Hospitality Services Offers Samples of the Field

“What it does is it allows students from different circumstances to take a college certificate that allows them to sample the world of hospitality,” says Andrew a professor of the Hospitality Services program at Centennial College, which takes just one year to complete. “When a student enters the program, the majority of them have not had much experience in the industry. And we deal with a gamut of students, some with special needs, who we try to position in an area of hospitality that would allow them to get employment. We find that the best way to do this is by doing three days in-class and all intro courses from hotel, restaurants and tourism and then Thursday and Friday, they do placements. When they’re on placement, they get a chance to get a feel for the industry they believe they are interested in and if they enjoy it, they’ll stay on for the next semester and then [hopefully] go on to work for the company. The beauty of this program is it’s a small group of students that travel through the program together so it becomes like a family.”

While Andrew does a great job of really explaining what this Hospitality Management in Canada program is all about, let’s take a look at some of the finer details that make it respected in the industry.

• Training in this program’s hospitality courses prepares students for a range of positions such as: room attendant, front desk clerk, food service, cook or maintenance worker.

• As a hospitality college program geared towards a wide range of students, Hospitality Services fosters an inclusive and collaborative environment in which students are encouraged to learn from one another and team up on assignments and projects.

• The facility from which the Hospitality Services program is facilitated is called Progress Campus. This location houses all of Centennial College’s hospitality college programs and, therefore, offers students access to numerous facilities that will enhance their learning.

• Among the facilities found on-campus that Hospitality Services students benefit from are a real-life restaurant, a conference centre that is run by students as well as a computerized training facility.

• Knowledgeable faculty members, who possess current experience, are at the helm of all hospitality courses. They not only offer up-to-date information but also share personal anecdotes.

• Among the specific topics covered within this offering’s hospitality courses are visitor information services, room attendant, front of the house agent, beverage services, safety and sanitation, kitchen and dining room operations and more.

• In addition to hospitality management and hospitality services courses, students learn job-seeking techniques, job interview and resume skills via courses such as Life Skills & Job Readiness and Communication Skills for Hospitality Services Workers.

• Practical application of skills learned in Hospitality Services is achieved through placements at various companies that include: Swiss Chalet, Chartwells, Kelsey’s, Shoeless Joe’s, Boston Pizza, Moxie’s and Travel Lodge.

• Aside from earning an Ontario College Certificate, students of Hospitality Services also have the opportunity to take certification exams in Sanitation and Beverage Services.

• Should students be interested in further education, they can transfer to one of Centennial College’s more specialized hospitality management programs.

• Hospitality Services requires students to have completed an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or have mature student status (19 years or older).