Hospitality

usually have to pull most of your stuff out to get to what’s at the bottom. This is also a safety concern because there may be someone watching you pull out your camera, binoculars, shoes, etc while trying to get at something at the bottom.

When you travel, your backpack will become your home from which you live. It will either make your trip easier and pleasant or it will be a cause of frustration and pain, or both. Choose your backpack after thorough research and many, many different fittings. It is definitely worth the effort.

When traveling abroad, if you plan on doing a lot of moving around, avoid hand-held luggage and opt for a backpack. Your backpack should be light, durable and comfortable. Look for a ‘bombproof’ pack because it’s going take a lot of abuse. Look for tough fabrics like pack-cloth or Cordura (especially in high-wear areas). Go with a reputable name-brand pack to ensure quality (hopefully). A name-brand pack will probably have some sort of warranty feature as well. Keep the colors subtle and ‘easy on the eyes’… avoid hot pink and other disgusting colors. Aim to fit into the crowds as much as possible rather than stand out.

Your backpack is definitely one item that you do not want to try and save money on in exchange for poorer quality. You will be dependent on your pack, and any problems with it — and there will be more if you buy a low-quality pack — will directly impact your traveling experience. Spend good money on a good pack and feel confident that it will perform for you when you most need it to.

Internal vs. External Frames
Older-style backpacks consisted of an external aluminum frame to help the pack keep its shape. The pack cloth material would then be ‘hung’ from within this frame. This was the only way to help distribute loads within the pack. External frame packs are very bulky and cumbersome to carry through crowds or on busses. They are also relatively fragile, as the main ’skeleton’ of the pack is exposed to impact damage (such as while being loaded and unloaded on an airplane). They have too many exposed bars and straps and don’t fit well on luggage racks on most trains. Needless to say, this is not the backpack of choice for most travelers, including myself.

Most modern backpacks have an internal frame. Internal frame packs have of a number of flat aluminum rods that are strategically placed within the pack to help the pack keep its shape. The main rods go from the top to the bottom of the pack and rest close to the wearer’s back (with padding in-between of course). These rods can be bent slightly to conform to the contours of the wearer’s back as well.

The overall shape of internal frame packs is tall and narrow, perfect for walking in crowds. The shape of the pack is generally maintained by what ever is in the pack. If it’s half full, it can be cinched up and made even smaller. Internal packs are often built for serious hiking. They have fully padded back support, very wide waist belts to take most of the weight of the backpack off of the shoulder straps, and fully padded shoulder straps for added comfort. This style of pack is without a doubt the best choice for budget travel.

Top loaders vs. Front loaders (convertibles)
Among the internal frame packs, there are two additional styles to choose from. The first is the top-loading pack (TL). This is primarily a large backpack with a small opening at the top, closed with a cinch string and covered by a pocket flap. The other style is a front-loading pack, often called a ‘convertible’. On this pack, the entire front of the pack unzips to expose the inside in its entirety.

TLs are by far the more durable of the backpack styles. They offer more protection from the elements (like rain), tend to ride better on your back, and are usually narrower, fitting very closely to your body. Plus, because the main compartment doesn’t rely on a large zipper, you don’t have to worry about zipper problems like you would a convertible pack. TLs are the first choice of hikers and mountaineers for these reasons.

Although TLs are usually more durable and have better support systems, TLs make finding items in your bag somewhat difficult. You 

TL styles also usually have straps hanging out everywhere. If these straps get caught on a conveyor belt at the airport, the ‘baggage bashers’ will simply cut the strap to keep everything flowing smoothly. If you do use a TL, wrap and tuck the loose straps under each other to avoid this hassle.

* Hold your cursor over the images for a description

Convertible packs are designed specifically for traveling. With convertible backpacks, the front panel zips open completely, so everything stays organized and is easily accessible without unpacking each time you need something. You can also zip the shoulder and hip straps away in a compartment when you check it in at the airport.

Disadvantages to this style of backpack are that they are less weather resistant and the zippers may burst on you. Look for compression straps to take some of the stress off of the zippers. Travel packs are designed to have the civilized look of a soft suitcase. Because these packs are designed primarily as luggage, they tend to have a relatively less supportive suspension system than TLs. Walking for long periods or on uneven terrain will be less than pleasant while wearing a convertible pack.

Buying Your Pack
When you go to purchase your pack, try it on and let the sales person adjust the straps, pads and internal frame for you to fit your body size. A good store will have weight bags that you can put into your pack and walk around the store with to simulate loads. Check out the quality of the suspension system. The suspension systems of modern packs are designed to transfer most of their weight to your hips, reducing back strain. The waist belt should allow you to put most of the weight on your hips and the straps should be wide and have plenty of padding for comfort. Play with the adjustments to fine-tune the fit. If a pack doesn’t feel right now, it won’t feel right after several hours of walking around.

Fit is perhaps the most important factor to consider when choosing a backpack for a couple of reasons. First, backpacks come in different lengths depending on the length of a person’s torso (upper body). Second, the larger the pack, obviously the more that can be carried in it. The volume of a pack’s interior is usually measured in liters or cubic inches. If you are an ultra-light traveler, take a small pack. It’s easier to walk in crowds and on trains with a smaller pack. If you run out of room, you should be able to strap extra stuff to the outside of your packs. I prefer to take a larger pack and keep everything inside for ease of use and organization. However, when you have the extra room in your pack, you will more than likely be tempted to fill it up.

Take a day-pack with you. You can either buy a separate one or just buy a travel backpack that has a detachable one that zips onto the outside. Carry your daypack on the plane to keep your toiletries, travel guide, cards, etc in. When you arrive at your destination, just put it into your large pack (or zip it on if you have a travel pack). When you arrive, you can use your day-pack for daily outings while you store your large pack at your hostel or the local train station. Daypacks also come in handy when you have collected too much junk and your large backpack is full. You can wear your day-pack on your stomach like a baby holder.

2 notes of caution about your backpack while away:

1. no matter how secure you make your pack, by using zipper locks, cables, etc, if a thief wants into your pack he will simply cut the material and take what he wants. Keep your eye on your pack as much as possible, particularly when in crowded areas, and don’t rely on zipper locks.
2. if you are using a zip-on daypack, while wearing your full-size backpack, do not keep anything valuable in your daypack if it is zipped onto the back. Thieves can easily remove your daypack without you even noticing. Keep your valuables in your full-size backpack or on your body, or put your daypack inside your backpack if you have room.

Are you planning to study hotel management…or perhaps hospitality, tourism, business or a mix of one or more of these fields ?

With the myriad of choices out there, it is very easy to get lost or sidetracked into choosing the wrong institution. After all, education is big business these days…and hotel school marketers will go to great lengths to paint a rosy picture of their school and facilities.
When running a search on the internet for hotel and hospitality schools, one is presented with hundreds of options and adverts…breaking through the clutter can be quite difficult. Here are a few tips on some of the basics to look for when choosing a good hotel or tourism school:

1. Is the School recognized by official bodies?

It is vital that the hotel, hospitality or tourism school that you choose is recognized and accredited by the appropriate government bodies. This guarantees better recognition of your qualifications once you graduate. The best way to find out about this, especially in foreign markets is to check with the school directly on federal and local accreditations or run a search for official hotel school associations. A classic example is Switzerland, which is home to many hotel schools, but only a handful really measure up. For statistics on Swiss Hotel Schools, try the Swiss Hotel Schools Association

2. Course Levels and Options

Again, a keystone to your decision…what sort of options do you have for study? Are you interested in a Degree, Diploma, Professional Certification or just specialized, short-term courses? Not all schools have the same strengths when it comes to differing course options, therefore it is important to choose the institution with known prowess in the qualification levels you’re interested in. Time is also a crucial factor – degree studies can take from 3 to 4 years, diplomas upto 3 years and certifications from a few months to a year or more. It is important not to choose shorter courses, e.g. a Bachelors of Science in Hotel Management in 2 years, when this is not the standard…unless you’ve taken a closer look at the course structure and strength.

Speaking from experience, you’d be better off choosing the longer course – it usually pays off by giving you a better, stronger academic base to start with. If you are planning to study abroad, also check if the English language curriculum is well established and is not something that was recently conceived from another language.

3. Recognition by the market and peers

While goodwill may not be a tangible asset, it does add value to the balance sheet…and so will graduating from a well-recognized university or school. You may not have the budget to go to Cornell or the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, but do try and ask around (perhaps a friend or relative who has studied hospitality or works in the hotel / tourism industry) and see what names come up more often than others.

 
4. Affiliations
The School or University you choose can really help you network, raise your ‘value’ and find jobs and options for further studies if they have strong affiliations with other companies in and outside the industry. A classic example is a hotel school partly or fully owned by a tourism company, which also owns hotels, restaurants and other businesses. Your chances of finding a good job placement with this school is definitely enhanced due to the schools strong affiliations.

5. Student Strength and Diversity

Most hotel and hospitality schools proudly advertise the fact that they feature students and alumni from all over the world. Try and find out the exact figures, though. Check how many international students are enrolled on current courses that you’re interested in…being in an international crowd will not only make learning fun, but also give you a superb network that will most likely last a lifetime.

The hospitality industry is all about people, and studying with the best from diverse backgrounds will foster your creativity and inter-personal skills. Also important to check is the total number of students in the school or university, and how many students are included in each class / batch. There is a big difference in learning in a class comprised of 20 or 50 students!

6. Staff / Teacher / Educator Strength and Competency

This is probably the hardest thing to check before you enroll on a course or join a school…but can also be one of the most crucial. You need to know the quality of the product you are paying for…after all, good hospitality education doesn’t come cheap these days, with costs running to $25,000 per semester (or more) in some schools.

There are important questions to be asked – is the educator strength sufficient for the number of students in the school, are the teachers specialists in their field with relevant industry experience, are the teachers from diverse backgrounds, etc. Being taught by a strong educator with 20 years experience in the industry vs. someone who’s just graduated, with absolutely no experience (and it hurts to say this, but was probably hired by the school because he/she represented a cost savings on payroll) is an experience that is poles apart. Read more…

choosing one of hotel is not always an easy decision, One factor that is probably the most important to all of us is cost and the other is service. Hotels range in cost from quite reasonable to very expensive. Before you choose a hotel you must make sure you can afford it and do you really need the accommodations you are paying for. The reason for your stay may influence the location of the hotel you choose and how much you will be willing to stay there. In this article I will highlight for you some of the different kind of hotels that are available and the type of experience you can expect when you stay.

below this step to choose a Hotel :

First, their are budget hotels all across this great nation of ours. Some may independently owned while others may be part of larger chains. Many large chains that have many upscale properties may also have budget divisions. A budget hotel can be an older property but may also be a newer property that is part of a chain. Just because it is budget you should have a room that is clean and livable. Don’t expect fine linens and expensive amenities. The TV will have limited stations and expect to pay for phone calls. Most will not have room service and you will probably be bringing your own baggage to your room. The trend today is they will probably serve a continental breakfast in the lobby. This can save you time and money and is very convenient if you are traveling for business. I always suggest if you are traveling to a city you are not familiar with check a site Trip Advisor to see what other guests have said about a particular property. You may be pleasantly surprised that for a small amount of money uou can have a pleasant stay.

Secondly, there are the group of moderate hotels. They may be independent hotels that have strong roots in a city or be a part of large hotel chains such as Marriott or Hilton. You can expect these rooms to be a little more unscaled. The TV will most likely have cable. You can expect to find internet service in your room. There will be room service as well as a bell man. There are probably some restaurants and bars at these hotels. Other services such as health clubs and beauty salons may also be available. The linens and decorations in your room will be of a higher quality.The amenities such as shampoo and soap will be a more expensive. The hotel property will be larger and probably have a pool.

Third, there are the upscale luxury hotels. They are usually in larger cities and could be privately owned or part of a large chain. The accommodations will be quite lovely and of better quality. The amenities will be the finest. You will have numerous cable stations and internet connection. The linens and towels are high quality. The hotel will will most likely have fine restaurants and bars. There will be a concierge that will be happy to cater to all of your needs. But be prepared to pay the price for all of this extra service.