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K. William Gunther, MS, CHA Michael Hoffman Cynthia D. Hollowood, CHA NYSH&TA Staff Executive Office: Jan Marie Chesterton, IOM Nancy S. Sykes
Julie A. Goodfriend
Tracy Detrick Dave Walkowiak Pat Hedden
Darcy Lyle Tina M. Bissaillon Communications: John Peters
Trish Bergan
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Conference to Focus on Coping with Tough Economic Times Star Employees also Celebrated
Our 2009 Conference and Expo (April 26-28 in Saratoga Springs, NY) is just one month away and this year we have assembled a series of education sessions that will help you navigate through these tough economic times. We’re all in this together, and we know that by bringing industry experts to you in one location, you will be able to take numerous money-saving ideas back to each department at your property. Whether it is setting up new marketing programs to promote your property, new ways to save on your energy bill or hiring the right employee the first time, this Conference will give you the tools to help you succeed during this recessionary period. One education session you will want to pay special attention to is called the “Eco” nomics of Going Green. Now more than ever, consumers are inquiring about whether or not a property is environmentally friendly before booking a room. This interactive panel will show you how to unlock opportunities to reduce operating costs through utility consumption, employee training and supply chain management. You will also learn how energy retrofits lead to significant monetary savings. Another session you will not want to miss features new, cost effective ways to promote your property. We all know that budgets are tight this year, so we are bringing one of the most celebrated public relations professionals to you. Lou Hammond is currently spearheading the public relations campaign for I Love NY, and she will be in Saratoga Springs to teach you how to use Public Relations to drive business and improve the reputation and public perception of your business. The 2009 Conference and Expo also features the Stars of the Industry Gala and Awards Celebration where the industry honors the state’s best hospitality and tourism employees/properties. In these tough times, this event is sure to be heartfelt, as the industry will recognize the people who really make a difference and are the face of our hospitality industry. Come join your peers and honor those people who make our industry what it is today. I look forward to your participation at the 2009 Conference and Expo. You can register online at www.nyshta.org. In closing, I want to let you know that I was recently appointed as one of two management representatives on the New York State Department of Labor Wage Board. I will be attending all Wage Board meetings to ensure that the lodging industry’s interests will be well represented on all rules and regulations within the minimum wage order. I will keep you updated in the coming months. Sincerely,
Daniel C. Murphy, NYSH&TA President
Showcase Reception Focuses on Tourism Strengths
Assemblymember Steven Englebright, Chairman of the Assembly Tourism Committee, outlined the strengths of New York State tourism at the 2009 Tourism Showcase Reception at the Egg, Albany. On March 10, the Tourism Industry Coalition of New York State (TIC) — 19 association and industry-supporting organizations whose main goal is to represent the tourism industry on key legislative and regulatory issues — hosted the 2009 Tourism Showcase Reception at the Hart Lounge, in the Egg, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY. The statewide issues on this year's lobbying agenda included:
New York state hospitality and tourism representatives from more than 30 tourist destinations and promotion agencies were on hand to convey to legislators just how important tourism was to their local economies. Assemblymember Steven Englebright, Chairman of the Assembly Tourism Committee, outlined the strengths of New York State tourism in an economic downturn and how it contributed to the rest of the state's economy.
Amusement Tax Eliminated I Love NY funding still uncertain On March 11, 2009, the Governor announced an agreement with the Senate and Assembly to eliminate $1.3 billion in proposed taxes from the budget. The Governor announced that federal stimulus dollars will be used to avoid charging New Yorkers with “nuisance” taxes. Among the taxes eliminated was the tax on places of amusement including theatres, amusement parks, bowling alleys, concerts and movies. In February, NYSH&TA Vice President Jan Marie Chesterton delivered budget testimony to legislators, on behalf of New York State's Parks & Attractions community, which detailed why this legislation would have devastated the industry. The opposition, which included NYSH&TA and its tourism partners, was broad and the elimination of the taxes shows recognition on the part of government leaders that the taxes would have discouraged business in industries such as tourism, which is vital to New York’s economy. Budget Update Despite the elimination of the nuisance taxes from the proposed budget, the lawmakers are still in the process of developing a budget that will address the State’s tough economic conditions. Legislative leaders have announced that they will attempt to modify the budget process this year. However, it is not clear at this time whether that involves the Senate and Assembly issuing separate budget resolutions in response to the Governor’s proposal and calling joint conference committees to reconcile the differences between the two houses, which has been standard procedure in the past. The Governor, Senate, and Assembly have announced their commitment to an on time budget. Therefore, at this time, there is no information on the final amounts for “I Love NY” funding, or the Matching Grant Program. As soon as more information becomes available regarding tourism funding and any other pieces of the budget that affect the tourism industry, NYSH&TA will notify all members. This article was prepared by Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker LLP, 677 Broadway Albany, NY 12207 and is issued for the general information of members of the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association Inc. It is not intended to constitute legal advice to any NYSH&TA member in particular. This document is not to be reprinted or copied without permission of the Association. Don't Break the Law when Dealing with Underage Guests Order NYSH&TA's free prom night survival guide
The Prom Night Survival Guide is the essential guide for developing House Rules specific to your property and how to deal with underage drinking. Every spring, NYSH&TA members call the office seeking clarification on what can and cannot be done by hotel and motel owners (innkeepers) during prom season to protect their property. NYSH&TA has produced this guide to serve as a valuable resource for its members. The survival guide addresses the following topics:
Click here for your free Prom Night Survival Guide Remember that you need your member ID number to access the Prom Night Survival Guide. If you don't know your ID number, please e-mail Tina Bissaillon, Membership Assistant at tina@nyshta.org or call her at (800) 642-5313. If you have any questions to prepare for a prom night, please contact Darcy Lyle, NYSH&TA Membership Services Manager at (800) 642-5313, ext. 111 or e-mail her at darcy@nyshta.org.
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Doing Business in Slow Economy Focus of Conference
Attend
the 2009 Conference & Expo in Saratoga Springs,
NY, and The 2009 Conference & Expo gives lodging owners and operators the tools to survive during these tough economic times. The 2009 Conference & Expo will take place April 26-28, 2009 at the Saratoga Hilton & Saratoga City Center, located in downtown Saratoga Springs, NY. This location will provide Conference & Expo attendees with a perfect atmosphere to absorb new ideas and network with industry leaders. The NYSH&TA Expo brings together hospitality suppliers with buyers from every region of the state. The exhibitors, including Proctor & Gamble, E-chx, Inc., Arm & Hammer and Sealy Mattress Company are a mix of the best hospitality and tourism businesses our industry has to offer, resulting in plenty of opportunities for our members to find exactly what they are looking for at competitive prices. The Expo presents the perfect environment for the whole industry to meet face-to-face, build strong relationships and develop real business opportunities. For the first time in NYSH&TA’s expo history, exhibitors will have the opportunity to showcase their goods and services to area businesses on Sunday in addition to most of the day Monday.
Introduced at NYSH&TA’s 1994 Annual Conference, the Stars of the Industry Gala & Awards Banquet recognizes the exemplary professionalism and the exceptional service of individuals in the hospitality and tourism industry. Prior to Stars is the Annual Silent Auction, which benefits the Fred & Gertrude England Hospitality Education Foundation. Proceeds are used to fund student and professional development scholarships for individuals who aspire to work in the hospitality industry.
Register for the Conference & Expo by April 6, 2009 at www.nyshta.org. For more information on registration, contact Trish Bergan, NYSH&TA Meeting Planner at (800) 642-5313 ext. 107, or e-mail her at trish@nyshta.org.
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Learn Sales & Marketing Tactics from the COACH Program delivered by hospitality specialist
Joanna Shows, President & Licensed Business Coach of ActionCOACH of Gotham
ANY salesperson, seasoned OR new, will benefit from the Spring 2009 Sales and Marketing Workshop. The workshop is being presented by Joanna Shows, Licensed Business Coach at ActionCOACH of Gotham, a hospitality business coaching firm.
This seminar presents the Five Best Practices to Construct a Business Outline, which looks at the number of customers, revenue, and profits as the results of what your property does in the areas of:
Below is a list of session dates and locations. All sessions run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Register at www.nyshta.org. Contact Debbie Trulli-Cassale, Director of Education at (800) 642-5313, ext. 108 or e-mail her at debbie@nyshta.org.
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Did You Receive Your College Scholarship Poster? Application Deadline is April 17, 2009
NYSH&TA's 2009 College Scholarship Program is underway to assist college students in furthering their hospitality education. Realizing the challenges of working while achieving an education, the Education Foundation offers scholarships to full-time and part-time students majoring in the hospitality industry who are working at a NYSH&TA member organization, as well as dependents of employees working at a NYSH&TA member organization. In order for a payment to be awarded, students must do the following each semester:
Please display our 2009 College Scholarship poster in a prominent area to inform your student employees about the program and encourage them to request scholarship applications by visiting www.nyshta.org. The deadline for student scholarship applications is Friday, April 17, 2009. If you did not receive your 2009 College Scholarship poster for your property, call (800) 642-5313. If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Sykes, Executive Assistant, at nancy@nyshta.org or call (800) 642-5313 ext. 106. To download the 2009 Scholarship Application for student employees or student dependents of your employees, click here. Student Scholarship Applications are due no later than April 17, 2009.
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Heartland Payment Systems Update NYSH&TA has been asked by Heartland Payment Systems, a preferred vendor, to forward the following information to you. Visa® recently and temporarily removed Heartland from its list of PCI DSS compliant service providers. Gartner, Inc. — a leading information technology research and advisory company — urges merchants and other card-accepting enterprises using Heartland …: "Take no action, because the processors will likely be recertified soon." Click
here to read Gartner’s March 23, 2009 statement.
Please do not hesitate to contact Dennis Carpenter, Director of Association Alliances at 316-425-2537 or dennis.carpenter@e-hps.com for more information.
Click for details Make Sure your Pool or Spa is in Compliance with New Safety Act By December 19, 2008, ALL public pool owners/operators must:
Pools And Spas Not Open On December 19, 2008 Are Not Required To Be In Compliance Until The Day The Pool Or Spa Is Re-opened! The new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act requires all new drain and grate covers be certified to all applicable standards starting on November 12, 2008. Recommendations are to ELIMINATE and not just MITIGATE the drain entrapment hazard in pools and spas. Pool owners should disable old drains or build new pools without any drains and use gutters, overflows and/or skimmers to provide water to the pump. If you have any questions, please contact NYSH&TA Membership Services Manager, Darcy Lyle, at 518-465-2300 ext 111 or darcy@nyshta.org.
The New York State Liquor Authority (“SLA”) has recently released a new “Renewal Application Notice Form” to provide thirty (30) day notice to municipalities and community boards of a licensee’s intention to submit a renewal application for an On-Premises Alcoholic Beverage License. Use of the Renewal Application Notice Form is now mandatory for all On-Premises licensees. The SLA has implemented a policy imposing fines upon licensees who do not comply with the thirty (30) day notice requirement, or fail to use the new “Renewal Application Notice Form” even if such licensee obtains a waiver from the municipality or community board. The current fine is one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for a first offense. The Renewal Application Notice Form may be found at www.abc.state.ny.us.
New York State Hotels It has come to NYSH&TA's attention that prank phone callers are targeting New York State hotels. How it happens: A phone call is made to the hotel, usually in the middle of the night. The caller asks for specific room numbers. With the guest on the phone, the caller tells them there is a dangerous gas leak in the hotel and they must immediately put a wet towel under the door, smash the window and/or jump out. Multiple rooms are called during the course of the prank. A hotel targeted this week in New York State suffered substantial property damage from shattered windows, but fortunately no guests were injured. Please make your front desk staff aware of this prank so they take the proper steps to keep guests safe. If you have additional questions about the prank, please contact NYSH&TA Membership Services Manager, Darcy Lyle, at 518-465-2300 ext 111 or darcy@nyshta.org.
Question: Where can I get property benchmarking data or industry averages? Answer: STR Global (NYSH&TA Money-Saving Program and formerly Smith Travel Research) and PKF Hospitality Research sell annual industry reports based on real data provided by lodging properties in the USA. The STR Global Hotel Operating Statistics (HOST) Study and PKF's Trends in the Hotel Industry provide revenue and expense ratios and dollars per available room by department. The data is broken down among property types, number of rooms, etc. The 2008 editions (with data from 2007) of both reports have been recently released. Each company's Website provides a free sample page for review.
To view monthly, year-to-date, lodging operating performance data by Smith Travel Research, click the link below:
Heartland Payment Systems (HPS) provides members excellent customer service with the highest business integrity and competive pricing for credit card and payroll processing and gift cards. Call 1-888-963-3600 for a free no obligation quote. NYSH&TA offers its membership programs that can save your business money. To view all of the programs, and details on how each one can benefit your bottom line, click here. If you are interested in having this publication sent to members of your staff or peers, please contact Membership Services Manager Darcy Lyle at 800-642-5313 ext 111 or e-mail her directly at darcy@nyshta.org.
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