing of hotel real estate investments as a key
       competency for today's decision makers
    -- Asset management as a legitimate and respected tool for value creation
       and value improvement

This certificate provides a rigorous framework for participants to learn the practical aspects of ownership and management of hotel real estate including negotiating management contracts, revenue and cost forecasting, valuing hotel intellectual property, and the strategies and tactics necessary to achieve asset management objectives. "My eCornell courses provide students with a convenient way to learn this material," deRoos says. "Students have access to tools and concepts they can use immediately to increase value in the workplace."

Each course is designed to be both a part of the certificate program and a stand-alone learning experience. The courses in the series are: Financial Analysis of Hotel Investments, Control of Hotel Real Estate, Valuing Hotel Investments Through Effective Forecasting, Valuing Hotel Intellectual Property and Structuring the Capital Stack, Developing an Asset Management Strategy, and Achieving Hotel Asset Management Objectives.

Registrations are being accepted now for all courses. Instruction in this new certificate program begins in May 2008. All courses are delivered online using eCornell's Structured Flexibility delivery methodology. Each course requires about six hours of learning time over a two-week period and is facilitated by a subject matter expert instructor to ensure knowledge transfer and application back into the workplace.

For more information on the certificate program, visit http://www.ecornell.com/catalog/certificates/shac6.jsp.

About eCornell

eCornell, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cornell University, provides many of the world's leading organizations with online, asynchronous professional and executive development in the areas of strategy, leadership and management development, human resources, financial management and hospitality management. Its proven course development model and instructor-led course delivery provide for engaging, rigorous and interactive learning. The company has delivered over 70,000 courses to students in 180 countries. For more information, visit www.ecornell.com.

About the School of Hotel Administration

The Cornell University School of Hotel Administration is shaping the global knowledge base for hospitality management through leadership in education, research and industry advancement. The School provides management instruction in the full range of hospitality disciplines, educating the next generation of leaders in the world's largest industry. Founded in 1922 as the nation's first collegiate course of study in hospitality management, the Cornell Hotel School is recognized as the world leader in its field. For more information, visit www.hotelschool.cornell.edu.