Liana Robberecht’s Food Obsessions

Please Note – we have updated our Blog to be distributed by Feedburner.  Please re-subscribe here as this delivery method will be faded out. Turkish Delight – May Growing up I had a couple of favourite books that I would read over and over again; one of these books was The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. The reference that peaked my early culinary curiosity was from...

Phil Grandbois' Hospitable Opinion

Leadership and the new age of accountability from your bartender.. I am sure I am not the first to really say that “times are different” in the business of hospitality these days. A lot has changed in only a few short years and I have to admit that my favourite trend has to be what I am seeing on more and more bars….A very clear leader. Bartending has long been for the entrepreneurs, but...

Liana Robberecht's Food Obsessions

Food Obsession: For the Love of Tofu If you had asked me 15 years ago about my thoughts on tofu, I would’ve blankly stared at you with a squished up nose and an unequivocal, “eeewww”. I thought tofu was some silly fad left over from the “hippie dippie” 70’s philosophy. Fast forward to my now infinitely more mature, educated pallet and state of mind and I answer this same question very...

Jackie McAtee – International Marketing Perspective

  Position your brand  The hidden, but influential world of brand marketing is all about positioning. Who do you align with, what does your company stand for and who are you willing to work with. A recently uploaded TED TALK (www.ted.com) highlights the necessary alignment of your brand with where you position it, even your personal brand. Enjoy this 19 minute thought provoking clip from...

Harley Carbery is Living the Life in Fabulous Las Vegas

Hello again from Fabulous Las Vegas! Convention season is here, whether it’s a small group of executives or a large party with salesmen and women this time of year is usually when Las Vegas really takes off. It seams as though this year people are coming back to spend money!  We have had some pretty slow times here in Vegas, everyone always hears about how bad the economy is here, how bad the...

The surprising truth about what motivates us…

Here is what we know (undeniably). -people are more productive when they work less -work/life balance is becoming increasingly more important -we have an aging work force, more mature people with families -people want input in to their job -money is NOT a major motivator -security (job/benefits) ARE a major motivator Here is what you don’t know… -bonuses for performance that require...

Patricia koyich's Calgary

April huh? Well, well, well! Cabin fever is here once again and as Mother Nature teases us with the melting snow and warm Chinook winds.  The lack of summer experience from last year has intensified our longing to get out of the house, find a positive vibe and/or create one with a cocktail or two. The idea of spring and the ”newness” it brings is also applicable in the restaurant industry!...

Egon von Foidl's International Hotel Perspective

Good day to you all: Here we are in April 2011 and the time is flying. March was an interesting month, visited Toronto for a week and drove to Niagara on the Lake, Collingwood and Muskoka and talked to hotel managers to see how the winter season has been. Collingwood did very well with good snow conditions, but Muskoka had a very difficult time with low occupancy and rate. Niagara did OK with...

Who's responsible for service design? a blog from Seth Godin

How many people should be answering the phone at Zappos on a Saturday? What’s Southwest Airlines policy regarding hotel stays and cancelled flights? Should the knobs on the shower at the hotel go side by side or one above the other? Can I turn it on without getting sprayed with cold water? How many steps from the front of the hotel to the registration desk? Too often, we blame bad service on...

Dr. Pete – Elbow Pain

Ever wonder why your elbow kills you when you carry that heavy tray to your customer’s table?  Or when you push and pull that vacuum?  Or when you reach across a table to pick up your laptop?  It could be because you have Tennis or Golfer’s Elbow. I know what you’re thinking.  You haven’t picked up a tennis racquet since elementary school or swung a golf club for years and you have...