Book Description

Created specifically for home-based travel agents, this one-source reference includes airport and airline codes, supplier Web sites and toll-free numbers, sources of U.S., Canadian and international tourist information, passport and visa requirements, industry publications, reference books, geographic information, and a glossary of over 3,700 travel-related terms and abbreviations. expert in the field by publications such as "Travel Weekly," "Travel Agent," and "Condé Nast Traveler." Monaghan's books on the subject have been endorsed by such travel industry professional organizations as the Outside Sales Support Network (OSSN), which awarded him its 1994 Recognition and Achievement Award for his pioneering work in spreading the word about the home-based travel agency opportunity. ... Read more

Book Description

This new series of fifteen books - The Food Service Professional Guide TO Series from the editors of the Food Service Professional are the best and most comprehensive books for serious food service operators available today.

These step-by-step guides on a specific management subject range from finding a great site for your new restaurant to how to train your wait staff and literally everything in between. They are easy and fast -to-read, easy to understand and will take the mystery out of the subject. The information is "boiled down" to the essence. They are filled to the brim with up to date and pertinent information.

The books cover all the bases, providing clear explanations and helpful, specific information. All titles in the series include the phone numbers and web sites of all companies discussed. What you won’t find are wordy explanations, tales of how someone did it better, or a scholarly lecture on the "theory". Think of them as "Cliff Notes TM" on the subject matter.

Every paragraph in each of the books are comprehensive, well researched, engrossing, and just plain fun-to-read, yet are packed with interesting ideas. You’ll be using your highlighter a lot! The best part aside from the content is they are very moderately priced. You can also purchase the whole 15 book series the isbn number is 0-910627-26-6. You are bound to get a great new idea to try on every page if not out of every paragraph. Do not be put off by the low price, these books really do deliver the critical information and eye opening ideas you need you to succeed without the fluff so commonly found in more expensive books on the subject. Highly recommended! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Book
Great Book! I Found These step-by-step guides easy-to-read, and easy to understand! The books are packed with information. They reminded me of "cliff Notes" from my college days.The information is comprehensive without the fluff you find in so many of the more expensive books out there on the subject. The books are also packed with resources such as phone numbers and the web sites of the companies they are discussing - there is no "theory" just great information. ... Read more

Book Description

How to avoid legal liability and prevent costly litigation

You’re notified that your restaurant is being sued: what should you do? A guest is choking in your restaurant’s dining room: are you required to assist? If the assistance causes further injury, who is responsible? Your franchiser demands to see daily receipt totals: can you say no? Restaurant Law Basics prepares you to make the right decisions in these critical situations and hundreds of others.

To avoid costly legal problems in your restaurant, begin with step one: read Restaurant Law Basics. This completely practical, jargon-free guide gives you the tools you need to protect your restaurant from legal exposure of every kind. It prepares restaurant managers to comply with the law and avoid or limit liability in virtually any situation–—from hiring and managing employees and dealing with customer complaints to ensuring safety and security, obeying regulatory requirements, and much more. Restaurant Law Basics features:

• Manager’s Briefs that focus on critical legal aspects of your operations
• Realistic scenarios that are analyzed to help prepare you to make the right decisions in challenging situations
• Checklists to help you avoid liability before any incident occurs
• A companion Web site that provides additional resources, training assistance, and more

The Restaurant Basics Series provides restaurant owners and managers with expert advice and practical guidance on critical issues in restaurant operation and management. Written by leading authorities in each field, these easy-to-use guides offer instant access to authoritative information on every aspect of the restaurant business and every type of restaurant–—independent, chain, or franchise. ... Read more

Book Description

Deals with staff turnover, a major cost factor in the hospitality industry. Takes a common-sense approach to why people leave and what can be done about it. Treats such issues as rapport between staff and management, training, salary structure and wages, incentives, performance reviews and disciplinary procedures. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Recommended for restaurant managers
This is book is a winner. For those of you restaurant managers battling high turnover (as most of us are!), this book will open your eyes to how your staff perceives you and your management style.

Full of practical advice on how to hire the right people in the first place, how to develop and motivate the staff you have, and how to improve morale and employee loyalty, this book will inspire you to get to work and starting turning things around! ... Read more

Book Description

The essential, comprehensive guide to successful catering business management

Catering is more than simply creating and executing a great menu. It's knowing how to successfully market your business, keep costs in line, and make sure the entire operation runs smoothly.

Catering Management offers professionals and aspiring caterers detailed advice on all of the crucial business aspects of the subject for on- and off-premise catering. Updated to address the needs of this fast-growing industry, the Second Edition covers many current topics such as the latest trends in cuisine and meal concepts, marketing techniques for the home replacement food business, and new special events service concepts. Fresh information on menu design and pricing comes complete with all-new menu examples illustrating a full range of menu possibilities and styles. The book also offers concrete tips on using the latest computer software to maximize your functions' sales and profits.

Catering Management also provides basic information on how to:
* Establish a new catering operation or incorporate catering into an existing foodservice business
* Hire and train both service and food production staff
* Institute food and beverage operational controls that guarantee high standards of quality, service, and presentation ... Read more

Book Description

Hollywood caterer Nick Grippo provides dozens of star-tested, easy-to-follow recipes, and complete menus--all without the stuffy grow-your-own-endive approach of other noted caterers.With full-color photography and personal snapshots, Grippo shares the personal side of Hollywood parties and the gorgeous food they demand, revealing the secrets behind the delectable fare he serves at events for Jack Nicholson, Barbra Streisand, Robin Williams, Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, Barry Manilow and more.Decorating and clean-up tips are included, along with advice on how to customize recipes for special dietary needs, making this the perfect gift book for home cooks everywhere. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

a masterpiece for the beginner to the artisan
This book is a culinary tour de force that features a variety of tastes that will whet anyone's pallet! A must read as well as a must use. I highly recommend this book to anyone whose interest reach beyond the den of their house. Enjoy-I did!

Love this cookbook!
I really enjoyed this cookbook and all of its stories. I've tried a couple of the recipes (including the turkey for Thanksgiving) and they were as easy as promised. I'm glad I bought it and now I'm going to buy some for gifts.

Great cooking and a great "read!"
Great recipes and wonderful stories about Nick Grippo's experiences in Hollywood catering for celebrities. He answers the questions I'd ask, such as what did he make, who did he make it for, and what was the experience REALLY like. The book is fun to read and I received it as a gift recently. The photos of the food are just beautiful, the candid shots with the stars are fun and informal and there is not a stuffy tone to the book, which is why I like it. It was also quite candid and revealing -almost as if Nick is "Everyman" in an apron. The layout was most unusual. It's quite a beautiful and deliscious book and gave me a few insights into Hollywood, along with a lot of laughs and a few tears when i read it..

Nick Grippo's Cook Book Is As Good As His Food.
It's about time that Hollywood's best celebrity caterer wrote a book. His food has been fabulous everytime I have had the opportunity to savor it. With these concise recipes, even a "room service only" musician like me can attempt to rehearse some of his world class cusine at home. ... Read more

Book Description

Winning the Chain Restaurant Game

Are you ready for success?...

Find out what it takes in this insider's guide to making it in today's most exciting growth industry.

In this instructive and inspiring book, award-winning authors and foodservice industry experts Charles Bernstein and Ron Paul tell how the most successful restaurant companies win with bottom-up management, putting the customer on top. Based on interviews with more than a hundred industry executives and packed with enlightening examples as well as a few historic failures, this unique book teaches important lessons for restaurateurs and other entrepreneurs:

• Presents the first authoritative, in-depth look at the restaurant chain industry as a whole
• Tells how successful chain CEOs produce results with varied winning styles
• Isolates and clearly describes the eight crucial factors, or strategic "links," vital to restaurant chain success
• Tells how chains can capitalize on bulk purchasing, brand identity, consistent execution, an individual sense of style and—most of all—finding unique ways to please the customer

Few success stories so thoroughly embody the twentieth-century American dream as those of restaurant chains such as McDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut, Wendy's, Little Caesar's, and Taco Bell. But besides the "true grit" demonstrated by entrepreneurial heros like McDonald's Ray Kroc and Wendy's Dave Thomas, what does it take to build and maintain a successful restaurant or retail chain? Find out in this first book to give a broad, long-term perspective on one of the nation's leading growth industries and to offer crucial lessons for all entrepreneurs, no matter what the business.

Winning the Chain Restaurant Game, by award-winning authors and noted foodservice industry experts Charles Bernstein and Ron Paul, documents the critical success factors required for one of the toughest, most competitive industries.

Highlighting the winning styles of more than a hundred chain executives, their triumphs, trials, disappointments, and turnarounds, this fascinating and instructive book identifies the eight strategic "links" that lead to victory in the chain restaurant business. With surgical precision, Bernstein and Paul explore such key factors as leadership, motivation, bulk purchasing, marketing, identity, consistency, and expansion. But they place focus ahead of everything and conclude that the entrepreneurial passion of an executive who deeply believes in his concept is the ultimate catalyst for success.

Small- to medium-size chains are going public at a dizzying pace and there are enormous financial opportunities for savvy restaurant owners. Winning the Chain Restaurant Game arms operators with the vital know-how needed to win the game. ... Read more

Book Description

This classic algebra-based introduction to business math book takes care to present each topic in a clear and logical manner—with detailed explanations of all steps and concise discussions describing the business applications of each topic. This dual approach sharpens the mathematical skills of learners preparing to enter business employment while also providing an introduction to accounting, finance, insurance, statistics, taxation, and other math-related subjects. Consumer math applications, such as bank reconciliation, discounting, markups and markdowns, installment purchases, and simple and compound interest are also covered in depth. For anyone preparing to succeed in business. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A book for high school kids
I bought this book hoping for a serious advice for a professional portfolio creating, but found a bunch of recommendations good for high school-freshmen on how to best present their non-professional expereinces... How a real professional's portfolio looks like - is still a question for me... It seems like a portflio created following these guidelines would make a seasoned professional, an employer, smile at "the kid's nice attempt".

Top-Notch
Finally, a book that is perfect for both professionals and students! (See also the trade version) Williams and Hall take readers through the step-by-step creative process. Complete with materials and equipment lists, this book also provides templates on disk to help those who are less experienced with technology. This books makes a wonderful instrument as a college text.

Professionals and students alike will find that they are better prepared for that all-important interview just by going through the creative process. The authors take the reader through the process of developing a portfolio by leading the creator to think critically about their own philosophies, goals, and ideas. This mental exercise alone makes one better prepared to answer those "difficult" interview questions.

A must have for serious professionals! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Useful and Easy to Use!
I speak no more than 8-10 words of Italian. I used this book on a recent trip to Italy, and was able to understand almost every menu item I saw, and to order with confidence. It's a marvelous book! The alphabetical organization makes it really easy to use when you're sitting in a restaurant faced with three pages of Italian on a menu. (This review refers to the first edition of this book.)

Great bargain.
We saw a review of this book in the New York Times. At ($), this book is a great bargain. The comprehensive Italian menu reader helped us eat at restaurants that don't have menus in English (which are most restaurants that are worth eating at). We ate at restaurants listed in this book - both expensive and inexpensive - and had good meals at all of them. The best part of this book, other than its price, is its size. It fits comfortably in your pocket or purse.

speck-tacular! (by PatF)
And you can use this book to find out just what speck is. We took this guide with us on our trip to a small town in Italy, where we could not count on finding English speakers in all restaurants. The large print and generous spacing made it easy to read even in low light, and the descriptions were all spot-on. We ordered a few things we might have skipped over without knowing what was in them, and were able to avoid things that trigger allergic reactions. And since we've gotten back, it's nice to page through and remember some of the fabulous meals! (This review refers to the first edition). ... Read more

Book Description

For all its growing importance, the booming franchise phenomenonremains largely undocumented and poorly understood, with very littleinsight available on the management challenges that chains face. Jeffrey Bradach fills this void with a penetrating look at the keyfactors that shape a chains' success.

Using examples from majorrestaurant chains, including KFC, Pizza Hut, Hardee's, and Jack in theBox, Bradach extracts the ingredients that make for a thrivingenterprise.Clear and engaging, this is essential reading forunderstanding and managing today's franchise business. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Need better research design and deduction
This book was written by Dr.Bradach in 1997 but it stills a good reference today.
The comment I have, however, would be the research design is too limited. The research was conducted based on "food resturant chain" but the deduction (including the book title) seems to cover every franchise business. Is it possible that the research results for restuarant business only? We don't know. The research validation of the author still questionable to me.
The selected companies are too subjective, still. Several questions raised while I read the book about other franchise companies that the author didn't select. Although the author indicate three criteria (see research design of the book) to conduct the research, there is no mention to other companies that the author didn't choose.
This book is quite comprehensive but it can be one of the best reference book if the author go more detail (and change the title) for food restuarant business and add more detail about his research design.

Overdone
This book has a lot of good information but is buried within very long-winded writing.

MILLENNIUM MARVEL
THE BOOK IS A SYNTHESIS OF THE EXACT CORE ISSUES OF FRANCHISING IN AN ENLARGED BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND IS HELPFUL FOR ORGANISATIONS AND BUSINESS PEOPLE WHO WISH TO ESTABLISH THE CHAIN THROUGH FRANCHISING. THE CASE LAWS REFERENCES COULD BE APPROPRIATELY GEARED UP AS EVERY BUSINESS HAS THESE FOCUSSES DESPITE OTHER ISSUES SUCH AS FINANCE, MARKETING, TECHNICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL.

Very informative and well researched
Great in depth research is what first striked me about this book. It has a focus on the restaurant franchise business, with 5 successful examples from the US. The book explains a lot about the details of the organizational work done in the franchise business. I have come up with a useful insight on the whole matter. It is a well written thoroughly researched book and at the same time interesting to read, with chapters and parts divided nicely if you want to go back and forth between subjects. Although I own an non-restaurant franchise, this book helped me understand how the system works and what I should expect from my franchisor in some managerial aspects. I would highly recommend it if you own or think about owning a restaurant franchise, or any other franchise for that matter.

Quite insightful
It would be prudent of anyone in the franchise business to read this thoroughly researched, clearly written and carefully considered book by Professor Bradach. This is not a how-to manual, like many of the books cluttering the business sections of bookstores. Instead, it's a study of how, why and to what extent organizations choose to franchise themselves. While it may come across as too academic to some readers, the insight is fresh and informative. I found the interviews with franchising industry executives particularly useful, because Professor Bradach elicited such candor from them, especially with regard to the expectations of industry leaders in their relationships with franchisees. Put simply, you'll know where they, the franchisors, are coming from. For a potential fist-time franchisee, reading this book is like accumulating years of first hand knowledge from the inside of the company, something that will better prepare anyone for negotiating and working with a franchisor for the first time. Highlighted, dog-eared and often consulted, this one will stay on my bookshelf for years. ... Read more

Book Description

International Travel and Tourismpresents a new perspective on international travel by covering all the aspects of international travel, as well as cultural awareness. Some of the various features covered in this book are: obtaining a passport and visa, familiarization of global time, traveling through the new Europe and Russia, and ecotourism. Learning is reinforced with open-ended questions to encourage critical thinking. ALSO AVAILABLEINSTRUCTOR SUPPLEMENTS CALL CUSTOMER SUPPORT TO ORDER Instructor's Guide, ISBN: 0-8273-7449-6 ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Get Control!
I wish I had found this book years ago. It explains all the differnet concerns regarding theft at a bar. It is easy to go through and pull out the information that most meets the needs of the business. Way to go Plotkin! ... Read more

Book Description

The collapse of the bonfire tower at Texas A&M, a bomb at the Atlanta Olympics, a food poisoning outbreak at a company picnic—each year, thousands of accidents resulting in injury, death, and significant financial loss occur at events. This book provides assistance to event organizers, managers, and planners to reduce, in some cases eliminate, these types of losses. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Spectacular
The information in this book is priceless. It gives a good idea of some of the mishaps that might happen at events and it gives helpful tips on avoiding disasters. Very informative too. ... Read more

Book Description

This well-written volume is designed to introduce readers to the breadth of the hospitality industry and cultivate their enthusiasm for delivering superior service in all areas of hospitality. Covering resorts, restaurants, attractions, cruise ships and bed and breakfasts, the book emphasizes the importance of teamwork, personal excellence and personal ethics in creating hospitality experiences that guests will remember.The book presents a focus on the essence and scope of the hospitality industry, as well as ethics and career options within travel and tourism, lodging, food and beverage and operations.For individuals interested in gaining insight into the hospitality industry. ... Read more

Book Description

Now in its fourth edition, this guide to strategically planning a menu offers even more information on designing and pricing for profit. A wealth of tables and updated menu samples gives restaurateurs the tools for enhancing their menus, controlling their forecasts, and managing their profits. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is the guide to how to maximize revenues, control expenses, and optimize financial objectives. Its practical “hands-on” approach facilitates immediate application to all types of foodservice operations. Used for illustrative purposes, the included forms can be reproduced and implemented.Chapter topics cover the control process; food cost/food cost percentage; inventory management; requisitions and transfers; purchasing functions; receiving merchandise and processing invoices; quality standards, specifications, yield analysis, and plate cost; food production control; menu sales analysis; beverage cost/beverage cost percentage; bar and inventory control; beverage production control and service; controlling payroll costs and the cost of employee turnover; measuring staff performance and productivity; control practices applied to human resources issues, gratuities, wage laws, and working conditions; monitoring the sales process; pricing and sales forecasts; and self-inspections, customer feedback and nonfood inventories.For management personnel in the foodservice industry. ... Read more

Book Description

Sustainable Tourism is vital reading for anyone seeking to understand the complexities associated with sustainable tourism development, and how government and industry have responded to the challenges the concept poses.

The major areas addressed in this edited volume are:

* perspectives and issues associated with the concept of sustainable tourism development
* accreditation, education and interpretation, including specific examples such as Green Globe 21, the European Blue Flag Campaign and the WWF's PAN Parks Programme
* sustainable tourism case studies of tourist destination regions, natural areas and tourism enterprises drawn from Africa, Australia, the South Pacific, North America, South-east Asia and the Caribbean

An impressive international editorial team has combined to present in this text not only a variety of perspectives on sustainable tourism development, but also significant insights into barriers, challenges and current industry and government responses to it in various parts of the globe. 'Sustainable Tourism' will be a welcome addition to the libraries of tourism industry professionals, individuals involved in the management of natural areas; tourism policy makers; tourism academics; and students with an interest in the future sustainability of tourism and the industry that supports it.

Covers both conceptual issues and case studies
Unique global perspective with multinational contributor team
Accessible yet rigorous treatment of a vital issue ... Read more

Book Description

This is the tale of the pleasures and challenges that Bill and Joan F. Harrington experienced as they followed their dream of retirement on the island of St. Kitts in the West Indies. Ignoring traditional retirement spots in the United States, they built their picture-book home on the cliffs overlooking the Caribbean.

The warmth, friendliness and humor of the islanders provided a wealth of stories to tell. They also found the history of the island especially intriguing, since they discovered closer ties to their own country than they realized. If you are considering retirement, you can learn from their experiences. Caribbean island life is an interesting option to explore. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Adventurous and Inspiring
Highly recommended! This entertaining and educational read is like getting a private tour of the magical island of St. Kitts. It's full of personality, spirit and humor. Read and you'll be recommending it!

Discover St. Kitts
Anyone interested in the Caribbean will enjoy this book. Beautifully written, it explores the magnificence of St. Kitts and captures the spirit and soul of the island's people. Personal experiences and fascinating anecdotes provide colorful examples of "de life."

A pleasure to read!
What a treat! This wonderfully written book not only vividly describes Caribbean living and its people, but entertains you the entire time. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the Caribbean and who likes an easy going, fun and informative read. You will enjoy this one!

Island retreat
This is a thoroughly enjoyable book filled with vivid descriptions of St. Kitts and its people. Joan's style of writing enables the reader to be swept away into the relaxing lifestyle of island living. Her humorous tales are interspersed with many historical facts about the Caribbean. ... Read more