Author Archives: dukesinhospitality

Mandarin Oriental Washington DC: Position Available for Graduating Seniors

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002480-01-hotel-exterior-water-nightTo all graduating Seniors! The Mandarin Oriental Washington D.C. has an opening Guest Service Agent position available with a potential start date of June 2nd – it should be posted to their website within the next few days. They would love to have some more JMU grads at their Washington D.C. location.  The website is:http://www.mandarinoriental.com/careers/
This hotel company has about 40 properties but is quickly expanding with 17 in the pipeline that will open in the next two years!

Positions available at Comfort Inn & Suites in Orange, VA

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comfort_inn_logoPosition openings for a new Comfort Inn & Suites in Orange, VA. They are a 58-room property that opened in September, 2010 and are still in the growing stages. The hotel offers upgraded and upscale accommodations in the leisure destination of Orange, Va. Orange is situated in the midst of wineries, Civil War battlefields, and around the corner form our very own James Madison’s historical home, Montpelier.

They are seeking eager, educated staff to help reach great potential. Positions available include management, night auditor, and guest services associates.

Please visit their website at http://www.comfortinn.com/hotel-orange-virginia-VA657

Contact Pamela Collins at patimco@aol.com or via cell at 570-337-5142 if interested in applying for a position.

Positions Available: the US Open at the Merion Golf Club

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Ridgewells catering company has been working with the USGA for the US Open since 1994. They are presently looking for students to work the event this June at the Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, PA. Below is a flyer attachment regarding the skill types and rates for the open positions.   If we have a sufficient number of students, they would be more than happy to come to JMU and do a recruiting/information session. Currently, they do not have housing for staff, but are working with Villanova University to see if students can rent apartments on campus for $170 per week.

They are looking for hospitality students who have had some experience. Please contact Neil Marrin at marrinnd@jmu.edu and let him know if you have an interest in being considered for these positions.

Positions and Rates flyer: merionapril[1]

Service Opportunity: Harrisonburg Startup Weekend

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Hospitality Experts Needed for
Harrisonburg Startup Weekend!
April 5-7, 2013
Showker Hall, James Madison University

http://harrisonburg.startupweekend.org 

Put your hospitality skills to work and participate in an exciting NEW event for Harrisonburg and the Shenandoah Valley!

Startup Weekend will bring entrepreneurs, innovators, designers, and technical coders together for 56 hours of business planning and development. The event is being organized by a task force of university, city, county, and regional organizations.  We need your assistance to make it all happen!

It will be a busy weekend for participants and organizers. We are seeking Volunteer Hosts to be on hand to assist in a variety of ways.  You’ll greet guests, help with registration, assist organizers and the facilitator, direct teams to meeting rooms, run errands, and generally be our on-site hosts!

3 Volunteer Hosts are needed in each shift.  Sign up now for 1, 2, or more that fits your schedule!  Meals are included in shifts.  We’ll be in touch to give you full instructions and confirm your participation.

Put your hospitality skills to work and show our guests why JMU Students are the Best!

To sign up, send an email to krechjh@jmu.edu by March 31.

Friday, April 5:   3:00-6:30pm    Event Set-up & Registration/ Dinner
Tasks:  set up tables, chairs and registration table, sponsor banners, etc.  Assist with Registration Table, name badges, etc.  Greet guests; direct to venues and to dinner.

Friday, April 5:  6:00-9:00pm   Entrepreneurial Pitches and Teams Form
Tasks:  Help Facilitator during Entrepreneurial Pitches, run timers, create posters, count votes, etc.  Make sure things are in order for the next day.

Saturday, April 6:
Tasks for Saturday:  General assistance wherever needed helping teams and organizers.
8:00am – 11:00
11:00 – 3:00pm
3:00pm – 6:00pm
6:00pm – 9:00pm

Sunday, April 7:
Tasks for Sunday:  General assistance wherever needed helping teams and organizers.  8:00am – 11:00
11:00 – 3:00pm
3:00pm – 6:00pm
6:00pm – 9:00pm   Assist coaches, presenters and judges during final pitches.

Dukes Take-On Vegas!

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Laura Wong, an HTM Senior, had an incredible experience visiting Las Vegas with Tassie Pippert and 4 other HTM students over Spring Break. Please take a look at what wonderful opportunities Las Vegas offered for these traveling Seniors!382361_10200746241564975_103170017_n[18] 529786_10200746244405046_249596536_n[17] IMG_0752[17]

As a senior in the hospitality and tourism management program it’s great to finally be able to be given the opportunity to take a variety of different hospitality electives where we can apply what we have learned in our introductory classes.  The HTM451 course is an entertainment management course where we have learned about the different aspects of the gaming industry; specifically rules and etiquette when gaming at casinos.  It was so much fun to take what we learned in the class room out to the casinos of Las Vegas.  As one of the top destinations for hospitality, Las Vegas did not disappoint.  Whether one is interested in hotel management, food and beverage, clubs, or events management, Las Vegas has it all.  As a group we were lucky enough to be given a tour of one of the newest Las Vegas hotel properties: The Cosmopolitan.  On the tour, we learned about the various VIP services that were offered through the hotel for their high end clientele and high rollers.  We even got to see one of the penthouse rooms and a three story bungalow!  We also had the opportunity to learn how The Cosmopolitan is differentiating itself from some of the other well-known hotels and casinos through their Identity Membership Card.  Because The Cosmopolitan is a newer property in Las Vegas, and does not have an infamous name, it is able to bring in new guests through its stellar guest services and high quality food establishments.  My personal favorite was Holstein’s Burger and Shakes.  There I tasted the Rising Sun Burger that was marinated with teriyaki sauce, spicy mayo, and a tempura avocado.  If that doesn’t sound delicious enough, they also have a variety of milkshakes ranging from the classic cookies and cream to a cereal flavored shake!  Although there was so much to do, my favorite part of the trip would probably be walking around all the different hotel properties.  I almost felt star struck by the establishments because they are all so high profile and talked about.  It was so interesting to finally see each hotel in person and how not only the different themes of each hotel differed but also how they utilized entertainment to draw in guests. -Laura Wong, 2013

SHSRM SEMI-FORMAL!

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Attention all Hospitality and Sports & Rec Majors! 

PCMA, CMAA, NSMH, and SLAM will be hosting the SHSRM Semi-Formal this Friday, March 22 from 8-10pm in the 865 East Game Room (basement). Please make sure you “Join” our event on Facebook for more information. We look forward to seeing you all there!

Student Spotlight: Shon Ford “Cruiseman 3000″

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IMG_20120531_145013[1] IMG_20121121_155351[1] IMG_20121121_160838[1]Shon Ford developed a remarkable fascination for “cruising” ever since his very first cruise trip at the young age of 11 with his mother. It just took that one trip to know that cruising would be something of great influence throughout his lifetime. In high school,  a media specialist encouraged him to learn more about the cruise line industry and ultimately he started his very own cruise blog: The Ocean Escape which launched in 2010. He continued venturing on numerous cruises and began typing up reviews about his trips and different cruise lines. He even created video tours on youtube which gives travelers a better feel for each cruise and the various cruise lines offered. His focus is primarily on the American cruise market but his blog attracts travelers from all around the word interested in cruise vacations.

Favorite Cruise Ship- tie between Norwegian Epic and Carnival Breeze

Favorite Cruise Line- Norwegian

Favorite Port to Leave From- Baltimore

Favorite Destination- Bermuda

Favorite Thing About Cruise Lines- the whole travel aspect and that it is very global. Sometimes there are 70 countries represented on just one cruise. He enjoys talking to different crew members and the members of the different departments. He loves being able to entertain through blogging and achieving the notoriety in what “Cruiseman 3000” represents.

No. One Destination- 3 way tie between: Norwegian Fjords, Australia and new Zealand, and traveling the southern tip of South America

No. of Cruises Taken- Just got back from cruise number 29, will be a little over 30 by the end of this year!

Awards, Reviews, Rankings, and Accomplishments: Cruiseman 3000 has been featured on Cruise Law News‘ site as a trust-worthy cruise/travel writer/blogger (July 2011). And in 2012, Cruise Law News ranked his blog, The Ocean Escape, as a must read cruise site for 2012. On their Top 12 Blogs & Websites for Cruise News in 2012 list, he was ranked #10 (on the same list with Cruise Radio, USA Today Travel, and other notable travel writing veterans). Also, Travel TV producer Marianne Schwab listed him second (#2) on her Cruise Experts and Bloggers list to follow on Twitter. On RCI Fans website (a cruise blog totally devoted to writing about Royal Caribbean International Cruise Line), Shon is ranked as the third (#3) recommended blog to follow/read; Cruise Currents, ranks his blog #9 on a recommended cruise blog-reading list. Shon is also listed on a recommended cruise list according to Cruise News with Jennifer Stern.
In 2011, The Ocean Escape (Shon’s cruise review site) was a nominee for a Shorty Award for best short social media content usage in the cruise industry from his usage of Twitter (@CruiseMan3000). Most recently in 2012, his blog has been nominated for “Best Travel Blog” at the 2012 Black Weblog Awards. Cruiseman 3000 contributes to cruise and travel sites all across the world including multiple States in the U.S. (California, Ohio and Florida being the most popular), the UK, and even Australia. In 2013, he will be expanding his career as a travel writer, for he just signed a contract with Onboard Media, LLC (Miami-based) to sail on various ships to conduct cruise reviews. He was recently just announced as the newest cruise writer for CruiseCrazies sharing his 10 years of cruise industry insight on a new blog that actually launches this week (making this the second blog Shon will author). He has also been featured on Cruise Radio and online podcast, Cruize Cast. In July of this year, he will be the co-host of the biggest cruise industry gathering ever on the high seas on Norwegian Sky for a 4 day/3 night cruise. Shon is also finishing up his first book on cruise travel which he started writing in March 2011 and is hoping to release in the Fall of 2014 (right before graduation in December of that year).

Internship Opportunity Advice- Shon made note that internships are extremely competitive because cruise ship contracts are 6-8 months long, making them reluctant to have students for only a few months of employment. The best thing is to know one other or at least 2 other languages. This puts your resume at the top of the pile during the recruitment process. Shon reiterated that people apply from all over the world, setting you up on a global competitive scale. He suggests to look at cruise consultaion firms that specialize in cruises because they usually take in interns interested in the industry. You should learn about all the ins and out  before you even interview for a cruise line internship.

You can find more Cruiseman 3000′s social media presence through Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube all using /cruiseman3000.