Tag: hospitality

Bartenders and Hospitality Workers: 5 New Year’s Resolutions You Can Actually Keep

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Upselling_BarLas Vegas kicked off the New Year in high style with parties at all of the hottest spots around town. Now, it’s time to get back to work! 2018 can be the year to resolve to make changes in your career, education and business. Still thinking about what your resolution will be? We have some ideas to get you started. Here are our suggestions for meaningful New Year’s resolutions that you can actually stick to:

  1. Renew your TAM Card and get trained the right way, with the best curriculum available. Whether you’re renewing your expiring card, or getting your very first TAM® Card, get your mandatory alcohol education at one of our online or on-site classes.
  2. Expand your draw with new bartending skills. Try learning some simple flair bartending techniques to add another job skill to your tool belt, and impress your guests with your new talent.
  3. Resolve to begin the search to find your dream job. Start out by watching for local job fairs, or take your resume to establishments you would be interested in working at. Read out blog post “Job Searching in Las Vegas? Ace Your Next Hospitality Industry Job Interview” for tips on making the most of your job search and nailing the interview. And remember to check out the local job posting board at our office when you come in to pick up your TAM Card. We work with lots of local employers to share their hospitality job openings with our TAM students.
  4. Take your customer service skills to the next level. Wow both your patrons and your boss with a fresh new outlook, positive attitude, and dedication to providing excellent service. As a bonus, projecting a positive attitude will help YOU to relax and enjoy your job! Read “Qualities of a Top-Notch Service Professional” for more tips.
  5. Brainstorm new ideas, deals, or events for your establishment to kick start sales and draw in new patrons. There are many reasons why establishments can see a sales dip, but hard work and creative thinking can pay off big for your business. Start by making a list of holidays that could merit a celebration, new menu items to promote with special deals, and make sure you have an active and effective presence on social media channels to connect with your customers. Check Out “Are Your Happy Hour Deals Falling Flat? New Ideas to Boost Your Bar Sales”  or “Promotions and Marketing: Hosting a Bar Trivia Night” for more ideas to help you get started.

Wishing a Happy New Year to all from TAM® of Nevada. What is your New Year’s Resolution?

Laying the Foundation for Success – Tips for a Successful Restaurant Career

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service-excellenceDo you love your job? Not everyone can say that they do! A career change could result in a number of benefits including increased job satisfaction, increased earnings, and a chance to try something new and expand your skill set. If you enjoy interacting with people, working in a fast-paced environment, and you love variety, you may want to consider looking for your dream job in the hospitality or restaurant industry. Hospitality professionals work in a variety of positions including bartenders, servers, managers, hosts, security professionals, clerks, business owners and more.

National Restaurant Association chairman Jack Crawford recently spoke to new graduates of the Culinary Institute of America, offering them advice as they begin their careers in the restaurant industry. Mr. Crawford’s speech was summarized in an article titled, “7 Tips for a Successful Restaurant Career,” and we here at TAM® of Nevada wholeheartedly agree with his suggestions! You can read the full article here, and check out a few more suggestions for TAM® Card holders that we’d add to the list:

  1. Passion for what you do can make you more successful and fulfilled in your career choices. “A passion for excellence is what makes a person tick. It helps you to work through the noisiness and find your success,” says Account Manager and Certified TAM® Instructor Sherry Cummings.
  2. Continually honing, improving, and expanding your skill set is important in any career. If you’re new to the industry, why not get a leg up on the competition with additional skills and techniques to set you apart from others? Likewise, if you are a restaurant veteran, consider adding to your skill set to stay competitive. Additionally, adding to your skill set isn’t just about remaining competitive. Learning and improving can be a generally enjoyable experience, and it can reignite your passion for your career.
  3. Obtain your TAM® Card. All hospitality professionals in Southern Nevada are required to obtain their alcohol education card prior to working at a location where they’ll be selling and serving alcoholic beverages. The Techniques of Alcohol Management® will give you the skills and knowledge you need to serve responsibly and begin your hospitality career in a position to succeed!

Our most important advice of all of all? Remember to have fun and enjoy your new career! What is the best advice you would give to someone looking to start a career in the hospitality industry?

Note: If you need to obtain your TAM® Card, now is the time! Due to the upcoming fight weekend, we will be open until 7:00 PM Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, April 29, 30 & May 1st (this week only) to accommodate any last minute TAM® Card proctored exams. See you soon!

Resources

7 Tips for a Successful Restaurant Career – National Restaurant Association

Laying the Foundations for Success: Building Repeat Bar Business

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Building repeat business is crucial to the success of any bar or restaurant. It’s not enough to impress your guests when they visit; the overall goal is to make sure they come back, again and again! You only get one chance to make a first impression, so make sure it’s a solid one.

Nightclub & Bar recently released a blog post, “Seven Steps to Building Repeat Business,” and we here at TAM® of Nevada wholeheartedly agree with their advice, and recommend it as reading for any service professional. Make sure to check out their article for their tips on wowing guests and keeping them coming back for more. We certainly agree with their tips to acknowledge regulars and serve hospitably.

Regular guests like to be acknowledged by staff with even a simple “welcome back” or “nice to see you again.” Managers or bartenders who greet their repeat customers by name, or even remember their drink orders or preferences will impress guests and net better tips. Also remember that good food, drinks and a great ambiance are not the only components to a great night out. It’s important to always be hospitable. Excellent service will wow guests, keep them coming back, and increase the buzz about your establishment by word of mouth.

For even more tips on how to increase sales and provide a fabulous experience for your guests, make sure to read our blog posts, “Set the Tone and Increase Your Earnings with Positive Body Language,” and “Are Your Happy Hour Deals Falling Flat? New Ideas to Boost Your Bar Sales.”

Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. What tips would you give someone to increase their repeat business?

Resources

Seven Steps to Building Repeat Business – Nightclub & Bar

© 2011 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

The Tax Man Cometh – IRS Cracking Down on Tip Reporting

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taxtimeIt’s that time of year again, you should be receiving your tax forms soon; and, you’ll have until April 18th to file with the IRS. As always, servers, bartenders, performers, and anyone else who receives tips on the job will have extra work to do in correctly reporting their income. Questions about how much of your income needs to be declared are easy to answer: All of it. Employers should be aware that, according to the IRS, “employees who receive tips of $20 or more in a calendar month while working for you, are required to report to you the total amount of tips they receive. They must give you written reports by the tenth of the following month.” (Source: IRS.gov). Check out the article, “IRS Keeping Tabs on Restaurants, Bar Tips,” for more information on how the IRS is moving to make sure establishments and individuals alike are being honest on their returns.

Also, if you want to read up on the basics of tip reporting, here’s an excellent article by The International Guild of Hospitality & Restaurant Managers titled, “8 Tips for Employers and Employees on Reporting Tips.”  For more information on reporting to the IRS and filling out “Form 4070A – Employee’s Daily Record of Tips,” refer to IRS Publication 1244: Employee’s Daily Record of Tips and Report to Employer. When in doubt, always check with a tax professional to make sure you’re in compliance.

Have you starting working on your taxes yet?

Resources:

© 2011 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada