Critical Industry Feedback Needed for Wage Board

The Wage Orders you are being asked to review were originally promulgated in 1937 and many changes have ensued since then. We presently have five Wage Orders (restaurant, hotel*, building service, farm and miscellaneous). The last thorough consideration of the Wage Orders in hospitality industries, by which I mean the restaurant and hotel industries, occurred in 2005. Since then, employer practices have changed. Decisions of the courts and of the Industrial Board of Appeals have had an impact on these orders. The last minimum wage law revision effective January 1, 2005, contained specific provisions regarding the hospitality industries. It is time to review the Wage Orders for updating and I have therefore convened this Wage Board by authority of Sections 653(2) and 659.1 of Article 19 of the NYS Labor Law. *there is a special resort hotel classification under the hotel Wage Order NYSH&TA President Daniel C. Murphy is one of six representatives on the Wage Board. There are two people representing management, two representing unions and two representing the general public. Dan Murphy and Rick Sampson (President of the New York State Restaurant Association) were selected to represent management after being nominated by the New York State Business Council. At this time, Dan Murphy needs the industry’s input so he can present them to the full Wage Board. Please click here to review the complete message from the Commissioner of Labor. Pay special attention to the questions being asked in sections 2 through 7 and provide your questions, concerns and recommendations to Dan Murphy at dan@nyshta.org by Tuesday, April 21, 2009. We need your input on these very important codes, rules and regulations and how they impact on your business. To review the complete Minimum Wage Order for the Hotel Industry, Part 138 of Title 12 of Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations click here. You will also be able to ask questions and express concerns regarding any of these issues at a Public Hearing close to you. See below for location details: May 6 in Buffalo (12 p.m. to 3 p.m.) May 15 in Albany (12 p.m. to 3 p.m.) May 20 in New York City (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) Locations have yet to be determined. Updates on this issue will be given via NYSH&TA weekly e-news (Hospitality Headlines). More

Plugged-in Hotels Seen Ringing in More Guests: Poll
from Reuters
Plugged-in hotels are likely to get the most guests checking in, with a global survey showing websites, and hi-tech facilities, are the top criteria travelers look for when picking a place to stay. With 70 percent of travelers saying they would stay at a cheaper hotel due to the global economic slowdown, a Reuters Synovate survey of 6,300 people across 10 countries looked at how people choose their hotels and what features are important. More

Making PPC Marketing More Effective with Diligent Planning and Effective Tracking
from m-Travel.com
There’s no shortage of advice, be it for sticking to basics or implementing the best practices, when it comes to devising and executing plans for sustaining a connection with consumers in such a challenging economic environment. As with any other marketing discipline, the practitioners of search engine marketing continue to look-out for ways which results in the judicious use of marketing budgets. More

Self-service in the Hospitality Industry
from Self Service
The same reasons that make self-service popular elsewhere also apply to its applications in hospitality. Consumers want more choices and convenience, and benefit from shorter lines, less waiting and faster service. Control is another big factor. Some consumers just want the choice to do it on their own and maintain control over the experience. While these systems will never replace personalized customer service, they are flexible and offer an increasing number of consumers fast and reliable service. More

Hotel Receiverships, Bankruptcies and Restructurings for Distressed Hotels and Hotel Loans
from ehotelier
This is the first article in a series of two about how lenders and borrowers need to work outside the box to accomplish their objectives in this down market. Today's article focuses on the borrower perspective, and the next one will be on the lender perspective. I encourage lenders to read this article, and borrowers to read the lender article. There is a win-win here for many players. We have some ideas you may never have considered before. More

Let Your Guests Know About The U.S. Passport Card

Beginning June 1, 2009, all U.S. citizens will be required to present a U.S. government-approved passport book or Passport Card when entering the United States from abroad. The new requirements may affect your international guests, so it’s to your advantage to inform them of the new procedures. In addition to U.S. passport books that have been recognized as official travel documents for decades, the new U.S. Passport Card is another official document designed specifically for new electronic systems being installed at U.S. land border crossings. The U.S. Passport Card is valid only for entry to the United States at land and sea points of entry when traveling from Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean region, and Bermuda. It is not valid for international air travel, since it is not a globally recognized travel document like the traditional U.S. Passport book. The U.S. Passport Card has been in production since summer 2008. As of November 2008, more than 650,000 have been issued. Current passport holders can also apply for a Passport Card when they are eligible to renew. A U.S. Passport Card costs $45 for an adult and $35 for a child under age 16. When applied for in conjunction with a passport book or by a previous passport holder who is eligible for renewal, the U.S. Passport Card costs $20. Information on how and where to apply for a U.S. Passport Card is available at travel.state.gov. The U.S. Department of State is also providing informational pamphlets to travel businesses such as hotels that can be distributed to guests to remind them of the need for this documentation when crossing American national borders. These pamphlets can be obtained from Global Advertising First, the Maryland public relations firm retained by the department for this program. The contact at the firm is Carter Brewington, (301) 731-4255, or cbrewington@globalad1.com. More