December, 2009 MMHLAMMHLA

Metropolitan Memphis Hotel & Lodging Association MMH&LA - the source for information and education, and the advocacy voice for the hotel and lodging industry in the metropolitan Memphis area.

Annual Board Retreat., January 6-7 MMHLA/MCVB MMAA/MABTA Holiday Party! Memphis Botanic Garden December 16 5-7:30 p.m. Business or Cocktail Attire See you there! To Make Reservations: The Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau Phone: 901-543-5321 The Metropolitan Memphis Hotel & Lodging Association The Metro Memphis Attractions Association E-mail: [email protected] [ The Memphis Area Business Travel Association ] ~Invite you to join us for~ January 20 - Luncheon: Westin The 2009 Tourism Marketing Memphis Panel MMHLA Offices: Industry Holiday 7730 Goshawk Cove Cordova, TN 38016 901-752-9902 Please RSVP Celebration 901-752-0743 (fax) no later than [email protected] Wednesday, December 16, 2009 www.mmhla.com December 11, to 5-7:30 p.m. Peggy Callahan, 543-5321 Memphis Botanic Garden Executive Director Business or Cocktail Attire MMHLA Officers: Wayne Tabor...... Chairman Mary Calorio...... President Doug Owings...... Treasurer Tony Goebel...... Secretary NEW MEMBERS! John Rucker...... Sergeant-at-arms MMHLA Board of Directors: Jay Kumar Ryan Luttrell Doug Browne President, Program Director, Anne-Marie Famalette Yogesh Purohit Metro/Advantage Cab L E’Cole Culinare Mohamad Hakimian Steve Smyka 901-322-2222 901-754-7117 Kevin Kane Terry Umbreit Pierre Landaiche Rick Zurburg 2240 Deadrick Ave. 1245 Germantown Pkwy. Craig Marshall Memphis, TN 38114 Cordova, TN 38016 Chuck Pinkowski [email protected] [email protected] ’s Carolyn Mears steps up to tell us why we should . . . Think ...... nternational! Memphis is famous for a whole lotta things. How to take advantage of I that fact was the topic of the day, November 18, at the Marriott East.

Let’s get this luncheon going! Jeff Hobbs talks to Jason Shay. Tricia Weatherford, Doug Lawrence & Tracey Henning. Next time you go to London, one of the famous sites you’ll want to see is of course the Memphis Taxi.

Carolyn Mears & Kevin Kane, Matt Lahiff, G.M. and Tom Goodwin of Janice Sherrod asks a question of the Dr. Terry Umbreit, left of Kemmons Wil- Kevin Kane ready to talk the Hilton. The guy in back is Jim Gordon. speaker. son and Michael Calhoun on the right. makes an international. announcement.

Velina Stone & Reid Good lunch - now let’s text Ham Smythe, James Crawford & Shay Baranowski, G.M. Taffy Ashley, Veitenheimer of Proctor someone! thinking, every- Gloria McCollum. Holiday Inn Select East. Harrah’s Tunica. & Gamble. body takes a taxi sometime.

Wayne Tabor, Holiday Inn and Metro/Advantage Cab’s Jay Kumar paying atten- Renee & Jeff Hobbs, Carole Shipman Rick Davis with Security One. tion to the International Traveler. Is the meeting over? I’m & Cathy Hughes. a little late. 2010 Luncheon Meeting Schedule Jan. 20 -- Marketing Memphis Panel Discussion; May 19 -- Employee/Guest Liability; Doubletree East. Westin. June 16 -- Annual MMHLA Golf Tournament; The Cotton- Feb. 12 -- 12th Annual Lodging Industry Update; woods, Tunica. Hilton Memphis. July 21 -- Be the BEST in Sales! Madison Hotel. Mar. 17 -- Emergency Preparedness; Courtyard by Aug. 17-18 -- Southern Lodging Summit@Memphis. Sept. 15 -- L’eCole Culinaire. Memphis is famous for a whole lotta things. How to take advantage of Marriott Downtown. Oct. 20 -- Housekeeping/Maintenance; Courtyard. Collierville. that fact was the topic of the day, November 18, at the Marriott East. Apr. 21 -- Stars of the Industry; . Nov. 17 -- Human Resources; TBA.

2010 Board Retreat Is Yellow Cab January 6 & 7 recently added 8 new The 2010 Annual MMHLA Board wheelchair accessible Retreat is scheduled for Jan. 6 & 7 this taxi cabs to its fleet! time around. The yearly event begins Tricia Weatherford, Doug with dinner Wed., Jan. 6, with the Lawrence & Tracey Henning. meeting held Thurs., Jan. 7. Modera- Providing Memphis’ first tor this year is the AHLA’s Pam Inman wheelchair accessible (former CEO of the THLA.) taxi services. Including Rooms are blocked at Gold Strike Casino Tunica, $55 a night, plus tax. To airport transportation! make reservations call 1-888-245-7829 Call Yellow Cab: 577-7777 and say you are with the MMHLA.. Reservation cut-off is Dec. 21. Cancel- lations must be made 48 hours prior to The 51st Annual AutoZone Liberty Bowl game reservation date. For more information Kevin Kane will be played Saturday, January 2, 2010 at 4:30 pm at call Peggy Calahan, 752-9902. makes an the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The game will feature announcement. and East Carolina University.

Christmas Lights Tours 2009 Let Premier Transportation Services take you on a Winter Wonderland ride. En- Taffy Ashley, joy a Christmas Lights Tours, featuring the Mid-South’s beautiful Christmas Harrah’s Tunica. lights, decorations and events. The perfect winter outing for your church group, youth group, association, corpo- rate outing, social club, athletic teams and family, options include Starry Nights at Park, SunTrust Zoo Lights, Christmas at Graceland, area neighbor- hood tours, holiday shows, Christmas parades and more. To schedule your Christmas Lights Tours, please call 901.577.7700, e-mail [email protected], or just visit www.premierofmemphis.com. Please note: event admissions not included in transportation prices. For unsurpassed reliability, safety and quality, let Premier’s service professionals handle all your transportation needs. Premier Transportation Services is at 581 South Second St., Memphis, TN 38126; phone, (901) 577.7700; www.premierofmemphis.com. Metropolitan Memphis Hotel Why Your Hotel Should Use Only Licensed Taxicabs Do you know who your guests are passengers without regard to trip & Lodging Association & riding with? destination. A cab driver will never “Gypsy” or unlicensed taxicabs are refuse to carry your guest to the SKAL International Memphis illegal for various reasons. The poten- restaurant just down the street on Metropolitan Memphis Hotel Lodging Association tial risk in recommending or getting into a rainy day, so he really needs and SKAL Internationalpresent Memphis one of these vehicles can be deadly. present your loyalty when it comes to the Among other things, these drivers are 15 mile trip to the airport or across not drug or background-screened, the town. YEE-HAW vehicles are not monitored, and the 5. Finally, in the case of Yellow fares are arbitrary. Cab and Checker Cab, we carry When you or a member of your staff levels of commercial automobile recommends a transportation provider, liability insurance that exceeds you are giving your stamp of approval the city and state requirements. Trivia!benefiting to that vendor. In the customer’s eyes, AND we can name your property PUT ON YOUR BOOTS & ROUND UP YOUR FRIENDS! that vendor becomes an extension of as an additional insured at no ex- EVENT DATE: Friday, February 5, 2010 LOCATION: Holiday Inn at The your hotel’s service. tra charge. Private insurance will HOURS: Doors Open 6:30pm Questions Begin 7:30pm COST: 100 Tables Available @ $150 Per Table Here are five reasons your hotel not cover carrying passengers for Cash Bar Includes six seats, soft drinks, bottled water and finger snacks Available! Concessions items available should use and recommend only li- hire, so essentially, gypsy cabs Put YerFUN STUFF!Boots On Table/Costume Contest • Games • Prizes & Drawings all Night! censed taxicabs: have no insurance protection for Reservation Form and Full Payment due: January 29, 2010 Make Payment Payable to MMHLA-SKAL and Mail to Kemmons Wilson School 1. Every licensed Memphis you or your guests. of Hospitality & Resort Management, 3700 Central Ave., Memphis, TN 38152 901-678-8021& • FAXRound 901-678-0034 • [email protected] up cab is inspected twice annually This last point is important. An un- Things You Need to Know... No more than six people allowed per table/team. All players must be 21 or older. by the City of Memphis for vehicle insured or underinsured transporta- No outside liquor or food will be allowed into the hotel. safety and taximeter calibration. tion provider will not be there in cases YerFor more information:Friends! www.mmhla-skal.com See attached reservation form or download from www.mmhla-skal.com This assures your guests of trav- where your guest is injured in an ac- Friday, February 5, 2010 eling safely and being charged a cident. Who will the plaintiff’s lawyer Holiday Inn at fair and consistent price. be looking to? They will be looking to The University of Memphis 2. Licensed Memphis cab the hotel whose desk clerk, doorman Doors open 6:30 p.m. drivers undergo a criminal back- or parking vendor selected that unli- Questions begin 7:30 p.m. ground check, motor vehicle re- censed transportation provider. cord check and a medical exam We certainly hope that you choose to CASH BAR AVAILABLE! before they are granted a permit use Yellow Cab and Checker Cab. Our 100 TABLES AVAILABLE @$150 PER TABLE by the City of Memphis, and these goal is to be your preferred transporta- Includes 6 seats, soft drinks, bottled water & inspections continue on an annual tion vendor. However, if you do choose finger snacks basis as a condition of their permit to use another vendor, please make Concessions items available renewal, along with random drug sure to choose one who is licensed tests. and permitted. 3. A metered, permitted cab is For more information, please visit us your assurance that your guests online at www.yellowcabofmemphis. are not subjected to illegal price com or call us at 901-577-7777. Be gouging. sure to ask about our Premier Partners FUN 4. Licensed Memphis cabs Program. are required to carry all orderly

STUFF! The 2010 MMHLA Buyers Table/Costume Contest • Games Prizes & Drawings All Night! Guide Is Coming! Reservation form & full payment due: Jan. 29, 2010 Look for it early in 2010. Interested Make payment payable to MMHLA-SKAL & mail to advertisers, or members with listing Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality & Resort Management, 3700 Central Ave., Memphis, TN 38152 changes, should contact John Rucker, No more than 6 people allowed per table/team. All players must be 21 or older. 901-458-3912, or at keymemphis@ No olutside liquor or food allowed in hotel. aol.com. Info & reservation form at: www.mmhla-skal.com From the President: Happy Holidays!

Mary Calorio One Down, One to Go

President, MMHLA President, MMHLA

Is everyone tired of turkey and cran- was sponsored by the State Department berry sandwiches by now? My friend of Tourism. It showed how important Marianne and I had Mexican food to- the green movement is to the tourism day for lunch, and it was delicious! I industry and steps that can be taken to am so thankful for each member of our get your hotel “green”. The “in” thing association and the support that you today is to be green conscience. Per- are giving me. Sometimes my per- sonally, I equate the importance of be- sonal life is hectic, and I think I was ing green the same as the importance crazy to agree being President, but I of the internet was about 15 years ago. love this association, and I believe that So listen, “Green is not going away. It each individual has something to con- is not a fad that will eventually time In closing, I hope each of you re- tribute to our growth and strength. I out. It is change, and it will become flect back on someone who has helped think we have a lot of potential growth demand compliance more each year you to advance your career, and that within our reach, but it takes YOU. from our customers.” New Hampshire you take the time to mentor someone Please find the time to get involved is the first state in the nation to be able else young, and full of dreams who by attending the monthly meetings, to book “green” hotels for their guests has chosen hospitality for their career. volunteering for a committee, or just vie their state tourism site, and Kansas The world would be a much better by sharing your ideas and suggestions just announced the first step toward place if we all could pay it forward. on how we can improve. And a huge a state wide green lodging program. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year thank you to everyone for joining or Hats off to the Department of Tourism EVERYONE!!!! renewing your membership in 2010. for getting “green” started. Mary If you know of someone who is not a member, please encourage them to You must be the change you join. You might also share your pros- wish to see in the world.” pect with Ann Marie-Famalette, our —Mahatma Gandhi membership committee chair or Peggy Callahan, our Executive Director. In November, I attended the West Tennessee Sustainable Tourism Work- shop at the Pink Palace. The workshop 2009 CALENDAR Nov. 27-Jan. 2 -- Starry Nights; Shelby Farms Park, nightly, 767-7275. Dec. 1 -- Mind Your Meetings 2009, In- dustrial Day & Expo; Memphis Cook Con- vention Center, 7:30 a.m.-noon, presented by HSMAI, & Meet- ing Professionals International, con- tact Carrie Turner, 601-7463, cturner@ nolansav.com. Dec. 2 -- MRA December Social; MIFA, 910 Vance, 5:30-7:30 p.m., 871-3713. Dec. 16 -- MMHLA/ MCVB Hol- iday Party; High Speed INTERNET ACCESS … for Hotels LLP M e m p h i s Accountability to you and your guests. FORD & HARRISON Botanic Gar- den. • LIVE Tech Support Representing management exclusively in all in Memphis, TN. Jan. 6-7 -- • 24-hour help desk. areas of labor & employment law. Board Re- • Call now: 901.843.9300 795 Ridge Lake Blvd., Suite 300, Memphis, TN 38120 treat; Pam • GuestVelocity.com Timothy S. Bland, 901-291-1500; fax, 901-291-1501 Inman, mod- ertor; Gold • A product of Certification as a Labor and Employment Law specialist is not currently Strike Ca- available in Tennessee. WorldSpice Technologies sino, Tunica.

MMHLA 7730 Goshawk Cove Cordova, TN 38016