Gain Skills and Experience to Succeed and Advance in Vermont’s Tourism Industry
The University of Vermont’s Professional and Continuing Education division (PACE) is launching a new Hospitality Management Professional Certificate to immediately address workforce challenges in Vermont’s hospitality sector and support the state’s need for a skilled, career-oriented tourism and lodging workforce.
This customizable six-course certificate offers a pathway to career transformation for those interested in pursuing an extended career in hospitality, and will focus on sustainable operations, marketing and sales, food and beverage, facilities, revenue management, human resources, and more.
“Hospitality is one of Vermont’s largest economic sectors, and there is a high demand for developing a skilled workforce as the industry continues to return to its pre-pandemic strength,” said Bettyjo Bouchey, PACE Chief Officer. “By offering this certificate, we are strengthening the talent pipeline for the hospitality industry and ensuring sustainable growth. This initiative reflects UVM’s land-grant mission to serve the state of Vermont by addressing critical workforce needs and expanding career training and professional development opportunities.”
The Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing encouraged the creation of this certificate program and supported its curriculum development with grant funding as part of its work to support the state’s thriving visitor economy.
“Tourism is a $4 billion dollar industry that fuels Vermont’s economy,” says Tourism and Marketing Commissioner Heather Pelham. “In order for us to continue to deliver an extraordinary visitor experience that keeps our guests coming back, we need to invest in our hospitality sector with efforts like this one which will cultivate talent and support our businesses who share our vision for making Vermont a premier stop on every traveler’s list.”
Gain Skills and Hands-on Experience
Premier Destination Properties Across Vermont’s $4B Tourism Industry
This customizable six-course certificate offers a pathway to career transformation for those interested in pursuing an extended career in hospitality, and will focus on sustainable operations, marketing and sales, food and beverage, facilities, revenue management, human resources, and more.
Hospitality Certificate Curriculum
The certificate features three core courses focused on Sustainable Operations, Marketing and Sales, and Hospitality Accounting, two specialized electives including topics such as Front Office, Food and Beverage, Facilities Management, Event Planning, and Human Resource Management, and one Capstone Paid Internship at one of Vermont’s renowned destination properties, with housing available, providing a unique hands-on learning experience at participating properties in Vermont.
Partnerships with the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing, Vermont Lodging Association, Vermont Chamber of Commerce, and other organizations provide unmatched support for instruction, marketing, and overall student success.
Participating properties include:
HOTELS
Hotel Vermont
Burlington, VT
Hotel Champlain
Burlington, VT
Doubletree Hilton Burlington
Burlington, VT
Courtyard Burlington Harbor
Burlington, VT
RESORTS
Jay Peak Resort
Jay, VT
Basin Harbor Resort
Vergennes, VT
Topnotch Resort
Stowe, VT
Trapp Family Lodge
Stowe, VT
INNS
Woodstock Inn and Resort
Woodstock, VT
The Dorset Inn
Dorset, VT
Barrows House
Dorset, VT
The Inn at Manchester
Manchester, VT
Hosted by UVM’s Rubenstein School
Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Program (PRT)
This certificate provides a strong academic foundation complemented by support from a diverse array of subject matter experts including Vermont tourism industry veterans, hotel executives, resort directors, and tourism consultants. This access to industry leaders provides participants unparalleled insights into the modern challenges and opportunities of hospitality management and tourism.
2025 Scholarship
UVM PACE is providing this Hospitality Management Certificate Program at no cost to eligible participants in 2025. By removing the short-term financial barriers to pursuing professional upskilling, career opportunities in Vermont’s tourism sector will be more accessible than ever and during a critical time of necessary workforce growth.
How to Register
Registration is now open for the Hospitality Management Professional Certificate program. Online courses begin on April 7 for the first cohort of learners and May 5 for the second cohort. UVM PACE will offer a waitlist to follow these first two learner cohorts, with plans to continue the program in the future to meet the demands of the industry.
To learn more and register, visit: go.uvm.edu/hospitality-certificate.
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Vermont’s Hospitality Workforce | By the Numbers
• Researchers found that 15.8 million guests came to Vermont in 2023, showing a sustained return to pre-pandemic visitation *
• The visitor economy in Vermont supported 31,053 jobs in 2024 **
• Visitor spending represents 9.3% of Vermont’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is significantly higher than the national state average of 3.0% (2022 data) *
• The data also examines employment by county. Every county in Vermont employs people who work in the tourism sector. The top three counties by percentage of jobs supported by the visitor economy are Lamoille, Windsor, and Rutland Counties. *
* According to the VDTM report, “Economic Impact of Visitors in Vermont 2023”
** Source: Tourism Economics, Longwoods International
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