Hospitality : Innovation + Job News

A scientific study of the change in the seasons has implications for the tourism and travel industries. Researchers at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science found that spring is arriving earlier – and autumn will be later – in the suburbs of Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
 
“Spring is arriving earlier in the cities relative to the rural areas, the reason being the cities have warmer climates because of rooftops and asphalt” streets and parking lots, says Andrew Elmore of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. “Also, the cities don’t have vegetation around them, which has a cooling effect.”
 
Elmore conducted the research with Steven Guinn, of the UMd. Center, Burke Minsley of the U.S. Geological Survey and Andrew Richardson of Harvard University.

Using high resolution satellite data of trees and forests in the region collected over the past 25 years, the group found that the urban landscape traps heat in the summer and holds it throughout the winter, triggering leaves to turn green earlier in the spring and to stay green later into the fall.

The urban heat islands affected the growing season in areas within 20 miles of the cities, allowing for a longer growing season and the cultivation of new varieties.

Elmore says that temperature difference can have an economic impact. “If spring comes earlier, that’s an important time for tourism,” he says. “There are so many people living in urban areas and they are responding to an earlier spring.”
 
The study did not address climate change specifically, although Elmore may examine that in the future.
 
Source: Andrew Elmore, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Writer: Barbara Pash
 
 

Wine lovers can now taste a new local label on the market.

Open Door Cellars is offering three varietals -- chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and merlot. And the wines come in a box, not a bottle. The wines are being made at a winery in California under the supervision of Michael Fishman, a wine connoisseur and company co-founder with Greg Rochlin.
 
“We are starting distribution in Maryland, Delaware and Washington, D.C. We intend to make it a national brand. As we grow, we will take office space,” says Fishman who, with Rochlin, also co-owns Quarry Wine & Spirits.
 
Prestige Beverage Group is distributing the wines in liquor stores, wine shops and restaurants. They come in bag-the-box packaging that, Fishman says, preserves freshness longer after opening than a bottle. It's also more eco-friendly, the business owners say, yielding 85 percent less packaging compared with bottled wines. 
 
The boxes are available in two sizes: 3-liter (equivalent to 4 bottles), priced in the mid-$30s, and 1.5-liter (two bottles), in the low $20. The price is the same for all the varietals.
 
Fishman says they started Open Door Cellars in response to a need they saw in the market for such wines in the convenience and affordability of bag-in-the-box packaging.
 
“There are other bag-in-the-box competitors but not as this price point,” he says. “Our goal is to provide broadly distributed, high-quality wines.”
 
Fishman declined to provide financial figures for Open Door Cellars. The privately-held company has hired one full-time employee, a sales representative, and two part-time employees, to conduct in-store wine tastings. He expects to hire more employees as the company grows.
 
 
Source: Michael Fishman, Open Door Cellars
Writer: Barbara Pash
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The competition is heating up for foodies who want to work at the new Columbia Wegmans.

Wegmans Food Markets has received more than 6,000 resumes from applicants eager to work at the Howard County store, a local spokeswoman says.

Opening June 17, the Howard County store will hire 700, or about 11 percent of the applicants who have thus far applied. Of those positions, 250 will work full-time. Not surprisingly, the company was ranked No. 4 this year in Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For.

The hiring focus right now is on culinary jobs — chefs, line cooks and other folks who can work in food service, says Cynthia Glover, who handles local PR for Wegmans.

Jim Thompson, who worked in the Bel Air store, will be Columbia’s merchandising manager, says Store Manager Wendy Webster. Nate Starkweather has moved from New Jersey to work as the store’s perishable manager. Tom Schwarzweller will be its executive chef and Rob Griffin its service manager. Both worked at the Hunt Valley location.

The 145,000-square-foot store will house a 432-seat restaurant and market serving up made-to-order sushi, ice cream, a hot-and-cold veggie bar and other prepared foods. 

Writer: Julekha Dash
Sources: Cynthia Glover; Wendy Webster, Wegmans

The Lunchbox Lady, which provides box lunches for corporate events, is launching a new menu this month, and planning to hire at least one additional full time food production worker and one part time driver this year.

The business has grown steadily, eventually outgrowing its original location. Last year, the business moved from Arbutus to Halethorpe – and business grew 185 percent. The Lunchbox Lady added three new staffers, and the business is still expanding.

Corporate downsizing brought Baltimore native Connie Henninger Neiman back to the food industry. The former co-owner of Henninger's in Fells Point left the restaurant business in 1989 to become and insurance broker. After 20 years in the business and two layoffs, Connie went back to her roots in the food business and reinvented herself as The Lunchbox Lady.

“All of the ladies that I have hired in the past three-and-half years have been downsized from various professional careers, so they have varied experience and most of all, they have invested their ideas and talents and share in my vision of growing this business,” says The Lunchbox Lady owner Connie Henninger Neiman.

“I am a very lucky person, because I have acquired employees that really believe in what they are doing and that is why our food and presentation is very high quality,” says Henninger Neiman.

Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Connie Henninger Neiman, The Lunchbox Lady

Craft cocktails are the latest trend in the beverage industry.

Liquid Culture, a beverage event start-up in Baltimore, aims to capitalize on that trend by holding events around town that combine an education in craft cocktails with an evening of fun. Craft cocktails are more than just your average rum and Coke. They rely on fresh, locally sourced ingredients, interesting flavor pairings and additives like bitters and syrups.

“I believe this is the perfect time for Liquid Culture because Baltimore, though it is often a bit behind cities like New York and L.A., seems to have caught up with the trends when it comes to food," says Liquid Culture founder Christine Stutz. 

"There are so many great restaurants in the city now, and people are much more adventurous about what they eat. There's a sophistication about food that translates naturally to what we drink. There's evidence that the cocktail movement has finally caught fire here, and we want to be the ones to fan the flames,” Stutz says.

Liquid Culture will be hosting themed food and beverage events featuring specialty drinks created by experts at venues around the city. The events are designed to educate cocktail neophytes about their options. At each themed event, a different kind of beverage will be sampled and attendees can learn about unusual cocktails. Events will be in a variety of locations around the city, with new themes and expert mixologists.

Liquid Culture will be holding their inaugural event, the Valentine themed “Libations for Lovers” on Feb. 1 at the Wine Market in Locust Point.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Christine Stutz, Liquid Culture

Woodberry Kitchen’s Spike and Amy Gjerde will open a coffee shop at Hampden’s Union Mill this spring.

The 1,500-square-foot café will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Also still in the works is Half Acre, a fast-casual eatery that the Gjerdes will open at 3801 Falls Rd. in the middle of this year. The 75-seat restaurant will serve lunch and dinner.

The café will be under construction next month and open in March or April, says Michael Morris, the real estate manager for the Gjerdes’ restaurant ownership group behind Woodberry Kitchen, Artifact and Half Acre.

One of the area’s first farm-to-table restaurants, Woodberry Kitchen is one of the Baltimore area’s most popular restaurants. It earned the accolade of Bon Appetit magazine, which named it one of the Top 10 Best New Restaurants in America in its September 2009 issue.

Writer: Julekha Dash
Sources: Spike Gjerde, Woodberry Kitchen; Michael Morris, real estate manager

Maryland Live Casino will open a new recruitment center on-site mid-January.

Near Arundel Mills, the casino developed by Cordish Co. will hire 1,500 workers. The recruitment center will feature computers to allow job seekers to access the company's applications. Maryland Live recruiters will be on hand to answer questions.

The recruiting site currently features openings for several management positions. Listings for other positions in the new complex will be posted in the coming months. The company expects to offer positions in all areas of operations and all shifts. Casino positions will be available as well as positions in food and beverage, environmental services, security, retail, marketing, IT and finance. Interested job seekers are encouraged to register at the company's website now to speed up the applications process as more positions become available.

Opening in the summer, the complex will feature 4,750 slot machines and electronic table games, restaurants, retail stores and a live entertainment venue.

Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Carmen Gonzales, Maryland Live

The Better Baltimore Bed and Breakfasts Association has found success in its mission of
having November declared “Bed and Breakfast Month” in Baltimore. City Councilman William
Cole will be making the official announcement of the new designation on Tuesday, November
1st at Scarborough Fair Bed and Breakfast in Federal Hill.

Many of the Better Baltimore Bed and Breakfasts Association members have been working
to strengthen the city's tourism outreach efforts by hosting travel writers, bloggers and travel
show hosts/production companies in combination with Visit Baltimore in order to showcase
Baltimore's small inns. They have also been working on digital outreach efforts using their
own websites, events calendars and social media as portals to connect with travelers who
might not think of Baltimore as bed and breakfast kind of town.

The innkeepers of Baltimore's bed and breakfasts have been busy this year. Scarborough
Fair recently announced that their number of “Excellent” Trip Advisor rankings was larger
than any other hotel or inn in Baltimore, including the big chain hotels. The Better Baltimore
Bed and Breakfasts Association has also recently welcomed a new member, Bluedoor on
Baltimore Street.

The designation of November as “Bed and Breakfast Month" by the city will assist the Better
Baltimore Bed and Breakfasts Association in its efforts to draw attention to its upcoming
holiday and charity event in December. The Association will hold its second annual
Holiday House Tour on December 6th, with the proceeds going to benefit Moveable Feast.

Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Barry Werner, Scarborough Fair Bed and Breakfast

http://www.scarboroughfairbandb.com/

The Better Baltimore Bed and Breakfasts Association has decided to take their annual Holiday House Tour event to the next level by partnering with local chefs and the charity Moveable Feast this holiday season. The Second Annual Holiday House Tour will showcase the best of Baltimore's bed and breakfasts and local food scene while raising money for Moveable Feast, a charity devoted to preserving quality of life for those suffering from HIV/AIDS and other life threatening conditions.

"We have decided to add a more foodie twist to the tour this year by inviting local chefs and wineries to be part of the event, offering tastes of wines paired with great foods. The B&Bs will also be offering some of their own palate pleasing treats as well. Since there is a definite love of food angle going on, we chose to sponsor a fantastic charity that helps those in need get wholesome and nutritious meals that help people maintain and maybe even improve their overall health," says Association President Barry Werner.

The Second Annual Holiday House tour will feature six Baltimore bed and breakfasts. Blue Door, Ceilie's Waterfront Inn, Scarborough Fair, the Inn at 2920, Rachel's Dowry, and the 1840's Carrollton Inn will all be showcasing their holiday décor. At each inn, tour participants will be invited to sample cuisine prepared by the innkeepers and local chefs.

"Each B&B will host a local chef who will have a food paired up with a wine produced locally. This combined with homemade specialties from the innkeepers and wonderful holiday décor will provide a lot of holiday cheer and inspiration for those on the tour. Motor coach transportation is also included in the rate," Werner continues.

The Association is petitioning the Mayor's office to have November declared Bed & Breakfast Month in Baltimore. Tickets for the Holiday House tour to benefit Moveable Feast are available now.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Barry Werner, Scarborough Fair Bed and Breakfast, Better Baltimore Bed and Breakfasts Association

Nik Mody and his partners, Vinit Mody and Roshan Patel, are using their experience in the hospitality industry to launch a new online travel savings club. Based in Columbia, MD, Members Hotel Network aims to create an online travel booking site that benefits both guests and hoteliers.

Typically, bookings that come to hoteliers through an online travel agency cost the hotelier about 22% in commissions paid to the agency. Travelers booking through online travel brokers are often unaware that hotel franchisees are obligated to enforce a rate parity concept by their corporate parents that ensures that online brokers and the hotel's online site are providing the same rate. Booking travel through a broker also usually means that a traveler is unable to collect loyalty points for the booking.

"Our purpose is to serve the two most important entities in the process, the guest and the hotelier," says MHN founder Nik Mody.

The company launched the club's booking site in June. At the Members Hotel Network site, club members can book hotels and rental cars at a club discount around the country. Bookings through the site qualify for hotel and rental car company reward programs, as well as discounts from AARP and AAA. Club members also earn reward points from Members Hotel Network that can be redeemed through the site for cash back rewards.

"We continue to have good traction since our June launch with significant increases in membership registrations and reservations. The public is gaining a better understanding of what it means to have all of their perks back at no cost," says Mody

Members Hotel Network recently added staff at its Columbia office, and is looking at expanding further in the near future. The club is offering free membership through the end of September.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Nik Mody, Members Hotel Network

Tourism is heating up for the summer in Baltimore. As the city enters a summer packed with headline-making events like the Grand Prix and Baltimore Pride, the hospitality sector is looking forward to a busy and profitable season. 

"Tourism is lifting itself, and doing very well," says Tom Noonan, President and CEO of Visit Baltimore. 

At the Inner Harbor, increased tourism spending is providing opportunities for growth. The Rusty Scupper, a staple of the Inner Harbor tourist trade, expects revenues to increase 25% this year. The National Aquarium and The Maryland Science Center are also experiencing increases in visitor traffic and revenue. Baltimore's popular free bus service, The Charm City Circulator is experiencing increased ridership, and expects to reach 2 million riders this year. 

Visit Baltimore has taken the expected increase in tourism seriously. Through its Certified Tourism Ambassador program, Visit Baltimore aims to have hundreds of specially trained personnel around the city to provide welcoming help to visitors. The program will train hospitality industry workers, police officers, cab drivers and workers in other tourism related industries to help tourists navigate the city and answer questions about history, venues and landmarks. 

"We're training a knowledgeable force, so that as a guest you'll run into someone who is certified, has taken a class and passed an exam," adds Noonan. 

Hotel occupancy is increasing, fueled by both a rebounding travel market and a healthy convention business downtown. Baltimore's hoteliers are adding approximately 2,500 new rooms to handle the increased demand. The city's hospitality profile will increase with the addition of the new Four Seasons Hotel in 2012.

Author: Amy McNeal

Source: Tom Noonan, Visit Baltimore

Charm City has been gaining ground as a tourist destination for LGBT travelers, fueled by a highly coordinated outreach effort on the part of Visit Baltimore and the Baltimore LGBT Tourism Advisory Committee.

"Showing LGBT travelers that your city is welcoming is the right thing for any city to do," says Tom Noonan, President and CEO of Visit Baltimore. "The fact that any city creates a unique and robust outreach program is an attention grabber."

When Visit Baltimore and the Advisory Committee began their effort to market the city as a LGBT travel destination four years ago, only two Baltimore hotels had received the Travel Alternatives Group's designation as certified LGBT friendly hotels. The city now has 25 TAG certified hotels.

Visit Baltimore is looking to carve out a niche as a welcoming destination for gay families as well. Baltimore Pride will feature a new family fun zone this year. Welcoming events are also planned for the Zoo and the Aquarium.

"Most LGBT Tourism dollars go toward attracting couples and singles, and families are ignored. We're also trying to market Baltimore as a destination for families with kids," says Barry Werner, a member of the Baltimore LGBT Tourism Advisory Committee.

Attracting more LGBT tourists to Baltimore has been a long term goal for Visit Baltimore. With tourism as the second largest source of jobs in the city, LGBT tourism dollars are an important potential revenue source for the sector. In order to reach more LGBT tourists with Baltimore's message of welcome, Visit Baltimore has recently launched a cooperative marketing campaign with more than 20 city businesses. Full-color, four-page inserts in LGBT publications in the Northeast market tout the city's cultural attractions, restaurants, and accommodations.
 

Writer: Amy McNeal
Sources: Barry Werner, Tom Noonan, Visit Baltimore

Sweet, a popular destination for specialty cakes, has recently relocated its operations from Ellicott City to a new facility in Mount Vernon. The move was inspired by several factors, including proximity to Sweet's primary clients and a desire to move to an improved facility.

"[Chief Creative Officer] Tracey Buchanan and I knew that we needed to move off of Main St. in Ellicott City at the end of our lease for several reasons," says owner Chris Sikora. "We looked at Baltimore because we were down here nearly every weekend and have wonderful relationships with many major hotels, banquet facilities, and caterers."

The change in address also brings a change in business model for the bakery. At its previous location, Sweet operated as a cafe as well as a bakery. With the change to Mount Vernon, Sweet has eliminated the cafe portion of its business to better focus on cakes. The bakery recently re-introduced its popular breads, available only on the weekend.

"The building allows us to design a much more efficient team environment, reduces our costs and makes it much easier to deliver," Sikora continues.

The relocation has allowed Sweet to be in closer proximity to the city's major event venues. Sweet's custom cakes have been popular with Baltimore couples looking for an unusual wedding cake.

Sweet was recently recognized by The Knot magazine in its 2011 "Best of Weddings" edition. This is the fifth consecutive year that the bakery has achieved this distinction.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Chris Sikora, Sweet