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TROY — According to the state’s workforce and development department, hospitality and tourism are responsible for almost 10% of all employment in Michigan, but staffing has lagged since the pandemic.
In light of that, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity has expanded a program to reach additional Michiganders looking for a rewarding and high-paying career, the state said.
The Hospitality Training Institute of Michigan launched a third round of 2024 hospitality business management courses in Troy and Farmington Hills in July with the support of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Previously, HTIM piloted this program to about 100 students.
Those interested in further exploring potential opportunities within the hospitality industry have the chance to build their skills and certification needs through the HTIM.
Jobs within the hospitality industry have a major focus on providing customers with quality experiences and can include employment opportunities related to travel, lodging, food and beverage services, theme parks, and event planning, among other fields. Michigan’s hospitality industry creates nearly $44.6 billion in annual sales and is the state’s second largest private employer of nearly half a million residents, officials said.
HTIM offers different training programs and certification courses for those who wish to explore potential career opportunities within the hospitality industry.
The 12-week comprehensive job skills course is a $2,500 value that has been offered at no cost to the first 2,000 program registrants. HTIM will also provide a $500 incentive to each graduate who successfully completes the course, officials said. Around 10 or 20 students registered for both the Troy and Farmington Hills courses in the last round.
The coursework that is being offered includes assignments and tests that cover guest experiences, financial management, business operation information, supervising staffing and scheduling, and safety procedures related to food and guests.
“There are five credentials in total: Guest Service Gold Tourism, ServSafe Responsible Alcohol Service, ServSafe Food Manager, Certified Hospitality Supervisor, and HTIM Business Management,” Amanda Smith, an executive vice president with the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association and the Michigan Hospitality Foundation, said in an email. “Additionally, students will earn completion certificates for Understanding Unconscious Bias, Preventing Sexual Harassment, and multiple costing modules.”
Instructor Chris Woodruff said the program equips people with the knowledge and resources they need to “successfully lead people and get positive results.”
“I’m thrilled to apply my hospitality management experience to get individuals ready for more leadership roles in the industry,” he said in a press release. “This course gives participants multiple industry certifications, which is essential in stepping up in a hospitality career.”
The hospitality “industry cluster” is prevalent in every area of the state, and employment was steadily declining before a large drop in 2020, the state said. “Since then, the cluster has improved in employment (currently totaling at 394,500 individuals) but has not returned to its pre-pandemic level of 478,300.”
Following the initial shock of the COVID-19 pandemic on employment and job opportunities, hospitality and tourism online job postings increased by 30% between 2020 and 2022.
Many occupations in hospitality and tourism are expected to “far exceed the average projected employment growth rate of 8.8% in Michigan,” according to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Jobs like restaurant cooks are expected to increase in employment by nearly 56% through 2030, the department said.
Interested students and employers can visit HTIM.com to learn more.
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