Take a Course

Take control of your professional development with AHLEI’s online distance learning
courses. Learn at your own pace and on your own schedule, with textbooks used in leading
college hospitality management programs. Take a single course, or complete additional
courses to earn curriculum certificates or a hospitality management diploma.

Home / Individuals / Take a Course

We know you’re committed to your ongoing hospitality education and professional development. That’s why AHLEI offers more than 20 hospitality management online courses. ​

Customize your learning by taking individual courses or a series of classes to earn an Area of Specialization certificate, a Hospitality Fundamentals certificate, a Hospitality Operations certificate, or a Hospitality Management Diploma.​

Enroll by using our online application.

Have questions about enrollment procedures? Please contact us at learning@ahlei.org.​

To review the syllabus for any of the courses, please refer to our Course Syllabi Catalog.

Individual Course Offerings

AHLEI Distance Learning courses use the same hospitality management textbook content used in major colleges and universities. You get college-level material without the time or expense of enrolling in a college program.

Accounting & Finance

Accounting for Hospitality Managers # 362
Learn to understand and apply hospitality departmental accounting at the supervisory and managerial levels. This course includes information on budgeting expenses, forecasting sales, and financial decision making.

Hospitality Industry Managerial Accounting # 462
This textbook includes everything students will need to gain a clear understanding of managerial accounting in a hospitality setting. The new edition reflects tax changes and updated operating statistics. It also has sections on revenue management and dynamic pricing, accounting for gift cards, unsecured bank loans, and profitability indexes.

Hospitality Industry Financial Accounting # 260
This course is a comprehensive introduction to hospitality accounting. You’ll learn about the responsibilities of a hotel’s accounting department, advantages and drawbacks of various types of statements and reports, the role of inventory in calculating profit, and more. You do not need any prior accounting experience to take this course. This course may be used as a prerequisite for course 462.

Hotel and Restaurant Accounting # 261
This is AHLEI’s foundational, introductory accounting course. You need no prior accounting experience to take this course. This course will help you develop a solid understanding of hotel and restaurant accounting procedures, with a focus on the computerized accounting used in today’s hospitality accounting situations. You’ll learn about taxation of business income, the role of governmental agencies, and how to read and analyze financial statements. The most recent edition of this textbook incorporate several chapters from Accounting for Hospitality Managers #362.

​Food & Beverage

Food Safety: Managing with the HACCP System # 245
This textbook presents the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) method of food safety in a systematic, understandable format ideal for both staff training and classroom teaching. Clearly defined terms, detailed lists of food safety responsibilities, and checklists for all control points show you how to apply the concepts in the textbook to an actual food service operation.

Management of Food and Beverage Operations # 241
Get the foundation you need to make smart decisions in food and beverage operations. This course shows how to give guests the highest priority as all details of the food and beverage operation are planned, implemented, and evaluated. You’ll learn how to build business through effective marketing strategies, how to satisfy the food-quality and nutritional demands of guests, and how to increase profits by maximizing service, productivity, and technology.

Managing Beverage Operations # 346
This course prepares you to handle the challenges of managing beverage operations in a hospitality environment, including duties and responsibilities of bartenders and beverage servers, essentials of responsible alcohol service, and product knowledge of beer, spirits, and wines. The course includes preparation for AHLEI’s CARE (Controlling Alcohol Risks Effectively) exam.

Managing Service in Food and Beverage Operations # 349
Service is the key to guest satisfaction. This course shows you how to plan for and successfully manage different types of food and beverage operations, including coffee shops, dining rooms, room service, banquets, on-site food service venues, and more. You’ll gain management know-how, planning skills, and hands-on techniques for consistently delivering quality service in every type of operation. Case studies by industry experts encourage you to think critically about situations you may face on the job.

Planning and Control for Food and Beverage Operations # 464
Learn the most up-to-date control processes used to reduce costs in food and beverage operations worldwide. This revised edition includes new information on multi-unit management, an increased focus on technology applications as they apply to the subject matter, and fewer references to manual operations. New website exhibits make this a cutting-edge resource for food and beverage professionals.

General Hospitality Management

Leadership and Management in the Hospitality Industry # 304
Learn how to improve your leadership abilities and develop an understanding of high-performance teams and employee empowerment. Practical information prepares readers to put quality management tools into action to enhance guest service and increase profitability.

Contemporary Club Management # 313
This course is your introduction to the unique world of private club management. From “crunching the numbers” to providing impeccable service, this course explores the issues that today’s club managers face every day. Loaded with case studies, interviews with club managers, and sample forms and contracts, this course offers a wealth of specialized information.

Understanding Hospitality Law # 391
Legal issues that can affect your property are numerous, and ignorance of the law is no excuse. This course explores laws and regulations affecting the U.S. hospitality industry with many examples and case histories. Topics include protecting guests, loss of property, wages and hours, labor relations, worker’s compensation, franchising, and the Internet. This course is NOT recommended for international students, as it focuses solely on U.S. legal issues.

Introduction to the Hospitality Industry

Hospitality Today: An Introduction # 103
This course takes a management perspective in explaining the organization and structure of hotels, restaurants, casinos, cruise lines, and clubs. It includes information on franchising, management contracts, business ethics, human resources, marketing and much more. Charts, exhibits, hospitality industry statistics, and website listings provide useful information that can be applied on the job.

The Lodging and Food Service Industry # 100
This course is essential for new industry employees and for those who don’t have broad-based industry experience. This course helps you understand the hospitality industry and see how all departments work together. Both lodging and food service are explored. Perspectives from leading hospitality professionals into the issues and challenges facing the hospitality industry today add an important dimension to this course. You’ll also learn about the many career opportunities available in the industry.

Marketing & Sales

Convention Management and Service # 478
This textbook provides readers with the most current and comprehensive coverage of the convention industry, with an in-depth look at conventions and meetings marketing, how to successfully sell to groups, and how to service their business after the sale.

Hospitality Sales and Marketing # 472
Discover how to build a top-flight sales team with creative, successful sales and marketing programs that really work. This course shows how to sell rooms and food and beverage services to business and leisure travelers, travel agents, and meeting planners. Industry professionals provide tips on marketing strategies that work, and sidebars show how concepts presented in the course are applied in today’s industry.

Revenue Management: Maximizing Revenue in Hospitality Operations # 374
Learn the difference between strategic and tactical revenue management and why that distinction is critical, the tools that are available to revenue managers and when to use them, the broad range of information needed to effectively maximize revenue, vital issues to consider before implementing revenue management tactics, how revenue management is often misunderstood and applied inappropriately, the significant potential consequences of using revenue management poorly, as well as the benefits it can provide when done well.

Human Resources

Managing Hospitality Human Resources # 357
Hospitality is a people industry, and this textbook shows how to manage the important human resources who provide services within a hospitality operation. You’ll learn how to fulfill the requirements of U.S. employment and workplace laws, and discover the latest strategies for attracting employees, minimizing turnover, and maximizing productivity.

Supervision in the Hospitality Industry # 250
This course teaches the skills that can help you develop effective supervision and management skills that are essential to success in the industry. Topics include how to recruit, select, and train; increase productivity; control labor costs; communicate effectively; manage conflict and change; and use time management techniques. Resources on creating a professional development plan for your hospitality career can help you set the direction for future educational and professional endeavors.

Rooms Division

Hospitality Facilities Management and Design # 281
Learn how to handle today’s engineering and maintenance concerns. This course covers all major facility systems, including food service equipment and design. Non-engineers can learn how to understand and speak the language of suppliers and maintenance/engineering staff. You’ll also learn techniques to reduce expenses and increase efficiency and learn how the latest technology can streamline operations.

Managing Front Office Operations # 333
Increase front office efficiency and help sales grow with the knowledge and skills gained from this course. Topics include revenue management and the latest technology applications. This course shows how front office activities and functions affect other departments and focuses on how to manage the front office to ensure your property’s goals are met. Case studies and real-world examples present a practical industry focus.

Managing Housekeeping Operations # 338
No property can be profitable without clean rooms and efficient housekeeping operations. Learn what it takes to manage this important department. This course provides a thorough overview, from the big picture of hiring and retaining a quality staff, planning, and organizing, to the technical details for cleaning each area of the hotel. Practical information from industry experts makes the contents of this course immediately applicable to your job situation.

Managing Technology in the Hospitality Industry # 468
Today’s hospitality operations rely increasingly on computer technology. This course provides a solid grounding in hospitality technology and the management of information systems. Content includes applications for all functional areas, including reservations, rooms, food and beverage, sales and event management, and accounting. You’ll learn the basics of purchasing, implementing, maintaining, and managing today’s information systems. This course also explores systems security and maintenance, e-commerce, and hospitality careers in information technology.

Security and Loss Prevention Management # 387
Security is one of the top concerns in today’s hospitality industry. This course provides the background you need to be informed about the security issues and practices that affect your property every day. Topics include the physical security of the property, asset protection, guest protection, security equipment, emergency management and procedures, OSHA requirements, and more. Exhibits, sample forms and documents, and links to safety and security websites make this course practical and relevant.

Pricing

# of Courses Desired Course Price Non-Member Course Price Member*
1 $250 $200
5 (AOS) $1,000 $800
6 (HFP) $1200 $960
8 (HOC) $1,500 $1200
12 (HMD) $2,200 $1,760

 

Join Online Now, to take advantage of a student membership with the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA for just $45 per year.​)

For more information, email the membership department or call them at 202-289-3100.

Liberal Cancellation/Settlement Policy​

We understand that sometimes continuing a study program is impossible. Be assured that our cancellation policy protects you. This policy is detailed on the enrollment application. Review our “Interruption of Training” policy if you need to cancel.

Re-Enrollment Option and Fees​

If you discontinue your studies or if do not complete a course in time and would like to start again where you left off, AHLEI has an easy re-enrollment plan. Contact us to re-enroll, pay a nominal re-enrollment fee of $35 for a single course of $50 for multiple courses, and resume your studies. Any questions about this policy should be directed to the distance learning manager at learning@ahlei.org.

Retake Policy and Fees​

If you do not pass the final examination, you may retake it once at no charge. You may retake a second time for $35. If you do not pass the exam the third time, you can re-enroll in the course at the current fee.​

Distance Learning Application

Please be as detailed as possible in your responses.​ Please have all information ready to fill out this form including: Your Personal Information, Study Program and Courses You Desire, and Credit Card or Wire Transfer Information​.

Please make sure you have the time to fill out this form. It will take 15-20 minutes to complete. If you leave your computer for more than 20 minutes during the application process your information may be lost.

Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there requirements for enrolling in Distance Learning?​

No, there are no requirements or prerequisites for enrollment, although we suggest that students be proficient at reading English.​

What is the time frame for completing each course?​

You have four months to complete your course from the time you receive your course materials. Distance learning is a self-paced program. Each course has about 40 hours of learning content. ​

Can I re-enroll in a Distance Learning course or curriculum if my completion date has passed?​

Yes, you just need to re-enroll. Contact us, pay a nominal re-enrollment fee of $35 for a single course of $50 for multiple courses, and resume your studies. It’s as easy as that. ​

Are there payment plans available? ​

No, we do not have a payment plan available. However, you can purchase course by course as you advance in your learning path. We accept credit cards, checks, money orders, and wire transfers.​

Are there any discounts available?​

We do not have any discounts other than those offered to AHLA members. Your two options are purchasing single courses or purchasing an entire curriculum/program at once.​

Do you accept financial aid? ​

No, because we are not a school, we do not offer or accept financial aid.​

The online application is totaling the whole program. How do I manually choose the courses I want to take first?

If you prefer to pay as you go, choose the Individual Courses option in step 2 of the application. This will allow you to choose one or more courses manually.  The application will then total the price according to how many courses were chosen.  If you are already a distance learning student, please add “STU-(student number)” in the comments field of step 1.​

Can I get college credit for completing AHLEI’s online courses? ​

The American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT) has evaluated and recommended college credit for several AHLEI’s courses and the Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA). Through this program, these courses have gone through a rigorous, judicious and reliable third-party evaluation process. The ACE credit recommendation bestowed on these courses signifies that, through this process, the review team found that the learning outcomes of our courses meet those of accredited colleges and universities. ​

ACE’s College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT) connects workplace learning with colleges and universities by helping adults gain access to academic credit at colleges and universities for formal courses and examinations taken in the workplace or other settings outside traditional higher education. The service reviews programs and assigns to them a suggested level of college credit. Individuals applying to a college or university may submit ACE-recommended programs for possible awarding of college credit by that institution. For more information, visit the ACE CREDIT Transcript Service website at http://www.acenet.edu/acecredit.  Contact the ACE office through e-mail at credit@ace.nche.edu . They also have a Call Center 1-202-939-9434 staffed Monday through Friday 8:45 am to 4:45 pm EST.

© 2019 American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute

Individuals

Lodging

Academic

Workforce

International

About AHLEI