NEW YORK -- The NYU School of Professional Studies Jonathan M. Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism signed a memorandum of understanding with Hospitality and Financial Technology Professionals (HFTP), a nonprofit association that is recognized as the spokes group for the finance and technology segments of the hospitality industry. The agreement between the two organizations will create a joint program featuring a newly designed, 14-week class that helps Tisch Center undergraduate and graduate students become more involved in HFTP initiatives.

The agreement also provides students with the opportunity to achieve HFTP Certified Hospitality Technology Professional (CHTP) student certification by passing an exam once they have successfully competed the class. They will then have four years to meet the hospitality experience requirement as defined on the CHTP application to attain full certification status. Students must become members of HFTP in order to participate in the program.

As part of the agreement, NYUSPS will start an NYU HFTP student chapter and will appoint an HFTP faculty adviser who will teach the class and oversee program offerings. HFTP will provide all information and instructional documents for the certification class, will wave the certification examination fee, and will provide internship and volunteer opportunities to those students who join the student chapter.

Nicolas Graf, associate dean of the NYUSPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism, who was instrumental in moving this initiative forward, commented "We are delighted that through our agreement with HFTP, we will be able to offer our students additional educational and credentialing opportunities in areas that are driving forces in the hospitality industry."

"Receiving a hospitality designation from HFTP is a good way for students to jump-start their professional careers in hospitality," said HFTP CEO Frank Wolfe. "HFTP's certification programs are globally recognized for setting industry standards for hospitality finance and technology."

The collaboration with HFTP is one of many ongoing initiatives in which the NYU School of Professional Studies is engaging to provide invaluable professional experience to its students in the industry verticals it serves.

About Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) established in 1952, is an international, nonprofit association, headquartered in Austin, Texas USA, with offices in Hong Kong, United Kingdom, The Netherlands and Dubai. HFTP is recognized as the spokes group for the finance and technology segments of the hospitality industry with members and stakeholders spanning across the globe. HFTP also owns the world's only hospitality-specific search engine, PineappleSearch.com®.

About the NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality

The NYU School of Professional Studies Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, now celebrating 25 years of academic excellence, is a leading center for the study of hospitality, travel, and tourism. Founded in 1995, the Tisch Center was established in response to the growing need for hospitality and tourism undergraduate and graduate education. Its cutting-edge curricula attract bright, motivated students who seek to become leaders in their fields.

Through its undergraduate degree in hotel and tourism management, its graduate degrees in hospitality industry studies, tourism management, and event management; a plethora of Professional Pathways programs; and its world-renowned hospitality investment conference, students gain the knowledge and the skill sets that enable them to manage change, to communicate, to thrive in complex work environments, and to advance the businesses of hospitality, travel, and tourism. The Tisch Center recently launched the Hospitality Innovation Hub (HI Hub), which will foster entrepreneurship and creative solutions for the industries it serves. The state-of-the-art facilities offer students, start-ups, established industry partners, and investors opportunities to learn, discover, innovate, and invest.

For more information about the NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, visit sps.nyu.edu/tisch.