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Articles by Jeff Dover
Five questions to ask your food-and-beverage director each month
Hotel owners and general managers tend to focus on the rooms department, which is understandable given it typically generates the greatest revenues and contribution margins. Still, a successful food-and-beverage department can contribute significantly to a hotel’s bottom line. In my experience, hotel food-and-beverage departments are either run very well or very poorly.
Foodservice and beverage alcohol offer the perfect pairing
Alcohol is the most exciting new product category for convenience stores in my lifetime. With convenience stores in Ontario now selling beer, cider, wine and ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages, there’s huge potential to significantly increase revenues and foot traffic, not to mention provide additional convenience to consumers. Such revenues are welcome news for convenience operators, many of whom have been struggling financially since the pandemic.
The Importance of Hotel Food Service
Once considered an amenity, hotel restaurants and lounges are now, for the most part, identified as profit centers. Some hotels do a great job on food and beverage, and reap benefits such as increased gross operating profit per available room, guest loyalty and local market support. Other hotels do a poor job at managing restaurants and lounges and making them appeal to hotel guests and locals. In my experience, hotel food services are either well or poorly managed; there is no in-between.
Dover: ‘Extremism’ is talked about without clear definition - Daily Independent
Posted Monday, June 3, 2024 9:48 am Jeff Dover | Fountain Hills “Extremism” and “extremist” are terms used often in the media with regard to our political dialogue and reporting. Can anyone tell me what they mean? I know what a dog is. I know what a cat is.
Ready for lunch?
Becoming a lunch destination means ensuring your store is top of mind for consumers when it is time for lunch and they have decided to purchase a meal instead of eating at or bringing food from home. They will consider area restaurants and choose a location. Often, consumers will have a stable of foodservice operations in an area that they will rotate through. Your goal should be to have a spot on the rotation and, ideally, be selected more often than your foodservice competitors.
Dover: Toth is not responsible for the actions of others - Fountain Hills Times
Eric Landau’s recent letter called Charlie Kirk a “right-wing extremist” and noted Hannah Toth works for a company he founded. Perhaps he would be good enough to tell us all what that is. What is an “extremist?” “Extreme” is an adjective or an adverb. It modifies a noun or a verb. So, what does “extreme” modify, in clear terms for American voters and their concerns? “Right-wing?” What’s that? What does it mean? Nazi? Communist? Autocracy? Thief? What?
Dover: DEI is discriminatory at its core - Fountain Hills Times
Today’s psychobabble is breathtaking. A letter headline recently proclaimed that “Diversity is Progress…” Huh? “Backward?” “Forward?” Our Constitution embodies no notions of movement, one way or another. It specifies equality under law. There is no sense of time or physical space, nor any specified end, as there is in classical communism. Thus, there can be no “progress” because there is no end goal.
5-Day Explora Atacama Lodge Based Tour
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C-store foodservice is a silver lining in today's market
Times are tough in the restaurant industry. In January 2024, Restaurants Canada released the results of a survey of members that reported: “53% of restaurants are operating at a loss or barely breaking even, compared to 10% pre-pandemic.” Restaurants are challenging to operate at the best of times, with an average pre-tax profit for foodservice operations in Canada of 3.7% (from Restaurants Canada Foodservice Operations Report 2023).
Dover: Concerning ‘ethics’ and how it impacts our community - Fountain Hills Times
There’s such a thing as “ethics” to the people of the town. Let’s leave off with this focus on these subjective “ethics” and the political side show that has ensued in town government. What matters is legality and not someone’s opinion of what is and what is not “ethical” and whether or not a breach of those subjective standards has taken place. What matters is the result of the town’s administration as it relates to the people.
The implications of the food and beverage department on hotel value
Most hotel managers focus on the rooms department instead of the F&B department. The logic behind this is sound: the rooms department generates greater revenue and margins and, by extension, has a greater impact on a hotel’s profitability. But in my experience, many hotels leave a lot of money on the table in the F&B department. There are many reasons for this. The F&B department is profitable, especially in hotels with significant meeting spaces that can generate catering revenue.
Four Hotel Marketing Trends to Watch in 2024
When thinking about marketing holistically, we are often posed with this question: do we develop initiatives, which are backed by consumer data, that we know will align with our guests' interest and create a marketing strategy, or do we take the interest of our guests and build out strategies which appeal to what they have already told us their interest in?? Similar to the chicken or the egg question. The answer, however, is we do both.
Dover: Concerning local parallels to national politics - Daily Independent
Posted Wednesday, December 6, 2023 10:21 am Jeff Dover | Fountain Hills I’ve been seeing an interesting, and unwelcome, parallel between our town politics and that of Washington, D.C. Whereas during the years of President Trump’s term of office we saw non-stop interference in his duties by merit of occupying him with defense of one baseless allegation after another, we seem now to be seeing a similar pattern evolving regarding some of our town councilors.
Looking ahead
2023 has been a challenging year for foodservice operators, including those operating foodservices in convenience stores. Food inflation has continued to be significant since February 2022, most recently at 6.5% in August 2023 over August 2022.
When You See a Snake...LIke Covid
By Jeff Dover September 10, 2023 “When you see a snake, don’t ask where it came from.” Is a quote I saw somewhere a long time ago. Just deal with the snake first. So, why are we “missing in action” where Covid-19, the so-called “pandemic” and all the abuses of our liberties and lives are concerned? We’ve been shown who has done this and why. It’s documented as well, not just one man’s opinion. In fact, he doesn’t really even offer his opinion. He only presents the facts.
We are in need of a new political party
One of last week’s opinions suggested that Republicans move beyond Trump. I have a much better idea: Let’s move beyond the Republican Party. Isn’t it time to form a party which actually stands for something and puts that something into print for us all to read and understand? Go to any GOP website and you’ll find no positions listed. I believe that for a party to mean anything, it must list all its desired legislation and public policy aims online for all to see.
Maximizing Hotel Food and Beverage Revenues
When I first started in the hotel business, many hotels considered food and beverage services to be an amenity. Prior to the advent of limited-service hotels, it was a requirement to provide an all-day dining room, a lounge service and, in many cases, a specialty restaurant. If the Food and Beverage Department broke even, all was good. Little was done to maximize food service revenue (let alone manage the middle of the income statement but that is a discussion for another day).
USA: Age of Propaganda, Disinformation and Fascism
By Jeffery Dover June 17, 2023 This is the age of propaganda, the age of Disinformation. This is also a new age of fascism. There are no communist countries remaining, other than N. Korea. It’s fine for a man to call himself a woman, put on lipstick, wear a dress and alter himself surgically – but he remains a man nonetheless. Likewise, because the Peoples’ Republic of China continues to call itself “communist” doesn’t make it “communist”.
Why Do We Talk About Communists?
By Jeffery S. Dover May 26, 2023 Hardly a day goes by that I don’t come across some conservative talking or writing about “communists” in our government, doing this and that. Communism is dead! Where is there a communist nation? Okay, N. Korea and maybe Cuba, but where else? Marx, Lenin, Mao and others at the forefront of that inhuman and anti-human ideology anticipated the communal (hence “commune” or “communist”) ownership of all property and the means of production.
To do
If Nancy Plencner’s letter of last week referred to my earlier letter, then yes, a “to do” list, or more specifically, a detailed “to be passed” list, is exactly what I mean. Such lists should be posted on every GOP website for all voters to see. The Chairperson of the Arizona Republican Party should make certain that each specific legislative goal is posted on the AZGOP website prior to any election. Ditto the RNC. Not merely “we believe,” etc. And why not?
Four top tips to find the right seasonal pharmacy staff when you need them
Spring has arrived and summer, with vacations and changes in business patterns, is not far behind. It is time to start thinking about seasonal staffing – whether for front shop positions or pharmacy tech jobs. During the pandemic, hiring has become even more challenging. Consider these four tips to put you on the right track: #1 Determine your requirements Is your pharmacy busier during the summer? Do regular staff take time off?
Is the CIA For Us or Against Us?
By Jeffery Dover May 11, 2023 Why does the United States have a Central Intelligence Agency? We never had one prior to WWII and we were pretty secure. What changed? Communism was a worry insofar as it might have attempted to overthrow our government from within, but there was a Federal Bureau of Investigation already long-established and in place to counter any such threat if waged illegally.
Does the Republican Party Stand For Anything?
By Jeffery Dover May 2, 2023 It seems that whenever I see a news article about a Republican member of congress, it ends up being about that person’s attack on some Democrat or other personality. And when there are plenty among their own ranks deserving of condemnation, their silence in that regard makes the attack on the Democrat or other figure more unseemly. Is that why we send these people to Washington? Is that what we want?
Recommendation
I was glad to see the nice write-up last week accorded to Aaron Mielke and his company, Plumbrite. Back in February we noticed water seeping from a joint in the middle of our concrete driveway paving. Initially I had thought that it was from a neighbor’s irrigation. Investigation, though, proved that not to be the case. It turned out that the leak was in the water line from the meter at the street to our home service lines.
Time For The Pundits to Explain the Big Ruse
By Jeffery Dover April 26, 2023 Day in and day out, we are inundated with articles and video about what is “wrong” in our country. Ground breaker in talk radio, Rush Limbaugh made millions telling us about it. Presumably it’s equally lucrative for people like Hannity and Levin – not to mention many others. Is it just for the money? Are they being honest with us? I don’t think so. Otherwise, they would make sure we all understood the Big Ruse. What are conservative pundits really about?
What’s More Important Than Power?
By Jeffery Dover April 23, 2023 Conservatives, GOP and Independent voters, have many, many areas of concern.
Your F&B operation could be eroding its value
For almost all hotel transactions, the value is based on cash flows. Therefore, profitability of the hotel is directly related to its sales price. Hotels generally excel in maximizing the operating profit from the rooms department; however, many hotels do a poor job on maximizing food and beverage (F&B) department profits.
Independents
Last week Nancy Plencer asked why people are registered as “Independents.” An Independent myself, I was always a Republican until I realized that the GOP will never, ever be our answer. In the past 30 years, given many opportunities, the GOP has not delivered a single piece of policy or passed legislation sought by conservatives. The way the party is structured permits our opposition to work within it.
When Will the Republican Party Get A Backbone?
By Jeffery S. Dover April 15, 2023 Who among conservatives still believes that our answers can be found working with the Republican Party? Oh…there are some of you out there? Okay, then please present some evidence that that will work for us. There isn’t any you say? You say that even though conservatives have striven for GOP leadership since Barry Goldwater, that just because their efforts have failed for the past sixty-one years, that doesn’t mean that it can’t work?
We Have to Stop Kidding Ourselves
By Jeffery Dover April 7, 2023 “Third Parties Always Lose!” “You’ll Split the Vote and the Democrat Will Win!” So go two of the stock deprecating statements of those who want no solution to the dire straits America and Americans find themselves in today. They who are in league with that Establishment responsible for the current state of affairs or who are perhaps merely weak, lacking vision, play on our trepidation when attempting anything out of the ordinary.
Why Do We Stay With The GOP?
By Jeffery Dover April 1, 2023 By now it should be very apparent to Republican voters and conservatives, a growing number of which are migrating to “independent”, that the Republican Party as it is manifested in congress and elsewhere in the federal government, does not represent our interests. They have had more than twenty years to get some of our interests passed into law. To date their score is ZERO.
DeSantis Had It Right
By Jeffery Dover March 21, 2023 When Ron DeSantis said that the Russia/Ukraine conflict was a regional conflict and nothing more, in my opinion he was mostly correct. For the first time, I found myself wondering if he wasn’t really the better presidential candidate. Russia’s history is Ukraine’s history and vice versa. They have been the same nation since Russia’s founding in Kiev back in the 12th century.
Conspiracy Theorists Rock
By Jeffery Dover March 18, 2023 When trust is lost in human relationships, it’s a difficult thing to regain. Our federal government in so many critically important ways has proved to be so untrustworthy, that often one’s first inclination is to look for the lie or evidence of conspiracy in any news.
Climate Change
To say that there’s nothing “political” about the climate change narrative is to be either poorly educated and thus ignorant of Earth’s history, as well as politics and current events, or to simply tell a lie. There’s really no in-between. “Climate change,” formerly known as “Global Warming” is a political offensive front. Its main thrust is that Earth’s climate is warming and that the activities of us all are the cause.
Only The Cabal Matters
By Jeffery Dover February 11, 2023 The US federal government no longer represents nor exists for the people or the sovereign United States. It is instead part of a Cabal, run by and for global elites. The people – you, me and everyone other than those elites – are merely their beasts of burden whose role, as they see it, is to support those elites. They pay us to keep us quiet while they work against us all.
Marketing
I was astounded to read that the Town spent $20,000 to get a logo. And then I saw it. Ouch! Pretty strange. Why not just find some clip art on the net? The town says they want it for “marketing.” Citizens, do you want your Town government engaged in marketing? Why do you or I need marketing? Did we move here in order to be marketed? Isn’t that the responsibility of private businesses which seek success?
Hotel Food-and-Beverage Managers Are Not Done Adjusting Yet
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many hotels curtailed or closed their food-and-beverage operations. As the pandemic subsided, travel began to return. However, several trends are adversely affecting hotel food service operations. The COVID-19 pandemic required unprecedented government spending. One of the consequences of this government spending is inflation. Food inflation has been significant, peaking at 11.4% in July 2022.
Time For The Pundits to Explain the Big Ruse
By Jeffery Dover January 27, 2023 Day in and day out, we are inundated with articles and video about what is “wrong” in our country. Ground breaker in talk radio, Rush Limbaugh made millions telling us about it, why and how. Presumably so do people like Hannity and Levin – not to mention so many others. Is it just for the money? Are they really “patriots”? Back in colonial times, a patriot was a person willing to fight the British. Later the term came to be recognized as one who supports his country.
Is The Fix In For Vice President Hillary Clinton?
By Jeffery Dover January 20, 2023 Is this the eve of the “historic” “first” Black and Female president of the United States? With all the “polling” which has taken place suggesting that few people want Biden to run for a second term it is likely that the Establishment wants him out of office. After all, the Establishment’s media pays for the polls, which by now we all know represent little other than a headline which the Establishment wanted out in the media.
What’s the Point of the GOP?
By Jeffery Dover January 10, 2023 It begins with our expectations. When we cast a vote for a representative of some office, we vote with an expectation that the person, if elected, will follow through with what they told us they would do if elected. However, as often as not, we’ve been disappointed in that regard. Perhaps even more often than not… Looking back to the source, we go to the party to which the candidate belongs. What does the party stand for?
RINO: What Does It Mean?
By Jeffery Dover January 14, 2023 The short answer is that it means “GOP”. It means “Republican voters lose.” It means that the GOP has no intention of representing its voters. It means that given power, it will always find a way of making that power worthless to the voters. We’ve just seen it played out yet once again. The House of Representatives had a clear opportunity to put a conservative in the position of Speaker. But wait! What if that happened?
Duck diapers
The town’s Fountain Park is a wonderful place for a walk any time of day. As usual, it’s kept beautifully. The views are nice and one meets residents and visitors alike in pleasant exchanges during the walk. There is a slight hazard, however, of a seasonal nature. It involves all the beautiful waterfowl which enjoy being snowbirds as much as so many of the people.
What’s the Point of the GOP?
By Jeffery Dover January 7, 2023 It begins with our expectations. When we cast a vote for a representative of some office, we vote with an expectation that the person, if elected, will follow through with what they told us they would do if elected. However, as often as not, we’ve been disappointed in that regard. Perhaps even more often than not… Looking back to the source, we go to the party to which the candidate belongs. What does the party stand for?
Scams
Every week in The Times I read in the police reports that people, often numerous people, have lost money in some telephone or email scam. Sometimes the scam involves the loss of significant amounts of money. Given that it is so common here in town, I have to believe that it is common in all towns. CNBC reported in 2021 that, in the previous year alone, Americans lost over $29 billion to such scams. How is it that these scams aren’t stopped?
Smart pharmacy staffing for the holidays
Labour shortages have been a fact of life for generations. Complicating this situation is the significant upset in staff availability over the holidays. So how do you plan your pharmacy staffing for the holiday season? Review last year’s staffing needs and build a roster based on your past requirements. Do a forecast of covers to try to determine how busy you’ll be over the holidays.
Smart pharmacy staffing for the holidays
Labour shortages have been a fact of life for generations. Complicating this situation is the significant upset in staff availability over the holidays. So how do you plan your pharmacy staffing for the holiday season? Create a hiring plan Review last year’s staffing needs and build a roster based on your past requirements. Do a forecast of covers to try to determine how busy you’ll be over the holidays.
Hotel Food and Beverage Service Post-Pandemic
Food service operators have always been resilient and reacted quickly to shocks to the system. Hotel food and beverage service operators are no exception. During the COVID-19 pandemic, food and beverage service operations in hotels were forced to change, both to provide a safe environment for staff and guests as well as to minimize operating losses. The hotel industry is recovering, what does that mean for hotel food and beverage service?
Four top tips to find the right seasonal staff when you need them
Spring has arrived and summer, with vacations and changes in business patterns, is not far behind. It is time to start thinking about seasonal staffing – whether for front shop positions or pharmacy tech jobs. During the pandemic, hiring has become even more challenging. Consider these four tips to put you on the right track: #1 Determine your requirements Is your pharmacy busier during the summer? Do regular staff take time off?
Technology as the Group Meetings Key of Tomorrow
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Preparing for Safe, Efficient, and Productive Meetings and Events in a Vaccinated World
The following are terms of a legal agreement ("Agreement") between you and HotelExecutive. By accessing, browsing and/or otherwise using this web site, HotelExecutive, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and agreed to be bound by these terms and conditions, and to comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including U.S. export and re-export control laws and regulations. If you do not agree to all of these terms and conditions, you may not access, browse and/or use HotelExecutive.
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