Professional Certificate in Hospitality Management & Leadership
Whether you want to advance your career in hospitality or build a new one, the Professional Certificate in Hospitality Management & Leadership from the George Washington University International Institute of Tourism Studies (IITS) provides the specialized knowledge and skills you need to succeed. Grounded in the principles of global and strategic development and management, this online program will build your expertise in hotel and resort management. Learn from some of the industry's leading experts on winning approaches to sales and marketing, effective sustainability initiatives, talent development, financial management and business analytics.
What skills and knowledge will you acquire from the program?
- Inclusive leadership and leading global teams
- Corporate strategies in hospitality
- Hospitality financial management
- Global hospitality talent development in diverse organizations
- Business analytics for strategic decisions in hospitality
- Digital marketing for the hospitality industry
Is the program right for you?
The online Hospitality Management & Leadership is an ideal program if you are:
- You are an entry-level or mid-level hospitality manager who wants to develop leadership skills and gain global and strategic perspectives on your industry
- You are considering changing to a new career in hospitality management
- You would like to start your own hospitality or tourism enterprise
- You are a graduate student in hospitality management
- You are a hospitality worker and want validation of formal training in key disciplines
Hospitality Management & Leadership Certificate Requirements
Participants must complete all six courses in the program in order to receive a certificate.
Required Courses
In each course, you will have the opportunity to improve your professional standing and expand your industry network. Courses are open for a week at a time and take about eight hours to complete. Coursework includes presentations, readings, online mentoring, discussion boards, and guest lectures by hospitality professionals.
- 601: Inclusive 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.
- Explain the importance of an ethical and inclusive culture in business.
- 602: 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.
- 603: 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.
- 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: 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.
Admissions
To be admitted to the Professional Certificate in Hospitality Management & Leadership program, participants must have completed the equivalent of a high school diploma. A bachelor’s degree is strongly recommended.
The Professional Certificate in Hospitality Management & Leadership 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.
Program Fees
Each course costs $495 individually. The total program cost is $2,970 without discounts. However, a three-course bundle is offered at a discounted rate of $1,350. By purchasing two bundles, participants can complete the program for a reduced total of $2,700.
Grades
The grading system for the certificate program is Pass or Fail. Individual course completion reports will be emailed to participants to indicate the completion of each course. A paper certificate signed by the university will be mailed to participants upon the completion of the entire certificate program. All financial obligations to the George Washington University must be met to receive a certificate.
Refund Policy
Participants who withdraw from the Professional Certificate in Hospitality Management & Leadership program at least 30 days before the start date will receive a refund of 100% of tuition costs less a $100 withdrawal fee. Participants who withdraw less than 30 days but more than 15 days before the start date receive a 50% refund. Participants who withdraw within 15 days of the start date are not eligible for a refund.
Registration
Register Here for the Professional Certificate in Hospitality Management & Leadership