Previous Story
Learn hotel, hospitality skills in a shorter period of time
LTA, Commerce team up for focused skill certification
The Latte Training Academy, Inc., through a subgrant from the CNMMI Department of Commerce, is currently accepting registration for eligible CNMI residents to avail of focused trainings and certification in the hotel and hospitality industry.
Made possible through a grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior, the program offers specialized trainings toward certification as a front desk representative, guestroom attendant, restaurant server or maintenance worker. All certifications are conferred by the prestigious American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute, which are recognized globally throughout the hotel and hospitality industry.
The focused trainings are newly launched through the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute and are aimed at providing participants with specific skill development within the highest demand areas in the hotel and hospitality industry.
“The emphasis of the focused training sessions is premised on helping participants rapidly develop skills and knowledge in the areas which present the highest employability potential within the industry. This allows them to rapidly join our prized tourism workforce in a much shorter time frame, with a globally recognized certification within that specific employment area,” said Latte Training Academy secretary Tina Palacios.
Commerce Secretary Mark Rabauliman welcomed the change in approach for the training program.
“During the first launch of the program, the Latte Training Academy began with the maximum number of participants allowed by the grant. However, throughout the course of the program, they experienced significant attrition due to the length of the program. The full START program, which provides an overall certification in multiple areas of the hotel and hospitality industry, is 180 hours. This was a lot of hours for students to maintain for the duration of the program. Despite issues with attrition, the program certified nine students through the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute, many of whom are currently employed in the industry. The change in approach limits the areas that participants will be able to certify in; however, the trainings are more focused limiting the maximum time to 50 hours. This should provide for a higher retention and completion rate for participants,” said Rabauliman.
The courses will begin in February and are scheduled for 20 hours of classroom work, with the approximately 30 hours in the field with partner hotels. Each course will be able to accommodate a maximum of 12 students per sessions with the most in-demand sessions to begin first.
The organization is currently accepting registration for the curses. Interested participants can learn more by visiting www.lattetrainingacademy.com or by calling toll free 1-855-544-8500. (LTA)
