Every hotelier knows that providing excellent service will The 92nd annual International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show (IH/M&RS) brought together 36,100 industry professionals and more than 1,250 companies at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Attendance and exhibitor participation were bolstered by new market features, including the show’s first Green Restaurant Association Pavilion, the return of Guestroom 2010 and a collocation with Cultural Food New York.
Of the 1,250 exhibiting companies, 270 were first-time participants, creating a dynamic showcase of products never before seen at this market. Exhibitors noted an increase in property owners and decision-makers walking the aisles, creating new opportunities and generating quality leads. In addition, cross-market access with Cultural Food New York—comprising All Asia Food, Expo Comida Latina and Kosherfest—led to an additional 1,300 foodservice buyers.
Kicking off the 2007 event was the Hospitality Leadership Conference, where a record 750 lodging executives
attended seminars addressing current issues and trends in sales and marketing, human resources, hospitality design, technology and more. Highlighting the full-day, pre-show conference was a keynote address by political power couple and CNN personalities Mary Matalin and James Carville, as well as the highly acclaimed CEO Leadership Panel and U.S. Lodging Industry Summit Panel.
Hospitality industry decision-makers from across the globe noted an increased emphasis on all things “green” at the IH/M&RS, as elements were added to propel the eco-friendly movement of the industry. Among the initiatives was the addition of green categories to the Editors’ Choice Awards competition, recognizing the best new products introduced at the market.
Editors’ Choice Awards
Ten exhibitors were honored with Editors’ Choice Awards during the opening ceremonies. Award winners are:
n Kenneth F. Hine “Best of Show”
INNCOM International (Niantic, Conn.) for the e4 Smart Digital Thermostat with ecoMODE, a device that allows guests to opt into the hotel’s conservation program with the touch of a button, instantly triggering the e4’s energy-saving mode and activating participation in reduced towel and linen washing.
n Décor Eurotrend Furniture (New York, N.Y.) for RING, the first chair for the industry with two independent wood shells that create extreme comfort by moving independently.
n restaurant Eastern Silver Tabletop Manufacturing Company (Brooklyn, N.Y.) for the Collapsible Chafer, a new stackable and collapsible chafer that combines four to six chafers into one stack and store bin without compromising high-end presentation.
n technology eMenuBoard Systems (Forest Hills, N.Y.) for eMenuBoard, a touch-screen menu placed in front of a restaurant that allows it to better promote its services interactively.
n essentials Protect-A-Bed (Glenview, Ill.) for AllerZip, a complete mattress encasement that is waterproof, breathable and allergen and mite proof.
n Luxury Rubbermaid Commercial Products (Winchester, Va.) for the Deluxe Compact Housekeeping Cart, a cart with upgraded ball bearing wheels for quiet maneuvering, mahogany-finished panels to appeal to high-end properties and upgraded hasp locks.
n Green Décor Milliken Hospitality Carpet (LaGrange, Ga.) for Lucerne Modular Carpet, which is certified by Green Label Plus for indoor air quality, includes an adhesive-free installation system and offers a No Carpet to Landfill pledge.
n Green Restaurant FOLD-PAK (Scottsdale, Ariz.) for BioPlus Earth, a paperboard takeout container that is made from 100 percent recycled paper and is grease and leak resistant.
n Green technology INNCOM
International (Niantic, Conn.) for the e4 Smart Digital Thermostat with ecoMODE, a device that allows guests to opt into the hotel’s conservation program with the touch of a button.
n Green Essentials Zurn Plumbing Products Group (Pittsburgh, Pa.) for the Zurn EcoVantage Pint Urinal System, an innovative new system that features ultra-low water consumption.
n Green luxury Neoteric Home Design (Miami, Fla.) for the Bora Bora Bed, a canopied daybed created with ViroFiber handwoven over a rust-free recycled aluminum base.
Gold Key Awards
The Gold Key Awards for Excellence in Hospitality Design, a top international honor for hospitality designers from around the world, were presented to six design firms. The coveted awards recognize the pioneering design concepts revealed in hospitality properties built or renovated within the past 18 months. Finalists and winners from among the 150 entries were honored, in addition to Designer of the Year HBA/Hirsch Bedner Associates. The 2007 IH/M&RS Gold Key grand prize winners are:
n Best hotel design Wilson Associates (Dallas, Texas) for Kempinski Hotel Dubai (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
n guest room Wilson Associates
(Dallas, Texas) for Kempinski Hotel Dubai (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
n lobby/reception Jeffrey Beers International (New York, N.Y.) for The Cove (The Bahamas)
n lounge/bar Jeffrey Beers International (New York, N.Y.) for Seaglass Lounge - The Cove (The Bahamas)
n restaurants/Casual Dining CL3 Architects Limited (Hong Kong, China) for Nishimura Restaurant (Beijing, China)
n restaurants/fine Dining Ministry of Design (Singapore) for SHO U (Singapore)
n spa Wilson Associates (Dallas, Texas) for Four Seasons Hong Kong (Hong Kong, China)
n Suite Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (Chicago, Il.l) for The Peaks Resort & Spa (Telluride, Colo.)
IH/M&RS is sponsored by the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the Hotel Association of New York City, Inc., and the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association. Next year’s IH/M&RS will run Nov. 8-11, 2008, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. IH/M&RS will feature three days of exhibits from Nov. 9-11. |
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Staffing the Industry
AH&LA Career Center/Hcareers
by Elizabeth Johnson
Hcareers.com, which powers the AH&LA Career Center, continues to make improvements and add new features to enhance the recruitment experience for both hospitality employers and job seekers.
AH&LA members receive a 20 percent discount on job postings on Hcareers.com, the largest database of hospitality jobs in North America, according to David Charron, vice president, marketing for the Web site. Employers receive an average of 22 online, e-mail and ATS applications for postings across all hotel position categories, many positions attract even greater numbers of applications. This is in addition to those applicants contacting prospective employers directly, based on their advertisement on Hcareers.
Hcareers recently launched a partnership with the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (CHRIE) to bring additional job seekers—hospitality college students—to the site, increasing the number of qualified candidates for jobs posted by AH&LA member properties.
During the first quarter of 2008, Hcareers will launch a new service for employers—a suite of pre-employment hiring tools that will enable employers to assess applicants and gauge their potential for retention and whether they are a proper fit for the organization. Says Charron, “We’re making the bold prediction that this enhancement will increase retention by 30 percent.”
Other innovations coming from Hcareers in 2008 include new functionality from its recent acquisition of JobLoft.com, which will add rich Web 2.0 functionality to its Web site.
For more information about the AH&LA Career Center and Hcareers,
visit www.ahla.com.
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