Author Archives: Lola Marie

36 Hours in San Francisco

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San Francisco is famous for a lot of things. But in this 36 hours article, by Bonnie Tsui, her focus seems to be on sharing with her audience some of what is necessary to know about the city. As she mentioned, San Francisco is a city that’s constantly reinventing itself. In a blank of an eye, things can take a new turn, and that’s mainly because of the city tech industry. But let’s not focus there, there’s much more to San Francisco. If you’re looking to get lost in the mix, this city is a great place for you to visit. It is a very diverse city in terms of arts, architecture, music, cuisine, etc. Take a day to explore San Francisco Bay Area. It’s known for its beautiful parks, waterfront, bridges, museums, and delicious lively food services. A stroll along the Embarcadero will lead you to an old staple in San Francisco food industry, ” The Red Java House” on Pier 30. They opened their doors in 1912, and still operating today. It is the spot to visit, and while you there, try their famous sourdough cheeseburger ( for a small fee of $5.52), munch on and enjoy the beautiful view. For a more modernize experience, the Ferry Building might be the place for you to visit. There you’ll find all the modern food trends. Find yourself in the expert hands over at “Ichi Sushi & Ni Bar” for a chef special seafood madness, costing about $65 for 12 pieces of either salmon, sweet shrimp, and saba; Or, a three-course menu and wine pairing at the heirloom cafĂ© ( for a price tag of $65). If looking for a fun place with great music and cocktails to end your night and unwind, one place in particular rings bell in the bay, ” The Royal Cuckoo.” As suggested in the article, try the carnival Mule, with cachaça, ginger beer, Domaine de canton, tangerine and lime ( jeez what a mixture). Enjoy that, along with some live music Wednesday through Sunday). By the way, there’s a strict ‘”no selfie” rule there, if broken, management might boot you out (yikes! some might reconsider). But let’s move along! For those who enjoy the outdoors, find yourself lounging/relaxing at the Mission Delora Park. The Northern part of the park just got an 8 million dollar renovation, with new tennis courts, six acres of fresh green grass, and expanded restrooms. And last but not least, If art is your thing, get familiar with Precita Eyes, a neighborhood art organization that has been sponsoring local and international mural projects. They offer weekly mural walks, costing $20( with exceptions for student and seniors).

Concierge Assignment Presentation

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I am the Chief Concierge at the Wagner Hotel, located at 2 West St, New York NY, walking distance to the Financial District. This is an informative video about some of the top attractions we have in the area. These information are very helpful and might come handy for our guests. Please past it on!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBJ2DfE039Y&t=28s

NY Times 36 hours in Aruba

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Famous for its white powdery beaches, Aruba is a beautiful island situated in the Southern Caribbean Sea, about 50 miles (81 kilometers) west of Curacao (which we read about 2 weeks ago). As mentioned in the article, Aruba contains unique treasures such as: a windblown national park of volcanic crags and raging waves; a revitalizing town lined with mosaics and murals; and an offshore shipwreck considered one of the best wreck dives in the world. These are rare luxury, and as a tourist, that’s the type of things/places you can plan an outing for you and your love one to get into. It’s not every day you get the chance to see and experience such magnifique treasures. If I were to travel to Aruba, I would definitely take full advantage of the opportunity and visit as many attractions as I can.
I’m also a thalassophile, a trip to “Eagle Beach” would be ideal for me. It has some of the most beautiful turquoise water and white sand on the island. Located in Oranjestad, an area known for its resorts and top tourist attractions, after a fun-relaxing day at the beach, a quick stroll around the area would be the icing on the cake. I mean what’s the point of going on vacation if you mainly spend your time indoors? I said, grab your sunscreen, a hat, pack a light snack and water, and head outdoor. In a place like Aruba, there are all kinds of things to see and lots of opportunities for fun. Get out there, mingle with the locals, and learn new things about the island.
Aruba is also known for its wonderful blend of Caribbean, Latin American and Dutch influenced meals, with its own Aruban twist. I’m a sucker for great, tasty, colorful foods with mouthwatering flavors, that’s without any doubt my all-time weakness. As a self-proclaimed chef and foodie, although this place is a bit pricey, a visit to Papiamento sounds fun and very exciting. Diving into the local food scene in Aruba would be a nice way to enjoy my stay and get familiar with the many cuisine there. But with so many great restaurants around town, I know it would be hard to explore/visit them all, so getting a unique experience of at least one or two of the bunch, learning about the history behind some of their most famous dish would’ve been awesome.
Other than a day at the beach, or eating out, I’d also love to take the time to visit the aloe factory, and also San Nicolas (a historic small town with an interesting history). To top it all off, I would include a little shopping in my plans, so you could definitely find me out and about, gathering different items and souvenirs to bring back home. Overall, Aruba seems to be a beautiful place to visit, with lots of things to offer, I would definitely recommend it!!!

Concierge Marketing Assignment

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I chose the ” Fearless Girl” statue, located in lower Manhattan. First installed in March 2017 across from Wall Street’s ” Charging Bull” at Bowling Green Park, the statue has since moved to a permanent location in the Financial District, right across from the New York Stock Exchange. It is an iconic bronze sculpture of a defiant girl, standing at about four feet high, done by an American Sculptor named Kristen Visbal. The message behind it was to raise awareness about the importance of gender diversity in corporate leadership ( specifically to promote female empowerment). To many New Yorkers and tourists, the ” Fearless Girl” statue is truly captivating, and one that made a really powerful statement.

 

https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/03/fearless-girl-wall-street/519393/

Edition Hotel Times Square

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What was the most significant information you learned while at the Edition hotel?

One thing that I’ve learned during our visit, which was mentioned by one of the staff ( Jennifer from the HR Department) was for any new comers to keep an open mind when entering the hospitality industry. As explained by Jennifer, in lodging, the housekeeping department plays an important role. Often overshadowed, but getting your start there can be very rewarding and beneficial in the long run, you’ll gain the skills and knowledge that are essential and crucial to the hotel business.

Prior to us visiting the Edition Hotel, I didn’t think much about all the work that goes on behind the scenes in order to keep things floating smoothly—to a certain standard, to meet guests expectations at a luxury hotel. Yes I knew that an operational team is required, but I’ve never   go pass that and dig to the depth of what really goes on daily, so seeing it first hand at this hotel left me in shock. There are so many requirements that the property should meet to make their experiences both welcoming and comforting to guests.

 

What did you like/dislike about the site visit to the Edition Hotel? 

Upon entering the hotel reception lobby, there was a sense of calmness and relaxation. With the air filled with their signature black tea scent, to the warm color choice, and the elegant design, it was such a unique experience, leaving a powerful impression on me, and I like that a lot.

I won’t say that I dislike the rooms because the setting and everything looks very top notch, but knowing how much these rooms cost, only critique I have is that the room aren’t big enough. If I was a guest there, I would be disappointed by the size.

 

Lola Marie Pierre-Canel

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I believe at one point in life, we all have heard the saying, “ Life is what you make it” right? Well! I have, and I am a strong believer of that. To me, life is a precious gift, and so is time. I learned  to appreciate, love, and cherish each and every moment and make the best of my day. I know many of us have goals, but goals are nothing without a solid plan. Having a plan in place is a great start, and keep in mind, time management is key.

As for me, I know what I want in life. I set goals, and execute each one at my own pace. Time wasted cannot be regain and this one of the reason why I made the decision to go back to school. I want to graduate with my BA degree, then go on to be the best version of me. Also, I want that to be a great examples for my children. As far as my major, I choose hospitality management because of my love for cooking, traveling, and my hope of becoming an entrepreneur/owning my very own restaurant one day.

Providing comfort and great hospitality is truly one of my specialty. I love bringing people together, just to catch up/reconnect, share our ideas, and so on… Oftentimes, I find myself putting together a nice dinner, accompanied with dessert, wine, great joy and lots of laughter. To me, that’s very therapeutic. I mean, “ what’s a better way to get folks together? ”

Food is undeniably the one thing that connects people best, it is a universal language of its own. My plan is to keep a positive attitude, focus on my goals, and continue on with this journey. There’s no better feeling waking up everyday knowing you’re doing what you truly love, sound simple, but yet it can add tremendous meanings to your life. The joy and satisfaction coming from that makes it all worth it.