Hospitality industry training to be offered at VGCC Main Campus


Vance-Granville Community College is offering a pair of new training courses that introduce area residents to the hospitality and tourism industry.

The one-day Guest Service Gold® course is set to be held on Thursday, Nov. 2, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. in room 7136 of Building 7 on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County.

Then, the Hospitality START program will be offered Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., Nov. 3 through Dec. 17, at the same location.

Guest Service Gold provides information to assist students in developing quality guest service skills, and START provides further guidance in performing tasks correctly and emphasizes the soft skills necessary for a successful hospitality career. Both include a nationally-recognized exam at the end of each course. Students who successfully pass the exams will obtain certificates that can help them obtain employment or advance on the job.

START (Skills, Tasks, and Results Training) is a curriculum developed by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI). Students in this course will learn about 12 different hospitality positions.

Upon successful completion of the START course, students will also select an AHLEI related program to become certified in a particular field: Front Desk Representative, Guestroom Attendant, Restaurant Server, or Maintenance Employee.

The cost of the Guest Service Gold course is $111.50. The cost of the START course is $270.50.

Scholarships that will pay for registration fees, certification fees, books and necessary supplies are available to students who qualify through the NCWorks Job-Driven Initiative grant. Students receiving such funding through this grant must attend an HRD/Pathways to Hospitality course, Oct. 26-29.

Since space is limited, prospective students are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Registration can be completed online at www.vgcc.edu/oex or in person at any VGCC campus. For more information, contact Connie Ragland at raglandc@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3300.