To help alleviate the woes felt by Michigan’s restaurant and hotel workforce, the new Hospitality Training Institute of Michigan in Lansing is offering training and certification programs for those who want to advance their careers within the industry.
“The hospitality industry in Michigan was decimated as a result of the pandemic and is still operating with 60,000 fewer employees than it was prior,” says Justin Winslow, president and CEO of the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association (MRLA).
“The Hospitality Training Institute of Michigan has been thoughtfully designed to recruit for and develop talent within Michigan’s beleaguered hospitality industry. For prospective employees that means a clear pathway towards advancement and a meaningful career and for employers. The HTIM offers a proven curriculum that will improve operations during exceptionally challenging times.”
Nearly 600,000 individuals work in the restaurant and lodging industries in Michigan. HTIM is looking to help grow and support the careers of these individuals by offering resources to educate and empower through flexible program formats and schedules.
It is a trade and career school that is approved by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO). The 12-week courses will explore the hospitality industry’s business side, including understanding point-of-sale reports, profit and loss statements, management, and leadership skills. It also offers opportunities for apprenticeships with on-the-job learning (OTJ) and related training instruction (RTI).
“The Hospitality Training Institute of Michigan provides outstanding opportunities for individuals passionate in advancing their careers in the hospitality industry and helps build on their professional skill set,” says Amanda Smith, executive vice president of education at the MRLA. “Every student who completes one of the 12-week programs from HTIM will leave with the confidence, skills, and credentials needed to advance in the industry.”
Two Michigan hospitality leadership certificate programs are currently available — the Hospitality Supervisor Certificate and the Hospitality Business Management Certificate. Both programs are offered in two attendance formats, either the hybrid model or the strictly online format.
The hybrid model is currently being offered in Lansing with classes starting March 21. Registration remains open for the online format and Lansing Cohort.
There are three educational tracks for apprenticeship programs, which are sponsored by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation or the American Hotel and Lodging Association Foundation, that include OJL and RTI and occur in the workplace: Restaurant line cook or hotel apprenticeship RTI, lodging manager RTI, and restaurant manager RTI.
For more information about HTIM, including courses, fees and how to register, visit www.htim.com.
