Savannah Technical College is offering non-credit hospitality training to help those displaced workers advance in their careers when they return to work or start a new career with a nationally recognized certification. In an effort to serve the hospitality community that was hit so hard by this pandemic, the College will offer the course at a drastically discounted rate of $25 per person compared with the regular cost of $650 per person.

“The hospitality and tourism sectors offer unparalleled opportunities for advancement and success,” said Tourism Leadership Council President/CEO Michael T. Owens. “Taking advantage of the programing at Savannah Technical College allows individuals to jump start their career or accelerate career advancement.”

The Hospitality Foundations course helps those that want to stand out among other applicants and advance their career. It also offers participants an option to explore the hospitality industry before entering the field. With the expansion of new hotels in historic Savannah, there is a projected demand to hire nearly 1,700 within the next year.

Scholarships will offset the next session cost to $25 per person – which is regularly priced at $650. The cost of the 48-hour online course includes the certification testing cost. Register now for the hospitality course at https://www.savannahtech.edu/business-industry/hospitalityfoundations. The next four-week session will be held online from 9 a.m. until noon on Tuesdays through Fridays starting May 19.

The nationally recognized certification is determined by an exam created by the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI), a nationally recognized organization that certifies and validates competencies in conjunction with academia and industry experts for more than 20 positions in the hospitality industry. Professional certification from AHLEI is the ultimate distinction of professional excellence for the hospitality industry.

Upon passing the certification exam, students will be certified with the following credentials: Certified Guestroom Attendant, Certified Restaurant Server, and Certified Front Desk Representative.

Gloria Johnson, a Savannah native who has been a part of Savannah’s Hospitality Industry for more than a decade, teaches the course. She has taught this course for Goodwill in Savannah and is a Hospitality Trainer and Job Coach. She uses her experiences and current work to enhance training skills and techniques for others.