Hotel Associate Apprenticeship Program (HAAP)
Exclusive Opportunity to Recruit Top Talent from GCC’s A.S. in International Hotel Management
For more information: Carol Cruz, Department Chairperson
Hospitality and Tourism Department, Guam Community College
carol.cruz@guamcc.edu
Addressing Your Hospitality Workforce Needs with HAAP
It’s a growing challenge for hospitality businesses to find skilled and reliable workers in today’s job market. The Hotel Associate Apprenticeship Program (HAAP) offers a solution by connecting employers with motivated students who are trained, ready, and motivated to build their careers in the industry. With HAAP, you gain exclusive access to a pool of candidates who receive hands-on training aligned with the needs of your business and while pursuing their post-secondary education in the A.S. in International Hotel Management. This program also supports retention, which means apprentices with the skills and commitment to stay and grow within your organization.
What is HAAP?
The Hotel Associate Apprenticeship Program (HAAP) is a two-year, competency-based apprenticeship designed to provide students with hands-on training and real-world experience in hotel operations. This program prepares apprentices with the essential skills needed for successful careers in the hospitality industry, focusing on areas such as customer service, front office operations, housekeeping, human resources, marketing, and international hotel management. The program includes on-the-job training (OJT) and related instruction, offering apprentices a comprehensive understanding of hotel operations while developing crucial leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills. By completing this program, apprentices will have gained significant experience and practical knowledge, preparing them for various roles within the hospitality industry.
HAAP is closely aligned with the Associate of Science in International Hotel Management (IHM) at the Guam Community College. Students in the program combine coursework like Hospitality Supervision, Front Office Operations, Intro to MICE, International Hotel Development, and Hospitality & Travel Marketing with on-the-job training. World language courses, such as Korean or Japanese, further enhance their world language skills. Through HAAP, students gain both practical experience and an academic foundation, preparing them for success in the global hospitality industry. Employers benefit from a pipeline of skilled, motivated workers ready to meet the industry's needs.
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Ready-to-Work College Students: HAAP students are not just learning in the classroom—they’re gaining hands-on experience, making them job-ready upon graduation. Aligned with A.S. in International Hotel Management: The program directly complements GCC’s A.S. in International Hotel Management, ensuring apprentices graduate with both practical skills and academic credentials. Employer Recruitment Advantage: Employers who participate in the program have exclusive access to students who are actively developing the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for full-time hotel associate positions. Customer Service Excellence: With a strong emphasis on guest relations, HAAP students are trained to provide top-tier customer service, ensuring a positive experience for hotel guests. More Qualified Employees for the Industry: By integrating industry-specific training with college-level courses, HAAP produces highly qualified candidates ready to meet the demands of Guam’s hospitality industry. |
Why Partner with GCC’s HAAP?
Outreach Engagement with Hospitality Students: Employers have the opportunity to directly engage with students pursuing an A.S. in International Hotel Management, offering valuable apprenticeship opportunities that support career growth. Academic advisors can disseminate key information about the hotel’s latest announcements and apprenticeship openings. This outreach ensures students stay informed about apprenticeship opportunities that align with their academic and professional goals, fostering a strong foundation for success.
Quality Workforce: Employers gain access to students who are trained in essential hospitality areas such as customer service, accounting, front office operations, and housekeeping, event planning, marketing, world language skills and more. Employers can hire from a workforce that has the knowledge, skills and abilities but also passionate about pursuing a career in hospitality.
Customizable Standards: Employers have the flexibility to tailor apprenticeship training to meet the specific needs of their business, all while ensuring the training aligns with the rigorous standards of the International Hotel Management (IHM) program. This customization ensures both the employer and student benefit from an apprenticeship program that remains rigorous and aligned with industry expectations.
Enhanced Retention and Reduced Turnover: One of the major advantages of partnering with GCC’s HAAP is the potential for enhanced employee retention. Apprentices have the potential to stay long-term and grow within the company through the employer’s wage progression and strong mentorship. As apprentices build their skills and experience, they naturally feel a stronger sense of belonging with their employer. This reduces turnover and builds a more dedicated, skilled workforce over time.
Employer Benefits
By supporting HAAP, employers promote workforce development and strengthen the community by helping students achieve academic and career success.
The structured wage progression within HAAP and mentoring from experienced hotel professionals encourage apprentice retention. Employers benefit from lower turnover rates and can cultivate a long-term, reliable talent pool for their organization.
The Department of Labor has more information on tax incentives for employers to encourage hiring and workforce development.
Outline of Related Training and Instruction (RTI)
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FIRST YEAR - Semester 1 |
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45 |
HS150 |
Welcome to Hospitality |
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45 |
HS152 |
Customer Service |
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FIRST YEAR - Semester 2 |
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45 |
HS158 |
Introduction to MICE (Course substitution for HS208) |
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45 |
HS160 |
Hospitality Supervision |
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45 |
HS211 |
Managing Front Office Operations |
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SECOND YEAR - Semester 3 |
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45 |
HS215 |
Managing Housekeeping Operations |
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45 |
HS216 |
Human Resources Management |
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45 |
HS155 |
Basic Hotel & Restaurant Accounting or AC211 Accounting Principles I |
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60 |
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KE110 KE111 Korean II (4), JA110 Japanese I (4), or JA111 Japanese II (4) |
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SECOND YEAR - Semester 4 |
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45 |
HS254 |
Hospitality & Travel Marketing |
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45 |
HS266 |
International Hotels Development & Management |
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45 |
HS292 |
Hospitality and Tourism Practicum |
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45 |
HS268 |
Managing Technology in the Hospitality Industry |
How to get started:
- Contact the Department Chairperson for a sample Appendix A which includes the work process standards and related training and instruction that is aligned with the A.S. in International Hotel Management.
- Discuss the program with the Department of Labor
- Provide application instructions and other hotel-related documents to the Department Chairperson for distribution.
- Communicate with GCC’s Apprenticeship Program, Continuing Education and Workforce Development.
- Recruit, Interview and Schedule
