Key Hospitality Career Skills And Certifications That Differentiate You

The hospitality sector is highly competitive, so the more skills and certifications you can stack, the better. 

But what should you go for? Which options are truly going to differentiate you in today’s competitive market? Let’s take a look.

Emotional intelligence training

While it might sound trite, emotional intelligence training is one of the best ways to get a leg up in the hospitality industry. If you can really understand where other people are coming from, you’re much more likely to be respected by your peers, your clients, and your guests. Understanding other people’s emotions is challenging, but it’s especially important in hospitality leadership roles. Often you’ll be thrown into difficult situations that require you to keep a cool head while you manage other people.

Alcohol training and certification

You may also want to go for FRVP certification. This provides you with the ability to work and sell alcohol to customers in various states, depending on the legal requirements of your location. Once you have this, it sets you apart from other people because you can immediately slot into a specific role that an employer might want. It’s a relatively low barrier to entry as well, and once you have the certification, it’s valid for an extended period of time.

Hotel administrator training

You could also go for certified hotel administrator (CHA) training. This is essentially the gold standard for aspiring general managers and executives. It’s a type of training that covers everything you need to know about running your business, including sales, marketing, and operations. It’s particularly sought after when you’re seeking senior roles, so it can be a great way to supercharge your career and move up the career ladder.

Sustainability knowledge and green practices

If you have knowledge of sustainability and know how to make your hospitality business green, this can also impress your guests. For example, you might run a hotel that focuses on energy efficiency, or you could operate a restaurant that facilitates waste reduction. Many audiences are very attracted to this type of work, and it is particularly critical if you are trying to prioritize your service for travelers who care about ESG factors.

Data literacy

Data literacy in hospitality? It sounds strange, but the more you can understand the information that your business generates, the better you will be at operating it.

For example, you might want to understand occupancy rates or collect guest feedback. You could also develop a revenue model to see where your cash flow stands both now and in a year’s time, depending on different projection scenarios. Having all of this data to hand increases your profitability and enables you to make better decisions.

Certified Hospitality Supervisor Training

Lastly, you might want to explore the option of Certified Hospitality Supervisor (CHS) training. This is a good option for supervisory or mid-level positions because it helps you with team leadership and scheduling. Fully digesting this type of training makes you a better day-to-day manager of any hospitality service.