La Quinta, Calif. — KSL Resorts has initiated a program to train its staffers in the nuances of pharmaceutical meetings."The pharmaceutical industry is one of the fastest growing in the meetings arena, but also probably the least understood," said Michael Aylmer, KSL's senior director of pharmaceutical sales. "So we have created a standard training program at KSL that teaches our teams to be fluent in the pharmaceutical industry."KSL's Pharmaceutical Expertise Program was launched in April at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix. The company also operates the Claremont Resort in Berkeley, Calif.; Emerald Pointe Resort at Lake Lanier Islands, near Atlanta; Grand Wailea Resort, on Maui; Hotel del Coronado, in San Diego; La Costa Resort, in Carlsbad, Calif.; and La Quinta Resort and PGA West, in La Quinta, Calif. KSL's new pharmaceutical meeting standards include the presence of dedicated conference service managers, sensitivity to confidentiality issues, secure storage facilities, and such amenities as complimentary paper shredders and box cutters available in onsite meeting offices. The two-day course also encompasses basic education about the pharmaceutical industry and industry lexicon, and meeting consolidation trends. KSL staffers participating in the program include those working in sales and marketing, catering and conference services and group reservations.