October Updates and News

We hope you enjoy this issue of the Hospitality Scoop featuring information on upcoming events, programs, public policy issues and more that can impact our hotel industry and community.

In this issue:

  • 12th Annual HOSPY Awards Gala
  • Educational Program: Are your manners better than a 5th Grader?
  • From the Director's Desk
  • Public Policy Update
Join us at the largest hospitality awards gala in North Texas. Since the Gala’s origination in 2007, the Hotel Association of North Texas has maintained the tradition of recognizing and honoring excellence within the hospitality industry. This award honors those that go above and beyond, leaving a positive impact on their guests, team, and property. The prize is the coveted Crystal Pineapple Award.
 
Interested in donating an item for the silent auction? Please contact Traci for a donation form.

Tickets and Sponsorships available. Please contact the office for more details .
Are Your Manners Better Than A 5th Grader?* | November 1
Cooper Hotel, Conference Center and Spa, Dallas
 First impressions can make or break that next business deal. It can be as simple as your dining and etiquette, connecting skills and your appearance.

Today's business professional knows the importance of first impressions and lasting impressions.

Let this session provide a quick and easy resource to help you polish your etiquette and give well-mannered attention to your clients so you are better than your competition and definitely that of a 5th grader.

Join us for this infor mative luncheon and workshop with presenter Colleen A. Rickenbacher CMP, CSEP, CPC, CPECP.

*This educational session will provide CEU's toward obtaining or renewing your CMP designation.
Registration begins at 11:30 pm. For questions about registration, please contact the office at 214-742-4930 or traci@hantx.org.
From the Director's Desk | Traci Mayer
It is certainly exciting times for the organization. We are pleased to welcome Sarah Chung as our new Events, Communications and Marketing Manager for HANTX. She brings a lot of great ideas and talent to our organization and we're excited to have her on the team. Sarah is a UNLV Grad and native Texan. Please reach out and make her feel welcome, her email is: sarah@hantx.org .

Thank you to everyone who completed our Member Survey. The results will be shared with our Board and will be used to help steer future planning and programming. If you didn't get a chance to complete it for us, you may always feel free to reach out to us if you need anything, want to get involved, or have an idea to share. We are here to support you, our members.

November will be a busy month for HANTX. We will be packing and moving into a new office space, our new website will debut in mid-November (stay tuned for more details), and we have our 12th Annual Hospy Awards Gala at the end of the month at The Statler - we hope you'll all be there!
Your Vote Matters
There are many things that can impact our industry not only at the local level, but also at the state and national level.

This upcoming session may have legislation introduced that could impact you and your employer. Be knowledgeable and learn about the candidates and their stances on issues that could affect you and your family.

Early voting has started and goes through Friday, November 2nd.

Voting resources: VoteTexas.gov and NorthTexasVotes.org

Election Day is November 6, 2018

Taking the Pulse on Public Policy Issues in North Texas | Ken Benson, Public Policy Consultant to HANTX
As always, we are monitoring several issues that may impact our industry, but here are a couple of updates on two of those issues:

  • Fair Park to be Privately Managed. After close to two years of discussion, the Dallas City Council last week voted to create a non-profit board to run State Fair Park which in turn will contract out to entertainment venue operator Spectra to manage the park. It will be a few months before the change-over is complete as the contracts are still in the process of final approval. The Council vote last week allowed the process to move forward.
 
  • Privatizing Dallas Convention Center Delayed, But Still on Track to Happen. In early May, the Dallas City Manager indicated the City of Dallas had an interest in privatizing the Dallas Convention Center similar to what has been done in Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami. It’s narrowed to two vendors now, but the final approval process, and a vote by the Dallas City Council on the issue, was delayed due to issues related to the Fair Park contract. With that complete, the City is expected to move forward on recommending an operator for the convention center sometime over the next two months.