Do you have an Accounting Policies and Procedures Manual and do you need one? The answer is YES! This session provides the tools needed to develop a manual suitable for your property.

Learning Objectives:
1. Learn what needs to be covered in the policy manual.
2. Discover where to start and what needs to be included in the procedures manual.
3. Hear the benefits of both manuals.

Fran Murr, CPA, CHAE is owner of Hotel Accounting Solutions.

This funny, insightful presentation combines relationship building with no-fluff motivation and change to deliver real solutions in uncertain times. Examine the challenges we face and learn how to laugh at problems while using them as catalysts for success. This session covers a lot of ground and provides no-cost, easily implemented, proven solutions that you can use right away.

Garrison Wynn is a speaker, advisor, author, and entertainer who has worked with some of the world’s most effective corporate leaders and business developers, from multibillion-dollar manufacturers to top New York Stock Exchange wire houses. Wynn is an experienced actor in films and a former professional stand-up comedian. He has hosted television specials and national radio programs and has a new top-selling book, The Real Truth About Success.

This session focuses on how to develop an operational or internal control review that can be completed by the property/club controller. This can help identify areas of concern and provides the financial manager with a tool that enables a proactive approach to any circumvention of internal controls.

Learning Objectives:
1. Develop a checklist of key areas for daily/monthly/annual review.
2. Create a questionnaire so that good feedback can be obtained about the current operations of the property.
3. Learn how to address the areas of concern.

Arlene Ramirez, CHE, CHAE is controller at The Clubs at Carlton Woods.

The session reviews recent market (supply, demand, occupancy, ADR, RevPAR) and financial (revenues, expenses, profits) trends in the U.S. lodging industry. Learn about PKF Hospitality Research’s 2011 and 2012 forecasts for these metrics. The data comes from the annual Trends® in the Hotel Industry survey of hotel financial statements (www.pkfc.com/annualtrends) and the Hotel Horizons® econometric forecasting model (www.hotelhorizons.com).

Learning Objectives:
1. Discover the benchmarks of current market and financial operating performance.
2. Gain an understanding of the impact of macro economic conditions of lodging performance.
3. Get guidance for the preparation of 2012 budgets.

Robert Mandelbaum is director of research information services for Colliers PKF Hospitality Research. Mark Woodworth is president of Colliers PKF Hospitality Research.

Cloud computing, data security, distribution and virtualization — these are just some of the top technology trends in the hospitality industry. Discuss these hot topics, and any others that you want, with a panel of hospitality technology experts during this interactive session.

Learning Objectives:
1. Discover the latest technology trends facing the hospitality industry.
2. Gain insight and learn solutions to hospitality technology challenges experienced by attendees.

Moderator Allison Morris, CHTP is senior IT manager at Caesars Entertainment, Inc. John Burns, CHA is president of Hospitality Technology Consulting and director on the HFTP Global Board. Mike Uwe Dickersbach, CHTP, NICE, MCP is vice president, information technology at Thayer Lodging Group. Brian Garavuso, CHTP is EVP and chief information officer for Diamond Resorts International. Hetal Patel, CHTP is director MIS for Alliance Hospitality, Inc.

The fear of public speaking is only second to the fear of death. Learn from an accomplished public speaker how to prepare yourself to speak to your owners, membership, chapters and other groups.

Learning Objectives:
1. Properly prepare yourself for speaking in front of a group.
2. Discover tricks that have been used by hundreds to become a better speaker.
3. Learn how to prepare an outline/presentation to enhance your speaking ability.

Daniel N. Conti, Jr., CHAE, CAM is director of finance for The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club & Spa of Jupiter and a director on the HFTP Global Board.

This session discusses the planning and preparation required to maintain desired golf course conditions on a daily basis. Learn the terminology, trends and the environmental impact of golf courses to the communities. Come away with a better understanding of the importance of correctly developing a turf management plan and the importance of amending the plan when challenges in the field dictate change.

Learning Objectives:
1. Get an overview of golf course maintenance.
2. Understand the importance of developing turf management plan.
3. Discuss why it costs so much to maintain a golf course.

Mark Esoda is a certified golf course superintendent at Atlanta Country Club.

In this episode, hotel accounting internal controls is “tricked out,” “pimped out” and otherwise completely renovated. Advances in technology, environmental issues and “going green” have changed the way in which hotels operate, and internal controls should keep pace with those changes. Viewers then see that their “old” internal controls can be “made over” so that risk is minimized but controls modernized. This episode goes beyond definitions and explanations of internal controls to reveal “renovated” internal controls for hotels, controls that do not need to be “extreme” to get the job done. At the conclusion of the episode, viewers are surprised when we “move that bus!” to see the results of internal control improvements.

Learning Objectives:
1. Learn about technological advances and environmental changes that bring about changes in internal control operation.
2. Learn how to improve internal controls currently in existence.
3. Observe the results of internal control improvements.

Jerry Trieber, CPA, CHAE, CFE, CFF is director of field accounting for Crestline Hotels and Resorts and HFTP Global secretary.

As we become more and more dependent on technology for everyday business, the role of IT in our organization becomes much more critical. Unfortunately, the budget for IT doesn't always reflect this. Luckily, there are some tools and techniques available to help you manage this essential area without breaking the bank. This session is geared towards the IT, finance and management associates who are operating or managing a small IT department with a limited budget.

Learning Objectives:
1. Learn how to properly define expectations, develop an IT Plan, and identify priorities and problem associates.
2. Discover techniques for reducing assets, minimizing repetitive tasks, empowering other business units.
3. Walk away with a list of free or very cheap software.

Lyle Worthington, CHTP is chief information officer at Horseshoe Bay Resort.

This interactive session provides an overview of recent Supreme Court decisions, regulatory updates and the impact on workplace practices. Areas discussed include Title VII, USERRA, FLSA, NLRA, FMLA, ADAAA, GINA and more. Learn the impact of social media and how employers must balance the preservation of individual rights while protecting the organization. Additionally, as FLSA/wage and hour issues still plague employers and litigation continues to rise, what can employers do to minimize exposure?

Learning Objectives:
1. Learn how the regulatory updates impacts workplace practices.
2. Discuss the impact of social media on employment.
3. Gain understanding of FLSA/wage and hour challenges.

Amy L. Crawford, SPHR is president of Crawford Consulting Group, Inc.

This session provides answers to what club management and boards are currently asking. Explore key issues as it relates to membership changes, incentives, initiation fee programs, governance, rising health care costs, along with a number of other important issues that are impacting the club industry.

Learning Objectives:
1. Provide key data/statistics for your club management and board.
2. Learn how to properly address and handle issues currently impacting clubs.
3. Obtain hard data and facts for budgeting the 2012 season and beyond.

John Daum, CPA is an audit partner at Condon O’Meara McGinty & Donnelly LLP. Matthew O’Dell, CPA is an audit partner at Condon O’Meara McGinty & Donnelly LLP.

This session presents the most current information and updates on the liability issues that have occurred over the past year pertaining to the hospitality industry. Hear about hotel security issues related to recent high profile cases and how to handle critical incidents. Learn hotel “limit of liability” laws and how your signage and disclaimers may nullify them. This session also covers issues with bed bugs, police vice undercover stings at hotels and medical marijuana use in “non-smoking” hotels.

Learning Objectives:
1. Get an update on hospitality liability issues and current court cases.
2. Learn how to handle critical incidents and guests with “special requests.”
3. Analyze best practices because of recent litigation and trends.

Todd Seiders, CLSD is director of risk management at Petra Risk Solutions.

The session introduces decision support and data mining systems to the hospitality managers. Some of the available software packages are demonstrated (e.g. PlannersLab and Web HiPre-3 for decision support). Learn how managers can use text mining for working with large volumes of unstructured data of guest online reviews.

Learning Objectives:
1. Learn about decision support and data mining.
2. Analyze available software packages.
3. Get a demonstration of applications of decision support and data mining for the hospitality industry.

Katerina Berezina is a Ph.D. student at the University of Florida. Cihan Cobanoglu, Ph.D., CHTP is a professor at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee.

George Patton said, "Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they'll surprise you with their ingenuity." Well, yes and no. It’s a great standard by which to lead -- sometimes. This presentation explains why, as it teaches how to develop great leadership skills. It reveals the variety of techniques and tactics that make certain leaders great. Learn the skills necessary for your subordinates, your business and yourself to succeed.

Learning Objectives:
1. Learn strategies for leaders who care about morale and about how effectively to lead.
2. Discover whether one leadership style always succeeds.
3. Understand how a polished leader decides how difficult to make a subordinate’s goal.

Stacey Cooper, JD is senior counsel for Gordon and Rees LLP. Phillip Maltin, JD is a partner at Gordon & Rees LLP.