Hotel Convention Sales, Services and Operations

The hotel and convention management concentration prepares students to pursue careers as hotel and convention managers, special event managers, and tradeshow or exhibition managers. The ability to sell is the single most critical success factor of any hospitality and tourism firm. This book approaches sales from the practical and tactical ins and outs of how to sell products and services to a sophisticated marketplace and how to build and manage a sales force. This course consists of a study of sales management competencies designed for hospitality and tourism students. The book provides students with an understanding of the theory and practice of personal selling as used by hospitality organizations to develop long-term partnerships with customers and enhance students' ability to diagnose and address diverse problems and decisions that arise in developing and implementing a hospitality firm's selling strategy. This book is also designed to give students experience in developing an event, trade show or exhibition with emphasis on pre-planning, budget preparation, advertising and/or public relations. Students will be prepared with the tools to work in the industry, which represents a major economic gain for the communities and facilities where special events are held. Topics include planning, set up, exhibit management, crowd control, special effects lighting, decorations, sound and protocol.