NEW YORK—The Academy for Hospitality Arts (AHA) has launched COVID-19 safety training courses to help hospitality workers prepare for re-openings. Foodservice professionals can now ensure hotels and restaurants reopen and remain open safely. Even while vaccine distribution is underway, COVID-19 remains an issue for dining establishments.
The AHA has been working behind the scenes to:
- educate service industry workers on how to mitigate the spread of the virus;
- train front-of-house management with the highest standards of safety, sanitation, and compliance; and
- make sure restaurants, hotels, and events can re-open and remain open safely.
The AHA has overhauled its education to meet the most stringent health standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
There are two specific programs to ensure an individual is ready to get back to work:
- COVID-19 Readiness Program (CRC) for wait staff and servers; and
2. COVID Hospitality Compliance Officer (CHCO), for management.
Both programs prepare hospitality professionals for:
- the increase in new daily protocols from cleaning and disinfecting;
- the increase in protection of customers;
- conflict resolution protocols; and
- identifying symptoms, isolation precautions, and much more.
“COVID-19 safety standards have raised the bar like never before,” says Michael DiPeri, President and Founder of AHA. “These programs will increase the confidence of both food service workers and the customers we serve.”
The CRC and CHCO safety training mission is to reinforce a culture of safety for staff and guests and help businesses avoid costly fines.
“People are ready to get back to their families, celebrations, and life as it was before COVID. Caution and compliance will be at the forefront of everyone’s mind,” says Stephen Ruggieri, Director of Training & Development. “Our graduates serve as the frontline compliance officers to make sure everyone from food servers and bussers to bartenders and management are protecting customers and the safety of everyone.”
Anyone interested in learning more about the AHA’s COVID-19 safety training courses can register for the live training or visit the AHA website for details. Live online classes begin January 26, 2021, and will be available online and instructor-led through accredited colleges and universities as part of a partnership between Lovegevity University and the Academy for Hospitality Arts.
