Tag: hospitality industry

Laying the Foundations for Success – Great Traits for Bar Managers

Published on by TAM of NevadaLeave a comment

Hospitality Managers have the difficult job of balancing the wants and needs of establishment owners, employees, and customers. A great manager can juggle customer satisfaction with a multitude of ever changing tasks each and every day, all while helping to support a busy staff, boosting sales and performance, and keeping an eye to the health and safety of patrons. Nightclub & Bar recently released an article titled, “How Bar Managers Can Succeed,” and we here at TAM® of Nevada wholeheartedly agree with the attributes they list as key for bar managers. You can read the full article here, and here are a couple more qualities that we’d add to the list:

  1. A passion for excellence. A great manager not only has a desire to lead, he or she takes pride in the service or product offered, and inspires the staff to put their best foot forward.
  2. Flexibility. In a busy and fast-paced world like Las Vegas’ hospitality industry, a manager who can roll with the punches is invaluable. Not everything will always go according to plan, and a manager who is adaptable and can be flexible is in the best position for success.

Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. What insider tips would you give someone looking to excel the in hospitality industry? What tips would you give someone looking to improve their management skills?

Resources

© 2011 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

 

Looking for a New Career? A Job in the Hospitality Industry May Be Right for You

Published on by TAM of Nevada1 Comment

Ever you wish you had a job you love? If you’re looking to make a career change, you may want to consider looking for your dream job in the hospitality industry. Hospitality professionals work in a variety of positions including bartenders, servers, managers, hosts, security professionals, clerks and more. A career change could result in a number of benefits including increased job satisfaction, increased earnings, a chance to try something new and expand your skill set, and more.

You may enjoy a career in the hospitality or nightlife industry if:

  1. You enjoy interacting with customers. A desk job isn’t for everyone, and if you like being around other people, a career in the service industry may be right for you. Many hospitality professionals love that their careers allow them day to day interaction providing quality customer service to their guests. If you enjoy a job where you are face to face with your patrons, you may enjoy a career in the hospitality industry where you’ll get to converse with your customers, meet new people and listen to others.
  2. You have a great personality. One can make a lasting impression on patrons and increase their earning potential by having a positive attitude, being helpful and providing excellent customer service. As a server or bartender, you’re often the first, and last, staff member a customer encounters. Your interactions will set the tone for the evening so you want to greet your customers warmly, and leave them reflecting on a positive experience once they head for the door.
  3. You love living in Las Vegas and want to share that with others. Nevada in general and Las Vegas in particular is a very popular destination spot, and you’re likely to interact with tourists on a regular basis. By promoting and practicing safe alcohol service, and sharing your insider knowledge about what is great within the city, you can help do your part to ensure that newcomers to Vegas can have a blast, but make it around town and back home without harming themselves or others. Hopefully, they’ll return home to tell their friends what a great time they had! By sharing what the great state of Nevada has to offer, you can not only impress your guests and help them to enjoy a memorable experience, but hopefully they’ll spread the word, and that benefits everyone in the long run.

Are you ready to explore the idea of a career in the hospitality industry? A TAM® Card is required for anyone selling or serving alcoholic beverages in Southern Nevada, so be prepared! Many restaurants and bars will ask to see your TAM® Card before you start, so give yourself a head start and a leg up on other applicants by completing your alcohol awareness training and obtaining your TAM® Card today.

© 2011 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

Viva Las Vegas: History of a Great American City

Published on by TAM of Nevada1 Comment

Las Vegas SignFrom humble beginnings as stopover railroad outpost to its current position as one of the most buzzed about and happening cities in the United States, Las Vegas has a rich and vibrant history.

The Las Vegas Sun recently put together a thoroughly detailed and incredibly interesting overview of all the highlights (and lowlights!) and important turning points in this great city’s history. You can check out their special coverage including a thorough timeline, interactive maps, videos and more here.

TAM® of Nevada is proud to have been a fixture in this town for over twenty-five years, but that’s just a blip on the radar for Las Vegas. Make sure to check out the Sun’s coverage on everything from the boomtown beginnings to mob ties, big personalities, population booms, and everything else in between. We were surprised by some of the facts we read (Did you know gambling was illegal in Nevada between 1909 and 1931?), and we loved reading through some of the specific coverage and stories on some of Las Vegas’ biggest personalities. Las Vegas residents should be proud to call such a diverse and interesting place home. It may be known as one of the most popular tourist destinations in America, but locals knows this is also a great metropolis with a rich history and lots to offer residents.

So, what say you TAM® Nation readers? What is your favorite part of Las Vegas’ storied history? What fact or figure surprised you most?

Resources

The History of Las Vegas – Las Vegas Sun

© 2011 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

 

Tending Bar… With a Little Flair!

Published on by TAM of Nevada4 Comments

Flair bartenderLearn a new bartending skill and stand out from the pack.

There are a lot of things that go into a great bartender: a winning personality, an attention to detail, and a dedication to public safety, and the legal and moral issues of serving alcoholic beverages. Think you might be right for the job? To get a leg up on the competition, being able to entertain patrons with flair bartending techniques can be the cherry on top. And the best part? A flair bartender can do pretty well for themselves, especially if they can entertain while serving. A flair bartender will draw in more customers, making more money for the bar, and themselves.

Flair bartenders are known for using bar tools and liquor bottles as props to entertain while they are mixing drinks. It can be quite a sight to see someone juggling liquor bottles, mixing drinks behind their backs, carefully setting fire to mixed drinks, and more. Las Vegas is home to some of the best flair bartenders in the country, and boasts several bars and clubs that showcase their talents. If you’re considering a career as a flair bartender, Las Vegas is the place to be. Make sure to check out Vegas.com’s article, “Behind the Scenes: Flair Bartending in Vegas,” for a video interview with Rock & Rita’s flair bartender Anthony Pullen.

So you’re ready to become a flair bartender? TAM® of Nevada has some tips on how you can get started:

  1. Get educated on bartending techniques. Flair bartending requires a solid working knowledge of bartending skills, plus lots of practice, practice, practice! Before you start juggling liquor bottles, it’s important to learn how to mix drinks, and build up your bartending know-how of tips and techniques. It won’t matter how well you can entertain if you don’t know how to make a martini. Consider attending a bartending school if you haven’t already, there are several reputable establishments in Southern Nevada. Some of these locations also offer flair training, so be sure to ask for details of what their programs offer when you’re checking credentials. You can also get lots of practical education tending a bar and learning the ropes from other traditional, and flair bartenders.
  2. 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.
  3. Practice makes perfect. Every day at work you’ll have the chance to handle bottles and shakers, so practice spinning shakers in your hand and doing simple tricks when you have some downtime. Starting with the basics and working your way up to more difficult tricks, you’ll begin to feel comfortable with your props and impress your guests at the same time. You can also watch plenty of flair training videos online for tips and tricks to learning basic flair bartending moves. A great resource is TAM of Nevada’s YouTube channel; we’re always adding our favorite flair bartending videos and tutorials. Another tip? Try practicing at home with plastic bottles until you get the hang of things – you will inevitably drop some bottles, and nothing will put a damper on your day faster than a mess of shattered glass to clean up.

Flair bartending is not a skill one will learn easily or overnight, but it can be done! For more information on flair bartending news, training and industry information, and a place to network with other bar professionals, you can always check out the Flair Bartenders’ Association.

Our most important advice of all of all? Remember to have fun! What is the best advice you would give to someone looking to start a career as a flair bartender?

Resources

© 2011 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada