HR Strategy, Operations Sessions Prepare Hospitality Professionals for Economic Recovery

HORSHAM, PA--(Marketwire - September 21, 2009) - While many companies are worrying less about employee engagement, satisfaction and retention, and more about staying in business, others are focusing on these issues -- and seeing success. Year after year, hospitality HR managers turn to the National HR in Hospitality™ Conference to learn specific strategies that will help them move their organizations forward -- and in today's case, bounce back from the recession. To be held February 22 - 24, 2010, at Wynn Las Vegas, the 4th Annual event will feature segments on HR Strategies, HR Operations, Employment Law and Labor Relations. Early Bird registration is open at www.HRinHospitality.com, offering attendees a $350.00 discount until Jan. 8, 2010. Teams consisting of at least three members can cover more of the conference and receive even bigger savings.

The event, produced by Human Resource Executive® Conferences, Cornell University School of Hotel Administration and Cornell University ILR School, and endorsed by the American Hotel & Lodging Association, is the only HR-focused event offered to the hospitality industry; "an industry, which, more than most, needs usable information and techniques for better motivating high-turnover, low-paid staff during the economic crunch time that is being experienced today," said Dr. Bob Nelson, President of Nelson Motivation, Inc., and best-selling author.

From roundtable discussions to lectures and plenary sessions, the HR Strategy and HR Operations segments include educational sessions to fit a variety of learning styles.

HR Strategy

The HR Strategy segment will kick off the conference with "How Loews Employees Create Customers for Life," a plenary session by Jonathan Tisch, Chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels. He will share his wisdom on how Loews' HR team and corporate culture empower employees to turn customer transactions into memorable experiences -- and customers into lifelong guests.

As attendees move further into the HR Strategy segment, Alan Momeyer, Vice President of Human Resources for Loews Corporation, and Leo Campbell, Director of HR for Loews Philadelphia Hotel, will share insights in their session, "Protecting Your Employment Brand, Customers and Investors While Cutting Costs."

"In a labor-intensive industry like lodging, saving money by cutting investments in your workforce is easy," Momeyer said. "Making the right cuts is hard work. The companies that make the wrong cuts will compromise their ability to recover when the economy recovers, which it inevitably will."

Another HR Strategy segment, "The Cold War for Talent: How to Keep Your 'Stars' from Defecting During Tough Times," presented by JoAnne Kruse, Founder of HC Partners, and J. Bruce Tracey, Associate Professor of HR Management at Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, will teach attendees proven, cost-effective strategies to reward, motivate and develop future leaders when promotion and growth opportunities are limited -- and why it is a smart business move.

As Tracey rightly observed, "Today's economic environment and new technologies in combination have completely changed the talent acquisition experience. The age of customized candidate selection is upon us -- and here to stay."

In addition, "How to Live the Visions: Linking HR & Hospitality Business Strategies," by Joleen Goronkin, President of People & Performance Strategies, and Jane Howard, Chief People Officer of Joie de Vivre Hotels, will equip attendees with tools, templates and plenty of insights to help develop better HR strategies in their properties.

HR Operations

The second day of the conference will begin with educational sessions on HR Operations, from social media to employee management.

There is no doubt that social media are upon us and expanding the business horizon. Savvy HR teams are seeing new levels of success using social media to project their employment brands and recruit in the marketplace. Attendees can learn how to use them to their advantage in the HR Operations plenary session, "Social Media's Increasing Role in Defining the Hospitality Organization," presented by Jeff Clarke, CEO and President of Travelport.

Then, in the session "How Recognition Improves Employee Engagement at Marriott," Terry Weisz, VP of Internal Communications for Marriott International, and Dr. Nelson will show HR professionals how to better recognize employees -- even with little time, resources or budget -- to maintain a positive work environment and a competitive people advantage.

"Instead of taking recognition and communication for granted, we plan to show attendees how they can further leverage and enhance what they are doing for maximum impact with their employees," Dr. Nelson said.

Additional HR Operations sessions include: "What Gets Measured Gets Done" by Camye Mackey, AVP-Corporate Director of HR, and David Makarsky, VP of Operations, both for B.F. Saul Company Hotel Division; and "How to Effectively Manage Social Networking in the Hospitality Workplace," by JoAnne Kruse and Carolyn Richmond, Partner and National Co-Chair of Fox Rothschild LLP's Hospitality Practice Group.

In addition to the HR Strategy and HR Operations segments, the two-and-a-half-day event will also feature sessions targeting today's challenges in Employment Law and Labor Relations. And for the first time, the Cornell University HR Executive Roundtable will be open to all attendees.

Running concurrently with the conference, the HR in Hospitality™ Expo, open Feb. 22 - 23, will further assist attendees through exposure to products and services related to: Benefits Administration, Compensation Systems & Services, Diversity Hiring/Compliance Training, Employee Assistance Programs, Foodservices, HR Consulting, HRO, Insurance, Payroll Software & Services, Recruitment, Retirement & 401(K) Services, Safety & Security Services, Training, Wealth Benefits & Group Life, Disability & Workers' Compensation and more.

For registration details, including Pre-Early Bird Registration and the conference's full agenda, visit www.HRinHospitality.com. If you would like to hear more about team discounts, please contact Carolyn Hinson at chinson@lrp.com. For exhibitor and sponsorship information, visit www.HRinHospitality.com or contact Fred Kurst, Trade Show Manager: Southeast, Southwest, West, N.Y. and Europe, at (703) 393-8304; or Nancy Sommar, Trade Show Manager: New England, Midwest, Pa., N.J. and Canada, at (215) 784-0910, ext. 6231.

About the HR in Hospitality™ Conference & Expo

HR in Hospitality™ is developed and produced by Human Resource Executive® Conferences, Cornell University School of Hotel Administration and Cornell University ILR School, and endorsed by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. HR in Hospitality™ is the premier event specifically for professionals in human resource management, employment law and labor relations in the hospitality industry.

In addition to the conference, the HR in Hospitality™ Expo Hall is open for two days and is designed to further assist attendees through exposure to products and services related to benefits, HRO, legal, payroll, screening and assessment, training and recruiting.

About HRE Conferences

Thousands of HR professionals network, research workforce solutions and make buying decisions at the three annual Human Resource Executive® events: HR Technology® Conference & Exposition, September 30 - October 2, 2009; HR in Hospitality™ Conference & Expo, February 22 - 24, 2010; and HR Week™, April 12 - 14, 2010. More information about these conferences can be accessed at www.hreconferences.com.