Thursday, November 28, 2019

Conrad Hilton Understanding the Hotelier his Contributions to the Hospitality Industry

Scholars and practitioners are in agreement that the modern hotel and hospitality industry would not have attained its present status had it not been for the dedicated and passionate contribution of a number of its founders, one of them going by the name of Conrad Hilton.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Conrad Hilton: Understanding the Hotelier his Contributions to the Hospitality Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Indeed, Conrad is perceived by many renowned hoteliers of modern times as the â€Å"founding father† of today’s hospitality industry (Lockyer xiii). This paper aims to provide a deep insight into the man who has led the hospitality industry from the front, particularly in relation to his background, company, history, accomplishments, and contributions to the hospitality industry. Born in 1887 to a Norwegian migrant father and a German-American mother, Conrad Nicholson Hil ton rose from humble backgrounds to build perhaps the best known hotel brand, both in the U.S. and globally. As observed by family members and business associates, not only did Conrad Hilton project a strong belief in the American dream, but derived his philosophy and might â€Å"†¦from his faith in God, his belief in the brotherhood of man, his patriotic confidence in his country, and his conviction that natural law obligates all humankind to help relieve the suffering and distress of the destitute† (DeFranco 1). These principles, it is believed, assisted Conrad to establish the business empire that operated, and still operates, under the flagship company – Hilton Hotels Corporation. Although Conrad Hilton acquired his first hotel, the Cisco Mobley Hotel, in 1919, it was not until 1946 when Hilton Hotels Corporation was formed to take care of the expanding business. Even though the corporation made history in 1947 as the first hotel entity to list its stock on th e New York Stock Exchange, it was Conrad Hilton who shook the hotel and hospitality industry to the core when, in the same year, became the president and the largest stockholder of Hilton Hotels Corporation (Reference for Business para. 8). Additionally, it is the Hilton Hotels Corporation, under the able leadership and guidance of Conrad N. Hilton, which sealed the largest hotel merger in the industry when, in 1954, Hilton Hotels sealed a deal with Ellsworth Milton Statler for the purchase of Statler Hotel Company for $111 million (Reference for Business para. 10).Advertising Looking for research paper on biography? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In 1948, Hilton Hotels Corporation was again instrumental in the establishment of yet another company, the Hilton International Company, to take care of the expanding international hotel business. Today, the company owns, manages, and franchises in excess of 2000 hotels in the U.S. alone, not mentioning that it oversees the operations of Conrad Hotels, the company’s international arm (Reference for Business para. 1). To write or rewrite the history of Conrad Hilton may, in itself, be self-defeating due to the great influence that Hilton had on the hospitality industry, and which has led hotel commentators to argue that each day was history for this great man (Lockyer 9). However, it is imperative to note that Conrad Hilton, who lived from 1887 to 1979, left an indelible mark in the hotel and hospitality industry. The hotel mogul, who had earlier wanted to become a banker, bought his first hotel in 1919 in Texas to cash in on the influx of fatigued oil-seekers and railroad travelers (DeFranco 2). The hotel performed exceedingly well that, in 1925, Conrad Hilton was able to construct the first hotel bearing the ‘Hilton’ name in Dallas. In 1946, the Hilton Hotels Corporation was formed to manage the rapidly expanding chain of hotels, and in 19 47, the corporation became the first company ever to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (Reference for Business para. 29). In 1949, Conrad Hilton bought the lease on the exclusive New York’s Waldorf-Astoria, and in 1953, Conrad, through Hilton International, decided to taste international waters by opening the first European Hilton in Madrid (Lockyer 11). Hilton International, the company charged with the responsibility of managing Hilton’s international hotels, was transformed into a public company in 1964,and in 1970, the same corporation sought to diversify its business operations by purchasing two casino hotels in Las Vegas. As already mentioned, Conrad Hilton died in 1979, but not without demonstrating to practitioners in the hotel industry that he was a force to reckon with. In terms of accomplishments, it is important to note that Conrad Hilton is still regarded as one of the founding fathers of today’s hospitality industry, not mentioning that his company, Hilton Hotels Corporation, was the first hotel company to list its stock on the New York Stock Exchange. Having started with only one hotel in 1919, Conrad Hilton was by 1953 sampling the international hotel scene, an accomplishment that the feint hearted can only dream to achieve. In 1954, Conrad Hilton was at the center of the largest hotel merger in the industry when Hilton Hotels Corporation bought the Statler Hotel Company for a staggering $111 million (Reference for Business para 10).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Conrad Hilton: Understanding the Hotelier his Contributions to the Hospitality Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The merger, in my view, must have been one of the greatest accomplishments for Conrad Hilton. Lastly, although Conrad is long dead, he still touches and improves the lives of the disadvantaged and the destitute through his own personal initiative – t he Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, which not only assist the homeless and people suffering from HIV, alcoholism, and drug abuse, but also assist numerous non-governmental organizations to sustain and expand the impact of their work (Conrad N. Hilton Foundation para. 1). Lastly, it is indeed true that Conrad Hilton has impacted the hotel industry in a positive yet disarming manner. It is obvious that Conrad’s management style, philosophy and values are variants that can be imitated or adopted by practitioners in the hotel industry to achieve success. Conrad had the capacity to buy underperforming hotels and convert them into cash-flowing assets, not mentioning that he is credited for developing innovative joint-venture arrangements that were later adopted by hotel owners as the standard industry practice (Lockyer 12). These and other contributions demonstrate that Conrad was indeed a man that stood above the rest. Works Cited Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. (n.d.). Retrieved from ht tps://www.hiltonfoundation.org/ DeFranco. Finance and the Hospitality Industry. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://media.wiley.com/product_data/excerpt/82/EHEP0005/EHEP000582.pdf Lockyer, Timothy L.G. The International Hotel Industry: Sustainable Management. Binghamton, NY: The Haworth Press, Inc. 2007. Reference for Business. Hilton Hotels Corporation – Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on Hilton Hotels Corporation. 2011. Retrieved from https://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/76/Hilton-Hotels-Corporation.htmlAdvertising Looking for research paper on biography? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This research paper on Conrad Hilton: Understanding the Hotelier his Contributions to the Hospitality Industry was written and submitted by user Jaylen Ochoa to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

17 Proofreading Techniques for Business Communication

17 Proofreading Techniques for Business Communication Finally. Your document is just about complete. It’s been written, reviewed, compiled, and re-reviewed. With the final edits in place, it’s now ready to be proofread. Proofreading can seem like a simple task in business communication. However, the attention to detail and intense focus it requires means that proofreading is as challenging as it is important. However, there are many tactics you can use to ensure this task is completed well and effectively. This article highlights our top strategies. Why is Proofreading Important? Proofreading can help you improve the readability and quality of your documents. It is important to ensure that your writing is error free and professional. What is Proofreading? Proofreading includes reviewing for grammar, correct use of language, and format. It’s the final touches needed to ensure a business document is correct, consistent, and professional. When Do I Proofread? Proofreading is often confounded with editing. Editing involves revisions of the document, often with major changes, to ensure alignment with goals, accuracy of information, or modification of tone. Only once those major edits are complete can the document move to the proofreading stage. Proofreading ensures the final content is free of linguistic and formatting errors. 17 Proofreading Techniques: The following list presents the strategies we recommend for better proofreading. These methods strengthen your proofreading process and knowledge. 1. Step Away, Then Focus Whenever possible, step away from the document before proofreading. This is crucial when you are the document’s author. You are too close to the content, making it difficult to have a clear, objective eye on the text. We recommend taking a 24-hour break from the content before proofreading for maximum effectiveness. 2. Print a Hard Copy Proof of Your Document Many editors find it easier to proofread with a physical document. Printing the document makes it easier to read and allows you to proofread in more places. 3. Read Aloud Good proofreading is done slowly. Simply reading it normally allows your brain to fill in gaps and fix errors in your mind and skip them on the page. Reading aloud ensures that each word and punctuation mark is verified. It also highlights awkward sentences because it will sound more awkward out loud than on the page. Conveniently, there are online programs that will help with this task. Use your computer’s text-to-voice function to have your document read to you. Having your computer read to you will help catch typos that you may skip over as you know the original intent of the sentence. 4. Align With Company Style Standards Most companies have style standards for external documents. Ensure you have these guidelines close at hand while proofreading. These guidelines may range from font choice to preferred spellings to margin size and more. These details ensure consistency across an organization. 5. Remove Excess Words Business writing is concise and direct. Excess words, like adjectives or adverbs, can detract from the message. Being careful not to overstep into editing, review the text for superfluous words that do not add value to the text. In addition, accidental excess or repeat words are erroneous and can be missed prior to proofing. 6. Explain or Remove Jargon Specialized terminology or acronyms should be used sparingly, if at all, in business writing. When used appropriately for the reader, they still must be explained. Generally, the first mention of an acronym is spelled out completely with the acronym followed in brackets. An unfamiliar technical term should be explained in the text before being referenced. Terms that are difficult for the reader should be removed and replaced with more accessible wording. 7. Check Sentence Structure A proper sentence must have a subject, a verb, and express a complete thought. Simple, right? Yet, sentence fragments and run-on sentences can sneak into an otherwise great text. Review each sentence for proper structure and punctuation. 8. Review Flow and Sequencing One pass of the document must be a high-level review. This overview checks the organization of the document to ensure it has proper flow and sequencing. Check for formatting consistency, order, and numbering of images, tables, and appendices, and the general presentation. 9. Use Software Technology is your friend when it comes to proofreading. Microsoft’s Spelling and Grammar tool and Grammarly’s online editor are two handy tools to catch spelling, grammatical errors, and some syntax errors that your spellcheck may miss. Use these tools as a first scan. They will catch detectable errors. However, word choice and homonyms are often only found by the human eye. You can check out our list of the top tools for tone, editing, and grammar (among others business writing needs!) on our blog. 10. Hire an Editor or Ask Colleagues/Friends If you’re way, way too close to your document, proofing it yourself may not be a good idea. In this case, seek a truly objective opinion and review. Hiring an editor to complete the proofreading phase can be a valuable investment. Alternatively, asking a friend or colleague to proof your text can provide a fresh perspective. 11. Take a Course Proofreading is a skill that is learned, honed, and improved. Like many other writing aptitudes, proofing can be developed through education. Taking a course on proofing will help you master the process. We offer a Proofreading Course with Grammar Review that hones the skills required to effectively proofread in a business environment. Avoid Common Mistakes These tactics will help you catch the trickiest business communication errors. 12. Check Homonyms When a word sounds right, the quick reader can mistake it for being correct. Homonyms are a painful but important item to check. Including accept where except is intended can be embarrassing or even disastrous in business communication. Ensure the word choice is the correct one. 13. Check Apostrophes Apostrophes are often placed incorrectly. Apostrophes are almost never used for plurals, but somehow they often appear as such. While mixing up companies with company’s may not be disastrous, it is confusing and unprofessional. 14. Fact Check Employees, colleagues, and clients rely on business communications for information and decisions. Therefore, they need to be accurate. Whether it is the client name spelling, the sales division location, or the policy sheet, each detail must be correct. Fact checking these details will ensure the document is valuable and useful. 15. Verify Numbers, Times, and Dates Numerical information is often the most critical and the easiest to mistype. Each number must be verified. A misplaced decimal or zero in a budget line can be a grievous error. Times should be checked that they are correct, including the time zone. Dates must be correct to the day of the month and the week. Triple checking the numbers is not an over-the-top habit. 16. Verify Names Writing a staff’s, colleague’s, or client’s name incorrectly or completely wrong is simply disrespectful. It can lead to confusion, but more importantly, it shows poor attention to detail to the most important people: the reader or subject of the business communication. 17.Test Hyperlinks and Phone Numbers Website and phone numbers are very handy. However, they become very frustrating or ignored if they are incorrect. In the proofreading process, click on each hyperlink, type in each web address, and dial each phone number included in the document to ensure they will correctly direct the reader. Fool-Proof These seventeen strategies will improve your proofreading skills. Carve out the time to properly review and implement each of these strategies and your business communication will be accurate, valuable, and professional.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

United States Vs. India Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

United States Vs. India - Essay Example The rate of unemployment according to the CIA Factbook was 9.5% in 2009 and 9.1% in 2008 in India. When compared to the USA, the unemployment rate is very similar for the year 2009 as the country had 9.4% unemployment but in 2008, the rate was 5.8%. The rise in unemployment in the recent years in US has been caused by the economic conditions and the sub-prime crisis. General Motors filed for bankruptcy in 2009 and many other companies which employed a large proportion of the population also closed down. Many companies made lay-offs to reduce costs as their products were not being sold in the market. Many economists say that the unemployment that the US faces is seasonal and will improve with time. The inflation rate in the US for consumer prices was -0.7% in 2009 and 3.8% in 2008 (CIA, 2010). In contrast, India had an inflation rate of 9.8% in 2009 and 8.3% in 2008 (CIA, 2010). The rate of inflation is very high in India as compared to the USA which was negative for the last year. This high inflation rate in India accounts for the high demand of products in the country and the low rate in US accounts for the low demand and higher production in the economy. The US is the largest hub of technology in the world with per capita GDP of US$ 46,900 where as the Indian economy has per capita GDP of US$ 3,100 as of 2009 (CIA, 2010). Both these countries derive most of the GDP from the services sector and have economic liberalization policies. India has become a well known exporter of software products and has an edge of low labor cost. Although more than half of the labor force is self-employed in the agricultural industry in India, but the sector only accounts for 17% of the net income of the country. The US only derives 1.2% of its total revenue from agricultural sector and 71 % of the revenue from the services sector (CIA, 2010). USA has been struck hard by the worldwide economic downturn and the country itself