UE Alumnus Gives Valuable Workshop
for HRM Faculty Members and Guests

Prof. Michael Lao receives a certificate of appreciation from UE through CAS Manila Associate Dean Lota T. Billones at the end of his seminar-workshop at the Briefing Room on Feb. 12, 2010.

A UE alumnus recently returned to his Alma Mater after over three decades not just to pay a visit but to share his knowledge and pertinent tips and information concerning the hospital and restaurant management industry.

            A graduate of the UE College of Business Administration (CBA), major in Management, Prof. Michael C. Lao gave a seminar-workshop on February 12, 2010, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., at the Briefing Room in the Manila Campus, to College of Arts and Sciences-Manila and -Caloocan faculty members who teach Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management subjects. His UE audience also included select CBA faculty members.

Prof. Michael Lao is the Department Chair and Internship Coordinator of the Hospitality and Tourism Management Program at Glendale Community College in Glendale, California, USA. He has also been a guest lecturer and instructor at Collins School of Hospitality Management at the California Polytechnic University in Pomona, CA; the California State University at Long Beach and at Irvine; and the International Culinary School of the Art Institute of California—Orange County.

Prof. Michael Lao (front, center) poses with Century Park Hotel personnel manager Susan Dilio (2nd from left), UE’s (front, from far left) CAS Caloocan Dean Eleanor Javier, CBA Manila Dean Veronica Elizalde, CAS Manila Dean Justina Evangelista, and some of CAS Manila and CAS Caloocan’s other officers and HRM faculty members and some of CBA Manila’s faculty members—after Prof. Lao’s workshop at the Briefing Room on Feb. 12, 2010.

At his workshop in UE, Prof. Lao gave a two-in-one lecture covering “Current Trends in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry” and “The Art of Teaching: Learning Styles.” With the former topic, he tackled innovations, trends and other relevant information concerning cruise lines, airports, restaurants and hotels; with the latter topic, he elaborated on contrasting learning styles and related concerns that can influence the students’ best comprehension and understanding of their lessons to learn better.

            Born and raised in Manila, Prof. Lao later on immigrated to the US, settling in California. He attended the West Valley College in Saratoga, CA; he later on graduated with a Master’s Degree from the Cornell University School of Hotel and Restaurant Administration. Upon graduating from Cornell, Prof. Lao joined the Marriot Hotel Corporation’s Food and Beverage Management Training Program. He went on to hold executive positions with major hotel chains such as Holiday Inn, the Hilton Corporation, the Marriot Hotel Corporation, and Sheraton Hotels and Resorts.

Prof. Lao’s 12 years in the hotel industry include having been part of the restaurant management of Marriot International Inc. and a succession of Sheraton Hotels; part of the front office and housekeeping management of several Holiday Inns; the Assistant Controller and the Food and Beverage Controller of a succession of Hilton Hotels; the Food and Beverage Director of various Sheraton Hotels and Holiday Inns; and ultimately the Hotel General Manager of several Holiday Inns.
He likewise has 20 years of entrepreneurial and corporate restaurant experience—having been, among others, the Director of International and Domestic Franchise Operations of Tony Roma’s Restaurants, overseeing 52 domestic and worldwide restaurants totaling eleven franchise groups, and expanding worldwide international units in Asia, Central America and South America; Director of Operations of the multi-unit Jack in the Box restaurants; Franchise District Manager for KFC Corporation; and General Manager of various food and beverage outfits.

Prof. Lao is recognized for his expertise and unique ability to analyze independent or multi-unit operations and implementing corrective actions in resolving operational issues, planning concept growth and expansion and improving overall profitability. His client roster currently includes Porto’s Bakery & Café in Glendale & Burbank; the Ramada Resort of Palm Springs; the California Department of Education in Sacramento, CA; the Jewish Family Services of Los Angeles; the Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens in San Marino; the Max’s of Manila restaurant in Glendale; and Keno’s Restaurant in Anaheim Hills.

Prof. Lao offers comprehensive restaurant operation workshops at Glendale Community College’s Community Education location in Garfield campus all year round, with the sessions specifically tailored for independent restaurant owners or chain operators. He has also created leadership and customer service workshops to address soft-skills issues in the service industry.

Before going to UE, Prof. Lao conducted, on February 9 to 11, two workshops on leadership and guest services for employees of Century Park Hotel upon the invitation of Eton Properties. UE, Century Park Hotel and Eton Properties are members of the Lucio Tan Group of Companies. He conducted two other lecture-workshops at Century Park Hotel in September 2009.

Prof. Lao has said that “I would like to give back to my country and introduce them to current system of management styles and techniques. The world is getting smaller and the rest of the world has caught up. My aim is to make Asians, especially Filipinos, realize that they have great potential and are very much in demand in the industry worldwide.” Additionally, he has stated, “Dr. Dawn Lindsay, the interim president of Glendale Community College, is just as passionate in reaching out internationally, and encourages strong global collaboration, especially in Asia.”