John J Hogan of HoganHospitality & HospitalityEducators Blog

Making Your Hotel More Profitable! Your Resource for Hotel Owners, Innkeepers, Managers and Hospitality Associations

John J Hogan of HoganHospitality & HospitalityEducators Blog

A resource of great value to all in Hospitality

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Hospitality law Morris.jpg 8th ed

The hotel and hospitality industry is one that is constantly changing and evolving. To succeed in it, one must be aware of an incredible range of items.

My entire career has been in the hospitality industry, with an emphasis on hotels, since the 1970s. I have been involved in many facets of the business (franchise HQ office, franchisee, ownership perspectives, training, management and more) and I had the privilege of knowing all three of the authors of the earlier Editions of this text book:

1. Norman Cournoyer was my faculty advisor at the University of Mass and an avid entrepreneur.
2. Tony Marshall was the long time Dean of the Hospitality Program at FIU, the former President of the AH&LA Educational Institute, an author and a well-respected speaker at industry events.

These two have passed away, but beginning with probably the 3rd Edition, Karen Morris added a very strong and positive dimension. Morris is a Distinguished Professor at Monroe Community College since 1980 and an elected Brighton Town Judge since 1994. Judge Morris is one of two attorneys who present the TOP 100 CASES of the previous year at the annual Hospitality Lawyer conference which is always one of the highlights of each program.
This 8th Edition of Hotel, Restaurant and Travel Law – A Preventative Approach is AMAZING.

Karen Morris is joined by two additional co-authors.
• Jane Boyd Ohlin is the director of Strategic Development of Dedman School of Hospitality at Florida State University. She is a member of the facility and is the former Director of the Program at FSU. She has an international background in both teaching and from her consulting work and is very involved in many hospitality associations’ research and legal projects.
• Sten Siger teaches Hospitality Law at FSU and is an active attorney in Florida and Michigan. His clients include a range of business and commercial ventures

At first look, one is impressed by the size of 8th Edition. Some of us like to read more than others, but one can always appreciate the incredible detail that can be found in the 900 page reference resource.

There are 16 chapters in detailed, easy to follow formats.
Each chapter has:
• Learning outcomes
• Key terms
• Discussion Questions (and recaps)
• Application Questions
• Websites appropriate to the topic of the chapter

While it might seem every book should include these, not all do in such a practical flow.

• Chapter 1 – Introduction to Contemporary Law
• Chapter 2 – Legal Procedures: Journey of a Case through the Courts
• Chapter 3 – Civil Rights and Hospitality
• Chapter 4 – Contract Law (it is amazing how many hoteliers do not understand this concept)
• Chapters 5 and 6 – Negligence – Principles and Practices
• Chapters 7 and 8 – Dealing with Guests, Visitors and Property
• Chapters 9 and 10 – The rights of Innkeepers and of Guests
• Chapters 11 and 12 – Liability from the sale of food and Alcohol
• Chapter 13 – Rights and Liabilities of Travel Agents and the Airlines
• Chapter 14- Employment (another huge area too many hotel managers have not taken the time to understand fully)
• Chapter 15 – Regulations and Licensing (you would not believe how many new laws are passed each year)
• Chapter 16 Specialized Destinations – Casinos, Theme Parks, Spas and Condo hotels

There is an Industry Glossary that can be either an introduction or a solid refresher for some of us.

There are dozens of legal cases quoted in understandable meaning throughout the book in the appropriate chapters.

As I said in a review of an earlier edition, whether you own or manage a property, there are constantly evolving events in our industry that affect us all and we must pay attention.

If you have a branded hotel, that organization may advise you of some changes, but it remains our responsibility to deal with those changes.

While this is one of the three most widely used texts used in hospitality education at major universities and colleges, it also has an immense amount of reference materials and NEED TO KNOW information for hoteliers and restaurateurs.

I use this resource regularly in my work as an expert witness in legal cases and in presentations.

A resource of great value to both Industry and Hospitality Students ; I cannot say enough good things about it

Comments and suggestions for future articles are always welcome john@hoganhospitality.com

John J Hogan, CHA CMHS CHE CHO

Hotelier, Speaker, Educator, Author, Expert Witness

Principal, HoganHospitality.com Expert Witness Services, Workshops, Consulting
Co-Founder & CLO, HospitalityEducators.com, Resources in Customer Services, Training, Marketing and Sales, Profitability
Visit johnjhogan.com for Coaching and Development
John@Hoganhospitality.com Office 480-436-0283 Cell 602-799-5375

Success does not come by accident or chance.

Questions I Wish You Would Ask Me™ – J R Davis, Producer/Owner Winco Productions, Nashville Tennessee USA

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John J Hogan of HoganHospitality & HospitalityEducators Blog

“Questions I Wish You Would Ask Me™” includes interviews such as those found in our HOSPITALITY CONVERSATIONS,  and and it also allows industry professional the opportunity to share their perspectives, values and opinions on additional areas and subjects that may not have been part of the planned discussion.  This segment includes a wide range of hospitality professionals from all portions of the industry. We ask participants to answer at least five of the listed nine questions.  Their responses will interest, sometimes amuse and definitely inspire you to consider how YOU might answer.

In this article, we reached out to J R. Davis, Owner and Producer @ Winco Productions in Nashville, Tennessee USA.  JR had an extensive background in hospitality sales and marketing, working with Sheraton and several major properties before he evolved to working with country music entertainers in broadcast media.  As CEO of Winco Productions, he has…

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Think Big, Act Small : How America’s Best Performing Companies Keep the Start-up Spirit Alive

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The answer to business success is in the title! Highly Recommended!

41BTZ9FMHNL._SX320_BO1,204,203,200_  I have found that a great deal of research does not contribute to the improvement of process or people, but tends to be credited towards tenure or supporting a position already espoused by an organization. The information shared in this book offers a wonderful option to research, in that in provides real world solutions to real world problems.

The Jennings research analyzed more than 100,000 companies to find the characteristics of success that may elude many of us. The group discovered practical approaches to achieving consistency in performance, revenues, team work and results. There are specific action steps that can be evaluated and replicated, which is what I consider the purpose of research.

I had the opportunity to hear a Jennings keynote once – he is dynamic and interesting.

Comments and suggestions for future articles are always welcome john@hoganhospitality.com 

 

John J Hogan, CHA CMHS CHE CHO

Hotelier, Speaker, Educator, Author, Expert Witness

John@Hoganhospitality.com    Office 480-436-0283   Cell 602-799-5375

  Success does not come by accident or chance.

The Good Jobs Strategy – Book Review

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Great ideas – not so great communication. It also really should have a better title…

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This is a different type of book, which is very timely as discussions on wage increases vs. job layoffs and retaining staff are in the news regularly and will continue for at least the next 2 years. If you are a small business owner looking for your “good jobs strategy”, this is not a quick fix book and it requires thought and analysis.

An increasing amount of American discretionary income is spent in retail and that means a certain parentage of jobs will be there.

Chapters 1-3 provide an adequate introduction to the topic. Using the rise and fall (and rebound) of Home Depot’s unsuccessful strategy to reduce full time staff for less costly part timers makes sense.

Chapter 4- The Model for retailers

Of course, Wal-Mart’s tactics are discussed and contrasted with others, although comparing the largest global retailer with regional companies is not an easy or ideal comparison. She does use UPS but one wonders if that is really a retailer?

Chapters’ 5-8 Operational choices

This book offers the approach that instead of paying minimum wages to employees that usually means a high turnover, owners and managers must pay attention to treat staff as individuals with coaching and then develop talent from within the company to motivate people.

The author discusses her approach of how to minimize costs and maximize profits, which includes long term approaches done in other industries but not so much in retail. She suggests e competitive salaries and cross-training, which while solid approaches are hardly new in concept.

The author offers 4 detailed operational choices

1. Offer fewer of everything- services, products, promotions, hours of operation.

2. Standardize common tasks , but also empower people to make decisions

3. Cross-train (meaning staff do many different jobs depending on customer needs in the moment)

4. Operate at less than full speed (called slack in the book), which means to over-staff instead of under-staff, which can be hard to forecast and defend to investors.

Chapters 9-10 Benefits of this approach

The explanations are not always easy to embrace.

The intended main point from the author seems to be to find ways to persuade people to want to work with you and not for you. As a career hotelier, I have been part of organizations where this has been the norm and others where the bottom line is the only driver.

If the goal is to motivate staff to have pride in their company and to be proud of the work they are doing, then business owners and managers must lead and not manage. Southwest Airlines, Starbucks, Costco and a handful of other big retail operations manage to appear to do this right although the 1st two mentioned are more in travel or hospitality than pure retail.

Overall, I found this book fascinating with motivational potential, but it is delivered in confusing ways that are not easy to follow.

Great ideas – not so great communication

It also really should have a better title – something like A Retailers Guide to Creating Good Jobs or A Good Jobs Approach for Retailers

 

Comments and suggestions for future articles are always welcome john@hoganhospitality.com 

 

John J Hogan, CHA CMHS CHE CHO

Hotelier, Speaker, Educator, Author, Expert Witness

John@Hoganhospitality.com    Office 480-436-0283   Cell 602-799-5375

  Success does not come by accident or chance.

Stories Of The Women and Men Lost On September 11/ Recommended Reading and Viewing from John J Hogan

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By John J. Hogan, CHA CMHS CHE CHO
September 11, 2019

2001-2019 = 18 years of memories, lessons learned and values appreciated

I have re-posted this blog message several times because it should remain in our minds and hearts that we all need to pay attention to our role, values and place in history.

9-11 marked the first time the USA had been successfully attacked on its own soil in an undeclared war by terrorists and it changed the country forever in many ways. Innocent civilians of all religions, professions, ages and activities were affected in ways not imagined before.

I was with a  major hotel company on that day and my team and I were delivering a workshop out of state. The 100% closing of all airports nationwide, of some roads, and of many government and business centers was an eerie sensation for the week that followed.

In the years since that day, on those times when I am interacting with groups and others on September 11th, I make sure we take that moment of silence to remember and reflect.

I encourage you to watch the following You Tube and then read the short recap of real people’s lives that follow.

When the World Stopped Turning: A 9/11 tribute

Remember and Reflect

While this blog first was published several years ago,  the lessons we learned from each other and about inner strengths are worth another look.

American Lives: The Stories Of The Men And Women Lost On September 11

I have had this book for several years now – I found it at a used book sale. I almost passed it by, but was genuinely moved by the collection of personal stories complied by the staff of Newsday and the Tribune Company.   If you choose to pass on the book, I understand – it is not easy to keep returning to such a memory, but I strongly recommend you read the brief collection of thoughts below.

This is a mini-biography of some of the women and men who lost their lives on that day.  Some of what really moved me were the titles in the stories.  You will understand without even reading the full story:

  • Robert, there’s another plane coming
  • Dad, I gotta go. There’s smoke in here now
  • Take care of my kids
  • She still lives in his dreams
  • She opened up his world
  • A recovered ring completes a circle of life
  • He made every day a party
  • That day, she learned she was pregnant
  • After 20 years, they still held hands
  • A hero by any definition
  • He ignored his own order to flee
  • Firefighting was all he talked about
  • He dreamed of a school for autistic kids
  • She beat Hodgkin’s and eased others pains
  • Her family’s first college graduate
  • Death in a place of prayer
  • They knew what was important
  • She kept going back in
  • A rescuer who wouldn’t be stopped
  • A coach who brought out kid’s potential
  • Her husband watched her disappear
  • She tried to block the cockpit
  • The man who said “let’s roll”
  • He stayed to check on an elderly colleague
  • A cool army vet who helped others evacuate
  • He saved his wife, but not himself
  • A son is born as a father is mourned
  • and probably 200 more headings and stories

The book is only 200 pages in a slightly oversize format.  The five sections are to the point:

Little Brother, You’re MVP in our hearts, and as sub-sections includes
1. last phone calls
2. love stories
3. FDNY and
4. lost promises

The first into heaven
5. they died together
6. rescuers
7. mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers
8. on the planes

A Husband is Missing No More
9. High Finance
10. New Americans
11. In the Pentagon

A Man of Unusual Disposition
12. free spirits
13. tower people
14. legacies

The List of the Lost
World Trade Center Occupants
Pentagon
Emergency/Rescue Personnel
American Airline Flight #11 -WTC North Tower
United Airliners Flight #175 -WTC South Tower
American Airlines Flight # 77 – Pentagon
United Airlines Flight #93 – Pennsylvania

Comments and suggestions for future articles are always welcome john@hoganhospitality.com 

 

John J Hogan, CHA CMHS CHE CHO

Hotelier, Speaker, Educator, Author, Expert Witness

John@Hoganhospitality.com    Office 480-436-0283   Cell 602-799-5375

  Success does not come by accident or chance.

Contact us for assistance – John.Hogan@HospitalityEducators.com or 602-799-5375

Guest Blog – Crowdfunding and cash sources from LODGING LEADERS

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LODGING LEADERS

August 28, 2019
EPISODE 227

Mass

Mass Appeal: Crowdfunding for hotel development mines new sources of cash

https://longlivelodging.com/227-mass-appeal-crowdfunding-for-hotel-development-mines-new-sources-of-cash/  

When it launched five years ago, crowdfunding for real estate development was a hot topic, especially among hotel developers seeking new ways to pay for their projects.

Though it’s not creating the same level of buzz as it did when it first became a federally sanctioned option in 2014, crowdfunding remains a viable tool in attracting a wide range of investors and sourcing new streams of cash.

Basically, crowdfunding is a campaign for small amounts of money from a large number of people. It is friends and family financing gone viral.

We talk to hotel developers who are using the alternative financing method to raise cash for their projects.

The projects are vastly different, as are the fundraisers’ goals, and target investors.

One is a boutique property in a resort market, and the developer plans to raise the entire construction cost via crowdfunding. The other is a midscale branded hotel in a technology park, and the firm is selling shares to close a funding gap.

Featured in today’s report is Nathan Kivi, founder of HotelierCo, an online fundraising company targeting hotel development; and Bhavik Dani, founder of EquityRoots, another fintech venture that’s raising capital for one project while about to break ground on another.

We also explain the evolution of crowdfunding, and why the federal government gave the technology its nod of approval as part of a national economic recovery program.

Anyone considering raising money for a project over the internet, or investing money via an online program, should first consult a professional adviser.

Resources and Links

For more information on crowdfunding visit:

The SEC study mentioned in this report is titled “Capital Raising in the U.S.: An Analysis of the Market for Unregistered Securities Offerings, 2009‐2017” and can be accessed here.

 

John J Hogan, CHA CMHS CHE CHO

Hotelier, Speaker, Educator, Author, Expert Witness

John@Hoganhospitality.com    Office 480-436-0283   Cell 602-799-5375

Recommended Reading- Historian Turkel reminds us how the past influences the future

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Great American Hoteliers    Stanley Turkel has spent his career with a number of well-known companies in management roles. These include Loews, Sheraton and Americana. He consulted with Dunfey (now Omni) and found his permanent home in his favorite city – New York. Turkel is well-known in the hotel industry, from his writing, his hotel consulting practice, his expert witness service in hotel-related cases, as well as asset management and hotel franchising consultation. He is certified as a Master Hotel Supplier Emeritus by the Educational Institute of AH&LA.

At times, Stan can be sometimes controversial in his monthly editorials NOBODY ASKED ME, BUT… yet without a doubt he has left his mark on the industry with his insights, his shared knowledge, the questions he asks and in his writing.

Turkel loves to share insights and stories about the history of hospitality. He was designated as the Historian of the Year in both 2014 and 2015 by Historic Hotels of America, which is the official venue of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This honor is presented to an individual for making a unique contribution in the research and presentation of hotel history and whose work has encouraged a wide discussion and a greater understanding and enthusiasm for American History.

I just finished a book I meant to read years ago and wish I had done so earlier. Great American Hoteliers: Pioneers of the Hotel Industry is a fascinating and interesting refresher of where much of our industry found its foundation.

At a time when the industry is soaring and ownership is as widespread as it has ever been, it is appropriate to look at where some of that success originated. Turkel considered 16 hospitality professionals he ranked as significant. Alphabetically, they are:

1. John Bowman – founder of the Biltmore Hotels brand

2. Carl Fisher – the developer of Miami Beach

3. Henry Flagler – the multi-industry entrepreneur who developed much of eastern Florida through railroads and hotels


4. John Q. Hammons – an early Holiday Inn franchisee who developed his own systems and destiny

5. Frederich Harvey – a turn of the century western developer who innovated national parks and service delivery

6. Ernest Henderson – a real estate developer who accidentally created the Sheraton Hotel brand and came to enjoy some of the facets of hospitality

7. Conrad Hilton – a name recognized by most, but with stories that are worth reading about how he came to unintentionally make hotels his niche

8. Howard Johnson – a restaurateur now mainly forgotten, but who made interstate food and lodging an essential part of American travel

9. J. Willard Marriott – the father of better known Bill Marriott, Jr, this pioneer had to be convinced to change his beliefs and switch from food service in many facets to hotels

10. K M Patel – one of the early innovators from India who found inn keeping as a bridge to success for his and many other Indian immigrants who found being a hotelier an honorable profession

11. Henry Plant – a lesser known developer who developed the Gulf Coast of Florida
12. George Pullman – not usually thought of as a hotelier, this innovator created hotels on wheels. This is a mixed story of success and unpleasant actions, in my estimation

13. A M Sonnanbend – creator of a family business that managed many of New York and America’s better known eastern hotels as well as creating several brands

14. Ellsworth Statler – I admit to a bias here, in that I know a great deal about one of the most innovative and creative hoteliers America has ever known. While he passed away in 1928, his legacy remains in construction, service, training, profitability, marketing and value for both guest and hotel owner.

15. Juan Trippe – known primarily as an airline executive, this Pan Am innovator partnered travel with both hotels and air travel

16. Kemmons Wilson – a construction builder, Wilson used his personal family travel challenges to create a family friendly hotel that grew to one of the world’s largest and best known brands

A book worth reading for a University level program, or for those who are looking to understand how the past influences the future.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

 

Comments and suggestions for future articles are always welcome john@hoganhospitality.com 

 

John J Hogan, CHA CMHS CHE CHO

Hotelier, Speaker, Educator, Author, Expert Witness

John@Hoganhospitality.com    Office 480-436-0283   Cell 602-799-5375

The Best Boutique Hotels In _______ / Are you getting tired of this heading?

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I use a google search that uses the term “Boutique Hotel” because I have been retained to complete some research in recent months for a number of clients for a range of reasons. The number of “news” articles that lead off with this heading seems to be growing at an incredible pace. In reality, most of them are essentially PR promos.

My question is this- what do you at your property to make it special? Unique? Memorable?

Feel free to contact me if you could use an independent, 3rd party resource.

Comments and suggestions for future articles are always welcome john@hoganhospitality.com 

 

John J Hogan, CHA CMHS CHE CHO

Hotelier, Speaker, Educator, Author, Expert Witness

John@Hoganhospitality.com    Office 480-436-0283   Cell 602-799-5375

Lodging Leaders Podcast Guest Blog: HOTEL CRIME- How to manage a high-profile case

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Comments and suggestions for future articles are always welcome john@hoganhospitality.com 

 

John J Hogan, CHA CMHS CHE CHO

Hotelier, Speaker, Educator, Author, Expert Witness

John@Hoganhospitality.com    Office 480-436-0283   Cell 602-799-5375

Click below for a fascinating look at one of the most successful of all American Hospitality businesses

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Howard Johnson's original store, Wollaston, Mass. (circa 1924)

Howard Johnson’s, Host of the Bygone Ways

Oct 6, 2017

For more than seven decades American roads were dotted with the familiar orange roof and blue cupola of the ubiquitous Howard Johnson’s restaurants and Motor Lodges.  The company’s founder and namesake was a grade school dropout who became a franchising pioneer and introduced the restaurant industry to centralized purchasing.  Johnson repeated his formula with motor lodges, creating one of the world’s largest hotel chains.

In 1965 Howard Johnson’s sales exceeded the combined sales of McDonald’s, Burger King, and Kentucky Fried Chicken.  By 1979 the “Host of the Highways” had become the largest hospitality company in America, with more than 1,000 restaurants and 500 motor lodges.  But the company saw a decline of its rule over the roadways in the 1970s after a series of events destroyed the company’s earnings.
cover photo courtesy Ben Schumin

 

https://sometimes-interesting.com/2017/10/06/howard-johnsons-host-of-the-bygone-ways/ 

 

Howard Johnson first became locally famous for his ice cream.  He claimed the secret recipe came from his mother, while other accounts suggests it came from William G. Hallbauer, a retiring German immigrant who had been selling ice cream from his horse and cart in the area at the turn of the century.  The ‘secret’ was to double the amount of normal butterfat, and to use only natural ingredients.  This created a premium ice cream that was an immediate sensation and earned Howard $60,000 in revenue from his first beachfront stand.

An image accompanying a 1948 newpaper article shows Howard Johnson's 28 flavors at the time.An image accompanying a 1948 newpaper article shows Howard Johnson’s 28 flavors at the time (source).

Additional flavors were added – 28 in all – as well as “frankforts,” a premium hot dog sandwich developed by Howard that was grilled in butter.  Johnson clipped the frankfurters at both ends and notched them lengthwise.  He used only the highest quality meats grilled in a creamy butter, and for buns he used lightly buttered and toasted fresh rolls.

By 1928 Howard Johnson was grossing $240,000 from his store and small network of beachfront ice cream and frankfort vendors.

[ Howard Johnson’s original 28 ice cream flavors:  Banana, Black Raspberry, Burgundy Cherry, Butter Pecan, Buttercrunch, Butterscotch, Caramel Fudge, Chocolate, Chocolate Chip, Coconut, Coffee, Frozen Pudding, Fruit Salad, Fudge Ripple, Lemon Stick, Macaroon, Maple Walnut, Mocha Chip, Orange-Pineapple, Peach, Peanut Brittle, Pecan Brittle, Peppermint Stick, Pineapple, Pistachio, Strawberry, Strawberry Ripple, Vanilla.

MORE DETAILS HERE
https://sometimes-interesting.com/2017/10/06/howard-johnsons-host-of-the-bygone-ways/ 

Howard D. Johnson personally ensured quality by testing every item before it went on the menu.

Howard-Deering-Johnson-press-photo-1962-age-65                  Howard Johnson's, "Landmark for Hungry Americans" ad

 

 

Comments and suggestions for future articles are always welcome john@hoganhospitality.com 

 

John J Hogan, CHA CMHS CHE CHO

Hotelier, Speaker, Educator, Author, Expert Witness

John@Hoganhospitality.com    Office 480-436-0283   Cell 602-799-5375