The Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation (JCTI) has launched a new certification programme for professionals in the tourism industry.

The Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA) is an internationally recognised resource for managers and a critical certification for final-year students going into tourism and hospitality management.

Speaking at the virtual launch on February 25, Executive Director, Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Dr. Carey Wallace, said that the new programme will be a game-changer for the local tourism industry.

He noted that 30 free places will be offered to industry managers and college tutors.

Dr. Wallace informed that the certification programme will be delivered through the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) and Smith Travel Research (STR), which is the global source for benchmarking and forecasting data in the sector.

The STR will deliver the training over six weeks, from March 18 to April 8, 2022, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The training package will include PowerPoint presentations, application exercises, supporting data and quizzes. Upon completing the workshop, students will be asked to take a 90-minute online examination.

Dr. Wallace praised the JCTI for facilitating “excellent training opportunities for hospitality workers”, thereby securing the country’s competitive advantage as a preferred tourism destination for travel industry partners and visitors.

He said it has always been the mission at the TEF, through the JCTI, to ensure that the training is not only at international standards but is also widely accessible.

Persons interested in participating in the CHIA programme are encouraged to send an e-mail to the Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation at jcti-certification@tef.gov.jm.

The JCTI is a division of the TEF. The Centre works closely with local and international partners to ensure that Jamaicans receive internationally benchmarked certification.