Career Online High School program provides access to accredited high school diploma and career certificate

BOSTON and Mclean, Va., November 13, 2017 — Cengage, an education and technology company, has partnered with Hilton to offer U.S. Team Members the opportunity to earn accredited high school diplomas and career certificates. Offered through Hilton’s employee education assistance program, Career Online High School (COHS) is designed to reengage adults in education. COHS is part of Smart Horizons Career Online Education, the world’s first accredited online school district.

“Education and training are key components for building confidence and employee success in the workplace and beyond,” said Taryn Mckenzie, Executive Director, Corporate & Workforce Partnerships at Cengage. “We’re excited to work with forward-thinking companies like Hilton who realize the importance of offering education benefits to employees.”

COHS is offered free to Hilton U.S. Team Members with at least six months of service and who are working at a corporate office or an owned/managed property. Of the company’s U.S. Team Members, more than 5,000 are candidates to earn a high school diploma. In addition to an accredited high school diploma, COHS program graduates earn a credentialed career certificate in one of eight high-growth, high-demand career fields (across a wide spectrum, from retail and customer service to certified transportation), further positioning them for success in the workforce. In fact, more than 80% of graduates self-report they plan to enroll in additional post-secondary training upon completing COHS.

“Hilton is the first corporate hospitality partner to offer COHS,” said Kimo Kippen, vice president, global workforce initiatives, Hilton. “Providing our Team Members with opportunities for career development and advancement is all part of being one of the World’s Best Workplaces.”

Hilton joins other leading organizations, including McDonald’s and Walmart, in offering COHS to employees.

For more information on Career Online High School, please visit www.careeronlinehighschool.org.

For more information about Hilton’s high school completion program please visit, http://www.mylearningcounts.org/hiltonhs/.

About Career Online High School
Career Online High School was developed in 2012 through a partnership by ed2go, a division of Cengage that provides students with online continuing education and career training, and Smart Horizons Career Online Education in an effort to provide affordable, career-based online education opportunities for the millions of adults in the United States without high school diplomas. Please visit careeronlinehs.org for more information.

About Hilton
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company, with a portfolio of 14 world-class brands comprising more than 5,100 properties with nearly 838,000 rooms in 103 countries and territories. Hilton is dedicated to fulfilling its mission to be the world’s most hospitable company by delivering exceptional experiences – every hotel, every guest, every time. The company’s portfolio includes Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Canopy by Hilton, Curio Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton, Tru by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages an award-winning customer loyalty program, Hilton Honors. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose exactly how many Points to combine with money, an exclusive member discount that can’t be found anywhere else and free standard Wi-Fi. Visit newsroom.hilton.com for more information and connect with Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

About Cengage
Cengage is the education and technology company built for learners. The company serves the higher education, K-12, professional, library and workforce training markets worldwide. Cengage creates learning experiences that build confidence and momentum toward the future students want. The company is headquartered in Boston, MA with an office hub in San Francisco. Employees reside in nearly 40 countries with sales in more than 125 countries around the world. Visit us at http://www.cengage.com or find us on Facebook or Twitter.

About Smart Horizons Career Online Education
Smart Horizons Career Online Education, founded in 2009 and based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is a private, AdvancED/SACS/NCA/NWAC accredited online school district. District accreditation signifies that SHCOE and all of its schools are fully accredited and that SHCOE is recognized across the nation as a quality school system. SHCOE offers 18-credit, career-based high school diploma programs that are designed to prepare students for entrance into the workplace. Career certificate offerings include Child Care, Office Management, Protection Services, Homeland Security, Commercial Driving, Retail Customer Service, Food and Hospitality, and General Career Preparation. For more information, visit shcoe.org.