November Metropolitan Memphis Hotel & Lodging Association.

Transcription

1 MMHLA November 2011 Metropolitan Memphis Hotel & Lodging Association MMH&LA - the source for information and education, and the advocacy voice for the hotel and lodging industry in the metropolitan Memphis area. Downtown Commission President Paul Morris Brings The Importance of Downtown Memphis Into Focus At November 16 Luncheon Where is downtown Memphis headed in 2012? Paul Morris President of the Memphis Downtown Commission addresses this subject at the Nov. 16 luncheon meeting, to be held at the Memphis Marriott Downtown. Focusing on matters that will affect the hotel market, Paul will discuss a number of new and coming businesses that are very likely to have an impact on occupancy rates, such as Bass Pro, Pinnacle Airlines, Mesaba Airlines, Great American Steamboat Co., etc. Paul Morris Paul also intends to address the importance of downtown Memphis to the economic health of the entire city. Morris became head of the Commission when previous president, Jeff Sanford, stepped down in June of Morris, a lawyer with Martin Tate Morrow & Marston, has served as a Center City Commission board member and has worked with Shelby County Mayor, AC Wharton. It promises to be interesting, relevant and informative. Come join us. MMHLA Elections Are November 16! Another good reason to attend the Nov. 16 luncheon meeting: at the Memphis Marriott Downtown: MMHLA Elections. The slate for 2012 is: Chairman - Wayne Tabor President - Mary Calorio Vice President - Tony Goebel Treasurer - Doug Owings Secretary - Tricia Weatherford Please show up and cast your vote for the candidate of your choice. Sergeant-At-Arms - John Rucker Also, re-elected to the Board of Directors for 3 year terms: Doug Browne Craig Marshall Paul Morris Downtown Memphis & the Economic Health of the City Nov. 16, 2011 Memphis Marriott Downtown Registration, 11:30 a.m. Luncheon, 12:00 noon for details To Make Reservations: Phone: Fax: MemphisHLA@earthlink.net Guests - $25 December -- Hospitality Industry Christmas Party MMHLA OFFICERS & BOARD MMHLA Offices: 7730 Goshawk Cove Cordova, TN (fax) MemphisHLA@earthlink.net Peggy Callahan, Executive Director MMHLA Officers: Wayne Tabor...Chairman Mary Calorio...President Tony Goebel...Vice President Doug Owings...Treasurer Tricia Weatherford...Secretary John Rucker...Sergeant-at-arms MMHLA Board of Directors: Doug Browne Shawn Danko Anne-Marie Famalette Mohamad Hakimian Kevin Kane Bill Spencer Pierre Landaiche Craig Marshall Eve Moore Chuck Pinkowski Terry Umbreit Rick Zurburg

2 Luncheon keynote speaker, Emily Ellis, with ETC Training, discusses the benefits of professional certififying your hospitality trainers, with AHLA s Educational Institute (EI). Hospitality Training Enriches Us All! October 19 Luncheon Speaker Emily Ellis Addresses The Importance Of Effective Training For Your Staff What links Minnie Pearl & Minnie Mouse? Emily Ellis has worked with both in a career that has included stints with Disney & with Gaylord Hotels. MCVB s Chris Roan looking avuncular. OK everybody, go to the dictionary & look it up. I did. Candace Baxter, Event Coordinator with L Ecole Culinaire, presents MMHLA members with a taste of what their students are learning. Madison Sites & Kevin Bennett with the Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality & Resort Management s show off the KWS display. Marge Coltharp & Brenda Smith with the group from Southwest Tennessee Community College: Donta Mason, Heather Johns, Shauwna Lewis &, in the really cool chef s hat, Adam Rockholdt. L Ecole Culinaire s Candace Baxter & Rachel Mullen, at the literature table. Gary Gassaway & Zack Coker, both with C&S Cleaning Supply, check in. Doug Browne finds himself in the middle of good company: Residence Inn s Tricia Weatherford & Harold Graeter, AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Mary Calorio stands by as Wayne Tabor takes the podium. Did Hilton GM Bill Spencer get that snazzy red bowtie from Ham Smythe? Looking good! Mohammad Hakimian, Madison Hotel, & Chris Roan, MCVB. Would someone call on Mohammad so he can put his hand down? Walking in through the crowd is, Reginald & Patricia Payne, with City Wide Cab. Chairman of the Program Committee, Richard Zurburg, with R.A. Zurburg & Associates. Margie Coltharp, Southwest Tennessee Community College. Rachel Mullen, L Ecole Culinaire. Kevin Bennett Kemmons Wilson School, honors Madison Sites, runner-up in AHLA s Arthur J. Packard Memorial Scholarship Competition & one of the best-of-the-best! Madison also received $2,000. Kevin Bennett again, playing rock, paper, scissors.

3 September Occupancy Was Up Says Smith Travel Research Good news from the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau: of 11 cities listed in the September STR (Smith Travel Research) report, Memphis ranked 4th in occupancy. Nashville was first with Chattanooga & Charlotte, NC, 2nd & 3rd. The other cities listed are: Birmingham, Little Rock, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Atlanta, Louisville, New Orleans & Knoxville. Memphis numbers were better than last year in practically every category. Nice to know. BUY ALLIEDS FIRST! Maximize your profitability with with Heartland Payment Systems the the Tennessee Hospitality Association's Association s exclusively endorsed provider of of card card pro- processing, check check management, management payroll and tip management payroll services. services. For For more more information, contact contact Julie Julie Briones Briones at at and Julie.Briones@e-hps.com. and Julie.Briones@e-hps.com. 7th annual MMHLA /Skal Trivia Night Friday, February 3, 2012 Holiday Inn University of Memphis Theme Toons & Animation Table: $150 for six people Concessions/bar available No outside food or liquor allowed Registration forms available soon Doors open at 6:30 pm Trivia at 7:30 pm

4 Revised Lodging Security Officer (LSO) Training Programs Address Current Security Challenges The past decade has brought many new security challenges for hotels, which are addressed in the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute s revised Lodging Security Officer (LSO) training program. The self-study program that includes four modular textbooks, a DVD, and a workbook with progress quizzes, is designed to increase the professionalism of security officers and other employees who perform security functions at a property. The program provides general security-related techniques as well as hospitality-specific information that employees need to know to balance security procedures and guest service. New and updated topics included in this new edition of the Lodging Security Officer program include: Revised Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations Child trafficking/protection of children Expanded bomb search information Anti-terrorism/signs of terrorism Foodborne illnesses Active shooters Handling the death of a guest Hostage situations Shelter-in-place Subject matter experts who provided insight and direction on the program s revision included loss prevention executives from Marriott International (Carol D. Owens and Daniel Danson), Starwood Hotels and Resorts (Clarence Izzard), InterContinental Hotels Group (Amanda Crosby), Hyatt Hotels (Todd Locke), Hilton Hotels & Resorts (Mike Dove),and Interstate Hotels & Resorts (Jim Cunningham). The Lodging Security Officer program can be used to prepare for the Certified Lodging Security Officer (CLSO) designation, one of three professional certifications that AHLEI offers for hotel security personnel. Lodging Security Officer is available for $ for AH&LA members; $ for nonmembers. To order, visit or call or Outside the U.S. and Canada, call HOW TO GET WHERE YOU RE GOING. LOOK FOR A TOUR MEMPHIS BROCHURE RACK IN YOUR HOTEL! KEY TV! or keymemphis.com Reprinted from the September issue of the Risk Bulletin, published by Hospitality Engineering & Loss Prevention Services Tour Memphis Brochure Racks filled and distributed by, KEY TV sponsored by, Key Magazines of Memphis

5 Mary Calorio President, MMHLA Membership Increases (Yay!) City Vote May Increase Occupancy Tax (Boo!) From the President: Are you up to a challenge? That was the question that I asked you last year in my November MMHLA Newsletter President s column. So one year later, it is with pleasure that I inform you that we have had an 11.2% increase in membership!! So thank you, thank you very much for all the leads, invites, phone calls, and assistance that has enabled us to increase membership in one of the worst financial years possible!!!! So now let s see what we can do for Target goal 145 members. With your help it is very obtainable. Below and to the right are the charts with the addition of this year s membership. On Tuesday, November 1, the City Council was scheduled to vote on a proposal sponsored by Edmund Ford to increase the hotel occupancy tax to 5% from the current 1.7%. This, when the 15.95% total tax we re already charging our hotel guests leads the nation! Total Membership (New York City is a close second with 15.90%) Folks, this not where we want to be number one! Our hospitality industry is a huge employer in Memphis and Shelby County (50,000 jobs locally). Not only do the tourists stay at our hotels, they also, eat in our restaurants, shop in our stores, purchase tickets for our attractions, purchase gas at convenience markets, hire taxis, etc. The hotel occupancy tax was designed to support the promotion of tourism and convention center activities. It ensures that revenue generated by the hotels goes back into tourism promotion, which, in 2010, contributed $14.1 BILLION to Tennessee s economy. Councilman Ford has tabled his motion for two weeks for further review and research. Hopefully, his research will give him a little more insight into our industry and what we contribute to Memphis economy. My prayer for each of you is a relaxing Thanksgiving Holiday with family and friends, a deliciously moist turkey, and a moment to count Mary your blessings. Alright, enough said, till next month, same time, same place. Allied Associate Hotel

6 2011 CALENDAR Nov TnHA Board Meeting; Memphis, TN. Nov Paul Morris; President of Memphis Downtown Commission, Memphis Marriott Downtown. Jan 18 Don Farrell: Sales Skills & Techniques; Madison Hotel. Feb th Annual SKAL/MMHLA Trivia Night: Toons & Animation; doors open 6:30 p.m., trivia at 7:30 p.m.; Holiday Inn University of Memphis, , fax , memphishla@earthlink.net.. FORD & HARRISON LLP Representing management exclusively in all areas of labor & employment law. 795 Ridge Lake Blvd., Suite 300, Memphis, TN Timothy S. Bland, ; fax, Certification as a Labor and Employment Law specialist is not currently available in Tennessee. MMHLA 7730 Goshawk Cove Cordova, TN 38016