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Education & Training

Educational Opportunities

NYSH&TA facilitates a variety of education sessions during the fall and spring seasons. These programs contain the latest information needed to stay at the forefront of the hospitality industry with topics ranging from sales to tax exempt organizations, meeting the needs of travelers with disabilities, to learning leadership skills.

Education Session Topics and Speakers have included:

  • Internet Marketing with Kimberly Ehrlich
  • Revenue Management with Mark Zimmerman
  • Housekeeping: G.R.E.A.T. (Guest Room Exceptional Attendant Training) with Dr. Michael Terry
  • Know Your Industry Regulations with representatives from the New York State Department of Labor
  • Victory Party: Coaching Your Team to Success (Parks and Attractions Seminar) with Gina Claassen
  • Human Resource Compliance with Andria Ryan
  • How to Manage the HR Challenge: The Front Line with Dr. Deborah T. Curtis and Susan Stafford
  • Lodging Industry Business Forums with representatives from Federal and State agencies
  • Sales and Marketing Workshops with Joanna Shows, ActionCOACH of Gotham

Education Session Highlights


Kimberly Ehrlich of Milestone Internet Marketing has run
several sessions for members with topics such as how search
engines rank web sites, free and paid listings, blogging, user
generated content, podcasting, and mobile comparative sites.


Mark Zimmerman, a veteran of the hospitality industry for
over 25 years, has spoken extensively about tips for creating
successful marketing, revenue management, and increased
revenue through sales, giving members a competitive
advantage at their properties.


Gina Claassen (standing, right), an Operations manager from
Branson, Missouri takes a team of amusement park employees
through a highly interactive parks & attractions education session
in order to communicate and function better as a team.


Joanna Shows, Licensed Coach of ActionCOACH of Gotham, New York
facilitated three Sales & Marketing Workshops in Watertown,
Binghamton and Long Island.

NYSH&TA also has education sessions held at their Conferences. Examples of Topics and Speakers at NYSH&TA Conferences have included:

  • General Session: The "Eco"nomics of Going Green with a panel of green hotel experts, lodging engineers and representatives from NYSERDA
  • Hiring the Right Employee Can Save You Money with Andria Ryan
  • Knowing Guest Preferences is Key During a Down Economy with Jim Howland
  • Keynote Session: How to be Successful in Trying Times with Don Landry
  • General Session: The First 100 Days and What It Means for the Lodging Industry with panelists Marlene Colucci, Executive Vice President for Public Policy at American Hotel and Lodging Association, Mary Ann McLean, Partner at Wilson Elser and Heather Briccetti, Vice President of Government Affairs at the NYS Business Council.
  • Promoting Your Property in a Down Economy with Lou Hammond
  • 5 HR Mistakes Hotels Make That Cost Them Big Profits! with Victoria Mavis

Education Session Testimonials

Internet Marketing with Kimberly Ehrlich

"I would say by far this has been the best I have attended and wished we had longer to get into more details. The tips/tools (Kim) mentioned during just one hour-I feel if put to use-will increase revenue for our hotels. Kim seemed to be on top of Social Media’s current trends and shared some ideas that I think will put us in front of our copetitiors that are not using these tools."
Holiday Inn Express Horseheads/Holiday Inn Elmira

"This has been very useful in presenting new ways to make our website more visable for future visitors."
The Adirondack Museum

"Very informative & patient. Well prepared."
The Old Forge Camping Resort

"Very relevant & informative."
The Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort

Housekeeping: G.R.E.A.T. (Guest Room Exceptional Attendant Training)
with Dr. Michael Terry

"Michael 'Doc' Terry has been an outstanding speaker at this seminar. An individual who makes you feel self-worth after leaving on how to handle the cleaning experience."
Syracuse Renaissance Hotel

"The seminar was very good on lots of feedback."
Longfellows Hotel, Restaurant & Conference Center

Additional Educational Opportunies

Every fall, NYSH&TA members also take advantage of education sessions at the International Hotel/Motel & Restauarant Show (IH/MRS). For more information, visit www.ihmrs.com.

NYSH&TA partners with regional hotel associations and chambers of commerce from around New York State to make sure every region is represented.

If you have suggestions for a timely topic you would like represented as an education session or for general information on education sessions, please contact Kelly Boucher, Education & Events Manager at kelly@nyshta.org or call her at (800) 642-5313.