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Interested in working in the hospitality industry? Want to learn more about an important hotel management certification that employers value? Whether you’re in school studying hotel management or already working in the industry, learning about a certification in hotel industry analytics can help your career. CHIA Certification is the only credential that focuses on hotel analytics. It is a certificate that shows potential employers that you understand and can analyze different aspects of the hotel industry. It is different than a certificate in hotel management because your focus is on industry analytics. This certification in hotel industry analytics (CHIA) is a top certification aimed at undergraduate and graduate students in hospitality and tourism programs. Read on to learn how a CHIA hotel industry analysis credential can benefit your career. 
Who Can Apply For CHIA Designation?
There are many hotel certification programs. But the gold standard for hotel certificates in industry analytics is the CHIA certification. CHIA hotel certification is ideal for hospitality professionals and those who want to become:- Corporate staff members
- General managers
- Research staff
- Revenue managers
- Trainers
- Travel and tourism professionals
Where Can You Work With CHIA Certification?
There are many organizations serving the hotel industry. These places hire qualified people with hotel analytics experience. If you have a CHIA certificate, you can find work with the following:- Conventions and visitor bureaus
- Financial firms
- Food and beverage operations
- Hospitality marketing firms
- Hospitality vendors
- Hotel association groups
- Hotel management companies
- Hotels and travel organizations
What To Expect On The CHIA Examination
The main goal of gaining CHIA status is to be able to analyze different types of hotel industry data. With that knowledge, you can make strategic decisions for the hospitality industry. There are four core content areas covered in the training and certification exam. To get your certification, you must understand certain subject areas. These include:- Foundations of Hotel Industry Analysis
- Fundamentals of Hotel Math
- Performance Reports
- Property Level Benchmarking (Hotel STAR Reports)
Foundations of Hotel Industry Analysis
You need to understand the players and affiliations in the hotel industry. These include:- Chains
- Management companies
- Parent companies
- Other associated hospitality resources
Fundamentals of Hotel Math
Hotel math fundamentals study the metrics used by the hotel industry. They include analyzing various sets of data related to the hotel business. For this content area, you must know about the following issues faced in the hospitality industry:- Competitive challenges
- International challenges
- Property challenges
Performance Reports
Performance reports include Ad-hoc, pipeline, HOST/profitability, destination, and trend reports. You must analyze performance reports and know what to do with them. You should know how hospitality management uses performance reports to their advantage.Property Level Benchmarking
Property level benchmarking is related to STAR reports hotel analyzation. You learn how to analyze, identify, define, and monitor these reports on a monthly and/or weekly basis. When training for this section, you learn that a STAR report is a hotel’s essential benchmarking tool. The industry relies on this benchmarking practice. A STAR report evaluates a hotel’s performance compared to a competitive set. Based on the report, market strategies are made.
How To Get A CHIA Certificate
There are only a few steps you must take to get a certificate for hospitality management. These include:- Paying your application fee
- Completing your application
- Accessing resource materials
- Connecting with a proctor to oversee your exam
How To Apply For CHIA Hospitality Industry Certifications
The CHIA exam is taken online. It is administered by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI). This is a global nonprofit organization interested in the professional excellence of those working in the hospitality industry. There are 50 questions on the examination, which has an attached fee of $75. Need-based scholarships are available. Those who score 70% or above earn the CHIA designation and certificate. If you don’t pass, you can retake the exam. If you are a professor or instructor, you may take the exam free of charge. Obtaining this important certification can open the door to various career opportunities in the hospitality field. When you complete the Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics, you may showcase the CHIA designation on your resume and business card.College Courses You Should Take
Hospitality management courses give you the knowledge and leadership skills you need to work in the hospitality industry. They teach you relevant information about revenue management and hospitality marketing. You learn how to work as a professional in the hospitality industry. But to get a hospitality certification you need to diversify your knowledge. In college, you should take many different courses in business and hospitality management. From tourism management to hotel administration, there are diverse classes that will prepare you for a job in hospitality and tourism management.Business Courses
- Business strategy and procedures
- Financial management
- Hospitality marketing
- Hotel revenue management
- Restaurant revenue management
Hospitality Courses
- Best hospitality industry practices and methods
- Food and beverage operations
- Hotel and resort management
- Service management
Tourism Courses
- Hospitality and tourism industry planning and development
- International tourism
- Meeting planning
- Tourism industry practice
- Casino operations
- Destination management
- Hotel sales
- Human resource management
- Hospitality financial management
- Introduction to event planning
- Leadership and social responsibility
- Statistics
CHIA Examination Study Tips
Good study habits will help you succeed on the certification exam and in the hospitality management industry. You need to have time set aside each day or week for studying. Strong study habits develop over time, but you can get ahead by following these tips.Don’t cram for the exam
Don’t leave it until the last minute. The worst thing you can do for your hospitality certification exam is to cram. While some students may find last-minute cramming helps them do well on a test, it is a widely accepted practice to avoid cramming. For an industry certification, you must know your stuff. Cramming won’t help you pass a test, but your hospitality education will. To successfully complete your exam, study what you’ve been learning all these years in your hospitality management program.Get yourself organized
Whether you want a graduate certificate or to pass the CHIA examination, the first step toward your goal is to organize your study space. An organized space is free of distractions. It is also a place that can accommodate your notes and textbooks.Find a regular place to study
It doesn’t benefit you to bounce around from place to place when you study for your hospitality management certificate. If you can, find a regular place to study. Go to the same spot in the library or a specific room in your house. This creates a habit. And habits help you achieve your goal.Keep track of your deadline
This tip might seem like practical knowledge, but you’d be surprised how many test-takers forget their deadline. Write down your exam date. Make a schedule of what you want to cover and the dates you want them covered by. Keeping track of your deadline will help you get through all of the material you need to by a certain date.Take practice tests
Successful completion of hospitality certifications exams requires that you take practice tests. Practice exams give you insight on what the actual test will be like. Practice tests let you in on what the format of the test will be like. They also give you information about the content. Hospitality professionals are the first to profess how important practice tests are for your hospitality certifications.Take regular breaks
What you do on your breaks is up to you. But the best test takers break for food, water, and stretching. A hydrated body helps your mind. A well-nourished body can also give you the energy you need to focus. Professors tell their students to take breaks while studying for certification exams. It’s no different in hospitality administration or a restaurant operations certification program. You may already know some of these study tips. Maybe you have incorporated them into your own study practices. Some tips may seem simple or advanced depending on your study habits. But as fundamental as some may seem, they are useful habits you can use on the job in the hospitality sector.
Why Hospitality Industry Certifications Are Important
Besides the CHIA Certification, there are many useful hospitality and tourism management certifications. Certifications can add a certain level of prestige to your resumé. With a certification, you can show an employer that you are an expert in a niche area of the hospitality and tourism industry. Hospitality professionals with certifications are competitive in the job market. They stand out above their competitors. They can also get promotions and move into higher-paying roles. A hospitality certification can give you an edge as you gain experience and want to move up in the hospitality industry. Add on a certification or graduate certificate to your degree and you can become more valuable to an employer.Where to Find Hospitality Certifications
American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute
The American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute is a leader in providing information about hospitality industry certifications. Here you can find info about Certified Hotel Administrator online certifications and other destination management programs. If you want to work in hotel administration, but don’t want to earn a master’s degree, hospitality certifications can help.National Restaurant Association
The National Restaurant Association offers help and advocacy to restaurants. Its membership gives students easy access to information about food and beverage in the hospitality sector. You can access scholarship information and research reports. You can also learn about different graduate certificates and hospitality certifications.Universities and Colleges
There are many colleges and universities that offer a hospitality certification. Some schools like Cornell University allow students to earn a certificate or certification alongside their major. Some of the best schools offer certification programs in hotel administration and food and beverage operations. College programs also help you prepare for certification exams in service management and hospitality management. You get access to study guides and practice tests. You learn relevant information that will help you get your hospitality certification. Hospitality industry certifications help you stand out among a large pool of competitors. The hospitality management industry is competitive. To help market your skills, you should have a good business strategy in place. This includes a polished resumé and relevant work experience. It can also include attending some of the best business schools in the country. But today’s hospitality professionals need more than a degree or the completion of hospitality courses. They need a certification, such as the hotel management certification, to stand out. Now that you know what a hospitality management certification can do for your career, it’s time to start the next step in your journey.Related Resources:
30 Best Affordable Bachelor’s in Hospitality Management Online
30 Great Degree Programs for Working Adults
Top 10 Highest Paying Business Degrees
Ultimate Guide to Business Degrees and Careers
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