Register Now!
February 11-13, 2008
Houston, Texas
The Law Conference features the following General Sessions:
Anti-Trust Traps in the Hospitality Industry & the Applicable Ethical Questions
This program will focus on the role of counsel in advising hospitality clients regarding fair competition and anti-trust issues. It will address conflicts of interest, privilege and other ethical challenges as well.
E-Discovery & Metadata Solutions
Learn what ESI is, where it is found, and what a Court is likely to require be disclosed when you find your business in litigation. The presentation will also discuss what steps you should take now to ward off problems in the future.
The Americans with Disabilities Act: Managing Liability & Avoiding Drive-by Lawsuits
The presentation will also provide information on what is generally required under the Title III of the ADA for businesses with public facilities and how businesses with such facilities can identify and remove barriers to access to avoid drive-by lawsuits.
Hospitality Case Review: The Top 100 Cases That Impacted Us This Year
So many cases; so little time! Let two professors distill the information to you. They will highlight the most notable of the top 100 cases in the last 12 months, and explain the implication of the rulings to the industry.
The Insurance Market Update Including Catastrophe Coverage Issues
A discussion of various types of policy wording, recent pending court cases involving hurricane claims, update and case law regarding catastrophic losses, and first party property coverage with an emphasis on wind/flood coverages.
Navigating I-9 - A Hospitality Employer's Key to Avoiding Prosecution & Liability
The I-9 process may be time-consuming and bothersome, but it pales in comparison to the real penalties and disruptions of business that may result from non-compliance. This presentation will describe the relevance this issue has to the hospitality industry, current developments in this area of immigration law and potential consequences for a violation. It also provides step-by-step guidance on the completion, retention, and production of I-9 forms.
Threats, Vulnerabilities, Protective Measures & Protective Programs for Terrorist Threats
This presentation will provide a current overview of the threat to the hospitality industry with a discussion of common vulnerabilities to the current threats, the partnership between the private industry and Department of Homeland Security as well as protective measures and protective programs the Department of Homeland Security has to offer as security solutions. There will be a period for questions and answers as well.
For more information, please click here.
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Seventh Circuit Finds Employer's Harassment Complaint Procedures Insufficient
This article was drafted by the attorneys of Ogletree Deakins, a national labor and employment law firm that represents management. This information should not be relied upon as legal advice. |
The federal appellate court with jurisdiction over Illinois employers recently reinstated a lawsuit brought against the owner of a fast food restaurant whose manager allegedly verbally and physically propositioned a 16-year-old employee.
According to Robert Casey, a shareholder in Ogletree Deakins’ Chicago office: “The facts (although certain to be disputed at trial) as recited by the Seventh Circuit make the court’s decision a forgone conclusion. Employers would be well served to look at this case and make sure that their anti-harassment procedures and training satisfy all the criteria set out by the court; namely, they should be clear and understandable, published adequately, written with their target audiences in mind, and methods should be available that make it easy to report complaints against even the highest levels of management while bypassing the harasser who may be highly placed. Hotline numbers or anonymous complaint lines should also be strongly considered.”
Read more for the specifics and implications of this case
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Marshall Award Nominees Announced
HospitalityLawyer.com is proud to announce the following nominations for the Anthony G. Marshall Hospitality Law Award:
- Nir Margalit - Vice President & General Counsel, Kimpton Hotel Group
- Andria L. Ryan - Partner, Fisher & Phillips
- Irv Sandman - Shareholder, Graham & Dunn
- Arch Stokes - Executive Director, Shea Stokes & Carter
The Anthony G. Marshall Award honoree will be announced on February 12, 2008, during the Sixth Annual Hospitality Law Conference in Houston, Texas.
Each year at the Annual Hospitality Law Conference, the Marshall Award is given to someone who has made pioneering and lasting contributions to the field of hospitality law. In presenting the award, the selection board seeks to recognize someone who exemplifies Mr. Marshall’s commitment to hospitality law. This will be the fourth year the Award will be presented. |
Hospitality Loss Prevention Lifetime Achievement Award Nominees Announced
HospitalityLawyer.com is proud to announce the following nominations for the Hospitality Loss Prevention Lifetime Achievement Award:
- Chad Callaghan, Vice President of Loss Prevention, Marriott
- Thomas Daly, Vice President of Loss Prevention, Hilton Hotels Corporation (retired)
- Wayne Hoskins, Director of Loss Prevention, Broadmoor Resort
- Jerry LaChapelle, President, Risk Control Plus
The Hospitality Loss Prevention Lifetime Achievement Award honoree will be announced on February 12, 2008, during the Sixth Annual Hospitality Law Conference in Houston, Texas.
The Hospitality Loss Prevention Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a person who has committed their career to improving safety and security in the hospitality industry. This will be the second year the Award will be presented. |
"What's New At HospitalityLawyer.com"
Online Training Course on "Preventing Sexual Harassment"
HospitalityLawyer.com announces two Sexual Harassment courses developed specifically for the hospitality industry. The courses will be offered online in the Solutions Store Education and Training Section of HospitalityLawyer.com. "Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Hospitality Industry" speaks to the culture of the hospitality industry and is supported with hospitality-oriented scenarios and precedent-setting case law.
One course offered is California AB 1825 compliant and the other non-state specific. Ideal for small business owners, individual supervisors, and corporate enterprise-wide implementation.
Click here for more information including information on corporate discounts |
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Stephen Barth, Founder of HospitalityLawyer.com, Challenges the Industry to Go Non-Smoking
To see a humorous, unique perspective on smoking,
watch this video.
Also read Stephen Barth's Blog and his
Challenge to the Hospitality Industry to Be Non-Smoking
Finally, please vote in our
Poll Question:
Do you support a nation-wide ban on smoking in restaurants and hotels?
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This poll is not scientific and reflects the opinions of only those Internet users who have chosen to participate. The results cannot be assumed to represent the opinions of Internet users in general, nor the public as a whole. |
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Resolutions for 2008
Samantha Martinez
440 Louisiana, Ste. 590
Houston, TX 77002
Tel. 713.987.7852
Fax 713.987.7854
The new year is a time for reflecting over the last twelve months, and for renewing promises to make the next twelve months better. In that spirit, here are a handful of new year’s resolutions for managing employee relations in 2008, based on the legal trends of 2007:
- Take a fresh look at your handbook and other written policies.
- Conduct a yearly refresher course on key policies.
- Expand your harassment policy to include other types of harassment.
- Make sure your policies are available in the languages your employees speak.
- Learn how to document employee issues and teach supervisors how to do same.
- Familiarize yourself with the EEOC’s new caregiver discrimination rules.
- Implement a policy that all key employment decisions will be reviewed by Human Resources.
- Seek input from employees and managers as to what the company can do to function better.
- Finally, make a promise to treat your employees as well as you can.
Read more About Each Suggestion |
Firm Highlight
Holland Hart Sponsors Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming and Presents at the Sixth Annual Hospitality Law Conference
For more than 40 years, Holland & Hart has been providing hospitality, resort, and leisure business clients with the results-oriented legal counsel and innovative business solutions they need to grow and succeed in this tourism economy. With offices in Aspen, Colorado, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Salt Lake City, Utah, Holland & Hart has long been involved in ski area and golf course development projects. Our attorneys are knowledgeable, not only about the unique regulations and codes that affect development projects in mountain resort towns, but because they regularly appear before those towns’ local planning and zoning commissions they can also offer valuable insight into the unwritten policies, procedures and inclinations of decision-makers that often influence the outcome of a particular development issue.
Steven Gutierrez and Thomas Hazard will be presenting at the session "Your USERRA Obligations & Other Sensitive Issues"
Dennis Brown and Steven Gutierrez will be presenting at the session "Understanding your Duties of Care, Reasonable Care, Standards of Care, Negligence, and Gross Negligence." |
"Who You Should Know"
Attorney Spotlight
Banks Brown
McDermott Will & Emery
340 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017
T: 212.547.5488
F: 212.547.5444
 Banks Brown serves as General Counsel to the American Hotel & Lodging Association (the only national United States association representing the hotel industry as a whole); the Hotel Association of New York City, Inc. (the oldest hotel trade association in the United States, dating to 1878); the Travel Business Roundtable (an organization of tourism CEOs); and Destination Marketing Association, International (association of worldwide convention and visitors bureaus).
He is also the co-author of the widely used text Understanding Hospitality Law and recipient of the Anthony G. Marshall Award for Continuous and Pioneering Contribution to Hospitality Law. In his capacity as General Counsel to the trade associations, he plays a key role in initiating and organizing industry initiatives and dealing with industry legal problems, on both national and often global scales.
He heads the hospitality practice group at McDermott Will & Emery, which has 12 regular lawyers and pulls from up to 50 others when emergencies and special situations arise. Representative clients include Hilton Hotels Corporation; Morgans Hotel Group; GPH Partners LLC; Wyndham Worldwide Corporation. He is also head of the New York Trial Department of McDermott.
He graduated from Harvard College in 1974, from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1977, was an associate and later a partner at Lord, Day & Lord from 1977 until 1994 when it dissolved, and has been a partner in McDermott Will ever since.
He wears cowboy boots for no reason other than they are comfortable and plays the guitar and harmonica, often simultaneously, for no reason other than it is fun. |
"Of Notable Interest"
The National Furniture Bank Association (NFBA) is a non-profit organization which represents a network of nearly 70 furniture banks across America. Help1Up is the name of the service which collects new and used furniture from industry and the general public, then provides it directly to families in need.
Help1Up is the easy, free, socially responsible, and environmentally friendly way to solve a big problem for companies and households -- what to do with perfectly usable home furnishing items? Furniture banks pick up items free of charge, issue a tax-deductible receipt, then give the items to a family without any furniture. It’s a win-win-win scenario.
NFBA's mission is to open new furniture banks in areas without one, and to increase the service capacity of existing furniture banks.
For more information on how to get involved, contact:
Jeff Hay
(614) 679-8739 |
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