“Topping Rose House in Bridgehampton, NY”

This hotel located in the Hamptons, is a 22-room luxury property, which actually does not belong to any brand. Rates are in the mid 600’s. Quite expensive for me. The article mentions that if you request an early check in, the hotel will be glad to accept this request. In comparison to hotels in the city that does not allow you to check in before 3pm, this beautiful property will never say no. Of course, I am assuming that is because of the price you are paying for 1 night stay. Great amenities are offered such as Brooklyn’s Mast chocolate. I will definitely give a try to this property, if my budget allows me in the future.

NYtimes Travel Section, Article 10.07.13

“The Reeds at Shelter Heaven in Stone Harbor, N.J”

This article captured my attention very much as it promotes a hotel that does not belong to any specific brand. It sounds like an attractive hotel, and it can be almost tangible. The author does mention issues with HSKP, such as the sheets, and the fact they had to change rooms, it did not make the best stay ever. I still think that issues can be rectified, but when it comes to hotel cleanliness it is extremely hard to gain that trust back; I mean we are talking about hotel cleanliness! Every hotel should have a strong HSKP dpto and ensure every single corner of the property is spotless. It does not matter the size of the property, the room rates, the membership level status.

Industry Leader/Organization Profile

Director of Revenue Management (DORM)
Starwood Hotels Resorts Worldwide.

I feel I am the right fit for this job, because I am a team player, very energetic, love to juggle multiple tasks, and will go the extra mile to get the job done. I am skilled in all the requirements, reliable and a hard worker. I get along well with all people and I love to learn and apply new skills.

I want to work for the Starwood family because I believe in its core values: “belief that people want a better way to experience the world extends not only to our guests and customers, but to our global team of associates, too”.

I want to be part of this amazing umbrella because of the exceptional service and personal touches that Starwood gives to their guests and because they demonstrate commitment to turning everyday moments into memorable branded experiences. I would love to enjoy the unparalleled experience that Starwood associates experience as they focus on leading not only working on winning the war for talent in this new age of guest expectation, but also because they are defining it.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts really fascinates me because they strive to challenge associates to grow through world-class training and development programs, which support differences across generations, cultures and geographies. This is of course without mentioning that as a truly global enterprise, operating more than 1,162 hotels and resorts in nearly 100 countries, Starwood embraces the fact that we are diverse and use that energy and creativity to power the hotel business, care for your communities and work toward environmental sustainability.

I want to reach my true potential with you as we continue to build the future of our industry.
I am the candidate you need for this position because I will work with the Director of Sales, Finance & General Manager in strategic planning and overall business goals relating to the Revenue achievement. Some of my strengths are:
• To ensure that all target market segments are developed for the long-term benefit of the hotel’s business
• To monitor in statistical format, the pick-up patterns, lead times and business trends
• To work with the team to promote internal sales and the up selling of all facilities
• To ensure that the Daily Selling Strategy is completed and checked before the morning meeting
• To ensure that all Electronic Distribution Systems are up to date at all times in order to maximize distribution and accommodation yield.
• To ensure that close out and freesale charts are up to date in order to gain maximum effect
• To carry out regular cross training between the revenue co-coordinators to ensure that everyone within the department is able to deal with all clients calls efficiently
• To Ensure all daily, weekly and monthly revenue management reports are up to date and are completed in accordance with standardized company procedures
• To Carry out ongoing refresher reservations training for all front office, and revenue staff on a regular basis, which is based around the effective implementation of the room’s management strategy
• To Ensure that regular departmental meetings are planned, take place, and are minuted to ensure follow through
• To Carry out regular team building events for the team to build on their individual strengths and ultimately on the teams strengths as a whole
• As part of the Business planning process, draw up a training plan for the department and implement along with scheduled team building activities for both the Revenue and House Departments
• To Prepare the annual room statistics and assist in other sections on the Business Plan production
• To host weekly Revenue Strategy Meetings in order to communicate strategy and develop corrective action for dip dates
• To be fully involved in the production of the business mix reports for the weekly rooms meeting, the monthly business meeting and the annual budgeting meetings
• To Carry out regular Departmental meetings with your team to discuss and resolve any issues that may arise

1. What are the advantages of a management contracts and franchising? Discuss their impacts on the development of the house industry.

Franchise:
-Allowing hotel owners to acquire a brand name with regional or national recognition
-Connecting the hotel to the GDS
-Increasing hotel’s sales, thus its profitability
-Affecting ability of hotel’s owner to secure financing
-Assistance with on-site training, advice on purchasing furnishings & fixtures, reduced operating costs, & free interior design assistance
-Increasing fee payments to the brand
-Growing the business (brand spread)
-Helping pay for fixed overhead of operating that brand

Management:
-Secure, and if it has closed, reopen the hotel
-Implement sales and marketing plans to maximize hotel’s short- & long-term profitability
-Generate reliable financial statements
-Establish suitable staffing to maximize customer and employee satisfaction
-Show hotel to prospective buyers
-Report regularly to owners about hotel’s condition

2. Explain how hotels cater to the needs of business and leisure travelers in reference to: resorts, airports, hotels, and vertical integration.
Some hotels are such:

The Hampton Inn & Suites include a second desk chair and larger living rooms for in-room meetings.
The Ramada Inn offers cordless phones.
The club floors at Capitol Hotels in Washington, D.C., include separate concierge services and rooms with three phone lines.
The new 24-hour Xerox Business Center at the Hilton Hawaiian Village provides computer rentals, Internet access and postal services around the clock.
Printers and fax machines are standard features in business-class rooms at the Hilton, Hyatt and Sheraton hotels.
Many leading hotels loan laptops to their guests.
The Starwood Preferred Guest (or SPG) program caters primarily to businesspeople that often travel to major cities in the United States, Asia and Europe. Preferred Guest program members can earn and redeem points in more than 1,000 hotels across nine different brands. Starwood’s partnership with Delta Air Lines and more than 30 other carriers also allows program participants to save on flight costs. The hotel group also has a relationship with American Express; the Starwood Preferred Guest credit card by American Express enables travelers to accrue rewards with every dollar spent.

3. Explain what vacation ownership is. What are the different types of timeshare programs available for purchase?

Vacation ownership is a period of time (days or weeks per year) that you can buy for a specific property (usually a residence at a resort) or multi-destination club, during which the right-to-use the property belongs to you. The idea is that you benefit by “pre-paying” for a vacation place rather than renting it, as you might otherwise do. The profit that would have gone to the rental stays in your pocket. Under a Vacation ownership plan you agree to a one-time purchase price and an annual maintenance fee, Vacation ownership purchasers own their accommodation time and purchase the right-to-use it for a specified number of years.

a) Deeded Ownership
: Deeded ownership is owned for life. You have the right to use it, sell it, let a friend or family member use it, rent it, or pass it on to your heirs. Deeded timeshare ownership is typically sold on a week-by-week basis, but can also be sold as an ownership percentage in the entire resort. Deeded ownership can be sold as either a fixed week, floating week, or points use.
b) Sharehold or leasehold agreement
: A sharehold or leasehold agreement is typically used for recording ownership in foreign countries. Sharehold and leasehold ownership typically comes with the same rights as deeded ownership.
c) Right to use
: Right to use timeshare vacation ownership memberships are good for a certain number of years, then they expire. Right to use memberships are typically sold in 25 year, 50 year, and 99 year intervals. Another way right to use membership packages are sold is by a number of weeks. You have the rights to use a certain number of weeks. You can use them all at once or spread the use out over many years.

“With Age Comes (some) Discounts”

This article is very important and interesting to me as I personally think we all have to take care the elderly. We have to ensure they receive all the benefits and most discounts possible as they worked really hard in order to get us where we are today. Elderly people deserve to travel and not to pay high fees. This article talks about so many discounts programs that we should share with our parents so they can advantage and travel around the globe. In the United States, discounts such as Triple A and AAARP are available. If you have a parent that is 65 years old or older, they are entitled to receive a discount rate for hotels, car rentals, and other shops. Below is a brief summary of the discounts that captured my attention:
– The Korean National Tourism Organization offers anyone that is 65 years old or over, to ride the subway for free and receive also 30 percent off rail tickets.
– Belgium transportation system is friendly, especially for elderly, and they have discounted tickets as well.
– City passes around the world are also offered at a discounted price for the elderly.

“The 46 Places to go in 2013”.

I love this article because it talks about one of the places I visited this year. Amsterdam is a city full of attractions, beautiful canals, but most important its people are just amazing. Once you arrive to this country you feel welcome, and the Dutch definitely let you know that by simply offering their smiles and their hospitality. There are so many places to visit and things to do in Amsterdam that a week will not be enough time for you to explore. During my short stay I visited the Royal Palace, Red light district (pretty “interesting” from outside), the canals and the Anne Frank House. I actually took a tour from Amsterdam (pretty convenient) and visited other countries of the European Union.

1. Give a broad definition of tourism and explain why people are motivated to travel.

Tourism is the commercial organization and operation of vacations and visits to places of interest. People travel for pleasure or business purposes. On today’s world, people are more motivated to travel because they want to discover new places, but more important to exchange cultural values.

2. Give a brief explanation of the economic impact of tourism. Name two organizations that influence or further the economic impact of tourism.

Since Tourism is basically a collection of organizations (Hotels, restaurants, TA’s, etc), these companies provide a tremendous support to the world’s economy. People always will have to travel, therefore lodgings and dinning options will always be needed therefore they will be on demand.

3. Choose a career in the tourism business and give a brief overview of what your responsibilities would be.

Director of Revenue Management (DORM, some responsibilities)

◦ To ensure that all target market segments are developed for the long-term benefit of the hotel’s business
◦ To monitor in statistical format, the pick-up patterns, lead times and business trends
◦ To work with the team to promote internal sales and the up selling of all facilities
◦ To ensure that the Daily Selling Strategy is completed and checked before the morning meeting
◦ To work with the Group Revenue Manager in order to ensure that maximum benefit is obtained from all Electronic Distribution Systems
◦ To ensure that all Electronic Distribution Systems are up to date at all times in order to maximize distribution and accommodation yield.
◦ To ensure that close out and freesale charts are up to date in order to gain maximum effect
◦ To carry out regular cross training between the Revenue coordinators to ensure that everyone within the department is able to deal with all clients calls efficiently
◦ Ensure all daily, weekly and monthly revenue management reports are up to date and are completed in accordance with standardized company procedures
◦ Carry out ongoing refresher reservations training for all front office, and revenue staff on a regular basis, which is based around the effective implementation of the room’s management strategy
◦ Ensure that regular departmental meetings are planned, take place, and are minute to ensure follow through

4. Discuss the positive and negative impacts that tourism can have on country in relation to tourism pollution and ecotourism.

Positive impact of tourism:

◦ Creates employment opportunities for local people
◦ Promotes cultural awareness and can help preserve local culture and
traditions.
◦ Income from tourists can be used to develop local infrastructure and
services.
◦ Foreign currency can help local people
◦ Natural features that attract tourists in the first place can be
protected using income from tourism

Negative effects of tourism
◦ Tourism can have a negative environmental impact. This is at a range
of scales.
◦ The increase in air travel has contributed towards
increased carbon dioxide
emissions. On a local level natural features
that attract tourists are themselves under threat due to human
actions.
◦ Often local people are employed in low skill, poorly paid work in
unsatisfactory working conditions
◦ Travel agents, airline companies and hoteliers benefit more than local 
companies.
◦ Help destroy local culture and traditions

“Finding the Right Roadside Rooms”

The title of this article called my attention so much that I had to read it! Hotels/Motels that are on the “road” are so interesting and particular. All the details the author provided on this article are extremely familiar to me. I went to a motel a few years ago since I was traveling with my family and we needed to get some rest before arriving to our final destination. I can sincerely say that I’ve never seen such an unpleasant place, but most important service. Unfortunately, most motels’ customer service is known for not being the best one. Once again, service had nothing to do with the size of a property. We were told the price right away. We were taken to a room that was full of dust and the air conditioner was not even working. Therefore, I recommend to everyone that before paying to check the room and most important to “ensure you feel welcome”!

*Why is service so critical in the hospitality and tourism industries?
Because this is what we are known for; service is what makes the difference when interacting with the guest. Whether is on the phone, at the front desk or even when delivering food to the room. Without excellent service our industry will literally disappear.

*Describe and give an example of the following:

Mission Statement: It is a company’s purpose, and what it is driven by.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts mission statement: We succeed only when we meet and 
exceed the expectations of our customers, 
owners and shareholders. We have a passion for 
excellence and will deliver the highest 
standards of integrity and fairness. We celebrate 
the diversity of people, ideas and cultures. 
We honor the dignity and value of 
individuals working as a team. We improve the 
communities in which we work. 
We encourage innovation, accept 
accountability and embrace change. 
We seek knowledge and growth through learning. 
We share a sense of urgency, nimbleness
and endeavor to have fun too.

Moment of Truth:
In the Hospitality industry, there is a minimum of twenty or thirty moments of truth in its provision of service. A moment of truth is when an interaction occurs between a customer and the service provider that can leave a lasting positive or negative impression on a customer. Moments of truth in a hotel, for example, will undoubtedly include (but not be limited to) booking the room, check-in, check-out, dinner reservations, dinner ordering, dinner presentation, eating (quality and quantity of food) and laundry receipt.
*What is the Disney service model?
. Always make eye contact and be aware of your body language
. Smile
. Value the magic
. Start contact with the guest
. Respect and welcome
. Always end any interaction with a thank you

*Explain why Ritz Carlton won the Malcolm Baldridge Award.
Because it was founded on principles of excellence in guest service. This hotel won two awards.

I really enjoyed this article from the Travel section of the NYtimes. This article talks about a new property opened by the James family, and its combination between the past and present. I was under the impression that the only James hotel was located in downtown Soho, Manhattan NYC, but I realized I was really mistaken. Both properties are absolutely different. The property on this article is basically a resort destination, which can also work for Transient and Corporate travels, but to me its target is guests that travel with their families for vacation. I mean this is located in Miami, South Beach! Eventhough the amenities and prices sound Ok to me, I identify myself more as a Transient guest, and still prefer the James Hotel in the NYC area. You cannot go wrong if you choose this hotel! It has great amenities, but its location is the most attractive thing. I think I will try the James hotel is South Beach, it is highly recommendable to explore other properties in other states in order to get a better understanding of their differences, especially if they belong to the same brand. In this order you will become more familiar with things such as the fair market value (rates), compare room size, and most important their culture, who they are, what they do different.