Strathmore School of Tourism and Hospitality

Apart from institutions in South Africa, Strathmore’s Centre for Tourism and Hospitality (CTH) stands out as an institution in the rest of of Africa, that offers training to its students and prepares them for the international certification exam in hotel industry analytics.

The Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA) is a leading hotel-related certification for university students graduating from Hospitality and Tourism programs throughout the world. It is being offered globally to undergraduate and graduate students through a joint effort between STR (Smith Travel Research), AHLEI (American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute) and ICHRIE (International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education).

This recognition provides evidence of a thorough knowledge of the foundational metrics, definitions, formulas and methodologies that are used by the hotel industry. Recipients have proven that they can “do the math” and interpret the results. They have demonstrated an ability to analyze various types of hotel industry data, make strategic inferences based upon that analysis and have a comprehensive understanding of bench marking and hotel performance reports. Achieving this distinction announces that these students have a place among the best graduates in their profession and opens the doors to future career opportunities.

CHIA modules consist of four core content areas: Hotel Industry Analytical Foundations; Hotel Math Fundamentals; Property Level Benchmarking; and Hotel Industry Performance Reports.

Successful candidates receive a certificate from AHLEI and are able to use the CHIA designation on their business cards and resumes.

CTH offers CHIA training once a year, now for 3 years running, to interested CTH students. The training is conducted by Joy Goopio, former CTH Director, who is the only accredited CHIA trainer.

Only those schools that have a lecturer who has completed a CHIA Train-the-Trainer session conducted by STR can administer the exam.

Strathmore will host the first Train-the Trainer workshop ever to be held in Africa! The Train-the-Trainer session reviews the CHIA training content and prepares instructors to be able to present the CHIA training to their students.

The sessions are open to lecturers and instructors. Industry professionals are also invited to most of the sessions. Graduate students and senior level undergraduate students are invited if space allows.

The workshop will be held on 22nd-23rd October, 2017 at Strathmore University, prior to the EuroCHRIE conference. For more information contact Joy Goopio at jgoopio@strathmore.edu.