United Nations World Tourism Organization Launches High School Toolkit with the AHLEI

The American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) is proud to announce a new joint resource launched with the support of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a UN agency focused on responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism. The UNWTO Education Toolkit for the Incorporation of Tourism as a Subject in High Schools aims to better prepare a generation for employment in the hospitality and tourism industry.

The new Education Toolkit is a collaborative effort from the AHLEI and UNWTO. It was created to address a concerning lack of education amongst the youngest members of the global tourism workforce. In their press release, the UNTWO writes:

Tourism is the top employer of youth: over 50% of its workers are aged 25 years old or less, while around 882,000 tourism jobs per year will require vocational training by 2030. The UNWTO Education Toolkit offers an overview of the current status of high schools and vocational education training worldwide, it also gives recommendations derived from the contributions of UNWTO member states, non-member states and academic partners and it also presents successful case studies of integrating tourism education and training in public and private schools.

Inside the New High School Tourism Education Toolkit

AHLEI’s Hospitality Tourism Management (HTM) program is highlighted within the toolkit as a comprehensive offering to support teaching tourism as a subject in high schools. Students receive a broad introduction to the world of hospitality, and key concepts including:

Career Readiness Skills

AHLEI recognizes the importance of career readiness skills for students, regardless of the industry they choose. These programs help students develop essential skills within the context of a hospitality workplace, preparing them for success in their future careers.

Hospitality as a Business

The HTM curriculum emphasizes the concrete knowledge and skills necessary for sustained success within the hospitality industry. The content incorporates detailed examples that showcase how hotels and other hospitality establishments implement best practices using innovative and creative methods.

Math Principles

AHLEI recognizes the cross-curricular connections between hospitality and other disciplines such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and language arts. Math principles relevant to the industry provide students with key formulas and calculations used daily by hospitality professionals.

Advantages for high school students included in the HTM program:

• An industry-driven curriculum
• Flexibility
• Comprehensive coverage
• Career growth preparation
• Student engagement Educator resources

HTM prepares students to take the Hospitality and Tourism Specialist (HTS) credential exam. They can earn a certificate endorsed by some of the top hospitality brands in the world and enter a tourism career with confidence.

Strengthening the Global Tourism Industry

When speaking about this initiative, the UNWTO Secretary General, Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili stated that “Education is a strategic priority for the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). By providing Member States with a well-prepared tourism workforce capable of meeting both current and future market demands, education serves to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of destinations.”

The AHLEI is proud to support this new global resource from the UNWTO, designed to strengthen tourism through high-school education. To download the AHLEI/UNWTO HTM brochure, please click here.

Click here to explore all our high school resources for launching students into successful hospitality careers.