It was set up in 1953 as the educational arm of American Hotel & Lodging Association. Its mission is to be the premium source for quality hospitality education, training and professional certification serving the needs and advancing the excellence of hospitality schools and industries worldwide.

It has 110 training affiliates in 60 countries and has an office in India. Set up in 1995, the Indian office, under the very able stewardship of Mr. K V Simon, is very active and provides educational materials to a large number of hotel management institutes, premium hotels and hotel chains in the country.