Issue date: April, 10, 2003

MSU offers no-cost, online training to tourism industry

By Russ White

MSU’s Travel, Tourism and Recreation Resource Center and Michigan’s Department of Park, Recreation and Tourism Resources recently introduced three no-cost virtual training courses for tourism industry professionals created by Michigan Tourism Virtual Training Academy (MTVTA) staff.

The three courses – “Overcoming Challenging Service Situations in Tourism,” “Communications to Develop Relationships in Tourism” and “Advancing Your Service Expertise in Tourism” – are now available online at www.tourismcenter.msu.edu/

Two additional courses, “Dynamics of Leadership in Tourism” and “Writing a Marketing Plan for Tourism” are under development. MTVTA’s staff develops self-paced, specialized tourism and hospitality skills training courses that are offered free of charge.

The courses are designed to be:

convenient, flexible, self-paced, simple, and easy to follow;
no or low cost – Michigan businesses with 25 or fewer employees may use the courses free of charge; a nominal fee is charged to businesses with more than 25 employees;
time efficient – no travel is necessary and learning may take place during breaks or “down time”;
relevant to all employees in Michigan’s diverse tourism industry; and
provide a certificate of accomplishment upon completion of each course.

“The premise here is that as a service industry it is important that employees deliver consistent, high-quality service to guests,” said Don Holecek, director of MSU’s Tourism Center. “If we do that for a statewide audience, Michigan can gain an advantage in the highly competitive tourism industry.”