The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (EI) has revised its Certified Food & Beverage Executive (CFBE) professional certification program to better reflect current food and beverage trends and standards. EI added new content areas and competencies to all six CFBE knowledge domains based on input from more than 60 industry subject matter experts and the EI Certification Commission. The domain areas covered in the program are: managing food operations, managing beverage operations, marketing and sales management, financial management, leadership, and human resources management.

In addition to content changes, the CFBE resource materials included in the certification fee have also been reformatted. Candidates now receive a competency-based exam preparation booklet with three-volume resource materials on CD for ease in studying and reviewing relevant content. There is also a new review session with PowerPoint presentations, new sample exam questions, and new certification exam questions.

The CFBE program is the highest professional certification for food and beverage executives offered by EI. Candidates must hold a position as an executive level manager or food and beverage director of a hotel food and beverage operation, general manager of a freestanding restaurant, or executive chef with at least two years’ experience in one or more qualifying positions (or have one year of experience in a qualifying position, plus at least a two-year post-secondary degree or completion of EI’s Food and Beverage Management Area of Specialization).

“The CFBE is very focused; it covers the real nuts and bolts of doing the job,” said Raymond Burton, CHA, CFBE, CHE, senior F&B consultant, North America, Intercontinental Hotel Group. He teaches CFBE review sessions for food and beverage directors working for IHG’s Holiday Inn brand, which mandates the CFBE. “It gives us the ability to gauge someone’s true dedication to their profession. Earning the CFBE shows that they are serious about F&B.”

The cost of the CFBE program is $350 for AH&LA members; $475 for nonmembers.

For additional information or to download an application, visit . Or call 888-575-8726 or 407-999-8100.

Elizabeth Johnson
Marketing and Communications Manager
517-318-2359
Educational Institute