In 2000, the Pennsylvania Tourism & Lodging Association (PTLA) launched the Lodging Management Program (LMP) in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The purpose of the program is to provide juniors and seniors in high schools with academic instruction and work experience to prepare them for jobs within the lodging industry, or for the pursuit of industry-related post-secondary education. The comprehensive instructional materials reflect industry standards and students successfully completing both the school-based and work-based components receive a Certificate of Mastery from the Educational Institute (EI) of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA). EI is the world leader in providing educational and professional development opportunities for the hospitality industry and is the only industry-led organization in the United States offering a lodging-related secondary school credential.

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PTLA performs all of the activities necessary to identify appropriate school sites, train school staff, secure and support industry participation, and monitor the implementation of the program.

There is not a one-size-fits-all method of how a school must go about offering the Lodging Management Program. A variety of approaches are currently being utilized, including mounting the LMP as a stand-alone program or mounting it as part of an existing program. Some schools are offering the LMP program for seniors only, while others are beginning with 10th graders.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has made a significant investment in the LMP effort, including sufficient funds to enable PTLA to continue to service participating schools, as well as to recruit new schools to initiate the LMP. PTLA's goal is to continue recruiting schools each year. Several lodging industry partners, including the American Express Foundation, Crown American Hotels, Harrisburg Hotel Corporation, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company, Horst Hotels, Mountain View Inn, Willow Valley Associates, and the Dauphin County Lodging Association made initial substantial investments in the program, too.

The START (Skills, Tasks, and Results Training) was created as a result of discussions with workforce development professionals. They felt it was important to have career training that focused on the actual skills and tasks needed to secure a job and move up the career ladder. The course is designed to include 180 hours of classroom/hands-on learning and cover 12 of the major line-level positions in the hospitality industry. The curriculum can be used for both youth and adults. The classes can be provided by One-Stop Centers, community or faith-based organizations, community colleges, or high schools. Graduates of the START class receive a Certificate of Completion from the Educational Institute. In addition, after 90 days on the job, the graduate qualifies for professional industry certification for their current position. These certifications are recognized nationally.

Monroe Career and Technical Institute Students
Place 1st in Lodging Management Program State Competition

Four students from the Monroe Career & Technical Institute placed first in the Lodging Management Program (LMP) State Competition. This competition was held March 7 - 9, 2011, at the Nittany Lion Inn in State College, PA. The team was comprised of Michelle Cotumaccio, Isaiah Griffin, Namansa Marah and Alfredo Roman. Their instructor is Patricia LeCompte.

The Monroe Career & Technical Institute Team: (L-R) Patricia LeCompte (instructor), Alfredo Roman, Michelle Cotumaccio, Namansa Marah, and Isaiah Griffin.

Students competed against other qualified high school teams in a variety of activities designed to test their skill-level and professionalism in the hospitality management field. In order to compete, all students and their schools must first comply with very strict educational program standards as dictated by the Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

Second place in the overall competition went to the team from Columbia-Montour Area Vocational Technical School: Amber Schaffer, Jessica Smith, Brooke Travelpiece, Britney Zumerling, and Instructor Eric Beishline. The third place team from Erie County Technical School consisted of Danielle Daire, Natasha Forbush, Kaylie Mallette, Shayla Riefstahl, and Instructor Robert Craft.

The PA Hospitality Foundation sponsors this event in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Penn State Hospitality Services.

Scholarships are provided from Johnson & Wales University, to the top 3 winning team members to be used for their post-secondary education.

The students from Monroe Career & Technical institute will now represent Pennsylvania at the 2012 Lodging Management Program National Competition on March 28-30, 2012 in Orlando, Florida. The Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Association produces this event