The department was started in 1995 by the government, offering Craft Certificate in Food and Beverage Service and Sales. It received donations of some large and small equipment from GTZ, as a prerequisite to teaching of the course. The department has grown and expanded so that it now offers courses from artisan to diploma levels. As the largest technical college in Taita- Taveta County, Hospitality department has also come up with some part-time courses whose targets are the local women groups and hotels/hospitals/ schools catering staff. The aim of training the local women is to give them knowledge of adding value to the local foods and preservation methods that will ensure healthy feeding and food security for the county.
In 2009, the department received the honours of being made a Centre of Excellence (CEO) in the region in conjunction with the sister department of Tourism- thus being Centre of Excellence in Hospitality and Tourism Management. It is in this same vein that the COE received a grant that enabled it to build and equip Tsavo Sapphire Hotel and a Food Processing Unit. These are intended for learning and production unit purposes where there is a bakery and yoghurt processing units.
Academically, Hospitality management department has continued to shine not only in internal examinations but external also, by being the best performing department of TTNP in KNEC examinations, holding first position from 2016 to 2019. The department has also participated in exhibitions where innovations of food and beverage commodities were invented for example Nutritious porridge that was in first position right from regional to national level and also wine.
The department has fully trained manpower that up-hold professionalism in their work. They are employed by the Ministry of Education through the Public Service Commission and the Board of Governors. Our trainees are exposed to high standards of discipline and training. This has enabled them to fit in the job market, by proving to be competent and dependable.
The world has become a small village where traveling has been made easier. This translates to visitors everywhere making it possible to look for hospitality services and facilities, and this beckons the hospitality graduates. It is my sincere hope that the Taita Taveta National Polytechnic's Hospitality Management Department will endeavor to churn out an all-round hospitality graduate who meets the acceptable hospitality global standards
VISION
Hospitality Management Department envisions itself to be a model department of excellence for quality technical training for national development.
MISSION
To impart knowledge and quality skills and develop attitudes in trainees using modern technology in keeping with changes in the global market.
MOTTO
Training for excellence
CORE VALUES
- Transparency and accountability
- Delivery of quality education and training that is competitive in the hospitality industry
- Teamwork and professionalism
- Provision of training to trainees regardless of ethnic background, religion and gender
- Respect of the society’s values and culture
