Ed Kastli
Ed Kastli joined the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) in October 2009.
Established in 1953, AHLEI provides hospitality education, training, and professional certification programs to educators, students, and industry professionals worldwide. In 2017, AHLEI became part of the National Restaurant Association, bringing together two organizations committed to career development and upward mobility across the hospitality, restaurant, and foodservice industries.
As Channel Vice President, International, for the National Restaurant Association and AHLEI, Kastli leads the organization’s international team and global partner network, comprising regional managers, directors, affiliates, and licensees operating in more than 100 countries. In this role, he expands access to hospitality education, training, and certification programs for academic institutions, students, educators, and industry professionals worldwide.
Kastli is particularly passionate about sustainable capacity-building and workforce-development initiatives in developing countries and emerging tourism destinations. He has contributed to projects undertaken in cooperation with organizations such as UN Tourism, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), and the Organization of American States (OAS), with support from USAID, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and GIZ.
He holds an MBA in International Marketing Research from Montclair State University in New Jersey. He has also earned the Certified Master Hotelier Supplier (CMHS) designation from AHLEI and the Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) designation from the National Restaurant Association.
A dual Tunisian-American national, Kastli divides his time between Orlando, Florida, and Tunis, Tunisia. He is the father of two children, Alya and Elyas.
