Several months ago, I shared my definitions of the word HOSPITALITY in a column published in this service and asked readers to contribute their definitions. Reader input came in from many different people. There were definitions from people relatively new to the industry and from seasoned veterans.  Some were individual operators and others who managed companies and multiple brands.  There were educators and there were those who supported the industry.   A sampling of the responses from a diversity of people and places were in a follow up column titled GLOBAL READER DEFINITIONS OF HOSPITALITY.

As I considered these definitions last week, I realized the next step: defining is one thing -delivery is another.   I found myself considering examples of excellence in hospitality and ways that successful hotels build pride.

Building Pride

Many hotels have much to be proud of � service to their guests, contributions to their community and a solid reputation in their local industry. 

Building Pride is not so much of a program, but a commitment to excel in what is done at their hotel.  The following are examples from my professional experience:

1. Last fall at the Jacksonville, FL Hyatt Regency, I observed the General Manager,  Food and Beverage Director and Chef touring the restaurant after breakfast and before lunch.  Their �tour� was actually a very positive inspection of both the obvious and the somewhat hidden physical features of the outlet.  I say positive, because I did not hear them level criticism of areas that could use improvement or refurbishing.  Instead, I heard their animated discussion on how to make the area both more enjoyable for guests and accessible for staff.  When I spoke with the GM later, he said this kind of interaction is a regular part of improving every part of the hotel.

2. At the same Hyatt Regency hotel, I had an unusual departure experience.  The doorman called for a cab, helped with my luggage and then extended a handshake with the comment �thank you for staying at MY hotel.�  I recognize that in some cultures, this might be a sensitive approach, but I was truly impressed by his sincerity in thanking me for my patronage.  

3. At the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalow on the Big Island of Hawaii, it is easy to see why the hotel has been recognized by Travel & Leisure, Andrew Harper, CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER, National Geographic, Meetings Magazine and others.  The hotel is renowned for its devotion to preserving and enhancing the cultural history of Hawaii and recognized for its successful honu (green sea turtle) program, cultural activities, indigenous plant life and historic fishponds.  What I recall from a mystery shopping assignment I had a number of years ago is reinforced in the TRIPADVISOR.com recognition ratings from real travelers. I recall the wonderful welcome experience as you are invited to sit, are greeted with tropical juice, a flower lei, cold washcloths and then leisurely escorted to your accommodation. Reading some of the more than 300 comments, one can sense the pride and coordination of service. 

4. At the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Fayetteville, Arkansas, I appreciated the hand-written welcome note from the hotel director of sales that accompanied the fresh fruit.  The card was just the right introduction for who I could contact to receive a small service I needed in preparation for my program the next day.  The Fayetteville Visitors Bureau had engaged me to interact with their membership on ways to continue to improve service and revenues.

5. Last fall I had the privilege of conducting a series of programs for Choice Hotel on the topic of enhancing the guest experience.  I�d like to compliment the many CHOICE branded General Managers who shared their personal stories of delivering hospitality.  Many managers of Comfort Inns, Quality Inns, Sleep Inns and Clarions regularly interact with their guests at breakfast by serving coffee, meeting, greeting, and generally making their guests feel appreciated.  I believe this single act of hosting goes a long way in making their guests feel genuinely welcomed.  

What are some of the ways your hotel staff excels at delivering hospitality?  Send them to me at [email protected] and I will include them in an upcoming article.

Feel free to share an idea for a column at [email protected] anytime or contact me regarding consulting, customized workshops, speaking engagements ����. 
And remember � we all need a regular dose of common sense.

Autographed copies of LESSONS FROM THE FIELD � a COMMON SENSE APPROACH TO EFFECTIVE HOTEL SALES can be obtained from THE ROOMS CHRONICLE www.roomschronicle.com and other industry sources. 

All rights reserved by John Hogan and this column may be included in an upcoming book on hotel management.   The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of this publication

John Hogan, a career hotelier and educator, is frequently invited to participate at franchise meetings, management company and hospitality association industry events.  He is a successful senior executive with a record of accomplishment in leading hospitality industry organizations at multiple levels, with demonstrated competencies as a strong leader, relationship builder, problem solver and mentor. He conducts mystery-shopping reviews of quality in operations and marketing, including repositioning of hotels.

Expertise and Research Interest
� Sales Management and training
� Turn-around and revenue management
� Professional Development & Customer Service 
� Hospitality Leadership and Executive Education
� Making Cultural Diversity Real
� Accreditation & Developing Academic Hospitality programs

He writes weekly columns for a number of global online services and has published more than 400 articles & columns on the hotel industry.  He co-authored (with Howard Feiertag, CHA CMP) LESSONS FROM THE FIELD � a COMMON SENSE APPROACH TO EFFECTIVE HOTEL SALES, which is available from [email protected], ROOMS CHRONICLE www.roomschronicle.com  and other industry sources.  He resides in Phoenix, Arizona and expects to publish in 2009 his 2nd book based on his dissertation � The Top 100 People of All Time Who Most Dramatically Affected the Hotel Industry.

Hogan�s professional experience includes over 35 years in hotel operations, food & beverage, sales & marketing, training, management development and asset management on both a single and multi-property basis, including service as Senior Vice President of Operations in a specialty hotel brand for six years.

He holds a number of industry certifications (CHA, CHE, MHS, ACI) and is a past recipient of the American Hotel & Lodging Association�s Pearson Award for Excellence in Lodging Journalism, as well as operational and marketing awards from international brands.  He has served as President of both city and state hotel associations.

John�s background includes teaching college level courses as an adjunct professor at three different colleges and universities over a 20-year period, while managing with Sheraton, Hilton, Omni and independent hotels.  He was the principal in an independent training & consulting group for more than 12 years serving associations, management groups, convention & visitors� bureaus, academic institutions and as an expert witness.  He joined Best Western International in spring of 2000, where over the next 8 years he created and developed a blended learning system as the Director of Education & Cultural Diversity for the world�s largest hotel chain. 

He has served on several industry boards that deal with education and/or cultural diversity and as brand liaison to the NAACP and the Asian American Hotel Owners� Association with his long-term involvement in the Certified Hotel Owner program.  He has conducted an estimated 3,200 workshops and classes in his career. 

Service to the Industry and Hospitality Education includes working with the Educational Institute Certification Commission of the AH&LA, the Hospitality Industry Diversity Institute, the AH&LA Multicultural Advisory Council, the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration, the Commission for Accreditation on Hospitality Management Programs, the AH&LA and AAHOA Education and Training Committees, the Council of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Educators (CHRIE), the International Hotel Show and the Certified Hotel Owner program for the Asian American Hotel Owners� Association.

Dr. John Hogan, CHA MHS CHE
[email protected]