Message from Tim Lam
While experiencing a fantastic graduation ceremony, I heard the Celebrity City Chorus sing "Tis the Season to be Jolly". It never meant as much to me until I heard the song and gazed through the crowd of graduates as they smiled and celebrated their accomplishments. During graduation, it is when I get to meet the family and friends who are the supporting blocks to the success of our students. I had the opportunity to speak to the parents of a recently graduated executive diploma student. They reported that their son was able to secure an interview one day after graduation. I am proud to announce that the student succeeded in the interview and will now pursue his dream of working as a concierge.
During the ceremony, I was able to hear the wise words of our honored guest speaker, Mr. Sean McBurney. In his speech, Mr. McBurney spoke about his duties as the General Manager of Caesars Palace and expressed to students how they can maximize their potential in launching their careers after graduation. After his speech, many students approached me and commented on how they were so impressed and motivated to begin their career journey.
As the year has come to a close, we look forward to an exciting 2015. In addition to the grand opening of our new state-of-the-art classroom facility, we will also celebrate our 10th year anniversary on 5-5-15. Mark the date on your calendars as there will be many festivities announced in the near future. Happy New Year!!!
Sincerely,
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A fond look back at an exciting semester to cap off an amazing 2014
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This video above captures the many highlights of a colorful Fall 2014 semester!
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TISOH's newest graduates celebrate their accomplishments in style
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The night of festivities began with a special speech from the General Manager of Caesars Palace, Mr. Sean McBurney. As our students graduated, the Celebrity City Chorus performed a medley of inspirational songs and classic holiday tunes. The ceremony was held at the beautiful Spanish Trail Country Club. Delectable goodies along with a carving station and live action pasta bar were among the many culinary delights that were served. It was truly an event to be remembered!
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Full recap video of the graduation ceremony and reception including highlights from Sean McBurney's excellent speech full of advice and tips for our newest graduates. Don't miss this chance to hear from Sean, one of the hospitality industry's most dynamic hotel executives! Video link: https://vimeo.com/115936367
Photos from the event are available here for complimentary download:
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Have you ever thought about
becoming wedding planner
or learning about what it takes to be successful in the field?
Do you display one or more of the traits listed below? If so, explore your option in entering one of the most sought out careers in hospitality.
#1
Are you a dream maker?
Creating a special lifetime moment is an essential part of being a wedding planner. Are you able to allow your creative juices to flow towards imagining and implementing the perfect day for a couple seeking to get married? A wedding planner must be imaginative and organized in their pursuit to make dreams a reality.
#2 Do you have the personality to deal with a Bridezilla or Groom King?
As a wedding planner, you may have to play the role of counselor, friend, business partner, and disciplinarian. Dealing with difficult in-laws, family in-fighting, and conflicting dietary restrictions may also be par for the course. Most importantly, you must be able to display a welcoming personality capable of handling any and all challenges.
#3 Do you know a million ways to use a bobby pin?
Using a bobby pin for hair, table covers, wedding dresses, popped buttons, and floral arrangements are among the many uses for this necessary tool. Being creative with a limited amount of resources is an absolute must for a planner and designer.
#4 Are you able to dress like a million bucks with a thirty dollar budget?
As many couples have restrictive budgets, being able to do more with less is a trademark skill for planners. Being a savvy accountant and bookkeeper is essential for planning a costly event.
Ready to get started? Explore the Wedding Coordination and Design certificate program or the Executive Diploma in Hospitality Operations with Emphasis in Wedding Coordination and Design.
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This Jingle Bell Jammed! Holiday party recap!
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TISOH's holiday party at Downtown Grand was a smash hit! Thank you to the 70+ attendees who sang the night away along with piano man Frank Salerno's unique renditions of holiday jams. Thank you to Nicole Ashby and The Commissary for the wonderful venue and food. It was a night to remember for our alums, faculty, and industry guests!
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We are pleased to highlight a few of our recent graduates who have recently obtained employment or have been promoted within our industry.
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Billy earned his certificate in the Art of Concierge. He is currently a Concierge at Downtown Summerlin.
Kristal earned her certificate in Hospitality Human Resources. She was previously a housekeeping coordinator and was recently promoted to residential concierge for the Mandarin Oriental.
Marcia earned her certificate in Hotel Operations. She is currently a hotel operations supervisor at The Plaza.
Jenna earned her certificate in Meeting and Events Catering. She recently accepted the Chef Concierge position at the Linq Hotel.
Emille earned his Executive Diploma in Hospitality Operations with an emphasis in Concierge. He is currently a concierge at EBG!
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TISOH alum Brit Bertino speaks about the wedding industry on TV
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Brit Bertino CSEP is interviewed by Krystal Allan on KVBC regarding the emerging hot market for gay weddings. When asked how celebrity wedding planner Brit Bertino got her start, she responded "The International School of Hospitality provided the best resources ever!" Brit advised future wedding planners to research TISOH as a resource and educational opportunity to learn about the industry.b
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Patti Shock featured in Las Vegas Review Journal
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This has been a banner year for our very own Patti Shock. Besides winning three prestigious awards in 2014, Patti was highlighted in a recent article in the Las Vegas Review Journal. As a late bloomer in higher education, Patti has accomplished many milestones throughout the past 40 years. Patti discusses hospitality in Las Vegas, her future predictions and views on resort fees in this feature article.
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Kind notes to share from two TISOH alums and industry leaders
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We recently received two kind posts from alums Gary Bordman (pictured right) and John Humphries (pictured left). Here is what they shared:
From Gary Bordman:
I would like to take a moment and thank Tim Lam and the entire TISOH family for the drive and determination you put out. I am thankful for the Timothy SY Lam Foundation scholarship as well to assist myself and others seeking their CSEP. TISOH is a great supporter and asset to so many organizations and individuals seeking so many different certifications and I am proud to be an Alumni. I look forward to taking my CSEP test in April and I know I will succeed with the support here in the Las Vegas community. Tim you are an inspiration to so many on an International Level and you and your family make learning FUN. This makes it easy to work towards our Certifications in the various industries that TISOH can assist with. Congratulations on all that you have accomplished personally and professionally. I am proud to be able to call you a friend and a mentor. May the holidays bring you warmth, love and joy. Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year as well.
From John Humphries: Special thanks to the Timothy SY Lam Foundation, Tim Lam, Marcus M Lam, Donnell Bayot, Chris Tamura, and the entire TISOH family for supporting this amazing new professional development resource for ISES Members! Next ISES Las Vegas CSEP Seminar session will be held July 10-12, 2015 at TISOH, contact us for more info at [email protected]
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TISOH administrator earns PhD
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Donnell Bayot who serves as Director of Academic Affairs earned his Ph.D. in Workforce Development and Organizational Leadership. Graduating from the School of Environmental and Public Affairs at the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs, UNLV, Donnell is prepared to strengthen the professional workforce by focusing on developing competency-based education within the hospitality field.
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TISOH's first student from Cuba interviewed by El Mundo
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In a recent edition of El Mundo, Eliseo Carrillo reflects about his experiences at TISOH as the very first Cuban graduate. His friends affectionately refer to him as "Copito De Cuba". It was not uncommon to see Eliseo engaging with students and showing off his signature charismatic smile. Eliseo recently graduated with his certificate in Conference Management and Event Planning. Over the course of five weeks, Eliseo met the challenge of the Fast Track course with open arms.
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Message from TISOH Alumni Association President Wendy Garcia
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I wanted to take a moment to thank all who attended our Jingle Bell Jam.
Many who attended the Jingle Bell Jam may have been introduced to the culture and spirit of what the Alumni Association is building. We hope you all had a great time and were able to meet and network with some of the industry professionals that were in attendance.
We also want to thank the many students and faculty who donated to our toy drive. Many underprivileged kids had the opportunity to open presents because of your generosity and hospitality. Attending the Alumni events is one additional way to involve yourself with the school and continue to keep the TISOH dream alive and well. It will be beneficial to your future as well.
If you have passion and drive, you can make your dreams come true - whether it be working at a high-end hotel, or owning your own business, the sky's the limit! Good luck with your future endeavors! Congratulations!
Sincerely,
Wendy Garcia
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As a Human Resources professional, I often hear from disgruntled or frustrated employees who feel some corporate policies are not as transparent as they should be. I will attempt to give advice on what are being called the 3 myths in the workplace.
3
MYTHS to dispel in the hospitality workplace
MYTH #1
Work/Life balance
Although many workplaces promote work/life balance, it is very hard to truly define the meaning. As many businesses are dependent on the demand of their product, it may be almost impossible to set specific schedules tailored to employees to allow employees a set time to balance their life with work demands.
Advice: If you are scheduled 90+ hours a week and feel it is impossible to maintain a work/life balance, you may want to explore your options. If you are mad at your employer because they did not give you a holiday off, you may need to be more flexible. Ultimately, a business has to operate and the business schedules may not always match the employee's schedule.
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MYTH #2
Open door policy
The premise of an open door policy is to allow employees to express their thoughts, ideas and opportunities to members of management within an organization. This does not mean an employee should go to the CEO for a denied day off request.
Advice: Follow the chain of command out of respect for the managers and the organization. I would always recommend that if an employee needs to voice a compliant, think about the ramifications prior to approaching a manager while angry.
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MYTH #3
Work hard and get promoted
Many employees will say "It's not what you know, it's who you know. To an extent, that is true. Effective networking will create more opportunities for promotion. Ultimately, work production and effectiveness do play a role in character evaluation.
Advice: Work hard, network and get along with your co-workers and managers. Having challenges with co-workers and managers will only make it more difficult in your pursuit of a promotion.
Chris Tamura is the Student Services Manager at TISOH.
Chris is a regular contributor to My Vegas magazine's career column and is featured as a career counselor on Fox 5 The More Show.
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