1. Varied Options are offered by Hospitality Services
Students are positively responding to Centennial College’s Hospitality Services, which
takes two semesters to complete and results in an Ontario College Certificate. Their
responses are just part of the proof that this program is beneficial for those looking
to establish themselves as professionals in a range of careers available in the hospi-
tality industry, including room attendant, front desk clerk, food service, cook or
maintenance worker. For example, Eiikeme Ehirim, who graduated from the Hospital-
ity College in 2011, had this to say: “I studied in an industry that I am passionate
about. The Hospitality Services program consists of learning about hotels and
restaurants. The focus is put on food and beverage services, sanitation, life skills and
job readiness. This experience has taught me about time management skills and re-
sourcefulness. Centennial College has had major impact on me in terms of informing
me about global citizenship opportunities. Teachers are awesome about pushing me
to succeed and are knowledgeable about this industry. This is the best educational
experience I have ever known.”
Let’s expand on Eiikeme’s points. First and foremost, in order to attend the hospitali-
ty courses offered within this undertaking, students must have completed an Ontario
Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or have mature student status (19
years or older).
Once students are accepted, they study a wide range of topics, as Eiikeme men-
tioned. Specific hospitality courses include: Communication Skills for Hospitality Ser-
vice Workers, Front of the House Agent, Room Attendant, Visitor Information Ser-
vices, Beverage Services, Safety & Sanitation, and more. In addition to industry spe-
cific courses, students of Hospitality Services are also exposed to courses that will
help them to get jobs upon graduation. Among these courses are: Communication
Skills of Hospitality Services, Introduction to Math, Life Skills and Job Readiness. In-
dustry professionals, who serve as instructors, explain and help students to master
all of these hospitality management topics. They all possess current experience, en-
suring that any advice students obtain is up-to-date and geared to helping them ob-
tain a career. To complement what they have learned in class, students participate in
a two-day-a week work experience placement at a restaurant or hotel. This allows
them to apply what they have learned, network and obtain new knowledge.
Also weaved into the Hospitality Services offering are hands-on training opportuni-
ties. Because students are based out of Progress Campus, which houses all of the
School of Hospitality and Tourism offerings, they have access to a number of facili-
ties. Among these facilities are a conference centre, which gives students an opportu-
nity to organize conferences and meetings, and a kitchen in which students can gain
hands on experience with planning menus and running a kitchen.
In addition to earning an Ontario College Certificate upon completion of this hospi-
tality courses, students also have the opportunity to take certification exams in
Sanitation and Beverage Services, thus graduating with the confidence and required
skills to work in this industry. Should students be interested in further education,
they can transfer to one of Centennial College’s more specialized hospitality manage-
ment programs.
For More Info. About Hospitality Services visit centennialcollege.ca