Utah Tech University

Greater Zion Hospitality Programs

Guest service is at the heart of every hospitality career. Through DSU’s Greater Zion Hospitality Program, trainees learn to anticipate guest needs, expertly solve problems, and engage with guests to deliver a memorable experience.

The program is a partnership with local industry to improve the knowledge and skills of the workforce in southern Utah and will provide job-specific education for the hospitality and tourism sector of our community. Students who successfully complete the courses will receive industry-recognized certification through the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute.

The first program, Guest Service Gold, is an industry certification program provided by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute. Guest Service Gold trains students on seven key elements to strengthen their ability to overcome hospitality challenges and provide excellent service. Students who complete the Guest Service Gold certification can move forward with higher-level certifications which focus on the positions of restaurant server, front desk representative, and guestroom attendant (coming mid-2020).

Guest Service Gold Certificate

Guest Service Gold® is a comprehensive program for students preparing for careers in the hospitality industry. It is designed to accomplish the goal of creating guest service–oriented employees who know how to engage with their guests in order to provide memorable guest service. Guest service is the heart and soul of hospitality, and every hospitality employee, no matter what their job, needs to have a foundation in guest service.

Audience: Students preparing for careers in the hospitality industry.

Guest Service Gold® features seven guest service elements presented through real stories designed to motivate and inspire. The DVD showcases these stories, while participant workbooks reinforce concepts and provide trainees with additional exercises to practice guest service skills. The program prepares trainees for the exam leading to the Certified Guest Service Professional (CGSP®) designation.

The segments are:

  • Guest Service Gold®: Making Connections
  • Authenticity: Keep It Real!
  • Intuition: Read the Need!
  • Empathy: Use your Heart!
  • Champion: Be a Guest Hero!
  • Delight: Provide a Surprise!
  • Delivery: Follow Through!
  • Initiative: Make the Effort!

Students who complete either Guest Service Gold® training program are eligible to become certified by taking a 30-question certification exam and scoring 70% or above. Successful candidates will earn the Certified Guest Service Professional® CGSP® designation, to include a certificate and lapel pin to wear in recognition of their guest service knowledge and skills.

4 Hour Course

Price: $95

Registration Information

Certified Front Desk Representative

Front desk representatives play a key role in creating an excellent guest experience. The Front Desk Representative Certification helps ensure that these employees are skilled at the many tasks they must perform to provide an outstanding experience for guests. The certification is supported by the AHLAEI START and quickSTART (Skills, Tasks, and Results Training) programs through the educational arm of the American Hotel & Lodging Association and the National Restaurant Association. START resources present concise instructions for training new or prospective employees on how to perform key tasks correctly, along with the general hospitality knowledge and soft skills needed in the hospitality industry. Our instructors have also incorporated knowledge specific to the Greater Zion area that will enhance the employee’s knowledge and abilities to better cater to the region’s unique needs.

12 Hour Course

Price: $295

Registration Information

Certified Restaurant Server

When it comes to an outstanding dining experience, guests rely on restaurant servers. The Certified Restaurant Server designation recognizes the high level of professionalism that is needed to succeed and to bring outstanding service to every guest. The certification is supported by the AHLAEI START and quickSTART (Skills, Tasks, and Results Training) programs through the educational arm of the American Hotel & Lodging Association and the National Restaurant Association. START resources present concise instructions for training new or prospective employees on how to perform key tasks correctly, along with the general hospitality knowledge and soft skills needed in the hospitality industry. Our instructors have also incorporated knowledge specific to the Greater Zion area that will enhance the employee’s knowledge and abilities to better cater to the region’s unique needs.

12 Hour Course

Price: $295

Registration Information