Orlando, Florida, February 24, 2015 — The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) has committed to offering four-year scholarships to members of the top three winning teams of the 2015 HTMP International Competition hosted by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI). The 12th annual competition will be held April 23-25 at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida, and will bring together teams of enthusiastic, motivated high school hospitality students who will demonstrate their skills and knowledge as they compete for scholarships to leading hospitality programs.

The Culinary Institute of America is a new scholarship provider this year. Founded in 1946, the CIA is an independent, not-for-profit college offering associate and bachelor’s degrees with majors in culinary arts, baking and pastry arts, management, culinary science, and applied food studies, as well as certificate programs. The college has campuses in New York, California, Texas, and Singapore and a worldwide network of nearly 50,000 alumni that includes leaders in every area of foodservice and hospitality.

The CIA has pledged scholarships in the following amounts: For the first-place team, $4,000 per student, renewable for four years; for the second-place team, $3,500 per student, renewable for four years; and for the third-place team, $3,000 per student, renewable for four years. The total value of the scholarship packages equals $168,000.

The student teams that compete in the annual competition are enrolled in high school programs that use AHLEI’s Hospitality and Tourism Management Program (HTMP) curriculum, which introduces them to the many opportunities available in the hospitality industry and guides them on a career path. Competition segments include:

  • Hospitality Project Presentation (Includes an event proposal, BEO, menu and floor layout)
  • Night Audit/Hotel Accounting
  • Housekeeping Room Inspection
  • Sales & Marketing Case Study
  • Food & Beverage Case Study
  • Guest Service Case Study
  • Knowledge Bowl (quiz-style question and answer segment)

For more information on the 2015 HTMP International Competition, including sponsorship, scholarship, and judging opportunities, please contact Shelly Weir, AHLEI’s vice president, domestic sales, at [email protected].