Questions from HospitalityEducators.com – Where do you stand on the Four E’s (Economy, Environment, Elections & Ethics)

2012 is another year of change, this time with a focus on the Es

1. Economies are still in the doldrums of reality, although not in the words of those looking to be re-elected or and always in the slogans of those looking to unseat the incumbents.  What specific tactics are you taking to improve your business environment?
2. Environmental issues and sustainability  are here to stay – what are we in hospitality doing to demonstrate our conservation, our corporate concern and appreciation for our assets?
3. Elections are held regularly globally; this year, the US will decide on a President, 435 Congresspersons, 33 Senators,  11 state governors and many more local offices.  How many of those candidates will we in hospitality actively take a role in supporting because they offer reasonable approaches to governance, taxes, regulation and accountability?
4. Ethics- it seems unusual to have the term “ethics” follow “elections.  I really should have placed it before the elections E, shouldn’t  I?                                                                  Would it have made a difference?   I am reading an exceptional book on the topic of how elected officials have become so tangled in the wrong issues.  Republic, Lost: How Money Corrupts Congress–and a Plan to Stop It by Lawrence Lessig is a book that will both discourage and inspire readers.  My partner and Publisher @ www.HospitalityEducators.com, Kathleen Hogan, reviewed it and I encourage you to read both her  review and the book.

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Success in hotels and hospitality does not come by accident or chance.

We can help

John.Hogan@HospitalityEducators.com or 602-799-5375

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HospitalityEducators.com was created to help hospitality businesses address problems via a training and information resource site to help you increase your Hotel’s revenue, market share and profitability.  With more than 1,000 pages of tips, guides, best practices, strategies, plans, budgets, videos and resources, HospitalityEducators.com is the #1 independent website for hotel owners and managers.  This site can help you solve your problems now!      Read More  

KEYS TO SUCCESS  is the umbrella title for my 2012 programs, hospitality services and columns. This year’s writings focus on a variety of topics for hotel owners, managers and professionals including both my “HOW TO” articles, HOSPITALITY CONVERSATIONS™, Lessons from the Field™, Hotel Common Sense™ , THE P-A-R PRINCIPLE™  and Principles for Success.

Feel free to share an idea for a column at john.hogan@hospitalityeducators.com   anytime or contact me regarding consulting, customized workshops, speaking engagements … And remember – we all need a regular dose of common sense,

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John Hogan is a successful hospitality executive, educator, author and consultant and is a frequent keynote speaker and seminar leader at many hospitality industry events. He is CEO and Co-Founder of www.HospitalityEducators.com , which delivers focused and affordable counsel in solving specific challenges facing hospitality today.
www.HospitalityEducators.com  is a membership site offering a wide range of information, forms, best practices and ideas designed to help individual hoteliers and hospitality businesses improve their market penetration, deliver service excellence and increase their profitability.

www.HoganHospitality.com
Your Hospitality Resource for the Hotel Owner, Innkeeper, Manager and Hospitality Industry Associations.

A Smile from HospitalityEducators.com – April 14 International Moment of Laughter Day

International Moment of Laughter Day

When : Always April 14th

International Moment of Laughter Day is a special day that will put a big smile on your face. The objective of this day is to get people to laugh, and to laugh more often. After all, “laughter is the best medicine”.

Moment of Laughter Day is also known as National Moment of Laughter Day, and plain old Moment of Laughter Day. We don’t care whether you celebrate today as a local, national, or international day. What’s important is that you bring about laughter (and happiness) to those you come in contact with today.

To celebrate this special day, simply tell jokes or do funny things that cause people to laugh. A smile is not a good enough reaction. Successful participation in this day results in whole-hearted laughter.

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Origin of “Moment of Laughter Day”:

Humorologist Izzy Gesell created Moment of Laughter Day to encourage people to laugh.

We found varying dates for this celebration, all in the month of April. But among them, April 14th is the day designated by the creator as International Moment of Laughter Day.

The world of hospitality is supposed to be one of making people feel welcome, to enjoy themselves and to often celebrate life.  We encourage you to take some time on April 14 or anytime with regularity and take that Moment to Enjoy each other, our guests and all we come in contact with!

John Hogan and Kathleen Hogan, co-founders of HospitalityEducators.com @ a recent Phoenix AZ radio talk show interview (with BOTTOM LINE Show sponsor, Mitch Speen)

John Hogan and Kathleen Hogan , (with sponsor Mitch Speen at a recent radio interview show)

Co-Founders of HospitalityEducators.com,

a membership site offering a wide range of information, forms, best practices and ideas designed to help managers and operators of hotels, restaurants and hospitality businesses improved their market penetration, deliver service excellence and increase their profitability.

Individuals wishing to contribute materials may send them to  Kathleen@HospitalityEducators.com. Special pricing is in effect for a limited time that also includes a complimentary copy of LESSONS FROM THE FIELD- A COMMON SENSE APPROACH TO EFFECTIVE HOTEL SALES.

Get Motivated!

This past week, I was in Manhattan attending the semi-annual meeting for the Certification Commission of AH&LA’s Educational Institute. It was encouraging to learn that the number of people earning certifications on many levels are again increasing and there are a number of new programs to be launched in 2011.

One of the other events we attended was the Niagara University Hospitality program “meet and greet” held annually at the Waldorf Astoria. Hilton is one of the major hospitality companies that hires graduates each year from Niagara and this event allows one-on-one interaction between industry leaders and some of the students who are about to graduate.

This was probably the 5th time Kathleen Hogan (Publisher of HOSPITALITYEDUCATORS.com and I have attended and we were again impressed by the rising generation of hospitality professionals. The interest levels of the students embraces all parts of the industry and a number of them have clear goals in mind for the future. If you are looking for new talent – consider these graduates. Kathleen interviewed several and will be including their perspectives on the changing industry in an upcoming HOSPITALITY CONVERSATIONS column on students’ experiences on internships.

On a related item about learning, earlier this year, I had the opportunity to attend a GET MOTIVATED program held in our city. The organization, celebrating their 25th anniversary, featured a number of well-known people, including Zig Ziglar, Steve Forbes, Laura Bush, Kurt Warner and others.

The stated goal of these programs is to provide ideas and perhaps some inspiration for attendees to increase their productivity, their income and their overall levels of satisfaction.

While I enjoyed a number of the messages, one that particularly influenced me was the one by former New York Mayor, Rudy Giuliani. His talk was not what he felt were his accomplishments in life, but what he felt he had learned. He did not talk about his potential political plans or projections on upcoming elections, but instead shared a number of things he felt were essential to effective leadership.

1. Read more, so that one can learn about things new to you.
2. Listen more, rather than talk. The results can be amazing.
3. Debate when necessary – it is important to be challenged and for you to be able to defend your strategy and approaches to problems.
4. Write more, so your communication skills continue to evolve.
5. Finally, he shared what was the mantra and strategy for IBM for many years – to THINK. Do not accept the status quo if it can be improved, but learning about the status quo means assessing it and thinking about options.

Several weeks ago, I included in one of my columns in this publication a short book review of Holiday Inns’ founder Kemmons Wilson. I received some positive feedback from a number of readers who appreciated my comments on HALF LUCK, HALF BRAINS and for including Wilson’s 20 Tips for Success.

Blending the reader feedback with my recollection of Giuliani’s comments created the focus of this short article. I personally do read a great deal and wanted to share with readers an easy to follow theme with a book with a title that is right on the money.

In Their Time: The Greatest Business Leaders of the Twentieth Century
By Anthony J. Mayo, Nitin Nohria

I expected that a book on business leadership published by the Harvard Business School would be solid reading and I was anticipating the traditional 10 Best with honorable mentions. I was very pleased to find MUCH more – 10 chapters reflecting the 10 decades with excellent insights to the world at large and how people thought at the time and looking ahead.

This book describes 100 people in many different roles, industries and with varying perspectives. I have found that there is always so much more to reflect on and this book provides some excellent ideas that can be considered and modeled. While most of the people and ideas are not directly in hospitality, they are mostly about meeting needs and satisfying people, which is the foundation of delivering hospitality well

As always, comments are appreciated and welcome. Reader feedback is important to every columnist and publication. If I receive more positive comments on this type of message, I will include some in my columns and blog. http://hoganhospitality.wordpress.com/

Keys to Success Hospitality Tip of the Week:
Hotel Common Sense Philosophy #10
“Study other winners, but not just those in your field.”
Dr. John Hogan CHE CHA CMHS

Part of the Fifteen Timeless Philosophies in Hospitality
A 2011 Keynote Address and Workshop

Feel free to share an idea for a column at info@hoganhospitality.com anytime or contact me regarding consulting, customized workshops, speaking engagements … And remember – we all need a regular dose of common sense.

http://www.HoganHospitality.com
Your Hospitality Resource for the Hotel Owner, Innkeeper, Manager and Hospitality Industry Associations

http://www.linkedin.com/in/drjohnhoganchache