C A M P U S D I N I N G M AG A Z I N E
Thompson Hospitality
Graduating
Team Members Highlight
9 uncommon Careers in the Hospitality Industry
Thriving Past COVID: Safety Trends in Campus Dining Feeding the World
Food Science
and its Importance to the Hospitality Industry
Career on Fire How to Have A
Blazing
Hospitality Career
Graduating Students
Highlight
MAY 2021
thriving past covid: safety trends
in campus dining
Thriving Past COVID:
Safety Trends
in Campus Dining
Guest Contributor: Marletha Booker, Thompson Hospitality COVID‑19 has forever changed the way that we work, live and do business. As universities and colleges around the globe wrap up their first post‑shutdown academic year, administrations are looking to understand how to move forward in higher education. While the world is slowly returning to a sense of normalcy, it will never return to where it was prior to March 2020. As trusted campus dining partners, our role is to understand the landscape of higher education, identify trends within the industry and create solutions that meet the ever‑evolving needs of our campuses. As you prepare for a new academic year, here are COVID‑19 safety trends are here to stay. Trend #1: Can You Repeat That? COVID‑19 caused an increased interest from guests in safety procedures. Now more than ever, campus communities want to know what steps are being taken to keep them safe. They want to be able to easily find this information and to be kept up‑to‑date on it. That is not expected to change anytime soon. How We’re Doing It: Not only do we share this information on each campus dining website and social media platform, we also provide updates through Forward magazine. What It Means for You: Reassure parents by directing them to any of these sites to learn more about the measures we’re taking to keep everyone safe. Feel free to distribute copies of this month’s issue of Forward magazine to students and parents. Our marketing department is available to provide digital resources regarding our COVID‑19 safety procedures.
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May 2021
Thriving Past COVID: Safety Trends in Campus Dining
Trend #2: Paper or Plastic? Neither! We have waved goodbye to paper and plastic menus and predict many other food service establishments will do the same. As an example, several on‑campus restaurants are using adhesive vinyl QR codes that are adhered to dining tables. That way, when the table is cleaned so is the “menu”. This is a significant win for safety and the environment. How We’re Doing It: All of our dining establishments have digital menus either featured on a screen or by using a QR code for a contactless experience. What It Means for You: Go ahead and brag to prospective students about your efforts to create and maintain an environmentally friendly campus. Trend #3: Seeing is Believing Gone are the days when a team member could quickly wipe down a table and guests were confident it was clean. Now to feel safe, students want to continue to see obvious signs of cleaning and sanitizing. Ultimately, they want to experience a safe dining environment. How We’re Doing It: We use custom signs to indicate if an area has been properly cleaned and sanitized. This signage alerts diners to our cleaning process and when it’s safe to be in a specific area. In addition, our teams are equipped with sanitizer sprayers and sanitize high contact areas every thirty minutes. What It Means for You: Feel confident visiting one of our facilities and viewing our safety procedures in action. Trend #4: I Want to Be with You, But I Just Need Some Space Students have a desire to be safe, but they also want to be around their friends. Outdoor dining is expected to gain more traction as the year progresses. Dining outside provides additional space that may not be available inside dining rooms with social‑distancing measures in place. According to the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), outdoor dining is safer than eating indoors even while socially distanced. How We’re Doing It: As soon as the weather permits, we’re going back to hosting outdoor meal events with social‑distancing measures in place. What it Means for You: Investing in creating outdoor spaces for campus communities is a good idea for colleges and universities. As we look to the future of campus dining, no one truly knows what to expect, but one thing is certain‑ COVID‑19 will still be the leading influencer of the academic year. Yet, together we will continue to set trends and #Thrive.
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Career on Fire
fire
How to Have A Blazing Hospitality Career
user
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KNOW YOUR OPTIONS
KNOW YOURSELF
bullhorn
code-branch
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theater-masks
POLISH YOUR PACKAGING
05
MASTER YOUR PERFORMANCE
TELL EVERYBODY
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GET HELP
Theresa Lynette is an author, speaker, and Career Strategist that has dedicated her career to helping individuals create super‑effective roadmaps to optimal career success. As the founder of non‑profit organization, International Society of Black Project Managers (ISBPM), she is launching C‑Merge‑ a six‑year career development program for first‑generation college students of color to strengthen their college career pathway.
www.linkedin.com/in/theresalynette
Theresa Lynette, Senior Project Management CPC & PMP Certified
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May 2021
FIRE: FULFILLING. INVIGORATING. REWARDING. & ENGAGING!
CAREER ON FIRE by Theresa Lynette is available on Amazon.com
It’s undeniable that the hospitality industry is one of the best industries for leading an exciting and adventurous career. Theresa Lynette, the author of Career on Fire: Your Blazin’ Roadmap to an Amazing Career, gives insight on how to create the career of your dreams. Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned professional, Theresa Lynette outlines a six‑step process to ignite a career you love. Here are some of our favorite points from Career on Fire.
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now Yourself K “When you are living according to your core values, you start to feel stronger and you start to feel empowered—it is then that you really start to believe.” According to Theresa Lynette, one of the first steps in maximizing your career is understanding yourself. Identifying and being in alignment with your core values and goals are key to understanding where you want to go in your career. By understanding what motivates you, you’ll be able to cultivate the most fulfilling career for yourself. Next, you’ll want to take some time to identify your core values. Core values are essentially the fundamental beliefs that you choose to live by. Whether your core values are discipline, excellence, trust or honesty, you’ll begin to think and make decisions based on those values. Identifying these key values will help you start to view and respond to your environment in a whole new light, ultimately helping to guide you on the career path of your dreams.
Your Professional Packaging A saying you may have heard before is “You have to dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” In such a competitive industry, it’s so important to ensure that your packaging stands out from the crowd. Beyond the way you dress, you should be cognizant of your overall presentation (physical and in-person) to give yourself a competitive advantage. Also, consider your work experience and education when seeking new career opportunities. Does your experience align with the career you’re seeking? If not, what steps can you take to align yourself with your dream career.
May 2021
career on fire how to have a blazing hospitality career
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now Your Options K “You have an inner compass set to the frequency of success.” When building your ideal career, it’s important to not allow your limiting beliefs to hinder you from seeking exactly what you want in your career. Author Theresa Lynette explains “Limiting beliefs are those beliefs that you have formed about the world around you that constrain you.” By understanding that your thoughts have a direct impact on your reality, you can truly take control of your life and build the career that you’ve always dreamed of. Once you’ve acknowledged limiting beliefs, you can then take inventory of the skills that you possess to go after the position of your dreams. Typically, the career of your dreams may include encompassing certain skillsets or experiences in order to land the position. So, take a moment to identify your passions, talents or interests in order to determine which career path may be the best fit for you. Career options will begin to present themselves once you change your thinking, identify your vision and hone in on your goals.
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Ignite A dream without action is just that, a dream. Once you’ve taken steps to identify your core values, understand your skills and identify your options, it’s time to get going! While this may seem daunting, you can develop an action plan with simple and measurable action items to keep you on your path to success. You can implement the SMART goal-setting technique (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-Bound) to help you create a realistic plan to achieve your goals. Each of these elements work together to help you develop goals that are specific to your wildest dreams, yet not out of reach. Consider writing down your goals and revisiting them as often as needed to stay on track and remind yourself of why you started in the first place. Let these points serve as reminder that it’s never too late to obtain your dream career or create the life that you’ve always envisioned. If you’d like to learn more, be sure to pick up a copy of Theresa Lynette’s Career on Fire: Your Blazin’ Roadmap to an Amazing Career to launch the career of your dreams!
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9 Uncommon Careers
in the Hospitality Industry
Perhaps one of the biggest perks of a career in the hospitality industry is the vast amount of job options available to you. Especially in recent years, consumers have begun to seek additional, unique services when traveling, dining or attending events. This diverse field offer such a wide variety of career opportunities whether you’re a new or seasoned professional in the industry. Here are 10 unique positions that are gaining popularity in hospitality:
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Sleep Concierge First up on our list is a new and unique job that’s becoming more popular in today’s hotels: sleep concierge. Despite the amenities offered, many people find it quite difficult to get a restful night’s sleep in a hotel room. To solve this problem, sleep concierges are available to provide sleep assessments, bedtime snacks, massages and even pillow recommendations to hotel guests.
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Proposal Concierge When guests who are planning to propose to their partners during their hotel stay, proposal concierges are there to assist with the special occasion. In order to ensure that the proposal runs smoothly, proposal concierges can assist with tasks including selecting the ring, booking venues, dinner reservations or setting the scene for the romantic event. Like all hotel employees, these concierges go above and beyond to assist in your special moments
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Gaming Manager Gaming managers play a key role in the overall operations of hotel casinos. When considering casinos, there are so many moving parts to consider and the gaming manager is responsible for putting it all together. Responsibilities of a gaming manager include interviewing and hiring employees, responding to customer complaints and monitoring the casino’s finances. As the entertainment industry continues to grow, this is a great job opportunity for those looking to enter the field.
May 2021
9 uncommon careers in the hospitality industry
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Running Concierge The primary responsibility of a running concierge is to assist health-conscious guests with staying in shape while visiting a hotel. In order to do this, a running concierge leads guests on a running tour through the area and points of popular tourist attractions. Ideal candidates for this position would be in good physical shape and have knowledge on the hotel’s surrounding area. .
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Listening Officer Listening Officers are responsible for monitoring on social media platforms include Facebook, Twitter and review sites. Professionals in this role help hotels in branding their businesses by creating favorable messages and images that represent the brand.
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Water Sommelier This may surprise you, but different types of water can possess their own unique flavors. For water sommeliers, their job is showcasing guests how different mineral waters can enhance their meals. If you have a very refined palate, water sommeliers offer a unique experience to guests looking to taste different types of mineral water.
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Duckmaster Travelers visiting The Peabody Hotel in Memphis Tennessee are greeted by very special guests during their stay: ducks! The hotel’s duckmaster is responsible for leading five North American Mallards on their daily parade throughout the resort grounds. Duckmasters also have carried on the tradition training the ducks to perform the famous Peabody Duck March. If you have a deep love for animals and hospitality, this may be the job for you!
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Bed Warmer Yes, you read the title of this next career correctly! For those looking to get the most-perfect night’s sleep, bed warmers are available at select hotels around the world. Much like their title, bed warmers lie in hotel guest’s bed to warm them up just in time for sleep. Like many other jobs mentioned on this list, bed warmers have truly taken hotel experiences to a whole new level.
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Fragrance Butler Don’t want to travel with your favorite fragrances? Consider staying at a hotel with an inhouse fragrance butler. A few hotels in the United States offer this unique service for guests looking to get luxury fragrances during their stay. Fragrance butlers offer a personalized selection of fragrances to guests that are based on the city they’re in. If that’s not special enough, fragrance butlers will even deliver the guest’s fragrance of choice on a silver platter.
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Don’t forget
To Checkout
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VIDEO
MAY 2021 Chef Talks The Art of Celebrating Panel featuring Kiyana Roberts and Career Coach Theresa Lynette The Art of Adulting (Kitchen Edition) featuring Laverne Walsh
thTeaches Pan Seared Chicken, Mashed Potatoes with Gravy and Broccoli from Scratch
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DINING
Feeding the World:
Food Science and its Importance to the Hospitality Industry In an industry built around serving people, we cannot neglect to discuss one of the industry’s most important components: food. When thinking about food, we see it as a source of energy, nourishment and entertainment. However, we may forget to acknowledge just how much work goes into ensuring the safety, nutrition and availability of food. The study of food science does just that- it examines the physical, biological, and chemical makeup of food in order to provide consumers with the best products and to develop innovative techniques to preserve the life and quality of our food. Food scientists work tirelessly to streamline the processes of packaging, preserving or storing food to be in compliance with both industry and federal regulations. Take a closer look into just how important the concept of food science is not only to our everyday lives, but as it pertains to the hospitality industry.
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Food scientists apply a combination of chemistry, engineering and microbiology in order to ensure a high quality and abundant food supply. In addition, scientists work to help us maximize our natural resources and reduce waste. Thanks to food scientists, we have access to products including: frozen food, canned food, microwave meals and more. Not to mention, food science has allowed us the ability to have more variety in our diets as a whole. While we may not consider it in our day-to-day lives, we should consider it a luxury to continuously have access to safe, nutritional, convenient and delicious food options.
the best food possible. For example, the consistently safe and tasty food that you find at your favorite restaurants are thanks to an established set of guidelines and quality standards that help ensure you’re receiving the most quality food. From sanitation, to temperature control or food storage, food scientists have helped us understand the proper procedures for handling food. Along with scientists, organizations such as the National Restaurant Association help to lead America’s restaurant industry and provide quality food experiences through programs including ProStart and ServSafe.
In the hospitality industry, our goal to provide guests with a quality experience would not be possible without the knowledge of food science. Along with government regulations for harvesting, producing, serving food and preserving food, food safety regulations within the hospitality industry allow us to consistently serve guests
Ensuring the safety and quality of the food we serve while also aiming to help innovate the hospitality and food industry is a high priority. Thanks to the vast amount of knowledge and resources provided by food scientists, we can continue to safely develop new food ideas and break barriers in an industry that continues to grow.
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Graduating Students Highlight Kiyana Roberts Hotel Restaurant Tourism Management (HRTM)
Noni Peaks Hotel Restaurant Tourism Management (HRTM)
Jordan Adams
Kristine Cortez
Hotel Restaurant Tourism Management (HRTM)
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management
Davis Birts
Gabrielle Christian
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management
Maleek Minor
Hotel Restaurant Tourism Management (HRTM)
Alphonso Samukai Hotel Restaurant Tourism Management (HRTM)
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management
Glen Gie
Sierra Foster
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management
Hotel Restaurant Tourism Management (HRTM)
Terri-Anne Ivey
Edina Bazemore Hotel Restaurant Tourism Management (HRTM)
Derrica Palmer
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management
Jalen Jamison‑Johnson
Jasmina Kamdar
Essence Nelson Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management
Marichu Ortega Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management
Hoang Thien Nga, Tran Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management
Danielle Wojeski
Hotel Restaurant Tourism Management (HRTM)
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management
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Matthew Lang
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management
Daesia Dixon Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management
Gabrielle Jones Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management
Bria Whyte Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management
Anna Williams Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management
Brandi Moore Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management
Shaneeka Moonesar Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management
Jessica Pettaway Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management
Xia-Ling Bovell Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management
Kara Yanez
Wenyu Yang Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management
Austin Dillon Bachelor of Science in Professional Golf Management
Wenyu Yang Bachelor of Science in Professional Golf Management
Thompson Hospitality Graduating Team Members
Highlight
Nyeena Brownlee Cheyney University Hotel Restaurant Tourism Management (HRTM) Ananikay Wilson Coppin State University Athletic Training Management, Bachelors in Business Tylor King Lincoln University Criminal Justice Toni Corshae Norfolk State University Psychology Ny’kia Bland Norfolk State University Social Work April Pettyjohn University of Phoenix MBA Concentration HR Jada Cole Talladega College Hotel Restaurant Tourism Management (HRTM) Ke Shae Lambert Talladega College Social Work Ke Shell Lambert Talladega College Social Work Alisha Green Talladega College Biology/Pre-nursing Shirkenda Crawford Talladega College Business Management Courtney Harris Wor-Wic Community College Associate of Arts in Business
A Rich Heritage
Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is a period for the duration of month of May for recognizing the contributions and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. A rather broad term, the commemorative month is a celebration of those from a vast number of regions including the continent of Asia, the Pacific islands of Melanesia (including New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), and Polynesia (including New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands and French Polynesia). Approved by Congress in 1992, the month of May was selected in order to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843. To honor a culture replete with such a rich history and traditions, here are a few ways that you can celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month:
Know the History One of the first ways to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is to learn all about the deep, rich culture as well as the contributions of AAPIs as a whole. With various online resources available, here are a few of our favorites for you to explore:
• h ttps://asianpacificheritage.gov/about/ • https://www.pbs.org/specials/asianpacific-american-heritage-month/
• h ttps://artsandculture.google.com/story/12ways-to-celebrate-asian-pacific-americanheritage-month/6AWxHzPoMnUTnw?hl=en
Enjoy the Food Perhaps one of the best ways to learn more about a culture is by trying the food and Asian American and Pacific Islanders are no exception. Given the geographical locations of many of their countries, it comes as no surprise that fruits, vegetables, seafood and nuts have become staples in AAPI cuisine. Some of the culture’s most popular dishes include dumplings, samba, poke and lap lap. For students, faculty and staff on our campuses, be sure to join us this month for our Grad Fest: Polynesian Luau premium meal. During this event, we’ll be recognizing our graduating students and employees before kicking off a spirited luau celebration. Please check with your dining hall for the date and time of the event.
Embrace the Culture Because culture encompasses many things, you can celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander culture in a variety of ways. If you can, consider taking a road‑trip to visit a museum exhibit. For example, the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. is home to the Asian Pacific American Center. There you can find exhibits that bring history, art and culture to you in innovative, community‑focused experiences. If you’re at home looking for entertainment, consider watching movies produced/directed by an Asia‑Pacific creator or add an Asian‑Pacific author to your May reading list. Finally, if you’d like to get creative, consider learning Asian‑Pacific inspired art and crafts such as origami or paper lanterns. As we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month during May, we encourage you to embrace the rich culture of Asian‑Pacific Americans and remember that each of our cultures and backgrounds play a significant role in shaping the unique, dynamic world around us.
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May 2021
DINING EVENTS
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Marketing Contacts Cindy Horstman, Regional Marketing Director envelope chorstman@thompsonhospitality.com phone (804) 640–4136 Daniela‑Gabrielle Smallwood, Regional Marketing Director envelope daniela.smallwood@thompsonhospitality.com phone (571) 444–7430
