Dean Mike Hampton of Lynn University is passing along the following information regarding The College of Hospitality Management continuing to offer wine master classes. The classes are led by their Sommelier in Residence, Charlie Arturaola, who is considered to be one of the nation’s “top palates”. Upcoming classes include:
Jan. 27, 2009 -
The New World Series: New Zealand and Australian grapes
Feb. 17, 2009 -
Tuscany and its most famous D.O.C.G’s: Past, present and future
March 24, 2009 -
The New World Series: Wines of South America
April 21, 2009 -
The Iberian Peninsula: Portugal and Spain wine regions and grapes
The price per session is $39 and of course, you must be 21 years-old to attend.
All classes are being held in the Henke Wing in the de Hoernle International Center at Lynn University, 3601 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton, Fla. 33431
You may purchase tickets in advance or at the door (check/cash).
For information, contact Stella Quintero, College of Hospitality Management, via
E-mail:SQuintero@lynn.edu or call 561-237-7448.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Looking Ahead to 2009 by the President/CEO of (national) HSMAI 12-08
In a featured article in the HSMAI e-connect newsletter on Industry Trends, Bob Gilbert, President/CEO of HSMAI wrote the following(without the bold type):
“It was no surprise to see that the highest read articles this year were those relating to the economy and the constantly changing forecasts for hospitality and travel. In 2009 you can depend on HSMAI to continue to push to you relevant information on trends about your customer market segments and our industry. And we encourage you to leverage your membership by engaging in our chapters, special interest groups, online communities, webinars, trade shows, events and strategy conferences. Your investment in membership in HSMAI can pay huge dividends to you and your company by making sure you have the information you need to make the right decisions on how to retain and grow your business levels.
As we all wind down the year we certainly hope that you finally have an approved budget for 2009 and are ready to face what will likely be a challenging time in the hospitality and travel. Sales and marketing people by nature tend to be optimists and opportunistic. You need to seize this opportunity to be innovative and creative in all your strategies and tactics to grow your business and be a leader in your business, your team, and in your community. The case studies we'll write in 2010 are likely going to include those individuals who made "lemonade out of lemons" in 2009. I challenge you to be one of those. As you prepare your team for success in 2009, ask them why a sales and marketing person is like a teabag. It's because you never know how strong they are until you drop them in hot water.
HSMAI will be there throughout 2009 to support you and your team with trends, ideas, case studies, best practices, and strategies - all for you to contemplate while you're "brewing".
“It was no surprise to see that the highest read articles this year were those relating to the economy and the constantly changing forecasts for hospitality and travel. In 2009 you can depend on HSMAI to continue to push to you relevant information on trends about your customer market segments and our industry. And we encourage you to leverage your membership by engaging in our chapters, special interest groups, online communities, webinars, trade shows, events and strategy conferences. Your investment in membership in HSMAI can pay huge dividends to you and your company by making sure you have the information you need to make the right decisions on how to retain and grow your business levels.
As we all wind down the year we certainly hope that you finally have an approved budget for 2009 and are ready to face what will likely be a challenging time in the hospitality and travel. Sales and marketing people by nature tend to be optimists and opportunistic. You need to seize this opportunity to be innovative and creative in all your strategies and tactics to grow your business and be a leader in your business, your team, and in your community. The case studies we'll write in 2010 are likely going to include those individuals who made "lemonade out of lemons" in 2009. I challenge you to be one of those. As you prepare your team for success in 2009, ask them why a sales and marketing person is like a teabag. It's because you never know how strong they are until you drop them in hot water.
HSMAI will be there throughout 2009 to support you and your team with trends, ideas, case studies, best practices, and strategies - all for you to contemplate while you're "brewing".
Monday, December 8, 2008
Around the Travel Websites or what’s being said online lately – December 2008
Conde Nast’s concierge.com is telling consumers that travel is on sale, i.e. there’s an “upside to the economic downturn”; and that “now is the best time to snag a phenomenal bargain.” At later date, they stressed the need for escape – to get away from the current shambles of our economy and go to a place that feels a million miles away -- The emphasis still being on “wallet-friendly” vacations. Keeping with the same themes of the last month or so, they are now touting “luxury for less”. For those whom the staycation doesn’t apply (or not yet at least), they offer tips on how to get travel deals by knowing where and when to travel.
Fodors.com newsletter has always featured various top travel deals, but it seems there are more listings in the section than every before. Is this my imagination? Another perennial favorite is the "Hot List" each week of new hotels and restaurants.
In the Zagat Buzz (www.zagat.com), we read recently about the results of the 2008 Airline Survey. The overall industry was not “flying high in the public’s eyes”. On the other hand, they said that average overall ratings rose slightly both domestically and internationally with the premium class showing the most improvement. In the U.S., Continental Airlines got the highest marks for premium class and Jet Blue the top for economy class; and Southwest was voted best for on time performance. Interestingly 60% of those surveyed now book via airline websites.
One of my online favorites is the TripAdvisor Newsletters. In the early Fall when gas prices were sky high, they creatively came up with an affordable local travel guide. Getaways that were a tank away (or however far you wanted to travel) that they planned for you. They’ve also recently added a couple new forums. Two of them: budget vacations and beach vacations might be of special interest to South Florida properties.
Once you’ve signed up as a member of Trip Advisor, you can set up a personalized trip watch. You choose the locations you want travel information about and every week as new reviews are posted by the traveling public you get sent the latest info. I highly recommend that everyone does this for their local area/city. It’s very interesting to see who’s saying what about which hotels and it helps you to be prepared if there are problems with your own property.
You might also wish to sign up for your hometown newspaper’s travel newsletter. Sun-Sentinel.com has their “Travel Unraveled” newsletter which contains a “local scene” section. Some recent items have featured Miami’s listing in Travel and Leisure’s 10 green landmarks; holiday airfare bargains, tennis resorts, South Beach hotels offering TiVo, and new properties or new services being offered.
So South Florida how are you staying up to date? What travel sites are you reading on line?
Fodors.com newsletter has always featured various top travel deals, but it seems there are more listings in the section than every before. Is this my imagination? Another perennial favorite is the "Hot List" each week of new hotels and restaurants.
In the Zagat Buzz (www.zagat.com), we read recently about the results of the 2008 Airline Survey. The overall industry was not “flying high in the public’s eyes”. On the other hand, they said that average overall ratings rose slightly both domestically and internationally with the premium class showing the most improvement. In the U.S., Continental Airlines got the highest marks for premium class and Jet Blue the top for economy class; and Southwest was voted best for on time performance. Interestingly 60% of those surveyed now book via airline websites.
One of my online favorites is the TripAdvisor Newsletters. In the early Fall when gas prices were sky high, they creatively came up with an affordable local travel guide. Getaways that were a tank away (or however far you wanted to travel) that they planned for you. They’ve also recently added a couple new forums. Two of them: budget vacations and beach vacations might be of special interest to South Florida properties.
Once you’ve signed up as a member of Trip Advisor, you can set up a personalized trip watch. You choose the locations you want travel information about and every week as new reviews are posted by the traveling public you get sent the latest info. I highly recommend that everyone does this for their local area/city. It’s very interesting to see who’s saying what about which hotels and it helps you to be prepared if there are problems with your own property.
You might also wish to sign up for your hometown newspaper’s travel newsletter. Sun-Sentinel.com has their “Travel Unraveled” newsletter which contains a “local scene” section. Some recent items have featured Miami’s listing in Travel and Leisure’s 10 green landmarks; holiday airfare bargains, tennis resorts, South Beach hotels offering TiVo, and new properties or new services being offered.
So South Florida how are you staying up to date? What travel sites are you reading on line?
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