The International Hotel/Motel and Restaurant Show
Hotel and Restaurant Management Students Travel to New York
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
The International Hotel/Motel and Restaurant Show, the world's largest showcase and exchange of hotel industry products, trends and developments, attracts every segment and facet of the industry.
The trade show, sponsored by the Hotel Association of New York City, Inc., the New York State Hospitality and Tourism Association, Inc., and the American Hotel and Lodging Association, unveils more than 1,400 exhibitors' products and services and draws more than 35,000 attendees each year.
The IH/M&RS also offers dozens of informative seminars, special events, displays and features.
This year's show, attended by students in the Hotel and Restaurant Management Program, was held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City in November 2007.
This trip was supported by Drury Inn, Inc., and the Hotel and Restaurant Management Program is delighted and grateful for Drury Inn's generous sponsorship for this trip.
A total of 11 undergraduates and one graduate student attended the Hotel/Motel and Restaurant Show, the largest of its kind in the United States.
During the trip, the students attended educational seminars and toured two hotels, W New York and The London, and one restaurant, Rosa Mexicano.
The tour of Rosa Mexicano included a free lunch; we appreciated their generous hospitality.
Many seminars included basic hotel and restaurant management talks, tips on hot alternative careers, summer internships, new production and innovations in hotels and restaurants, as well as technological advancements in the hospitality field.
In the exhibition hall, 1,400 companies exhibited new appliances such as dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, washers and dryers.
Students saw new software such as point of sales (POS) and property management system (PMS) demonstrated.
Students' Reflections on the Tour
W New York
The first hotel we toured was called the W. This was an elegant hotel which used dull, earth tone colors to enhance comfort and calmness.
Everywhere you looked, there were fountains and plants. The main plant used for décor resembled wheat grass.
The hotel was equipped with a spa, gym and many meeting rooms used for various events, from wedding receptions to business meetings.
Laura Smith, human resources manager, gave us the tour. She was upbeat and knew every employee by name. She explained that being upbeat and personable are two key qualities when working in a human resources department. From this tour, we learned that building up your personality and intangibles is just as important as your resume and GPA.
The other hotel we toured was called The London. This hotel was nice and seemed to accommodate business people from out-of-town well. Each room had an oversized desk with internet and every adaptor and plug needed for all electronic office appliances. You could hold a professional meeting right there in your own hotel room.
This hotel also had a spa and gym, though this gym was more upscale and used more frequently with a personal trainer.
The space for miscellaneous events was not as adequate as in the W. The London's rooms were smaller and narrower, but this hotel is still one of the most elegant and upcoming hotels in New York.
Rosa Mexicano
Finally, we toured a restaurant called the Rosa Mexicano. This is an upscale but authentic Mexican food restaurant.
The common theme for this chain is the giant blue fountain that separates the bar from the dining room. Grace Hu, corporate beverage director, told us it is a successful chain.
The executive chef explained to us the amount of prep work needed daily was more than usual in a restaurant. The most impressive part of the restaurant is that they make fresh guacamole right in front of you at your table. This simply illustrates the immense amount of effort put into their customers.
All in all, the trip to the International Hotel/Motel and Restaurant Show in New York City was a great success.
