understand the philosophy behind the Policies & Procedures The basic dress code required at the college is really nothing extraordinary in the professional world. As another student, Alyce explained earlier based on her experience at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver , it is simply expected in the industry. Please read and understand the following very common policies at typical business clubs all over the world . DRESS CODE Members and their guests are required to observe the dress code whenever they are in the Club. Smart casual attire, as defined below, is permitted in all areas of the third and fifth floors, in The Grill and Conservatory, in private rooms and when entering and exiting the Club to and from these areas. In all other areas of the Club, business ...

in the spirit of the TED talk conference in Vancouver this week Stress. It makes your heart pound, your breathing quicken and your forehead sweat. But while stress has been made into a public health enemy, new research suggests that stress may only be bad for you if you believe that to be the case. Psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us to see stress as a positive, and introduces us to an unsung mechanism for stress reduction: reaching out to others. About Kelly McGonigal KellyWisdom “Kelly McGonigal is a leader driven by compassion and pragmatism.” – Forbes.com 20 Inspiring Women Contact Kelly McGonigal Kelly McGonigal, PhD, is a health psychologist and lecturer at Stanford University, and a leading expert in the new field of “science-help.” She is passionate about translating cutting-edge research from psychology, neuroscience, and medicine into practical strategies for health, happiness, and personal success. Her most recent book, The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Wo...

an interview with several successful hotel executives a must-watch for everyone On their journey to becoming trusted advisers, HVS Executive Search explores what business leaders are looking for in an advisor. They ask the question: "What is the power of advice?" Leading personalities from the hospitality industry delve into the importance of mentorship, listening skills, empathy and objectivity when getting and giving advice. The film follows 20 hospitality leaders through Hong Kong, London, New York and Las Vegas as they oversee their global organizations. During this journey the film revealed themes that include: Is it lonely at the top? Respecting that others have knowledge The role of intuition and gut in decision-making Recognising what you don't know The role of advice in teams and the quality of your people That you need to learn how to give advice That good advice makes you think and gain a perspective Telling the truth is absolutely essential Th...

If you wear a tuxedo or a tailcoat, a bow tie is a must.

its history & its significance Remembrance Day – also known as Poppy Day, Armistice Day (the event it commemorates) or Veterans Day – is a day to commemorate the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and of civilians in times of war, specifically since the First World War. It is observed on 11 November to recall the end of World War I on that date in 1918. (Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.) "Remembrance Day" is the primary designation for the day in many Commonwealth countries such as Australia and Canada. However, "Armistice Day" also remains, often to differentiate the event from Remembrance Sunday, and is the primary designation used in New Zealand and France. "Poppy Day" is also a popular term used, particularly in Malta and South Africa. Veterans Day also falls upon this day in the United States, yet many other allied...

Five Barclays Bankers Lose Jobs Over Very Expensive Meal LONDON (AP)--One summer evening in 2002, six bankers celebrated a business deal with dinner at a London restaurant. Several hours and three bottles of Chateau Petrus later, they had run up a bill of more than GBP44,000 (US$92,000) - according to Guinness World Records, the most expensive meal per capita ever. It is unlikely that they are still celebrating. Five of the diners - employees of Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays PLC (BCS) - have reportedly lost their jobs, and the sixth is keeping a low profile. The Petrus restaurant (owned by one of the most famous chefs in the world, Gordon Ramsay ) released details of the bill to the media after the extravagant meal last July. But on Tuesday night, staff at the lush, low-key dining room in London's St. James's district said politely but firmly that they were not allowed to speak to the media about this issue. According to the restaura...

Ask Chris about this software used in the industry MEDALLIA – Customer Experience Management is an industry leader in analyzing guest data to enhance future guest experiences. Put the voice of your customer in every decision you make. Imagine a system that makes it easy to track all your customers’ experiences and feedback. A system that, instead of generating reports, offers real time analytics tailored to every person in your organization — from the C-suite through to the frontline. A system that makes sure that everyone knows exactly what they need to do to improve the customer experience. A system that’ll make your customers love your business. That’s Medallia. Medallia – Customer Experience Management Video -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPU5M1QfTKI Source:  http://www.medallia.com/software/

Hilton Worldwide has agreed to sell the Waldorf Astoria New York hotel  to Anbang Insurance Group of China for $1.95 billion  -- one of the highest-ever prices fetched by a hotel Management of the landmark property will remain with Hilton under a new 100-year management contract. The Waldorf-Astoria was unofficially known as New York’s regal palace shortly after its opening in 1931, becoming home to many of the city’s important social functions and visiting dignitaries from countries whose flags fluttered from the parapets. Eighty-three years later, the Waldorf-Astoria retains its cachet with the pending sale of the landmark hotel to a Chinese insurance company for $1.95 billion, among the highest prices ever paid for a hotel. The buyer, Anbang Insurance Group, plans a renovation of the hotel on Park Avenue, to restore the 47-story tower to its Art Deco grandeur. The hotel’s rare marble, gold doorknobs, lavish rooms, artwork, furniture and chandeliers wit...

which company owns which brand? comprehensive list of car brands learn the underlined names The automobile industry has always been volatile. Companies form, companies dissolve; companies merge, companies divide. Brands come and go, and only a few models last for more than a decade. So it has always been, and if you think the early 21st Century is singular in its instability, you’d be wrong. When it comes to cars, it’s actually quite typical. But it has to be admitted that there have been many changes over the past few years in the global automotive sector. Consumers are left bewildered when their favourite brand suddenly disappears from the marketplace, and even industry watchers are challenged by all the wheeling and dealing that’s taking place at the highest corporate and government levels. Just get used to the idea that Ford owns Jaguar? Never mind, they don’t anymore. General Motors owns Saab? Not now. Did you hear that Canadian company Magna International is ...

Rule No. 1: You should always hold the wine glass by the stem. “You should always hold the glass by the stem, no matter what the shape or size of the glass or the type of wine,” says Michael Greenlee, the sommelier and wine director of Gotham Bar and Grill, in New York City. “The most common mistake I see in restaurants and at dinner parties is people holding a wineglass by the bowl .” When you do this with a Champagne flute or a wineglass, your body heat warms the drink inside. Of course, white wine and Champagne both taste best when they’re chilled. And if “if you’re trying to look at the color and the clarity of the wine, it’s hard to see them when your hand is wrapped around the glass and you have fingerprints on the bowl,” says Greenlee. So pinch the stem between your index finger and your thumb. If holding the glass by the stem feels unwieldy, check the portion: A wineglass should be only a quarter to a third full .

Basic Good Manners A quick list of tips that will help turn even the most blundering fool into a proper gentleman. Follow these simple tips and we can assure you that people will perceive you as a man of good breeding and taste, hence a man they wish to associate and conduct business with. Always be polite Even if you don't like someone, there is no need to lower yourself to their level. Be polite and courteous; show that you're the better man. Do not curse Swearing is a big no-no. It shows that you don't have the vocabulary to express your thoughts appropriately. Furthermore, it is always very crude and impolite to be vulgar. Do not speak loudly When you speak loudly, it raises the stress level among company. It always implies that you can't reason with people and rely on "brute force" to get your point across. It also draws attention -- negative attention. Do not lose your temper When you lose your temper, you are showing everyone that y...

latest news from a graduate from a few years ago finding her passion in accounting We received the email from Lea Horsman earlier this summer. She completed the Executive Hotel Management Diploma in 2011 and earned a variety of career experience and education since then. Recent Linkedin Update indicates she is going after her Accounting Degree with Thompson Rivers University and also started working at a Chartered Accountancy Firm, MNP at Fort Saint John, B.C. Hello Mayumi, Please give Eric my regards as well. For the past two years I have worked at the Hotel Grand Pacific in Victoria. Six months after I was hired as Assistant Restaurant Manager, the Restaurant Manager position became available and I was hired. I was the department head for the hotel's two restaurants, hotel lounge and room service departments. The experience I gained from my time at the hotel was wonderful and it gave me the opportunity to develop all of the skills I learned at IHMC. Duri...

Words of Encouragement Natasha Sweeney who graduated the Executive Hotel Management Diploma Program in 2009 visited IHMC in mid August and shared her current career course with us. My Experience at IHMC My name is Natasha Sweeney and I am currently the Hilton Meetings Manager at Hilton Vienna in Austria. My journey began at IHMC in Vancouver with the Executive Diploma in Hotel Management. When I started IHMC I was young and apprehensive, however throughout the 9 month program I gained so much knowledge about the hotel industry, etiquette, and networking that when I graduated I was a confident and professional student ready to start my career. The unique teaching style of 3 hour classes and 3 hour work experience really helped me learn the material faster and gain a better understanding of how a hotel works. IHMC does not only teach about the hotel business, the school also communicates a treasure of information regarding networking, professionalism, cultural traini...

Words of encouragement Message from Yusuf Serag El-Din who joined the Executive Hotel Management Diploma Program last year and got hired in Executive Hotel Le Soleil , Vancouver, through his successful networking and continuous endeavour and devotion to hospitality career. "If someone were to ask me to describe IHMC in one catchy statement, I would describe it thusly: Quality Instruction; Perfect Opportunities. As someone who was lucky enough to experience the university, public college, and private college systems, I can say, from a position of experiential authority, that private college is the way to go. With the specific goal of starting a career in the hospitality industry, I was provided with practical guidance and strong support from my instructors. This is 50% of the competitive edge that IHMC offers; success-centric guidance. If one is receptive to said guidance, one can achieve success. I accomplished my goal of starting a full time career after onl...

the most common ones listed below Half-Bottle 375 milliliters or one half of the standard bottle size. Also known as a "split" or a "tenth". Bottle 750 milliliters of wine, this is the standard size. Magnum 1.5 lters or two times the standard bottle size Double Magnum 3.0 liters or twice the size of a magnum, equivalent of 4 bottles. Jeroboam There are two sizes of Jeroboams: Sparkling wine Jeroboam equals 4 regular bottles, or 3.0 liters. Red wine Jeroboam equals 6 regular bottles, or 4.5 liters. Some 5.0 liter Jeroboams exist. Imperial 6.0 liters or 8 regular bottles. Methuselah Same size as an Imperial but is usually used for sparkling wines and is Burgundy-shaped. Salmanazar 9.0 liters. 12 regular bottles or one case. Balthazar 12.0 liters. 16 bottles. Usually used for sparkling wines. Nebuchadnezzar 15.0 liters. 20 regular bottles. Usually used for sparkling wines. Click here for the complete listing . Below are the relative ...

A Top Sommelier Reveals 6 Things Not To Do When Ordering Wine There are four basic components of the traditional wine tasting ritual people perform when they order a bottle at a restaurant: sniff the cork, swirl the glass, sniff the wine, and hold the glass up to the light to inspect its contents. "People go through the ritual, but they don't always know why they're doing it," said Union Square Hospitality Group's John Ragan, who is the wine director for Danny Meyer's restaurant empire. "That's not a comfortable exercise." To help people feel less silly when ordering and tasting wine, Ragan is leading a 10-week, restaurant-grade course starting in March curated by USHG and the Institute of Culinary Education . Every Tuesday, guests will get the training servers and sommeliers receive: They'll learn to navigate a wine list and discuss wine, have a chance to Skype with growers, importers and critics around the world, and most import...

Ms. Sarah Henderson, Hotel Assistant Manager Today, August 19, 2014 at 4:30p.m.  Sarah is an experienced hospitality professional who is a Hotel Assistant Manager at Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver and is on her way to Dubai where she will assist in opening the brand new Four Seasons Dubai at Jumeirah Beach in November 2014. Sarah is excited to visit IHMC to share her experiences and expertise to our student body and answer any questions about the hotel and hospitality industry.

Macau Casino Workers Are Becoming A Huge Pain For Resort Owners Disgruntled casino workers are becoming a costly thorn in Macau's side. As the Chinese territory races to build eight new resorts in the next three years, labor strains look set to intensify: workers are demanding higher pay and threatening strikes at a time when operators face a labor shortage. Las Vegas kingpins Sheldon Adelson at Las Vegas Sands Corp <LVS.N> and Steve Wynn at Wynn Resorts Ltd <WYNN.O> together reported unexpected costs of $50 million (£29.6 million) last quarter for labor-related compensation at their Macau casinos. Casino industry analysts expect the other four licensed operators in the world's biggest gambling hub - Galaxy Entertainment <0027.HK>, MGM Resorts <MGM.N>, SJM Holdings <0880.HK> and Melco Crown Entertainment <6883.HK> - to announce similar cost pressures when they post earnings this month. Located on China's south coast, Macau is...

Update from a graduate Scott Hylkema, Class of 2013, dropped by at IHMC last month, informing us that he got promoted to the Public Areas Supervisor at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Resort. Scott is looking to transfer to Fairmont Chateau Whistler in the near future and continues to look forward into his progression in the industry. Fairmont Resort Jasper is situated on the shores of Lac Beauvert. As Jasper's only year-round full-service resort, it has onsite and offsite activities including hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and canoeing. It has an 18-hole golf course designed by Stanley Thompson. Winter at the Lodge is outdoor oriented – cross country skiing, horse-drawn wagon rides, snowshoeing, and outdoor ice skating on Lake Mildred. The Lodge was named Fairmont's Environmental Hotel of the Year for its 2009 eco contributions.

Class of 2014 Our most recent graduate, Andy, was hired right after he graduated from the Executive Hotel Management Diploma in 2014. Andy joined us in 2013. While in the Executive Diploma program he proved his professionalism and employment capability by perfect attendance record and continuous endeavours towards his career goals in hospitality industry. After he graduated from the program, he brought his resume and reference letters which he earned while studying with us to the hotels. Immediately after the interview, he received an employment offer from Wedgewood Hotel & Spa and now he is working as a houseman. The Wedgewood Hotel & Spa is a Relais & Châteaux member hotel ; Courtney C. Davis, Class of 2006 was also working at another Relais & Châteaux property, at the Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino, as a reservation supervisor in the past 3 years . In addition, Mercedes Abdo, Class of 2008, was working at the Bacchus Restaurant and Lounge in the Wedgewood Ho...