Tag: serving alcohol

Big Holiday Parties Are Upon Us!

Published on by TAM of NevadaLeave a comment

Everyone is getting revved up for the holiday season and big holiday parties! What does that mean to you as a server, seller, security officer, operator or establishment owner?  You need to be prepared.

  1. Servers, sellers , managers and owners – Make sure your alcohol education card (TAM Card®) is current and in your possession. If your TAM Card® has expired, make sure you retake the training and get your new card before the busiest part of the holiday season is here.
  2. Servers — Be on your toes and observe those in your establishment. Watch how much you are serving and how often. Do the math and keep track of estimated Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) levels. Be sure that your guests are getting enough food and water while they are enjoying their alcoholic beverages. If one of the guests in the group you are serving becomes intoxicated, make sure that they have a safe ride home. Designated driver services and taxis can help get people home safely and without risk to themselves or others.
  3. Sellers — When you have customers coming into your retail store to purchase alcohol, make sure that they are not already intoxicated when you sell to them. Also, inform your employees to beware of potential third party sales and keep an eye out for any minors that are hanging out in your parking lot and approaching patrons about buying them liquor.
  4. Security Officers — Big party nights equal higher energy levels, increased levels of excitement and overindulgence. Be visible and interact with your establishment’s guests to defuse potential issues. Be extra diligent when checking IDs to ensure that you keep the underage out of your 21 and over establishment!
  5. Operators and Owners — Safeguard your establishments by letting your staff know your expectations for properly handling certain situations, like when they need to cut people off and what to do with minors who are trying to enter your establishment. With extra law enforcement out and about over the holidays, you want to make sure that all your servers, sellers and security staff have their alcohol education cards (TAM Cards®) on them at all times.

Guests are also responsible for keeping themselves in check. However, we all know that alcohol lowers inhibitions and affects good judgment, which means there are times when you need to step in and take control of certain situations.

Remember, hospitality is all about creating a fun experience and maintaining a safe environment for your guests and patrons. To achieve these goals, you may have to cut someone off or refuse to serve or sell to a guest because their behavior is negatively affecting the experience for others.

We would love to hear from you! What recommendations do you have for keeping the holidays fun and safe for your guests this season?

© 2010 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

Share the Vegas Inside Scoop For Bigger Tips

Published on by TAM of Nevada2 Comments

Are you looking for ways to get bigger tips? One thing that can set you apart from other cocktail servers and bartenders is sharing some of the Vegas inside scoop with your guests. Here are some suggestions:

  • Tell your guests about which celebrities are in town and where they will be partying in Vegas. Use social media to stay close to the latest celebrity news.
  • Visit popular vegas travel web sites and give your guests some money saving and free show ideas, such as:
    • Using the Las Vegas monorail, trolleys, free trams, and free shuttles.
    • Checking out the fountain shows (of course), the Fremont Street experience, the Volcano at the Mirage, and the Show in the Sky at the Rio
  • Remind your guests of safety tips for walking along the strip:
    • For nighttime walks, never walk alone and stay on the strip.
    • For daytime walks, bring a bottle of water (especially during the hot summer months) and get a fresh bottle along the way.

By sharing your inside scoop, you’ll connect with your guests and they may be inclined to give you a bigger tip because you went above and beyond to help them have the best experience in Vegas.

What other ideas do you have for bigger tips?

© 2010 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

Four Service Ideas for Vegas Hospitality Professionals

Published on by TAM of NevadaLeave a comment

TAM-Hospitality-ProfessionalsEffective service in the hospitality industry requires product knowledge and an ability to gain the trust of your customers so that they will take advice when necessary. You need to be in a position of professional control of customer behaviors.

Following are four ideas for exercising professional service:

  1. Know the taste, characteristics, preparation and pronunciation of all menu items.
  2. Know which beverages complement each food item.
  3. Know the ingredients and how various alcoholic beverages are produced.
  4. Suggest premium brands whenever possible.

Treat your customers as if they’re in your home—guests, so to speak. Be aware that your attitude toward that customer will affect their attitude—and tipping as well. You can help ensure your “guests” have a pleasant experience and return to your establishment in the future.

What other ideas would you add to this list?

© 2010 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

Are You Serving Poolside? Five Ideas for Popular Vegas Pool Parties!

Published on by TAM of Nevada2 Comments

Extended exposure to the heat and sun can cause dehydration. In fact, experts will tell you to avoid drinks containing caffeine or alcohol while in the sun or heat. When a person is dehydrated, they actually have a lower volume of blood. With less blood in the system, it will take less alcohol to reach a higher blood alcohol content level.

So, add alcohol to the mix and party goers can quickly become even more dehydrated while drinking their poolside cocktails. So, how can pool party servers ensure that their guests have fun in the sun? Remember, the key word is fun. Hugging the toilet or being rushed to the hospital with heat exhaustion is not fun. When your guests are having fun, they are more likely to give better tips. Here are five ways to keep the party hoppin’ without your customers droppin’:

  1. With each drink order, remember to ask, “Would you also like a glass of ice-cold water?” By helping your guests to stay hydrated, you’ll offset the dehydrating effects of the alcohol and the heat and sun.
  2. Offer food. Food in the stomach keeps alcohol in the stomach for a longer period of time which means that it will be absorbed into the bloodstream at a much slower rate.
  3. Count drinks and monitor behavior. By keeping track of how much your guests are drinking, you can better judge when they’ve had enough. When in doubt, do not serve.
  4. Monitor moods and serve accordingly. Anxiety can slow down or stop digestion and absorption of alcohol causing people to drink too much too fast. Then, once they do relax, all that alcohol that is setting in their stomach will release and the person may seem to become “instantly intoxicated.”
  5. Suggest some shade and promote an alcohol-free beverage. You can say, “You know it’s really hot out here today. I don’t want you to miss out on the party. Let me find you a shady spot. I’ll hook you up with a nice drink and you can sit back and watch all the hotties.”

By following these steps, you up the FUN factor and you keep yourself, other guests and your establishment safe.

What other ways that you have been managing service at Vegas pool parties?

© 2010 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada