The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
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albertahospitality The Official Magazine of the Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association Winter 2012 the fairmont jasper park lodge • Pricing Power • Beer & Food Pairing • Customer Loyalty Strategies • The Changing Game of Hotel Ownership PM40026059 Attention: Exhibitors at AHLA’s Trade Show Attract buyers to your booth with an ad in the Official Show Guide Display ads start at $310 and you can strengthen your basic company listing with an Enhanced Listing for only $100. Book space by February 24th Contact Joyce for details. PUBLICATIONS 1-800-667-0955 albertahospitality this issue THE FAIRMONT JASPER PARK LODGE 16 The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge as we know it today bears no resemblance to the tent city that stood in this location back in 1915. 6 Alberta’s Hoteliers Have it All ... Except Pricing Power 10 Beer & Food Pairing 18 Safety in a Minute in every issue 18 Message from The Honourable 4 Chairman’s Report Jack Hayden 5 President & CEO’s Message 19 So, You Want to Run a Campground? 14 Travel Alberta 20 Customer Loyalty Strategies 15 Human Resources 25 Names in the News 26 The Changing Game of Hotel Ownership 25 MVP Profile 29 Canadian Wonderland 29 What’s New? Beckons Europeans 30 Domestic Violence in the Workplace CHAIRMAN’S REPORT by Mike Shymka alberta hospitality The time has come for me to write one of my last columns as the Chair of the AHLA. I would like to share part of my journey as a member Official magazine of of the association, as a director, and as Chair. My first memories of the association date unique style and left their own legacy. It has back to when I was a young lad. My father been more than a pleasure serving under INSPIRING SERVICE, GROWING VALUE Ernie would come home and lecture my them. brother and me about some important piece I have also been fortunate to serve alongside AHLA of government legislation. This was around 2707 Ellwood Drive, the time that Steve West was the Minister many highly skilled board members. I have Edmonton AB, T6X 0P7 of Economic Development and Tourism. My nothing but great memories and admiration Toll Free: 1.888.436.6112 for the incredible integrity and passion they www.ahla.ca father would say, “We have to act now - the success of our industry hinges on this have shown. I must especially thank Peter Bidlock, our senior senator, for his mentorship. CHAIR OF THE BOARD issue.” I also remember attending meetings Mike Shymka at the Crossroads Hotel some 20 years ago During these years, I have been able to be FIRST VICE CHAIR and being impressed with the tremendous part of the development of many great ideas, Barry Zwueste business acumen hoteliers had. programs, and strategies. These include the In 2000, after returning home to Calgary from electricity and gas programs, insurance with VICE CHAIR Western Financial Group, the creation of the Steven Watters working as an accountant in Vancouver, at my father’s insistence, I attended my first Alberta Human Resource Development pillar, and the VICE CHAIR new Star Quality Accommodation Ratings. Perry Wilford Hotel Association convention at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. I had no choice but to Over the course of the decade, the association PAST CHAIR merged with the Motel Association of Doug Shandro attend, listen, and report back to him. My wife and I packed up the SUV and ventured Alberta, the Alberta Resort & Campground PRESIDENT & CEO down the Icefields Parkway with our two kids Association, and Alberta Tourism Education David Kaiser - having no inkling that we would travel this Council. Recently the AHLA built its own DIRECTORS NORTH magnificent route on so many more occasions office. Our longstanding president and Amr Awad in the years ahead. During the conference CEO par-excellence, Jim Hansen, retired in JoAnn Kirkland 2005 and was followed by the outstanding Tony Verbisky some serious recruiting was taking place for directors. Having a keen interest in serving, leader we have in Dave Kaiser. We changed DIRECTORS CENTRAL I put my name in and was fortunate to be our name to the Alberta Hotel & Lodging Thomas Barknowitz Association and implemented a new brand. Perry Batke elected. Keith Bryant was the Chair, and my None of this could be done without the Tina Tobin first meeting was a memorable experience. It was so fantastic, in fact, that I have only tremendous foresight, intelligence, passion, DIRECTORS SOUTH and hard work of the staff over these years. Joseph Clohessy missed one board meeting since! Just getting to know these individuals has Mark Hope It has been an awesome experience to Michael Sieger been incredibly rewarding. It has been such a contribute to the growth of our association pleasure to be a part of all of this! DIRECTOR, CAMPGROUNDS since then. I have served under some great Christina Eklof leaders and have learned a tremendous The real reason I wrote this is to encourage anyone who is part of this industry to get Alberta Hospitality is published quarterly by: amount about life and business. I was part of the board when Keith Bryant, Michael involved in the association and our board of Mazepa, Dave Kaiser, William Schmidt, Lina directors. Looking back, I would do it all again PUBLICATIONS Venchiarutti, and Doug Shandro sat as Chairs. if I could. It is absolutely worth the time and T 604-574-4577 1-800-667-0955 Each of these individuals brought their own effort! F 604-574-2196 [email protected] www.emcmarketing.com Publisher & Editor - Joyce Hayne Copy Editor - Debbie Minke UPCOMING ISSUE Design & Layout - Krysta Furioso Closes February 24 Spring 2012 Published April 6 PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40026059 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT EMC PUBLICATIONS 19073 63 AVE • Online Reputation Management • Attracting GenY Guests SURREY BC V3S 8G7 • Preparing Your Campground • F&B Trends in Hotels email: [email protected] Call 1-800-667-0955 to reach 2,300 buyers who are sourcing new products. PRESIDENT & CEO’S MESSAGE Alberta’s Changing Political Landscape by Dave Kaiser Alison Redford’s recent election as leader of One important change for our industry is the provincial Progressive Conservative party that labour and immigration now fall into has made her Alberta’s new Premier. This will two separate ministries. Employment have implications for the AHLA’s government standards, health and safety, and minimum relations program. Her campaign emphasized wage legislation are now handled by Our industry may be negatively affected if the change, and her Cabinet and deputy Human Services. Immigration is now under Premier follows through on her intention to minister selections have borne this out. The Intergovernmental, International and introduce impaired driving legislation similar new Premier reduced the size of Cabinet, Aboriginal Affairs. This may be a signal that to BC’s. The BC legislation empowers police reorganized departments and appointed nine the Premier intends to push forward with to suspend driving privileges and impound new Ministers. In addition, Deputy Ministers the development of an Alberta immigration vehicles that belong to individuals with were shuffled and 10 new Deputy Ministers system - a priority she stated in her leadership blood alcohol levels over .05%. Hospitality were appointed. campaign. The AHLA firmly supports this establishments, particularly those in rural initiative given our industry’s permanent The good news is that the Department of areas, have been hard hit as a result. The labour gap and the ongoing challenge of Tourism, Parks, and Recreation has remained AHLA is actively working with other Alberta working with the federal Temporary Foreign intact. Although a new Minister and deputy liquor industry stakeholders on a coordinated Worker Program. minister have been assigned to the portfolio, response to this threat. we would like to build on the progress of the Another significant change for our industry The AHLA will continue to build relations last few years. This includes the evolution of is the inclusion of the Alberta Gaming and with the new complement of ministers and Travel Alberta Corporation into the leading Liquor Commission in the Department of bureaucrats in all of the areas of government provincial tourism marketing organization in Finance. This may underscore the gaming and that impact our industry. Canada. It also includes the department’s liquor industry’s important contribution to willingness to work with industry stakeholders the financial health of our province. We look forward to serving you! to develop a new provincial tourism strategy. alberta hospitality | 5 FEATURE ALBERTA’s HoteLIERS HAVE IT ALL ... Except Pricing Power by Lindsay Culbreath 6 | alberta hospitality ALBERTA’S HOTELIERS HAVE IT ALL - EXCEPT PRICING POWER ike many other markets and regions throughout North America, the Alberta hotel market has experienced a revival in occupancy What these data points show is that all rate and revenue per available room through the third quarter of the province’s year-over-year RevPAR L of 2011. And, like those other markets, it’s a different story for average daily rate as hotel operators haven’t been able to capture it. growth for the first three quarters of 2011 can be attributed to increased demand STR tracks 855 hotels in Alberta, comprising 67,390 guestrooms. The performance sample includes 55% of the rooms in the market.The (occupancy). province’s year-to-date (through September) occupancy rate stood at { 62.4% - more than 5% higher than it was during the first three quarters • In terms of ADR, the 12-month moving average in September was of 2010. $134.31 - more than $9 below the peak ADR of $143.60 in March 2009. Year-over-year RevPAR (revenue per available room) growth through HVS in September’s Canadian Hotel Review pointed to one major September was 4.8% and stood at $84.68.