The most popular hospitality certifications in 2025 equip employees with up-to-date skills and industry knowledge. The world has and is still witnessing recession and changes within the tourism industry, so it’s more important than ever for employees to deliver top-notch customer service to keep guests coming back.
Hospitality professionals, including managers and frontline employees, are looking to find certifications that will help them transform the guest experience from ordinary to extraordinary. There are thousands of hospitality certifications to choose from. Whether you are looking for a certification to boost your staff members’ performance or as an individual employee, here are the top hospitality certifications and how to achieve them in 2025.
Online Hospitality Programs
Online hospitality programs that leverage an advanced LMS are an exceptional way to train hospitality sector employees. The platform’s interactivity allows for an engaging and immersive learning experience that enhances information retention and improves work performance. Over 40% of Fortune 500 companies use learning management systems to stay competitive in their industry.
Here are a few LMSs that stand out in 2025:
1. Axonify
Axonify is the number one platform for training frontline hospitality staff. 80% of employees state that Axonify helps them perform better in their jobs. From check-in to check-out, hospitality staff trained by Axonify deliver results when it comes to customer service. This has been achieved thanks to a decade of science-backed research and AI to drive knowledge retention through bite-sized microlearning and daily intelligent reinforcement.
While Axonify doesn’t offer hospitality certifications directly, it coaches and prepares staff members to obtain well-known hospitality certifications. For instance, Axonify’s platform helps employees gain the knowledge and skills to pass certification exams with flying colors by using microlearning and spaced repetition to ensure information sticks.
The following are hospitality certifications for 2025 that employees could strive for to advance in their careers, supported by intelligent reinforcement using Axonify:
- Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA):
- Certified Food and Beverage Executive (CFBE)
- Certified Guest Service Professional (CGSP)
- Certified Front Desk Representative (CFDR)
Here are some ways that Axonify helps hospitality workers looking to progress in their careers:
- Axonify creates an environment where hospitality workers receive customized and compact training programs—known as microlearning—that harmoniously fit into even hectic shifts, making it easier to learn new skills.
- Axonify adapts to a user’s learning style, studying interests, and behaviors, allowing hospitality staff to concentrate on the content that represents their career interests.
- Axonify is engaging and fun to use. Companies like Marriott International, Compass Eurest, and Walmart use Axonify to onboard and train employees in around five minutes a day.
2. eHotelier
eHotelier is an LMS designed specifically for the hospitality sector. It offers several key benefits that help hospitality employees gain more knowledge in the hospitality industry, including in-depth training programs and over 200 courses that cover topics ranging from customer service to revenue management.
This LMS features industry-specific content that helps employees learn with interactive courses, quizzes, assessments, and other gamification features such as points and badges. Employees are also notified when they have completed a course, which helps them track their practice and motivate further learning. Through the eHotelier platform, staff members can obtain hospitality certifications like:
- Certified Hospitality Supervisor
- Certificate in Food and Beverage Services
- Certificate in Front Office Services
- Certificate in Housekeeping Services
In addition, eHotelier offers the following diplomas that the Institute of Hospitality has endorsed since April 2016:
- Associate Diploma in Accommodation Operations
- Associate Diploma in Culinary Operations
- Associate Diploma in Food and Beverage Operations
- Diploma in Hospitality Management
- Diploma in Human Resources Management
- Diploma in Revenue Management
Here are some ways that eHotelier helps hospitality workers looking to progress in their careers:
- eHotelier offers a vast library of courses covering almost every aspect of hospitality, such as managing front desk operations and event planning and management.
- eHotelier provides a holistic learning experience to all employees working in the hospitality sector.
- eHotelier has a user-friendly interface that is simple for every employee but may lack some advanced features offered by other hospitality training and certification platforms.
In-Person Hospitality Trainings
In-person hospitality training is an enriching experience for individuals who work in the hospitality industry and would like a more hands-on experience. It is also a great way to network and meet other leaders in the industry. Here are a few of the top in-person hospitality trainings available to participate on-site:
3. Hospitality Training Institute of Michigan (HTIM)
The Hospitality Training Institute of Michigan (HTIM) is a training organization that provides education and certifications specific to the hospitality industry. This training program is dedicated to preparing individuals for a hospitality career, such as hotel management or food and beverage operations. What makes this program stand out from the others is that it’s ideal for both individuals looking to break into the hospitality industry and certified professionals who want to advance their careers.
HTIM offers several certifications that are recognized within the hospitality industry, including:
- Certified Hospitality Professional (CHP)
- Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA)
- Hospitality Management Certifications
- Event Planning Certifications
Here are some ways that HTIM helps hospitality workers looking to progress in their careers:
- HTIM offers real-world experience by providing hands-on practical exercises for entry-level and management positions to acquire more knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in their hospitality roles.
- HTIM provides a short-term hybrid program of 12 weeks that combines 6 weeks of in-person training with 6 weeks of online instruction. This program easily fits into the busy schedules of hospitality workers.
- HTIM programs are highly renowned. However, the hospitality industry is ever-evolving, and attending these programs year after year may prove costly.
4. American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI)
American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) is a reputable organization within the hospitality sector and a division of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). Its main focus is to provide on-site and off-site programs that offer professional certifications and professional development opportunities for hospitality staff looking to advance their careers.
AHLEI is one of the world’s most reputable providers of hospitality programs and credentials. The institute offers the following prestigious credentials in the hospitality industry:
- Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA)
- Certified Hospitality Supervisor (CHS)
- Certified Hospitality Trainer (CHT)
- Certified Front Desk Representative (CFDR)
Here are some ways that AHLEI helps hospitality workers looking to progress in their careers:
- AHLEI offers 20-plus professional certifications for all levels of an individual’s hospitality career. From frontline to general manager, it is designed for hospitality staff looking to advance their skills and show leadership within the industry.
- AHLEI is a trusted training and certification program for hospitality education. It offers both in-site and virtual training led by industry experts.
- While AHLEI is a prestigious program for receiving hospitality certifications, a potential con is the need for ongoing recertification. Staff will need to stay updated on what certifications are necessary to stay “up-to-date” in the field and consider the costs and fees of recurring certification.
Training and Hospitality Certifications for Your Team
Choosing the best hospitality training program depends on the needs of your hospitality business and employees. The training should include hospitality education that prepares staff to earn certain certifications that will help them excel in their career. Some of the best ways to train and certify hospitality staff are through traditional or online learning platforms such as:
- Axonify: A learning management system that excels in providing flexible, engaging, and personalized online training with a focus on microlearning and gamification. It helps hospitality staff prepare for certification courses outside of the platform. After certification, they will receive ongoing training that will afford them the knowledge and confidence they need to deliver exceptional guest experiences.
- eHotelier: A simple online learning platform designed specifically for the hospitality industry. The Institute of Hospitality endorses the platform and offers certifications, education, and a chance to earn diplomas from various hospitality-related professionals.
- The Hospitality Training Institute of Michigan (HTIM): A hybrid program offering onsite and virtual training for professionals at all levels of the hospitality industry. It is great for individuals looking to break into the industry or for management seeking career advancement.
- The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) is one of the most reputable hospitality training and certification programs in the U.S. It is appropriate for entry-level managers looking to advance in their field and stay on top of industry trends.
Ultimately, a combination of online and in-person training and certification programs will benefit hospitality employees who want to excel in their roles. Using a learning management system to prepare for and reinforce knowledge is an excellent way to keep hospitality workers confident and ensure they deliver consistent, world-class guest experiences every time.
