8+ Sample Hospitality Training Proposal

What Is a Hospitality Training Proposal?

A hospitality training proposal is a formal written proposal meant to improve and upgrade the skills and trade of professionals in the hospitality industry. It can cover a wide range of topics and skills training, from food and beverage handling to front office management. 

According to a recent article published by ProProfs.com, around 33% of hospitality organizations and companies reported an increase in their training staff and 67% of these companies also offer training in other languages apart from English. 

How Do People Train In the Hospitality Industry? 

Training can come in various forms. There are tried-and-tested methods as well as other unorthodox ways of learning and gaining experience. The following are just some of the common ways people train for different jobs in restaurant and hotel management.   

Coaching Or Mentoring. One of the most effective and lasting ways of training an employee or new hire is through mentoring. Having a trusted and more experienced colleague show you the ropes is a great way to learn. Not only can mentees learn directly via first-hand account, they will have gained a teacher and friend who can correct and oversee professional growth in countless ways. In the hospitality industry, you would be lucky to find a coach or mentor that is willing to take you under your wing especially if you are just starting out or are still new to the industry. You can find a mentor in a supervisor or manager who has had adequate experience in your given field. For instance, a restaurant manager or supervisor can act as a mentor to more inexperienced staff and give them tips and advice on how to handle customers, how to manage shifts more efficiently and other areas of concern. Courses and Certifications. Another traditional way of training employees is by allowing them to complete courses and gain various certifications. This is especially prevalent in the hospitality industry where specific skill sets are required. There are various areas in hospitality with front desk reception and F&B just a few of the major departments. For these two specific areas, training is absolutely required and there are dozens of courses that target these. Kitchen management, food service, customer relations and even bartending are just some common examples of courses that hospitality professionals are usually required to undergo. Other establishments also require selected employees to possess certifications or licenses. Chefs, housekeeping staff or sales associates can be certified in various specialized fields. This is often just a plus or an extra advantage to add to a list of skills and expertise. In addition, refresher courses are also other ways of training. Many employees are often required to upgrade their skills or refresh their knowledge on certain areas in their profession. Hand-on Training. Like in a lot of areas, people learn on the job. Theories and lectures can only take one so far. It must be coupled with actual work experience and interactive learning. In the field of hospitality, this cannot be stressed enough. It is one thing to learn about a particular dish or recipe, it is completely another thing to actually prepare it and serve it to a hungry customer. Hands-on training, such as the one previously described, is crucial in any hotelier or restaurateur’s career. Sometimes, there is no other way to go other than to just dive into a task and learn along the way. It is important to note that with this form of training, mistakes and misunderstandings are inevitable and it is perfectly acceptable to commit mistakes as it is all part of the learning process. Team Building. It may not be the usual course of training, but there is always bound to be something learned when people are made to interact with each other, especially if it is aimed at professional development purposes or reaching a shared goal. Restaurants, hotels and similar establishments ought to encourage team building activities with the goal of allowing people to learn from one another. Whether it is sharing best practices or strengthening professional and personal bonds, there are more positive benefits than negative when it comes to team building. To illustrate, co-workers from completely different departments would have the opportunity to see and learn what other departments’ roles and responsibilities are when they are made to interact with one another in a team building session. Role Playing. Role playing can be an effective training tool when used properly. Especially in a field like hospitality where hands-on training is viewed as practical and is widely practiced, role playing can help a new hire or trainee immediately get the feel of how it is to work ‘on the floor’. For example, a training session could consist of a group of newly hired waiters who are then made to assume various roles. One employee acts as a customer while the other trainee acts as his server and takes his order. Simple scenes like these are basic but help new hires and inexperienced employees gain the necessary confidence and skills in order to do their jobs well.

Areas of Hospitality Training 

Most people have standard ideas when it comes to the hotel and hospitality industry. You have the front desk officers, housekeeping staff, servers, doormen, etc. All these may be considered front of house or just the ones you see working in plain sight. However, there are also those employees working behind the scenes- preparing your food, doing your laundry or even keeping your guest records. There are several areas in hospitality that require special training- regardless if one is only starting out in the industry or if one is a seasoned hotelier. The examples below are some of the primary and universal areas in the hospitality trade.

Customer Service. Customer service and relations is almost always associated with hotel services and restaurant service. All professionals in hospitality encounter customers one way or another; whether it is the valet who parks guests’ cars, the front office receptionist, the general manager or even the maintenance man. Excellent customer service is often a top priority in most establishments. Dealing with customers takes patience and requires sufficient training. There are standard rules and procedures for hospitality practitioners and these are often cascaded down to new hires and employees in order to implement consistent customer service patterns across all departments. Banquet. Hotels and restaurants fall under the service industry where one of the primary services are food and beverage. Hotel employees who are tasked to cover banquets and events require the necessary training in food and beverage. Not only are these professionals concerned about what to serve their patrons, but how to present the food and retain their customers after serving them. Training in food and beverage takes time and experience. Some have even trained for years mastering their craft and trade in the kitchen. And in a similar way to doctors who enter specialized fields, chefs and mixologists can also focus on certain cuisines or categories of drink. And just like medical school, the expertise on certain cuisines is not gained overnight either. It can take many hours of consistent training and improvement to perfect dishes as well. Etiquette and Professionalism. Since the hospitality industry is primarily part of the service sector, there is a certain need to carry oneself with enough dignity and respect, especially because service requires dealing with people. And it is not only customer service that is at stake, practicing the proper etiquette and exuding professionalism in all aspects of one’s work is expected too. Working in a hotel or even a restaurant requires a basic sense of social etiquette and requires a certain degree of finesse. Fortunately, these characteristics can be learned and taught. With the proper training, hotel staff or restaurant employees can learn how to carry themselves and treat customers with the right manners and social etiquette. Event Management. Another key skill that is vital in hospitality is event management. Many hotels are not merely temporary residences where people spend a few nights. They are also important event venues for all types of occasions. Whether it is a grand wedding, a birthday bash, Christmas party or an international conference, hotels top the list of preferred places for social gatherings and congregations. The organizational skills and coordination skills needed in event management are certainly useful. Employees in hospitality, specifically if their responsibility is managing and coordinating events, need the necessary experience and training in properly executing all kinds of events.

How to Create a Hospitality Training Proposal

To create a hospitality training proposal, you only need the basic components of a formal proposal but modified to make it suit hospitality professionals. If you are a Licensed Trainer or coach, it is imperative for you to be able to get your message across clearly and persuasively. Follow the step-by-step guide below to get started on your own training proposal.

  • Step 1: Set the Objectives

    What is your goal for creating the proposal? It must be made clear what your intentions are for coming up with a comprehensive proposal and for whom it is intended for. This section can serve as an Introductory Section so it should not be too lengthy. Depending on the format you decide, you can create simple bullet points to clearly identify your specific goals for the proposal. In this case, hospitality training can cover a wide range of topics and subtopics. So it would be best if your objectives and goals are adequately described and specified. A couple of objectives would suffice or even a sentence or two for each objective would be ideal.

  • Step 2: Indicate the Scope of Services

    In this section, you need to provide sufficient background of what you intend to offer in the training. It should be an informative account of the program you plan on conveying to the trainees. Enumerate and describe the various services in your proposal. Describe the methods and strategies of your training program as well. It is important to let the client know what is expected of them and what aspects are not included in the training program.

  • Step 3: Detail the Cost and Budget

    Any proposal needs some form of financial support or resources in order to execute it. Apart from creating a feasible Budget Plan, You need to be able to justify the figures that you’ve projected in your proposal. Include a detailed breakdown of the possible costs and estimated expenses of your training. The client would want to know how you intend to spend the financial resources and what amount goes into what. You can also prepare a chart or a graph if it will help you convey your projections more clearly.

  • Step 4: Formulate an Action Plan

    This section should be a deeper dive into what you introduced in your list of services and proposed programs. Make sure to include details in your Action Plans. The more details, the better. Details such as topics set for each day, time, location, reading materials, resource persons and the like will add credibility to your plan. You can make use of timelines and schedules to further organize your action plan. Your proposal ought to be convincing and captivating enough for people to take interest in your plans so you will be able to execute and implement the training program accordingly.

FAQs

What training is needed for hospitality?

Apart from formal degrees in hospitality management and related disciplines, there can be several areas of training for those in the hospitality industry. Some of the most common and universal are customer service, professionalism and etiquette, food and beverage handling and other specialized skills. The type of training needed would depend on the role and position one holds in the hotel or even a restaurant.

Why is hospitality training important?

Training in hospitality is important so one may know what to expect or how to handle certain situations better. Both knowledge and skills are required for anyone who seeks a career in hospitality. More than just standard competence, the proper training and experience can help one succeed in the industry. Whether it is dealing with a difficult customer or perfecting the right dish, training can benefit anyone.

What are some of the training and development for hospitality organizations?

Training and development for hospitality organizations are varied and diverse. From communication skills, customer service, event management, teamwork and even to safety and security, these examples are just some basic training courses for hotel and restaurant staff.

Whatever your purpose is for training hospitality professionals, it is always best to tailor fit it to suit the company culture as well as the needs of the trainees. Browse and customize any of the sample training proposals above to get started on yours today!