Professional Certificate in Hospitality Management & Leadership

The hospitality industry is one of the main engines for economic development and social well-being in communities around the world. It is a dynamic and innovative industry that offers professional opportunities in different aspects of business-level and functional-level operations and contributes to the sustainable growth of the environment and local communities.

The GW International Institute of Tourism Studies provides specialized knowledge and skills in hospitality management. The certificate is designed for hospitality professionals and career changers who want to advance their present career in hospitality or make a new career in this dynamic industry. This certificate program is grounded in the principles of global and strategic development and management and will also provide insight into the different aspects of hotel and resort management, among these being sales and marketing, talent development, financial management and business analytics.

What can you expect to gain from the program?

Effective leadership
Corporate strategies in hospitality & leading global teams
Hospitality financial management
Global hospitality talent development in diverse organizations
Hospitality business analytics for strategic decisions
Hospitality digital marketing

Is the program right for you?

Hospitality Management is an ideal program if you are:

Working in the hospitality industry and would like to have validation of formal training in key disciplines of the industry
Entry and mid-level managers for gaining global and strategic perspectives and developing leadership skills
Changing to a new career in hospitality management
Start your own hospitality or tourism enterprise
Graduate students in hospitality management programs

Hospitality Management Certificate Requirements

Students must complete six courses in the program to receive a certificate.

Curriculum

To earn a Hospitality Management certificate, students are required to complete six courses. These courses are offered in sets of three throughout the year. Each course offers participants the opportunity to improve their professional standing, expand their industry network, and deepen their understanding of how to provide a unique guest experience and run a profitable business.

Each one should take students about eight hours to complete. Coursework includes presentations, readings, online mentoring, discussion boards, and guest lectures by hospitality professionals.

601: Global Talent Development

With the labor market softening and organizations competing from a similar talent pool, attracting and retaining the right talent is an ongoing challenge and priority for hospitality-related businesses. As a result, building and maintaining a culture that actively supports a positive talent experience is critical to an organization’s success. This course introduces participants to the importance of the talent experience and explains how effective leadership serves as a catalyst to a positive experience.

Learning Objectives:

Learn how to develop effective strategies for attracting the right talent.
Learn best practices for retaining talent.
Explain the importance of leveraging talent mobility and employee development.
Describe how effective leadership influences talent experience.

602: Sustainable Hospitality Strategies

Learn to develop sustainable strategies for hospitality operations that combat climate change and improve the well-being of the local community. Guided by the circular economy approach, this course offers students a crucial understanding of climate actions, resource conservation, green design, and smart amenities that can mitigate climate impacts, enhance guest experiences, and create value for the local economy and the hospitality business. Learn how to integrate sustainable practices into hospitality operations by creating an actionable sustainability plan.

Learning Objectives:

Understand the circular economy and its applications in sustainable hospitality practices.
Discover new ways hospitality organizations implement sustainability strategies.
Critically review hospitality sustainability practices, measurements, and reporting.
Learn about the latest development in climate actions, green design, and smart facilities and amenities.
Draft an outline for a sustainability plan for your business organization.

603: Hospitality Business Analytics

Learn how to use data and analytics to drive decision-making and improve operational performance in the hospitality industry. Guided by data-driven strategies, this course offers a comprehensive understanding of the ways hospitality managers can use data collection, analysis, and interpretation to enhance guest experiences, optimize revenue management, and streamline operations. You will gain insights into the ways you can integrate business analytics into hospitality operations by developing actionable, data-driven plans for your organization.

Learning Objectives:

Acquire an understanding of the fundamentals of data analytics and its applications in the hospitality industry.
Describe the tools and techniques that hospitality organizations use for data collection and analysis.
Critically review data-driven strategies for revenue management, customer segmentation, and operational efficiency.
Learn about the latest developments in business analytics in the hospitality industry.
Identify tools and techniques you can apply to typical situations in hospitality management.

604: Hospitality Financial Management

Gain a basic understanding of the concepts of financial analysis and financial management as they relate to the hospitality industry. Students will learn the principles of management decision-making in a hospitality enterprise with an eye toward maximizing shareholder returns.

Learning Objectives:

Develop an understanding of financial management and value creation.
Obtain knowledge on Income Statements and Statement of Cash Flows, using principles of benchmarking and forecasting as decision-making tools.
Calculate present and future values of cash flows.
Demonstrate the real estate valuation process.

605: Hospitality Digital Marketing

Digital marketing is key to building brand perception and awareness, distinguishing your value proposition from that of competitors, and growing and retaining customers. Once largely sales-driven, hospitality is now a marketing-driven industry, requiring increasingly complex distribution channels to target, reach, and convert diverse prospective customers. Dynamic content and storytelling rule the market, and this course explores why.

Learning Objectives:

Assess and resolve marketing problems using digital marketing management strategies and activities.
Understand and analyze the relationships between sales, distribution, and marketing, and accurately measure the impact these activities have on hospitality and other travel-related company operations.
Assess market opportunities by analyzing customers, competitors, collaborators, context, and the strengths and weaknesses of a company.

606: Effective Leadership in Hospitality

Learn about effective management, leadership, and the difference between them as they relate to the hospitality enterprise. Students will learn the skills needed for transformational leadership and to develop leadership traits, and will learn how these skills facilitate organizational commitment and influence organizational culture.

Learning Objectives:

Describe the role of management in a hospitality enterprise.
Distinguish between management qualities and leadership qualities.
Describe how the leadership of an enterprise influences organizational culture.

Admissions

The equivalent of a high school diploma is required for admission to the Professional Certificate in Hospitality Management program, and a bachelor’s degree is strongly recommended.

The Professional Certificate in Hospitality Management program is a non-degree program that provides continuing education credits (CEUs). Federally funded or other student loan programs or scholarships are not available, and the program is not eligible for deferment of such loans.

Proposed Program Fees & Financial Aid

Each required course costs $495, but courses may be purchased in a three-course bundle for a discounted rate of $1,350. Students typically purchase two course bundles to complete the certificate program for a total cost of $2,700.

Because the Professional Certificate in Hospitality Management is a non-degree program, federally funded student loan programs are not available, and the program is not eligible for deferment of such loans.

Grades

The grading system is Pass or Fail. Course completion letters will be mailed to students to indicate the completion of each course. A paper certificate signed by the university will be mailed to students upon the completion of the entire certificate program. Paper certificates will not be mailed for individual courses. All financial obligations to The George Washington University must be met to receive a certificate.

Refund Policy

If a student withdraws from the Professional Certificate in Hospitality Management program thirty days or more before the start date, a refund of 100% of tuition costs (minus a $100 withdrawal fee) will be granted. If a student withdraws from the program within fifteen days of the start date, no refund is granted. A student who withdraws between the thirty- and fifteen-day period will receive either full credit for a future session or a 50% refund.