Hospitality Management Restaurant and Catering Professionals Obtain Reputable Education at Centennial College

It's not enough that your post-secondary program sends you out into the field to work. What matters most is that the companies at which you are placed are well known and have respected reputations in the community. That's because interning with a reputable company immensely enhances one's resume.

Centennial College's Hospitality Management program offers students two field placements (one in the second semester and another in the fourth, and final, semester). The first of these placements has a kitchen manager focus and the second emphasizes restaurant and catering management. Both, however, provide two days per week of meaningful work experience in approved positions within the food and beverage industry, enabling students to relate classroom theory to the practical world. The field placements also enable students to better understand the dynamics of the industry, increase their knowledge of industry practices and provides a competitive advantage of experience in the job market.

The school's industry partner list reads like who's who of Greater Toronto and nationally known restaurants. It includes: Swiss Chalet, Kelsey's, Milestones, Red Lobster, Shoeless Joe's, The Keg, Jack Astor's, Canyon Creek, Alice Fazooli's and Milagro Cantina Mexicana.

In terms of the program's curriculum, it focuses on skills that are essential to this segment of the industry, including menu management in Toronto and design, kitchen management, beverage knowledge and bartending. Additionally, students are familiarized with business practices in accounting, purchasing, human resources, supervision and cost control.

These topics are presented in a proactive way, with students first gaining a theoretical background and then applying what they have learned during hands-on lessons. To ensure that even the on-campus practical application is realistic, students practice out of state-of-the-art facilities. The first is the Culinary Arts Centre, which boasts a brand new commercial kitchen with a range of tools and different types of ovens to allow students to monitor stations that feature the latest technology. Additional experience is provided through Centennial College's living lab - Horizons Restaurant. This eatery is open to students and the public and sees students gain practice both behind-the-scenes and in the front of the house, serving and dealing with customers.

Guiding students through all of their courses and experiences are instructors with years of professional experience. These instructors are able to share with students their personal advice, answer questions, assist with networking and much more. As 2010 graduate Bertrand Yeung explains, "The instructors imparted all the necessary knowledge and shared their experiences that are needed to be successful in the hospitality industry."

In addition to their Ontario College Diploma, students can gain certifications that include the Smart Serve program and the National Sanitation Training certificate.

Building a Career in Hospitality Management - Restaurant and Catering

The hospitality management program in restaurant and catering offers students the knowledge, skills and hands-on training needed for managing a commercial kitchen, operating kitchen equipment, maintaining safety, sanitation and hygiene while cooking and serving food, purchasing for commercial kitchen, managing inventory, planning and designing menu, controlling food and labour costs, managing dining room and providing customer service.

This is an all-inclusive course that explores:

• How to utilize menu as a sales tool
• What makes a good menu
• How to control labour and food cost during quantity production
• How to maintain relationships between customers and the catering company
• How to control operating budget
• How to communicate with fellow employees and subordinates
• The role of kitchen manager in a restaurant or catering organization
• Food preparation methods and service techniques in quantity and quality food production
• The relationship between back-of-the-house and front-of-the-house activities

As a student of catering and menu management program, you will have the opportunity to study theory of food, preparation methods for quality and quantity food production, evaluate and design menus, hospitality industry issues and marketing strategies. This course also teaches you supervision skills relating to kitchen management and human resources. In addition, you develop communication skills that are required to interact with personnel when the stress level is high.

Apart from this, the restaurant and catering management program also examines the role of a kitchen manager in the areas of planning, budgeting, accounting, production, labour management, distribution and profit. It's a comprehensive program that covers all aspects of a restaurant and catering business.

Studying Restaurant and Catering Management in Canada

As the hospitality industry is booming, there is a significant increase in the employment opportunities in the areas of accommodation, travel, food and beverage and catering. And due to this, a large number of educational institutes have started offering courses in hospitality management.

Unfortunately, not all are worth considering. Most among them are either not affiliated or don't maintain program quality standards. This is why it is important to make a thorough research before applying to such a program.

You may want to consider Centennial College's hospitality management – restaurant and catering program. It is accredited by UNWTO TedQual; and therefore, the program curriculum reflects high standards of learning. Moreover, it offers you several hands-on opportunities. The college houses an on-campus student training restaurant and lab practice facilities where you can actually put your learning into practice. In addition, you also gain real world experience by working with some of Canada's largest restaurant companies through the college's two-day-a-week placement.

Apart from this, you also receive two certifications - the Smart Serve and the National Sanitation Training. The USP of this program is that you will be career-ready even before you're a graduate. This program also offers excellent employment prospects. Upon completion of the program, you can either choose to pursue your career or study further. You may be eligible to apply for higher studies with selected universities, institutions and professional associations.

Restaurant and Catering Management - Education and Skills Requirements

Lots of lucrative, exciting and interesting job opportunities are available for hospitality management – restaurant and catering graduates, in the fields of restaurant management, food service operations, beverage knowledge, catering and bartending, quantity food production, menu management, kitchen management and general management.

Canadian hospitality industry is rapidly growing and has led to the emergence or many professions in the field. For this reason, more and more students are beginning to take up courses in hospitality to enter into the industry. In a general sense, working in restaurant or catering sector may see simple. But considering the emergence of several new restaurants, hotels, eating joints and resorts, it is important to know that entering in the industry and keeping up with the customer expectations can be really challenging.

People who work in this sector of hospitality industry are responsible for making sure that customers are satisfied with the service they receive, experience they get and the quality of food they are served. The professionals are not only responsible to maintain industry and quality standards but are also expected to provide enhanced experience to the customers each time they visit. To work effectively in this field, you will usually need a formal education and relevant work experience.

Hospitality Management Programs in Toronto

There are dozens of hospitality courses that teach you about customer service or hospitality industry as a whole. But it’s important to choose a course in restaurant and catering management that gives your specialized knowledge if you are considering a career in this field. Centennial College Toronto also offers a two-year post-secondary catering and restaurant management diploma program that prepares you for a satisfying career in restaurant operations management.

The hospitality management program teaches skills that are essential to human resources management, sanitation, safety and hygiene, commercial food production, menu design and management, cuisine and culture, dining room management and cost control. It also includes two industry field placements – first in second semester as a kitchen manager and second in fourth semester as restaurant and catering manager, to give students hands-on experience.

The program also includes an ongoing hands-on training in an on-campus student training restaurant and a National Sanitation Training Certificate and Smart Serve Program Certificate. In addition, the program graduates are allowed to either pursue their careers or apply their academic credit towards further study at the associated universities, colleges or institutions.

Work Life

As a catering or restaurant manager, you will spend more time behind the scenes in:

• Recruiting staff
• Keeping staff motivated to perform better
• Purchasing for commercial kitchen
• Managing inventories
• Controlling costs of food, beverage and labour
• Organizing shifts of workersv
  
• Planning menus depending on customer demands and preferences
• Adhering to industry and quality standards
• Maintaining safety and hygiene standards

You may also have to deal with the customers as well, but that would be on rare occasions.

Enrolment Guide

As this is a post-secondary diploma program, you will need following documents, in order to apply for this program:

• Secondary school diploma certificate or equivalent
• English Grade 12 C or University, or equivalent or take the college English Skills Assessment for Admission

Hospitality Management - Restaurant and Catering Programs in Canada

Restaurant and catering is one of the many career options that hospitality industry offers. But the growth and potential of this specific sector shouldn't be underestimated. This sector is anticipated to employ 1.95 million people by 2015, as per the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council (CTHRC).

Those engaged in restaurant and catering management are expected to oversee restaurant operations, kitchen coordination, food preparation, bartending, menu management and safety, hygiene and sanitation while ensuring impeccable customer service.

Individuals interested in building a career in food and beverages sector need to study hospitality management in restaurant and catering after completing their secondary education. There are a number of hospitality management programs available in Canada. Unfortunately, not all are accredited. Most programs do not offer hands-on experience in real world settings, which is an essential requirement for seeking employment after course completion.

Centennial College's two-year restaurant and catering diploma program is not only accredited by UNWTO TedQual but also incorporates two-days-a-week placement at a hotel or restaurant. This gives students the practical experience to complement the theory learned in the class.

What Will Students Learn?

Restaurant and catering management is more about handling back-end operations. The students study a wide range of hospitality courses. The program content includes:

• Basic: Practical Math for Hospitality, Hospitality Accounting
• Food Production: Theory of Food, Quantity Food Production, Food Production – Practical Supervision, Cuisines of Diverse Cultures, Menu Management and Design
• Restaurant Operations: Human Resources Planning, Sanitation, Safety and Hygiene, Purchasing for Commercial Kitchen, Dining Room Management, Hospitality Managerial Accounting, Principles of Food, Beverage and Labour Cost Controls, Supervisory Practices for Kitchen Manager, Marketing Strategies
• Other: Customer Service, Hospitality Industry Issues

Students learn about all aspects of a restaurant and catering business, including food production, accounting, human resources, operations, marketing, purchasing, cost control and supervising. They also earn certifications in the Smart Serve and the National Sanitation Training.

Hands-on Experience

The college has an on-campus student training restaurant and lab practice facilities. Apart from this, they will also gain hands-on experience with some of the Canada's largest restaurant companies through two-days-a-week industry field placement component. This gives students opportunities to develop relevant networks. Many of the students are hired by the program's business partners during or after course completion.

The program graduates can pursue their careers and seek employment with restaurants, hotels, catering companies, resorts, cruise lines and other similar establishments. They can also apply their credit rewards earned during this program towards further studies and apply for advanced programs in hospitality management – restaurant and catering with associated universities, institutes and professional associations.

Who are eligible for this program?

Students who have completed their secondary education can apply for this program. They will need to submit an application form along with a copy of secondary school diploma certificate and a proof of English proficiency (scores of English Grade 12 C or University of equivalent). Students currently in high school can also apply for this program. Their midterm and final term scores will be automatically transmitted to the college.

Career Outlook for a Hospitality Management - Restaurant and Catering Program

Restaurant and catering professionals are responsible for overseeing the daily operations of a catering company, restaurant or a foodservice organization. Their job duties involve preparing and tasting food, ensuring kitchen coordination, supervising supplies and resources, menu management, dining room management and ensuring safety, hygiene and sanitation while cooking and serving food. The professionals are also committed to customer service.

They are also expected to possess strong business acumen as their job duties might also include controlling labour costs, estimating the costs of ingredients for catering assignments, purchasing for commercial kitchen and processing food delivery orders. However, exact roles and responsibilities depend on the type of employment, job title and individual experience.

Career Outlook

Hospitality management - restaurant and catering industry is huge. The Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council (CTHRC) anticipates that the food and beverage services sector will employ over 1.95 million people by 2015. The council also reported that 68 percent of the employees in this sector are young Canadians.

Given these enormous numbers, the job opportunities for graduates in hospitality are anticipated to increase in the coming years. However, entry to the industry can be really tough for those individuals who haven't undergone formal education or don't possess hands-on-experience in restaurant management and catering.

Employers are keen on hiring people who possess in-depth knowledge about food and beverage industry and its operations and hold formal foodservice and menu management training. A diploma in hospitality management - restaurant and catering can be the right choice for those who wish to build a career in this field.

Job Opportunities

Restaurant and catering professionals can find employment with hotels, restaurants, airlines, clubs and bars, resorts, cruises, hospitals, event management companies and other foodservice companies. They can work as restaurant coordinators, kitchen managers, catering coordinators or managers, purchase officers and menu planners. They can be employed in the areas of

• Menu development and pricing
• Human resource management
• Nutrition management
• Catering laws
• Catering and event management
• Food delivery
• Restaurant service management
• Hospitality managerial accounting
• Quantity food production
• Beverage and bartending

Becoming a Restaurant and Catering Professional

Catering and restaurant management is a hands-on-occupation that requires practical experience. But the individuals in this field are also required to possess a strong foundation in food theory, cuisines of diverse cultures, beverage knowledge and culinary business.

Centennial College's two year post-secondary hospitality management program prepares you for entry level jobs in restaurant operations management. The program combines theory and placement in a restaurant or a hotel to help you gain a thorough understanding and skills essential to various segments of the industry, such as menu planning and design, beverage knowledge, kitchen management and bartending. It also covers business aspects of the industry by covering subjects including purchasing, accounting, cost control and human resources supervision.

Enrolling in a Hospitality Management - Restaurant and Catering Program

Students interesting in apply for this program will need:

• Secondary school certificate or equivalent
• English Grade 12 C or University or equivalent

After the completion of the program, students can choose to either pursue a career in restaurant and catering or apply academic credits earned towards further study.

Classroom Knowledge and Practical Experience Go Hand In Hand in Hospitality Management Program

One of the main attractions of a big event is the food. Come fresh and come on time, food quality and timely delivery of the food service is crucial to catering. To learn more about the management of restaurant and catering services, a solid training from a hospitality management program is required. This can be found at Centennial College with its Hospitality Management – Restaurant and Catering Program.

Located at the main campus, Progress Campus, Centennial teaches its hospitality students of the basic foundations, leading to a more specialized curriculum with practical experience in its modern kitchens and realistic restaurant settings. Plenty of unique experiences await students who enroll in this postsecondary institution and this program. Let’s take a look at some of these benefits:

• The college is well-known for its hands-on experience training in which it incorporates to this program through its lab facilities, where students practice their hospitality management skills.
• Centennial owns a restaurant, called Horizons, where Restaurant and Catering students can apply their classroom knowledge and work with real clients in the restaurant industry.
• External organizations partnered with the college to provide field placements for students, so they can gain further hands-on experience and on-the-job training skills in their industry.
• Students also get the chance to network with industry professionals during their placements, as well as other school-hosted events, where many are hired upon graduation.
• This program includes lessons to certify students with the following: Smart Serve and the National Sanitation Training certificate.
• This program is accredited by UNWTO TedQual, an organization which ensures quality hospitality and tourism programs at educational institutions.
• Students are well-rounded, learning about various departments in restaurants, as well as different management teams, such as Human Resources, Accounting, and Marketing.

There is plenty of applied learning at the college and off campus that Centennial provides. However, its academic training in the classrooms are just as relevant to employers as it teaches valuable skills sought-out in the industry. Students can think critically and communicate effectively, by analyzing case studies and practicing through assignments and group projects. They are engaged in menu management program as they discover cuisines in different cultures and implement them on a small and large-scale food production. Furthermore, business skills are important in management, so students are taught the foundations of different business functions, so they can understand the operations of a restaurant and catering services.

Upon entering the job market, many employers in the hospitality industry seek college education from their workers, as well as relevant experience. Centennial College provides both in the Hospitality Management – Restaurant and Catering program, through interactive classes, lab practices, and field placements. After two years in this hospitality program, students can kick start their careers as skilled kitchen managers.

Hospitality Management - Restaurant and Catering Job Duties and Educational Requirements

A career in hospitality management - restaurant and catering may be for you if you like to get into restaurant operations, food management, customer service kitchen coordination and catering assignments.

It might sound an easy stuff, but the reality is that it's an extremely challenging job. You not only need to have excellent planning and organizing skills, but you're also expected to possess strong communication and interpersonal, negotiation, and critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Besides, you should be capable of assuming leadership roles in dynamic and multi-cultural environment. The job requirements are as diverse as the job options available in the field of hospitality. The exact job role may vary widely depending upon the employment, job title, and individual qualifications and experience. However, these are basic qualities that every potential hospitality management professional needs to possess.

Job Description of Restaurant and Catering Professionals

Restaurant and catering businesses depend on meticulous menu planning, innovation in cuisines, food and beverage knowledge, quality of food and customer service to a great extent. The professionals ensure this by

• Planning menu in tandem with the specific tastes and preferences of the customers or clients
• Ensuring that cultural and religious sentiments of the customers are not hurt
• Not compromising on the quality of food even during quantity production
• Strictly adhering to local, national or international quality standards, depending upon the scope of the business unit
• Applying strategic marketing techniques to promote the offerings
• Ensuring highest standards of customer service

The restaurant and catering professionals

• Plan and manage menu
• Communicate with suppliers and clients
• Estimate what and how much supplies are needed
• Purchase for commercial kitchen
• Oversee food production
• Ensure sanitation, hygiene and safety in kitchen
• Manage cooking and catering staff
• Resolve conflicts among kitchen staff
• Manage food delivery and order supplies
• Adhere to catering laws
• Prepare and manage accounts
• Control labour costs

The career prospects in kitchen management, restaurant operations management and catering are bright. The food and beverage services sector is anticipated to employ 1.95 million people by 2015, according to report by the Canadian Tourism Human Resource (CTHR). It means this sector offers diverse career opportunities to young hospitality professionals.

Despite increasing job opportunities, the entry to the industry is really tough. Individuals without any formal qualification and hands-on-experience may take really long to make a decent living. On the other hand, those who have undergone a formal training in this field may build an extremely rewarding career.

Hospitality Management Program

A college diploma in hospitality management may be a ticket to your entry in restaurant operations management catering. The program prepares you for a challenging career in culturally diverse hospitality industry.

Centennial College's two-year, post-secondary hospitality management program is designed to help students learn skills essential to menu management program at Centennial College and design, kitchen management, beverage knowledge and bartending, and sanitation, hygiene and safety. It combines classroom learning and a two-day-per-week field placement.

Admission Requirements

To apply for this program, you will need:

• Secondary school diploma or equivalent
• English Grade 12 C or University or equivalent

Upon course completion, students can either pursue their careers or opt for further education.

Make a Great Career in service sector with Holistic Menu Management

Canada is a service-oriented nation. Service is the core of the hospitality industry and menu management is a huge part of its success. Here are the reasons why you should consider a career in hospitality, specifically in the foodservices industry:

• Canada's service-oriented culture and the growth of the foodservice sector is contributing to the job creations and high employment levels in this area.
• High turnover rates provide further job openings. However, the unemployment rate in the food service industry is quite low.
• According to the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association, the $60-billion foodservice industry is one of the largest employers in Canada.
• Education is getting more prominence in hospitality professionals but experience is still very important. College and vocational graduates fair strongly against other job applicants.
• Career development is foreseeable in all levels with opportunities to transition to similar positions or higher skill-levels, in consideration with an individual's experience and skills

A Toronto community college offers a program targeted specifically for the needs of this job sector. The Hospitality Management – Restaurant and Catering (1808) program at Centennial College blends food theory, business practices, and management principles into one curriculum with academic training and a field placement on the final semester. The college's teamwork environment and excellent professors have contributed to the soft skills and transferable skills that students will apply as industry professionals. The unique learning at Centennial College consists of the valuable learning experiences and program benefits:

• Up-to-date industry standards and ethical business practices in the hospitality industry
• Program accredited by UNWTO TedQual, which enables graduates to be eligible to apply for industry certification after the completion of the two-year program
• Restaurant and catering training in Centennial's lab facilities, residence, meeting rooms and banquet space called the Culinary Art Centre, and its student-run restaurant called Horizons.
• 240 hours of field placement in a hospitality setting in the food and beverage industry
• Helps in managing the lunch service, and the occasional an all-you-can-eat buffet, at the Horizons Restaurant
• Experience in managing the college restaurant's special three-course meal, Table d'hote menu, with a selection of items for the appetizer, main course, and dessert
• Further study with the following partner universities: Vancouver Island University, Athabasca University, Royal Roads University, University of New Brunswick, and the International Hotel Management Institute (Switzerland)

Graduates of this Hospitality Management program can expect to complete human resource management responsibilities such as the hiring process, job skills training, performance evaluations, and scheduling. They will have learned valuable design techniques as a restaurant manager and the business skills of a leader in such establishment. The program offered by Centennial College can be completed within four semesters at the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culture, starting in the fall semester. Students of any discipline are welcome to try this exciting management program for the restaurant and catering business.

Building a Career in Restaurant and Catering Industry

Does the idea of clock-in and clock-out seem monotonous to you? Are you looking to build a career that offers variety? Do you want to associate with an industry where you can have the opportunity to work in diverse areas and still be employed in the same industry?

Does the idea of menu management in Toronto, food management or customer service excite you? If answer to all these questions is yes, probably hospitality industry is the right place for you. It offers you variety and breaks the monotony of nine-to-five jobs. It allows you to explore different areas of the same industry.

Hospitality industry is as demanding as glamorous it sounds. A career in hospitality can be satisfying as well as challenging. It generally involves long hours and shift work. If you are strong in fundamentals and are capable of assuming leadership roles in multi-cultural and dynamic job market, you can have an extremely rewarding career.

About a Hospitality Management Program

A hospitality management program prepares you for rapidly changing and culturally diverse restaurant and catering industry. Professors having in-depth knowledge and strong industry experience impart their knowledge and technical insights to students. The approach to education relies on rigorous classroom activities for three days and actual placement at a restaurant or a hotel for two days a week. It course allows you to put your learning into practice and gives opportunity to work on real-time assignments.

The primary focus of the program is to provide students an environment where they can understand and learn business, management and customer service skills and ethical values necessary to build a rewarding career in this industry. The course covers various aspects of restaurant operations management, such as accounting, purchasing, human resources, supervision, safety and hygiene and cost control.

Enrolling in a Hospitality Management Course in Canada

Hospitality management is a two years (four semesters) post-secondary diploma course. To apply for this course, all you need is a Secondary School Diploma or equivalent, or mature student status certificate and English Grade 12 C or University, or equivalent. However if you’re unable to meet this requirement, take the English skills assessment of the college you’re seeking admission.

What Will You Study?

Students enrolling in this course will learn skills in marketing, supervision, financial management, catering, hospitality, labour cost, kitchen management and many more. The program emphasizes on helping them gain knowledge, understanding and skills in customer service, quantity food production, hospitality accounting, sanitation, safety and hygiene, food, beverage and labour cost control, kitchen management, purchasing for commercial kitchen, menu management and design, beverage knowledge and bartending, dining room management and marketing strategies.

A number of colleges in Canada offer hospitality management course in restaurant and catering. Along with theoretical knowledge, you will also gain practical experience with some of the Canada’s largest restaurant companies. The program’s business and corporate partners also hire students during or after the periods of work experience.

Those interested in higher studies can also apply for higher studies with selected institutes, universities and professional associations, after completion of the course.

Hospitality Management Program With a Focus on Dining

A program is only as good as its instructors so when Bertrand Yeung, a graduate of the Restaurant and Catering hospitality management program at Centennial College, says, “The instructors imparted all the necessary knowledge and shared their experiences that are needed to be successful in the hospitality industry”, it truly demonstrates the importance of the offering. Only employing professionals who have a great amount of experience to lead this two-year hospitality management program is just one of the aspects that makes it stand apart from similar offerings. Here are some other notable features.

No Experience Needed: All you need in order to apply for this hospitality management program is an interest in the food and beverage services sector (which The Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council anticipates will grow to employ 1.95-million people by 2015), at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older); and have completed the English Grade 12 C or U or equivalent, or skills assessment. This makes the hospitality management program accessible.

Professional Facilities: Centennial College’s four campuses are split into locations that house various Schools of Study. This hospitality management program is conducted from Progress Campus, which has extensive hospitality facilities that enhance students’ learning. As such when students learn kitchen management, menu management and design, beverage knowledge and bartending, they are taught through a combination of theory and practical training in kitchens as well as a live restaurant called Horizons.

Field Placement: After attending courses like Customer Service: A Modern Approach, Human Resources & Career Planning, Introduction to Hospitality Accounting, Theory of Food, Quantity Food Productions and more, students of hospitality management are ready for the first of two field placements. This 15-week, 240-hour course sees students work in the food and beverage industry, where they relate classroom theory to the practical world. Then, after attending further courses such as Cuisines of Diverse Cultures, Principles of Hospitality Management, Hospitality Industry Issues and Marketing Strategies, students head out again. The second Hospitality Management program field placement allows students to apply everything they have learned. Swiss Chalet, Kelsey’s, The Keg, Canyon Creek, Jack Astor’s and more among the offering’s industry partners.

Educational Partners: Once students complete their studies in the  Hospitality Management program, they may enter restaurant operations management positions. However, should they want to continue their studies past an Ontario College Diploma, Centennial College makes it easy for them. Qualified graduates, who are eligible, may partake in an articulated program with selected universities, institutes and professional associations. These partnerships allow students to apply academic credit towards further study. Among this hospitality management program’s partners are Athabasca University, International Hotel Management Institute (Switzerland), Vancouver Island University and University of New Brunswick.

In this piece, Emma not only includes a testimonial from a graduate but also breaks down essential facets of the Hospitality Management program and menu management at Centennial College.

Hospitality Management Program Trains Students for Expanding Field

With the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council anticipating growth in the food and beverage services sector to employ 1.95-million people by 2015 and 68 per cent of employees within this sector to be young Canadians, it becomes clear that now is a great time to attend a post-secondary Hospitality Management program.

The undertaking offered at Centennial College and officially known as Hospitality Management – Restaurant and Catering prepares students, in two years, for a challenging and satisfying career in restaurant operations management. Applicants to this Hospitality Management program must possess at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or have mature student status (19 years or older). In addition, they must have finished the English Grade 12 C or U or equivalent, or skills assessment.

The industry preparation in the Hospitality Management program begins with learning essentials such as menu management and design, kitchen management, beverage knowledge, bartending, quantity food preparation, theory of food, supervisory practices for the kitchen manager, cuisines of diverse cultures, marketing strategies and more. This is achieved through lectures and labs at Centennial College’s Progress Campus, which houses facilities such as a hospitality management centre and an operating restaurant called Horizons.

The hands-on practice prepares Hospitality Management program students for two field placements that serve to offer real-world experience prior to graduation. The first of these on-the-job experiences enables learners to better understand the dynamics of the kitchen manager position, increase their knowledge of industry practices and provides a competitive advantage of experience in the job market. Meanwhile, the second Hospitality Management field placement offers students a continued learning experience, this time in the restaurant and catering manager positions. Among the Hospitality Management program’s industry partners are: Canyon Creek, Red Lobster, Milagro Cantina, Jack Astor’s, The Keg, Kelsey’s, Swiss Chalet and more.

The Hospitality Management program results in an Ontario College Diploma and Smart Serve program and the National Sanitation Training certificates. With these accreditations, Hospitality Management program grads may be responsible for tasks such as analyzing and planning restaurant sales levels and profitability; setting budgets and/or agreeing on them with senior management; menu management; managing staff and providing them with feedback; organizing and supervising the shifts of kitchen, waiting and cleaning staff; checking stock levels and ordering supplies; and more.

If, however, these grads should want to further their education, they may do so via the Hospitality Management program’s partnerships, which allow them to apply academic credit towards further study. These Hospitality Management program partnerships include: Athabasca University, International Hotel Management Institute (Switzerland), Vancouver Island University, University of New Brunswick and Royal Roads University (B.C.).

Learn Menu Management at Centennial College’s Hospitality Management Program

“The students [of the hospitality management program at Centennial College] are in a real life working restaurant. We have functions, we serve lunch. Our students experience the work of a chef and of wait staff. They are industry ready after two years. They can work in restaurants, hotels, banquet halls, golf clubs, so there’s a wide variety of jobs available to our students,” says Jorge Roth a professor in the program.

Mr. Roth gives a great overall view of the program and how reliable it is in regards to preparing students for the food and beverage field, but let’s explore the benefits of attending Centennial College a little bit further. First, it should be noted that in order to apply for the Hospitality Management – Restaurant and Catering program, students must have completed at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. Compulsory English 12C or U skills assessment, or equivalent is also required. Possession of minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.

Once they have been accepted, students obtain a combination of theory and practical training that is essential to this segment of the industry and includes Menu Management and design, kitchen management, beverage knowledge and bartending. In addition, a 15-week field placement is required for students of the Hospitality Management Program. This course provides two days per week of meaningful work experience in approved positions within the food and beverage industry, enabling students to better understand the dynamics of the industry, increase their knowledge of industry practices and obtain a competitive advantage of experience in the job market.

Meanwhile, during in-school sessions, as Mr. Roth mentioned, students practice in an on-campus student training restaurant, a hospitality management centre and lab practice facilities. These places see them encountering real life scenarios and customers. Courses in the hospitality management program included during the students’ time on campus include: Quantity Food Production (emphasis is placed on technique, terminology, creativity, correct use of equipment, recipe and measurement analysis, and safe handling and storage procedures); Food Production, Practical Supervision (students have an opportunity to be part of a team and supervisor of that team for a real food service operation); Dining Room Management (students examine how the dining room manager is responsible for establishing the standards of service, motivating, monitoring, recognizing and training staff and for providing the environment, equipment and tools necessary for them to be able to exceed customer’s expectations); and more.

With the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council (CTHRC) anticipating that the food and beverage services sector will grow to employ 1.95 million people by 2015, now is a great time to get your career started.

A Hospitality Management Program Trains You To Create Memorable Dining Experiences

Think of your favourite restaurant. Whether it’s Italian, Japanese, Indian, or something else all together, cuisine is probably not the only thing that comes to mind. You most likely love the atmosphere, the presentation of the food, the décor of the restaurant and, of course, the delicious aromas wafting from the kitchen. Although it may all seem to come together effortlessly, behind each of these memorable aspects is a professional who attended a Hospitality Management Program and chose to become a manager in the Food and Beverage sector.

These restaurant operation managers have a variety of duties that make your dining experience memorable, hopefully for the right reasons. First and foremost, they collaborate with other managers to plan, direct and coordinate day-to-day operations — whether that involves dealing with customers and employees, financial record keeping, hiring and firing people, and more. These hospitality management professionals are also responsible for kitchen operations such as: ensuring that all materials used in food preparation and serving are working properly, menu management, ordering new refrigerators, cookers or blenders or ordering repair services; marketing the restaurant and devising promotional programs, as well as interacting with customers and vendors to ensure that their needs are met.

With the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council (CTHRC) anticipating that the food and beverage services sector will grow to employ 1.95-million people by 2015, now is a great time to get your career started. Centennial College offers a two-year program called Hospitality Management — Food and Beverage Catering.

The extremely hands-on program sees students learning everything from Menu Management and design, and kitchen management to beverage knowledge and bartending. This occurs through courses such as Introduction to Hospitality Accounting (students learn to apply basic cost control, basic revenue management, work with theoretical financial situations and increasing their understanding of accounting principles), Quantity Food Production (introduced are the basic principles of cooking and development of skills necessary for small and large-scale food production), Menu Management and Design (examines the concept of the menu as a marketing tool, its design and layout and how to evaluate it’s effectiveness and profitability), and more.

However, these courses are not just taught in a classroom. In order for students to prepare for their field placement and for the workforce, they learn by doing. Centennial College boasts an on-campus student training restaurant, a hospitality management centre and lab practice facilities. Meanwhile, placement occurs twice a week in the last semester. It gives students a chance to apply what they’ve learned and acquire new knowledge.

To apply for the Hospitality Management – Food and Beverage program, Centennial College expects students to present at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. Compulsory English 12C or U skills assessment, or equivalent is also required. Possession of minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.