WelcomeME Hospitality Training
Earn a free hospitality badge that demonstrates your commitment to service and excellence
WelcomeME is a free online customer service certification program. Designed to support Maine's tourism industry, this training helps create superior customer experiences.
In this training, you'll learn about the types of Maine visitors and things every Maine visitor wants, like great value and a positive service attitude. All students and employees working in hospitality can benefit.
Online program | 1 hour | No cost to trainees
Earn a badge upon completion
Coming soon from Maine's community colleges
New Hospitality Manager Training
Elevate your career in the hospitality industry with our specialized Hospitality Manager training program, tailored for aspiring professionals and businesses who want to upskill existing staff.
This badge program will consist of three trainings:
- Foundations of Hospitality Management
- Basics of Food Cost Controls
- Basics of Labor Cost Controls
Server Training
Our server training is designed to delve into wine, beer, and spirits with these expertly crafted courses. Discover the nuances of flavor, pairings, and service etiquette that will set you apart in the hospitality industry. Elevate your expertise and take your service to new heights.
This badge program will consist of three trainings:
- A Quick Guide to Wine
- A Quick Guide to Beer
- A Quick Guide to Spirits
Hospitality Marketing
Help your business stand out from the competition with this comprehensive curriculum that introduces hospitality marketing essentials. Gain the knowledge and skills to attract more guests and maximize your brand's reach with the tools needed to thrive in the digital age.
This badge program will consist of three trainings:
- Hospitality Marketing Basics
- Marketing with your Website
- Social Media Marketing
Do you want to be notified when these no-cost courses become available?
A skilled workforce
Maine Workforce Development Compact
You're invited to join the Maine Workforce Development Compact, a resource for Maine's employers through the Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine's Workforce and Maine's community colleges.
Get a $1,200 match per employee for training and professional development for 2023 and 2024! See why over 1,500 organizations have accessed resources.
It's free and takes just two minutes to apply!
Easy-to-access solutions
Maine Workforce Development Compact
Use funding to train your frontline workforce through Maine's community colleges, through in-house training, or a trainer you already use. Our goal is to help your employees be more successful.
Learn more
Hospitality Maine Apprenticeship Program
Earn while you learn!
Hospitality is one of Maine's largest industries. The HospitalityMaine Apprenticeship program is a proven workforce method that can strengthen and professionalize the hotel and restaurant workforce in our state.
Enrolled apprentices will EARN while they learn, being taught and coached by experienced professionals at hospitality businesses that are committed to their success. Apprentices receive incremental wage increases as they reach training milestones and earn a certificate of completion from the Maine Department of Labor and industry-recognized credentials.
Whether you are a business looking for talent or a job seeker interested in a management track, explore all that apprenticeship has to offer.
The Maine Office of Tourism works for you
Tourism is one of Maine's largest and most vibrant industries. The Maine Office of Tourism (MOT), a division of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, markets Maine as a tourism destination and helps steer Maine's tourism industry.
Maine's tourism industry continues to grow. Total recent tourism expenditures were over $8.6 billion in 2022. Tourism supported 151,000 jobs and contributed nearly $5.6 billion to Maine's households.
The MOT supports industry partners with
- Research on Tourism's Effects
- Programs and Services, including PR, advertising, marketing, website and digital assets, and more
- Destination Management Plan to help balance industry growth with residential quality of life
The Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine's Workforce manages short-term training programs for Maine's community colleges. Launched in 2021, the Alfond Center will train 24,000 Mainers in four years through pre-hire training programs for underemployed individuals, professional development for frontline incumbent workers, and scholarships for students to continue their training in certificate and degree programs. These initiatives are possible through the generous support of the Harold Alfond Foundation, Maine Quality Centers, Ascendium, and the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan.