Tag: Experiences

Exploring The Sunshine State (Part 3) – Universal Studios Orlando

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Welcome back to the blog! Previously, in my last post, I began reviewing my experiences from Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure while on my vacation in Florida. In today’s continuation post, I’ll be reviewing more of the park and rating my dining experience at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen. So without further ado, let’s get back to Florida!

Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen

Located in the CityWalk, Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Kitchen (yes, that is the full name) is a steampunk-themed restaurant that makes you feel like you are stepping into an inventor’s lab. There is even a backstory that I have included below for your enjoyment. 

‘From the Alps to the empire of the Aztecs, from Mongolia to Madagascar, Professor Doctor Penelope Tibeaux-Tinker Toothsome learned new and fascinating methods of infusing chocolate into the most extraordinary recipes, making friends and receiving honors everywhere she went. Upon returning home to London, Penelope determined that she would share her love and knowledge of chocolate with the world. She set about building The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen, an enchanting 19th-century themed, Steampunk-inspired dining establishment with a façade of towering smokestacks and an interior adorned with intriguing gadgets and gizmos.’

Aside from the stunning look of the exterior and interior design, there are the two main characters of Penelope Toothsome and her loyal robot companion Jacques who love to interact with the guests as they eat. The Restaurant is two levels with a stunning bar so you can get different experiences depending on where you sit. The main menu items are, of course, the delightfully delicious milkshakes featuring chocolate, peanut butter, vanilla ice cream, and more. The price range for the milkshakes is between $13.50 – $15. I ordered myself the Strawberry Cheesecake Milkshake, which included Sour cream ice cream, cheesecake, graham crackers, fresh whipped cream, and chocolate dipped strawberry. I was even able to keep the cup as a souvenir of my dining experience! 

While those may satisfy your sweet tooth,  Toothsome also offers a great variety of options from the Savory Kitchen side. They offer appetizers, salads, soups, flatbreads, sandwiches and burgers, pasta, and delicious entrees. For those who are early birds, they even have a whole Brunch menu as well! The price range for the menus is considered between $10 – $33, so I would say a moderately priced restaurant. For my lunch, I ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo which I found to be absolutely delicious!

My Rating: 10/10

What can I honestly say more about this place? The theming: 10/10. The service: 10/10. The food: 10/10. The desert: 10/10. The interactions: 10/10. This is probably one of the best-themed dining experiences in all of Universal in my opinion. I loved watching the screen as the steampunk robots flew around with ingredients, meeting the characters, and the overall feel of the restaurant. There is nothing I would suggest to change here, it’s absolutely perfect! Which makes this rating review probably the easiest and shortest review.

Tips & Tricks

When planning my trip to Universal, I asked my travel agent to add a reservation for Toothsome specifically for the lunchtime period. While you are allowed to go at any time, it is probably best to make reservations ahead of time. The busiest times seem to be late afternoon time (3 pm) and of course, dinner time around 6 pm to 7 pm time frame. Keep in mind that weekends and Fridays may also have a higher crowd level as well. You can also make reservations by calling ahead of time or via the website as well. Another tip I suggest is to take a look at their menu before you arrive to eat. You can find their menus listed on the website as well. 

Well, lunchtime is over and I am quite full. Let’s head back into the parks and continue our fun day at Universal Orlando. Keep in mind, you will have to go through the security check at the front gates at the parks even if you had already done so when you first arrived. That is the only grip I had is that I wish there was a way for easier re-entry. I understand though it is for security reasons that we have to re-enter at the gates.

Heading Back To The Park

I went back into the Islands side of the park, this time going counter-clockwise from the Port of Entry. I was able to experience (before its closure this summer) Poseidon’s Fury. I found the indoor special effects show to be quirky but you can definitely tell it was aging since it had been in the park since opening day in 1993. It’s sad how empty Lost Continent is now compared to the original opening-day experience, I can only hope that maybe in the future this land gets a much-needed facelift and rethemed. There are many rumors spreading of the land being replaced by Lord of the Rings or Zelda, but Universal has made no such announcement as of yet. 

After Poseidon’s Fury, I was able to catch a ride on the VelociCoaster. Talk about an adrenaline rush. There were several airtime moments that I felt like I was about to come out of my seat. I continued on my journey back into Hogsmeade to ride Forbidden Journey and check on the wait time for Hagrids. However, when I arrived, the wait time was 120+ minutes, and the queue line was stretched into the Lost Continent section. I decided to skip Hagrids and ride the train over to the Studios portion of the park.

Universal Studios Orlando

Universal Studios Florida is split into nine themed lands situated around a lagoon. The nine surrounding themed areas, clockwise from the entrance, are Minion Land on Illumination Ave, Production Central, New York, San Francisco, London/Diagon Alley, World Expo, Springfield USA, Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone, and Hollywood. Each area features a combination of rides, shows, attractions, character appearances, dining outlets, and merchandise stores. The newest area, based on Despicable Me, will be added to the park in Summer 2023.

Minion Land on Illumination Ave

This is the newest land which has replaced a portion of Production Central located at the main entrance of the park. This new ‘mini-land’ includes the attraction of Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem and the upcoming Villian-Con Minion Blast attraction.

Production Central

This land is mostly themed to music with the rollercoaster of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and the Transformers the Ride 3D dark ride. There is no real clear theme to this area, especially with a portion of the land now being rebranded and rethemed to the Minions area coming this summer.

New York

This land is mostly themed to New York City, including many facades of some of the New York Public Library and some other landmarks from the city that never sleeps. This land hosts the attractions of the Jimmy Fallon ride, the Revenge of the Mummy indoor coaster, as well as the preview center and a Blues Brother stage show.

San Francisco

This mini-land is themed to the San Francisco bay area and hosts its only attraction: the Fast & Furious Supercharge dark ride. I have to say that this land is probably one of the weakest ones at Universal Florida sadly. Many guests state that the ride, which had replaced Disaster and Earthquake, is a horrible retheme. Though, many guests do enjoy the queue line that has some props and cars from the Fast & Furious franchise.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley/London

This second half of The Wizarding World is themed to the Diagon Alley / London location from the films. You literally get to step through the brick way into Diagon Alley, where you can not even see the rest of the theme park. This land includes the Kings Cross Stations for the train ride to Islands, a Gringotts-themed ride, and several shops and restaurants themed to the Harry Potter franchise. This is the most popular area of the park and is usually the most crowded. Don’t forget to watch the dragon on top of the Gringotts bank which is set to spit fire every 15 minutes or so.

Springfield

This area used to be part of the World Expo which originally housed the Back to the Future Ride. In 2017, this area would be rethemed to the popular Simpsons television series. The ride would be rethemed into the Simpsons Ride. There is also a spinning ride resembling the title aliens (Kang and Kodos) on The Simpsons. There is no word of what may happen to this area after the leasing of the Simpsons is over.

Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone

On January 15, 2023, the majority of Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone, including its rides Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster and Fievel’s Waterslide, the play areas Curious George Goes to Town and Fievel’s Playland, and the Shrek-themed meet-and-greet style attraction which was opened the year before after the closure of Shrek 4-D, was permanently closed to make room for an unannounced area rumored to be themed to DreamWorks Animation. E.T. Adventure and Animal Actors on Location were kept, as well as SpongeBob StorePants, a SpongeBob SquarePants-themed merchandise store, and KidZone Pizza Company, a seasonal pizzeria located by the area’s entrance. The only two remaining attractions at KidZone are the Animal Actors show and the E.T. Adventure ride.

Hollywood

There are no major thrill rides in the Hollywood section. However, it is home to the updated Bourne Stuntstactular which replaced the Terminator attraction. Hollywood’s two dining outlets are recreations of actual Hollywood outlets. Schwab’s Pharmacy and Mel’s Drive-In offer guests a variety of food and beverage options. A third outlet, named Cafe La Bamba, operates seasonally. Guests can purchase magic-related items from Theatre Magic.

My Rating: 6/10

While I normally give this a rather good rating, I was rather rushed as I only had 1 day to enjoy the Universal parks. My rating was also lowered due to the rather large crowds as it was a holiday weekend plus the Mardi Gras event at Universal. I feel that the Studios side of the theme park is rather lacking compared to the Islands side. Though, Diagon Alley did help the Studios upgrade its lineup and theming to stepping into the movies. I look forward to what could be replacing KidZone in the coming future, but there are no official announcements. The only area that I feel really needs to be replaced or redone is San Francisco. The ride (Fast & Furious Supercharged) is not really a good ride compared to what is offered in the park. I hope that Orlando decides to replace the dark ride with the coaster like they are in the Hollywood park.

Tips & Tricks

I don’t have any additional tips or tricks that I haven’t already covered in the Islands portion of this review. While you’re in Diagon Alley, I suggest taking a look around to find subtle nods to the Jaws ride that used to be in the area but was replaced. Additionally, I really enjoy all the spell-casting spots in Diagon Alley, though Knockturn Alley does have an interesting effect on the map via the dark light. Another tip, if you haven’t already, is to download the Universal app to keep track of show times, ride wait times, and character meet and greets. The locker system is similar to the Islands of Adventure locker system and uses your ticket to unlock the free small locker. While I don’t think it is required, you can also consider buying the Universal Express Pass, which can sometimes help reduce wait times.

Exploring The Sunshine State (Part 2) – Islands of Adventure

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Universal Studios Florida is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida that opened on June 7, 1990. Owned and operated by NBCUniversal, it features numerous rides, attractions, and live shows that are primarily themed to movies, television, and other aspects of the entertainment industry. Universal Studios Florida was the first of three theme parks to open at Universal Orlando Resort, joined later by Universal’s Islands of Adventure in 1999 and Volcano Bay in 2017. In 2019, it ranked eleventh in the world – sixth in North America – for overall attendance among amusement parks with approximately 10.9 million visitors.

The success of its sister location, Universal Studios Hollywood, in the 1980s fueled the desire to build a similar park in the Orlando area to compete with Walt Disney World. Two of its early projects were partially developed by famed Hollywood director Steven Spielberg, and many themed attractions over the years were developed in close collaboration with the directors, producers, and actors of the films they are based on. An early layout and design of the park also incorporated active production studios, similar to the Hollywood location, which provided guests with a behind-the-scenes look at film and television. As the interest to produce films in the Orlando area quickly faded, the design of the park transitioned to a more immersive, first-person perspective.

Universal Studios Florida operates a well-known annual event during the fall season called Halloween Horror Nights, where the park transitions to a Halloween theme featuring haunted houses and scare zones on select nights. One of the park’s biggest draws is Diagon Alley, a Harry Potter-themed portion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter that opened in 2014. Other notable attractions include E.T. Adventure, which debuted with the park’s grand opening in 1990, Men in Black: Alien Attack, as well as roller coasters Revenge of the Mummy and Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.

To make it easy for our readers, I will split the day according to how I spent it at the parks. So our review will begin at Islands of Adventure, then have a lunch review from the Toothsome Chocolate Factory, and end the day at Universal Orlando. Here are a few things to keep in mind: During my time visiting, Universal Orlando was celebrating Madi Gras. It was also President’s Day weekend so the crowd level was moderately higher than I liked. So without further ado, let our Journey begin!

Islands of Adventure

Universal Islands of Adventure (also known as Islands of Adventure or IOA), originally called Universal Studios Islands of Adventure and later Universal’s Islands of Adventure, is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. It opened on May 28, 1999, along with CityWalk, as part of an expansion that converted Universal Studios Florida into the Universal Orlando Resort. The resort’s slogan “Vacation Like You Mean It” was introduced in 2013.

Islands of Adventure is modeled after a journey of exploration, where guests embark on an adventure to visit a variety of themed islands. Initially, the park featured six islands. A seventh, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, was added in 2010, themed to the highly successful Harry Potter franchise. It was Universal’s largest investment since the resort’s founding in 1990. The expansion led to a significant increase in attendance, and in 2013, Islands of Adventure ranked seventh domestically and eleventh internationally after hosting approximately 8.1 million guests. The eighth island, Skull Island, opened on July 13, 2016, and is themed to the King Kong franchise.

Islands of Adventure is split into eight themed islands: (going clockwise around the park)

Port of Entry

Port of Entry is the park’s main entrance and is home to many shops and services including Guest Services aptly named The Open Arms Hotel. The park’s centerpiece, Pharos Lighthouse, is also located within the Port of Entry. Each night, this functioning lighthouse sends out a bright beam to lead visitors to and from the park’s gates. Like many theme parks using the “hub and spokes” format, this entry Island contains no rides.

Marvel Super Hero Island

Marvel Super Hero Island is based on the superhero characters featured in Marvel Comics. The area features comic book-styled architecture, with many building interiors created from a comic book perspective, characterized by exaggerated lines and angles. The exteriors of the buildings are painted with a special paint that appears to change color depending on the viewing angle; sometimes purple, sometimes orange. This island consists of four attractions: one tea-cup-themed ride featuring Storm from X-Men, one freefall tower themed to Doctor Doom from Fantastic 4, one 3-D dark ride themed to Spider-Man from Spider-Man, and one launch coaster themed to Hulk from The Hulk.

Toon Lagoon

Toon Lagoon is based on cartoon and comic strip characters from King Features Syndicate and Jay Ward. The area’s main focus is water-based rides. This island holds three attractions: one log flume ride themed to Dudley Do-Right, one river rapids ride themed to Popeye the Sailor Man, and one interactive kids’ playground themed to Popeye the Sailor Man.

Skull Island

Skull Island is the newest island at the park, having been opened in the summer of 2016. The area’s sole attraction, Skull Island: Reign of Kong, opened on July 13, 2016. The attraction and island mark the return of the King Kong character to the Universal Orlando Resort after the Kongfrontation attraction closed at Universal Studios Florida in 2002 to make way for the Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride. The only attraction on this island is the dark trackless ride based on the Kong films.

Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park is themed around the film series of the same name. Set after the events of the first film, the area takes on the guise of John Hammond’s dinosaur theme park featured in the series. As such, the area is filled with attractions and exhibits one would find in the “real” Jurassic Park, including thrill rides and discovery-based exhibits. There are five attractions located on this island: A children’s play area named Camp Jurassic, A river ride named Jurassic Park River Adventure based on the film and book of the same name, A suspended steel flying coaster named Pteranodon Flyers themed to the dinosaurs of the same name, A launch coaster named VelociCoaster themed to velociraptors and the Jurassic World franchise, and the interactive play area of the Jurassic Park Discovery Center based on the film and book of the same name.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade is themed around the Harry Potter universe, authored by J.K. Rowling. It officially opened to the public on June 18, 2010. On May 31, 2007, Universal announced that it had secured the licensing rights from Warner Bros. and Rowling to incorporate the Harry Potter franchise into Islands of Adventure. The 20-acre (81,000 m2) island features attractions, shops, and restaurants set inside locations such as the Forbidden Forest, Hogsmeade Village, and the iconic Hogwarts Castle. Groundbreaking began in 2007, with the official opening scheduled for June 18, 2010, as announced on March 25, 2010. As part of the promotion for the upcoming area, a behind-the-scenes documentary on the production of the park section is included on the Blu-ray and DVD release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

The Lost Continent

The Lost Continent is themed to ancient myths and legends, and is divided into two sub-sections: an ancient Arabian marketplace called Sinbad’s Bazaar, and a Grecian-Atlantis-esque Lost City. Formerly, the Lost Continent included a medieval section called Merlinwood, but the majority of that area was re-themed for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This land is also home to Mythos, which is one of two full-service restaurants in the park and was voted the winner of the best theme park restaurant by Theme Park Insider for six successive years between 2003 and 2008. As of June 1st, 2023, there is only one remaining attraction on this island: The interactive Mystic Fountain.

Seuss Landing

Seuss Landing is based on the works of author Dr. Seuss. The island features several Seuss-themed attractions, especially geared towards small children, as well as a Green Eggs and Ham Cafe and Circus McGurkus restaurant. As in the books, one of the unique characteristics of this area is that there are almost no straight lines anywhere. Palm trees bent by the winds of Hurricane Andrew were even planted in the area to continue this theme.

My Rating: 8/10

I am a bit biased when it comes to the Islands of Adventure rating. This theme park is one of the most brilliantly themed parks in the Orlando area, behind the Disney Parks. Every island has its own character and charm that you can see in the buildings and the views. You feel like you are stepping into your favorite comic strip, whether it be Spider-Man or Popeye. Or you can feel like you are stepping into your favorite book, whether it be Cat in the Hat or Jurassic Park. There are a few reasons why my rating is a bit lower, mostly due to the crowd level. I also am rating this experience on this trip instead of my previous trips before. Another reason why it is not perfect is just the fact that I was rather time-restricted due to the fact that I only had one day in both parks. I also am very lucky to get a chance to experience Poseidon’s Fury before its closure, but my main gripe about the Lost Continent is the lack of attractions since the Wizarding World takeover. This island is one of the remaining islands that have not received anything new since opening day nearly 30 years ago.

Tips & Tricks

As mentioned in the Dockside review, you can catch a shuttle bus from the hotel to the Resort for free. That eases the burden of having to worry about paying for parking at the resort or trying to find a spot in the parking lot if it’s a busy day. One tip was my use of a fanny pack that I carried with me. I kept my wallet, my phone (while on rides), and my glasses (while on rides) inside of the fanny pack and felt it was just easy to keep track of my personal items. 

Keep in mind that almost all rides do require you to place items into a locker before boarding the ride, though there are a few that don’t have that rule in place. The major thrill rides, the coasters, will all have a locker system that is provided to you for free or for a paid fee for use of the day. The water rides do offer lockers for guests to use, however, they are paid lockers and there are no free lockers to rent.  There are air dryers, which once again are paid, that you can use located near any water ride. 

My second tip, download the Universal Orlando app. This app allows you to keep track of wait times for rides, and times for experiences like characters or shows, and allow you to mobile order for food at many of the restaurants.

Stay tuned for part two of my Universal Studios Orlando & Islands of Adventure experience where I’ll review more of the park and review the Toothsome Chocolate Factory restaurant!

Ferret Bites and $5,000 Jackpot: Unbelievable Hotel Story!

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I previously wrote about my craziest hotel stories in two previous posts as well as my craziest restaurant stories coming up in two future posts. However, just recently I think I have finally got a story that tops them all! 

Anyone that has worked in the industry always knows the craziest things always happen on the swing or night shift. This weekend was no different for me… So what exactly does a ferret and $5,000 dollars have to do with each other? Well… buckle up cause this story gets crazy real quick…

Disclaimer: The following blog post does not reflect the views, action or position of MGM Resorts International. All views, opinions and reflections expressed are solely my own. Some details may be modified to ensure privacy and confidentiality.

The Ferret Saga:

I am honestly not even sure how to explain this story, that’s how crazy it is! I was working the swing/night shift at the front desk. I was just wrapping up my shift when I heard another one of my co-workers talking about a phone call they just received from another department regarding a guest’s issue upstairs. The guest was staying on the 32nd floor of the hotel and while they were walking back to their room, there was a loose ferret running around on the floor causing mischief. Apparently, said ferret supposedly bit the guest as they were walking back to their room. Security was immediately called to check on the guest and to try to investigate where the ferret came from and who was responsible for it. (I kid you not…. I am not making this up, I swear! Just wait, it gets better)! It took multiple security officers to wrangle the ferret and safely handle it so no further harm was done to the animal or other guests. At this time, I do not know who owned the ferret, how it made it into the hotel, or what happened to it. All I know is that animal control came to pick up the ferret.

Now, here’s when the craziness really comes in… Apparently the guest later at night decided to go downstairs on the casino floor and play to get their mind off what happened. As the guest was playing they hit a jackpot and won $5,000! I do not know about you, but that is some crazy luck getting bit by a ferret, then also winning a $5k jackpot in the same day! This guest definitely has some luck! Maybe they should go play the lottery after this! This hands down tops every single story I have told on this blog so far and that says a lot since I have plenty more stories to tell!

What did you think of this story? Do you have any interesting stories of your own? Share them with us in the comments section, send them to us via email, or message us on social media and we might include them in a future post.

I hope you enjoyed reading about this craziness. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to leave a like, subscribe to our blog and follow us on social media so you never miss a future post!

Navigating Toxic Workplaces: Advice, Tips & Guidance for Dealing with Managerial Challenges

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I recently had the pleasure of returning back to my community college and got to speak as an alumni speaker. I discussed my experiences in college so far, challenges I faced in the industry and where I am currently in my career. I wanted to take some time to discuss the challenges I faced and shed some light on some of these topics as I know many others may face these challenges too and may need some advice on what to do. 

One of my main goals when I started this blog was to dedicate specific content to act as guides and provide advice to those just starting out. I’m hoping within the next few months to really expand that area of the blog with more content and ideas I have in the works. In the meantime, I hope you find this useful or at least somewhat insightful. 

To clarify, the following incidents, challenges and hardships all happened at my last hotel job not at my current place of employment. Additionally, I would like to state for the record, my co-workers, front desk manager (at the time) and operations manager (at the time) were all amazing people. When I’m speaking about these topics, I’m talking about the managers above them and corporate.

Toxic Work Environment:

It wasn’t always this way… When I first joined the company I did their intern program and was very impressed with their family culture and values. But just like that it all came crashing down in a fiery ball. It was as if one day it was at the drop of a hat. Perhaps this was all going on before I came on and it just snowballed? Who knows… 

I constantly dealt with a certain specific manager who just never respected me, other employees and treated the hotel like a dictatorship. It always felt like this manager had it out for me. They always treated me differently than everyone else but not in a good way. It felt like I always had a target painted on my back. 

Let me give you an example. One day I’m working at the desk with one of my other co-workers and it was slow. Seeing it was slow, I decided to go use the restroom before I got busy again and while I had the chance. So I go to the back office so I can head to the bathroom and this manager stops me and gets into an attitude with me. This is how this interaction went (summarized of course):

Mngr: “Where are you going? You should be at the desk!”

“(Co-Worker) is at the desk. I’m using the restroom while it is slow. I needed to go but couldn’t since it was so busy”.

Mngr: “Oh well…next time you gotta ask or say something. Can’t you just disappear on me”.

“Oh… I have to ask permission to go to the bathroom now? I didn’t know I had to. What is this elementary school? I’m a grown adult. If I need to use the bathroom, I’m going to go nor will I ever just leave the desk unattended. As I said (Co-Worker) is at the desk. I’m sure it will be okay for a few minutes while it’s slow”.

Mngr: “Well… you can’t just leave them alone..”

“… As I’ve said multiple times, it’s slow. Plus they know since I told them I’d be right back… So  I’m going to the bathroom now”.

It was at this point I was so confused and couldn’t understand why I was being lectured and disrespected for simply being a human and going to the restroom. Can you imagine getting in trouble for going to the restroom? This is just one of several examples of the toxic work environment this manager and corporate (more on them shortly) caused not only for me but the other employees.  

At first I tried to give this manager the benefit of the doubt when they first came to the hotel. After many incidents (there are several… you’d be here for a week reading this if I included them all) I tried sitting down with them and speaking with them one on one about the incidents and how I found them unacceptable but this never did anything. 

When things got really bad, I complained to HR and their attitude was “Well it’s your word against ours. Good luck proving it. You have no ground to stand on. All this is verbal plus the messages you showed us don’t really do anything for your case. At this time we will not be making any changes at the hotel. If you are that unhappy, you can just put your two weeks in”. 

WOAH!!!! Did the Human Resources department just tell me I can quit and threaten me by saying “good luck proving it”? THEY SURE FLIPPING DID!!! Oh but wait… It gets worse! Every Time someone complained, HR and corporate ignored us and didn’t do anything about it. Seems every time this manager got wind we complained, they made it hell for us. Which brings me to my next topic…

Fear Tactics & Fear Driven Management

For those not familiar with the topic, Fear based leadership is when leaders lead by fear, threats or combination of both. Threats may include retaliation, disciplinary action, termination, etc. More often than not, fear-based leadership stems from the boss’s lack of confidence in their own abilities. Rather than let the light shine on them and reveal their flaws, they use fear so that they can survive—at the expense of the people they’re supposed to be inspiring to do their best work.

I never really knew how to describe how this hotel manager and corporate style of leadership was at times until I learned of this ineffective style in my principles of management course. Looking back and reflecting on everything, there are definitely examples of this happening. For example a normal leader would tell their team “Hey, please make sure we do (insert a task) like this from now on please because (insert reason). When we do it the other way it causes (problem or issue). Thank you”. 

Unfortunately, I got the opposite style which really got insanely difficult to deal with. “Do this like this or else I’ll write you up”. Most times when I heard this statement my thought to myself would be ‘Well you never specifically said or told us to do it like that before, This is the first time you are saying something about it. How are we supposed to know you wanted it like that? We are not mind readers”. Of course I’m thinking that but I would say something similar but choose my words carefully so I remained professional and did not make the situation worse. Again like I said, I could honestly write 50 blog posts about this stuff but I think you get the picture here.

Micromanagement

I never understood why managers think this strategy ever works. Do they know that this makes things worse by making employees less confident, more stressed and makes them more nervous. For crying out loud, just TRUST YOUR EMPLOYEES and let them do the jobs they were trained to do. Clearly they know what they are doing and are qualified otherwise they wouldn’t be working there. 

Now I get it as the manager of the hotel you’re on the line for everything and responsible for the entirety of the operation but come on… There is never an excuse for this kind of tactic. Again as I said TRUST YOUR EMPLOYEES!

One thing this manager always did was leave way earlier than they were supposed to when the hotel was sold out or if there were multiple events going on in the hotel. Typically, the manager was supposed to stay until a certain time when we were sold out and if there were events it was their job to check on the events and if needed jump in and help. Then instead of staying, they would constantly blow up my phone every five minutes and when I wouldn’t answer my phone they’d get mad and get disrespectful. It was worse when this happened in person since it’s not like a phone where you can just silence it and ignore it. 

Again, trust your damn employees. We don’t need you hawking over us every five seconds. Please just let your employees do their job, be there to support them and give them the tools to do their jobs successfully!

Advice, Tips & Guidance:

So what can you do if you find yourself in any of these situations?. The advice I offer is solely based on my situations and what I found works. Each situation is going to be different and may not be able to be handled the same. Always use your best judgment and do what you think is best. With that, here is my advice:

Speak Up!

Stand up for yourself! Don’t let any manager or supervisor treat you with disrespect, or treat you poorly! Now I’m not saying to just scream, yell or attack them for the littlest thing. What I’m saying here is if you find they keep acting disrespectful or treating you very poorly, it’s best to nib it in the bud but remain calm and professional. For example, pull them aside and speak with them privately after the incident or after the shift. If you don’t do this, you are setting a tone that this behavior is okay and it will only get worse.

Stay Positive:

There’s always positivity to be found in a negative or non ideal situation. One of the things that kept me around this job before moving on, besides other factors, was the people I worked with. We were like a tight knit family and became very close with each other. We made each other laugh and smile even on the toughest days when it seemed the odds were stacked against us. 

My best advice is for any sort of environment that is toxic, hostile or sounds similar to what I discussed, get out of that environment as soon as you can. It’s not worth your mental and physical health dealing with that day in and day out. If for some reason you can’t get out of there right away, try to find the positive things and remember what brought you there in the first place.

Know Your Value!

If you are constantly hustling, being a team player and aren’t getting any recognition or shown any appreciation, don’t get discouraged! Keep working hard and remember, when you go to apply for your next job, your future employer will see your value. How so, you may ask? If you put all you do on your resume and cover letter, people will notice you and recognize your value. Overall, if you’re not getting appreciated, definitely find yourself another place of employment/environment where you will be! Trust me, during the first few days of my new job when everyone was encouraging me and supporting me, it really was a welcomed change and reminded me it was all worth it in the end since I wouldn’t have ended up where I was without starting somewhere.

Work, Life, School Balance:

Remember you are not meant to be working 24/7 with no breaks or time for anything else. You have to remember to balance enough time for your college life (if applicable), your social life, and life in general. If you don’t, this is how you get mental and physical burnout. 

Burn-out is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterized by three dimensions: feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativity or doubt related to one’s job; and reduced professional efficacy.

If you find yourself feeling burnt out, it is best to stop and take care of yourself. This is your body’s way of telling you it’s time to recharge your batteries. Here are somethings I found helpful for dealing with burnout:

  1. Get plenty of sleep each night.
  2. Go outside and take long walks in nature. 
  3. Relax to your favorite music, podcast, tv show or movie.
  4. Kick back with a good book.
  5. Immerse yourself in your hobbies.
  6. Meditate everyday or when stressed. (Deep breaths in, deep breaths out)  

Now I am not saying by any means to not work while in college. I think working while you are in college is extremely beneficial. I found taking what I was learning in the field and bringing it into the classroom really helped me grow and learn. Same goes for taking classroom knowledge and bringing it into the field. My other piece of personal advice is to never stop learning! Always be curious, ask questions and keep pushing to become better.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, while my last year or so at this company was not a pleasant experience, I feel like I did learn a lot, grow as a leader and become better prepared for the future and how to handle similar experiences if they arise. I am extremely grateful to my co-workers, supervisors and line level managers for all they have done. While we may have had our ups and downs together, I loved the time we had together and am grateful to still be close with them all. 

I hope this post was insightful and helpful for anyone facing similar challenges. If you are unsure what to do in your situation, write to us using the Career Advice & Tips button on our Career Resources page! 

Stay tuned for upcoming posts where I document my newest journey in the casino industry!

Restaurant Life During Covid – Reflections & Stories

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When the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world, it forever changed all our lives even to this day as we still try to exit the pandemic. If you were one of the many people working during the heart of the pandemic, it definitely was interesting, challenging and a unique time. Being labeled essential to go and do an everyday job was definitely an adjustment. It honestly still blows my mind to this day. In today’s post, I will be talking about my experiences in the restaurant industry and what it was like working down lock down.

Let The Madness Begin:

I was very fortunate and lucky to be employed the entire time during the pandemic mostly without issues. I can recall everything changed at the drop of a hat. At first, it seemed there was nothing to worry about and the pandemic wouldn’t even come to our area. Sadly it did and with it came the end of normal as we knew it. 

I worked at a chain pizza place on a busy highway that connects the beach towns to the mainland. When the normalness ended, I remember at night the entire strip being pitch black dark, dead quit and no cars even in sight. I honestly felt like I was in a ghost town or a zombie movie. It was crazy to me how to see everything go from normal to nothing in a matter of days. On the strip we were on, the restaurant was one of the only places open. Now imagine this, McDonalds, Burger King, Wendys, and all the major fast food places are either all closed or close before dark. It was mind blowing to me how our pizza place was open and running like normal while everything else was closed. How is this so, you may ask? Well, we did not have a dining room, we only had a small lobby area where the counter was. Essentially we were a take out or delivery only place which gave not only us an advantage but the other chain pizza places that were in the area. 

Of course it was to be expected it was going to be busier since there were curfews, more people at home, no school and everything else was closed. However, we didn’t imagine it was going to be as crazy busy as it was. To put how crazy it was each day, imagine it is Super Bowl Sunday, now multiply that by 10 or 20 each day! On average we got 200+ orders each day. It would be non-stop, just constantly bombarded by orders. At first, we all got very overwhelmed since we were not used to this heavy volume everyday and all at once. However, after a few days of doing it, we noticed the peak times and patterns so, in turn we were able to adjust and got used to it very quickly.

Wait! I’m Essential?

Another thing that took some adjusting was the whole idea of essential workers and being labeled “essential”. I remember thinking “I’m essential? But I only make pizza”? Yea it was really weird being put in the same category as first responders and health care workers. It honestly never made sense to me and still really doesn’t to this day.

I guess it’s as the saying went then “Everyone plays their part”. When you think about it, it honestly is true. We’d be making food and taking care of those working around the clock, as well as those working other important/essential jobs. Of course this came with some hardships though, such as working 9-10 hour shifts, doubles (sometimes), working 5 to 6 days in a row, etc. However luckily for me though, I had really good bosses and a great team. We made sure we took care of each other by making sure we each took breaks, eat, etc. My bosses also made sure if they had to give us crazy hours, they made it up to us by giving us multiple days off in a row as well as rotating us around so we didn’t all get burnt out. I’m extremely grateful for my amazing trio of managers for really being good bosses the entire time before, during and after the entire lockdown situation. They really made working there enjoyable and created a positive working environment.

Craziness & Horror Stories:

Now of course it wasn’t all fun games the entire time, there were definitely some horror stories mostly from customers but a few from co-workers too. You thought hotels were crazy?? Buckle up, these stories are just as crazy!

Doordash Rage

At this point when this story takes place, we were already months into the pandemic and masks are well beyond established. For me, it was just another busy night hustling through all the orders and working hard to keep up. It was the midst of a huge evening rush and this Doordash driver tried to enter the store without a mask and when he was asked to either put one on or wait outside he refused! (Typically if people who didn’t wear masks, we told them to wait outside then when their food was ready, we would just crack the front door open and hand it to them). What happened next at the time was just so insane to me since this job was my first real taste of the craziness the hospitality industry brings daily. So the dasher started screaming, yelling and cursing to the point where one of my managers had to tell him to leave. When my manager kept repeating himself over and over again, the last time he told him to get out and never come back. Needless to say we never saw that Doordash driver ever again.

Sticker Madness

Everytime we boxed an order, we had to use these rectangular stickers that sealed the boxes shut to prove the food went straight from oven to box and wasn’t tampered with. Now the crew I worked with was all guys… So of course if you give a bunch of guys a roll of stickers, you can’t expect them to not mess around with each other.

See! What did I tell you! We not only did this to mess with each other, we also would do this to any food we would make for us (yes, we got free food). Say for example if someone got a small pie, we would take the stickers and cover every square inch of the box so it was impossible to open. It was always funny to be on the pranking end and not the receiving end. It was stupid little things like this that prevented us from going crazy and staying positive during all the craziness.

Supply Chain Struggles:

Of course it’s to be expected there’s going to be disruptions when everyday life comes to a stretching hault. I remember us not struggling too much with supply chain issues. However, we did face some problems once and a while. There were a few times where getting Pepsi products was a struggle. For example there was one period of time where we actually had to go to the supermarket to buy pepsi products since we weren’t getting any in at all. You may be asking why we didn’t just order larger quantities of this was an issue. Unfortunately it wasn’t that easy although I wish it was. 

The only other major supply chain issue I remember facing was when there was a national wing shortage and getting wings in was very difficult. This became a challenge for us since we were seeing higher volume in orders, this meant we were going through things faster than normal. At one point I remember it was only mid-week and we almost ran out of wings. There were a few times we actually did run out of wings. I remember when we were able to get wings in, they were more expensive to get in since demand was high and supply was low. As much as we didn’t want to, we had to at some points only offer the 6 and 8 piece wings instead of offering all the larger sized orders like the 16pc, 32pc, and 60pc.

Final Thoughts:

Overall the pandemic was a very crazy time yet also an interesting time. We saw the world change right before our eyes with the snap of a finger. I think one thing everyone got out of the pandemic was reflecting on and being more thankful for the everyday things they had. I know I definitely became more thankful for the little things. 

I hope this post gave you a brief look into what my experiences were during the pandemic.

Autism in the Workplace: Challenges, Job Options, and Employer Support

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Welcome back to our blog. Today is going to be a rather emotional blog about something that affects many people, including myself. So, let me explain a few things. I was diagnosed as a teenager with Asperger Syndrome, including OCD (Obsessive-compulsive disorder) and ADD/ ADHD (Attention deficit disorder / Attention deficit hyperactive disorder). It made things a bit difficult for me as a kid and of course, later on as I got into the workplace. I am hoping that this blog will shine a light on something that is hidden in plain sight.

What is Autism?

Autism is a developmental disorder that affects information processing. People with autism have difficulties with social and communication skills. They have restricted interests and engage in repetitive behaviors. They also tend to experience sensitivity or discomfort from sensory stimulation such as certain lights or sounds.

Because autism’s symptoms vary greatly, the condition is said to exist on a spectrum, referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder. Asperger’s syndrome refers to “high functioning” autism, but it’s no longer a formal diagnostic term.

Autism usually manifests by age two. The condition is diagnosed four times more frequently in males than in females, according to the CDC, although women are often overlooked and misdiagnosed. The frequency of diagnosis has surged over the past 20 years; it is not clear whether the incidence is truly increasing, whether experts are more aware of it, or whether the diagnosis has shifted to include lesser degrees of impairment.

There is no cure for autism, nor is one universally sought: Many people argue that autism should not be framed as a medical condition in need of amelioration. For those on the lower-functioning end of the spectrum, targeted practices and therapies can help alleviate symptoms.

Symptoms of Autism

While the severity of symptoms varies greatly, there are invariably impairments to social and communication skills. Some children with autism do not talk at all and remain mute throughout life, while others have mild social challenges. Children with autism also show restricted interests and repetitive behaviors.

Parents may notice that their infant avoids eye contact or doesn’t respond, and it may be difficult for them to form emotional bonds and parental attachment. Children with autism may have unusual responses to sensory stimulation and may be highly sensitive to certain sounds, textures, tastes, or smells. They may have deficits in motor coordination and poor muscle tone.

Autistic children exhibit many kinds of repetitive behaviors early in life, such as hand flapping, body rocking, and making sounds. They may arrange or stack objects over and over again. Some children inflict injury on themselves by repeated actions such as hand biting and head banging. They also have an early preference for unvarying routines of everyday life.

Causes of Autism

No one fully understands what causes autism. The number of children diagnosed with the disorder has increased significantly since the turn of the millennium, but experts are not sure whether that reflects an improvement in diagnostic awareness or a true increase in prevalence.

Research shows that genetics is a factor because people who have a sibling with autism are more likely to have autism themselves. Autism is also more likely in individuals who have an older parent. Very low birth weight is also a risk factor, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, and ASD occurs more frequently in people with some genetic conditions, such as Fragile X syndrome or tuberous sclerosis.

Treatments for Autism

There are many effective approaches for managing or treating autism. Early intervention with highly structured behavioral, cognitive, and communication therapies can sometimes dramatically help children with autism learn skills. School-based educational programs designed for children with autism can be effective in improving intellectual functioning.

Programs that make use of applied behavior analysis (ABA) have become widely accepted as the standard of treatment. In most programs, parents are encouraged to be highly involved in their children’s care.

While no medication can correct the impairments common to autism, psychoactive drugs including antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants are sometimes prescribed to help control specific symptoms. Anticonvulsant medication may reduce the number of seizures a person has but not eliminate them.

Autism and Related Conditions

Autism is often accompanied by a range of medical or psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety, ADHD, epilepsy, sleep problems, and gastrointestinal problems. The scientific understanding of this overlap is often elusive.

Addressing co-occurring problems won’t eliminate the core features of autism. Yet treating specific symptoms that people are struggling with can tremendously improve daily life for those on the spectrum.

Autism and ADHD

Studies estimate that 30 to 80 percent of children with autism meet the criteria for ADHD, and 20 to 50 percent of children with ADHD meet the criteria for autism. Clinicians can now provide a dual diagnosis for children with both conditions, per the DSM-5.

Autism and ADHD can look very similar, as both involve struggles with communication, social cues, attention, and impulsivity. Scientists are currently investigating the biological and genetic roots that the conditions may share.

People with both conditions may be more impaired than people with either condition alone. Individuals with autism or parents of children with autism may want to seek a diagnosis if they believe they have ADHD, as that could influence treatment options, such as the decision to prescribe stimulant drugs.

Autism and Anxiety

Nearly 40 percent of children with autism also have an anxiety disorder—which might include social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or a specific phobia. The overlap of autism and anxiety may be due to the features of autism, such as sensory overload, communication barriers, social challenges, cognitive rigidity, and task frustration. Distinguishing whether symptoms of autism contribute to anxiety or result from anxiety can be challenging.

Parents of children struggling with anxiety can aim to identify what specifically triggers anxiety in their child, and then plan for or modify those triggers. They may explore treatment options such as medication or cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Autism and Depression

People with autism are four times more likely to suffer from depression than neurotypical individuals. This trend may be due to genetics as well as the loneliness, bullying, or rumination that some with autism face.

Depression is difficult to spot because people with autism can struggle to express their feelings. There are similar barriers to treatment, such as the ability to explore emotions in therapy and tolerate the side effects of medications. Still, cognitive-behavioral therapy and antidepressants help some, while social support and employment programs are valuable for all.

There are other conditions that are included but I will not list them all. You can find the full list here at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/autism/autism-and-related-conditions

Keep in mind that no case of Autism is the same and will have different conditions, symptoms, and more. 

Now I am going to move on to the main focus: Autism in the Workplace.

Autism in the Workplace

Individuals with autism can face substantial challenges navigating the workforce. Recent research suggests that 20 percent of adults with autism are unemployed, while other estimates are much higher. This gulf may begin at a young age: Only 58 percent of people with autism aged 18 to 25 worked for pay, while 74 percent of people with intellectual disabilities and 95 percent of people with other learning disabilities worked for pay at the same age.

However, companies are increasingly recognizing the value of cultivating a diverse workforce and embracing those with autism for the unique perspective they contribute. Programs have sprouted up at large companies, such as SAP and Microsoft, which actively hire and support people with autism. The government also provides financial incentives for companies to employ people with disabilities such as autism. These approaches open up the possibility for those on the spectrum to transform their natural interests and abilities into marketable skills.

What are the challenges?

Many adults with autism confront unemployment and underemployment throughout their lives. They may struggle during the interview process, which often relies on eye contact, a bold personality, and creating a bond with the hiring manager. Once in a new role, people with autism may be unable to navigate the social dynamics of a workplace—with regard to assignments, clients, or office politics—and eventually, lose their job.

What are good job options for autistic people?

The passions and fixations that are a hallmark of autism can translate into valuable skills in the workforce. People who are drawn to patterns or puzzles may excel at software testing, quality control, or other roles in the technology sector. Other positions in autism-friendly companies include working on stockroom operations, production lines, data entry, and accounting. Autistic people should explore how their natural interests and talents overlap with the needs of particular positions in the job market.

What are the benefits of hiring employees with autism?

People with autism face a high unemployment rate, but employers and society both gain from hiring workers on the spectrum. Higher functioning individuals can excel in jobs that fit their abilities and interests, from folding laundry to coding software. As autism becomes increasingly prevalent, it’s key for companies to take an abilities-centered approach by identifying what autistic employees are uniquely suited to do and recognizing that they can be reliable and hard-working.

Companies may also be eligible for tax credits and deductions when hiring employees with disabilities. These financial incentives aim to encourage companies to hire differently-abled employees and offset any costs that accompany their condition. Some adults with autism believe that this is the best approach for individuals on the spectrum to obtain and sustain employment.

Should I tell my employer that I have autism?

The decision to disclose an autism diagnosis is a personal choice. It’s up to you to choose when and how you want to have that conversation—with your employer or anyone else in your life.

It’s valuable to discuss the decision with a mentor or loved one ahead of time. Reflect on what you hope to gain, who you want to tell, and how they might react. If your goal is to receive accommodations at work, consider having a discussion with a human resources representative and being specific about what you need. You may also be protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act, under which employers must provide reasonable accommodations for workers with disabilities.

How can companies support employees with autism?

Clarity is key for building an autism-friendly workplace: Managers can give clear directives and deadlines to employees, and then help clear any obstacles that prevent those directives from being accomplished. Managers can be open, honest, and appreciative of creativity and different ways of thinking. They can also provide a quiet place to work if the office is loud and ensure that lights are not flickering to address the sensory symptoms of autism.

The traditional interview process focuses on conversation and connection. Replacing that with an aptitude test or skills-based task can help companies hire more capable employees with autism.

In Conclusion

Autism is not really that scary now that you have learned more about it. Those who have autism just function differently, but we are still human. The best thing you can do is to support those who have autism, whether it be as a family member or as a fellow co-worker. When I am working, I often find that if I am at a breaking point, taking a small walk outside helps clear the mind. It could also help to bring along fidget items like a spinner or cube to help with our sensory issues. I want to thank everyone for their support in this.

You can find out more autism by going to:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/autism

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men  are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

 Founding Fathers, The Declaration of Independence

Lessons Learned: Creating A New Café From Scratch

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This past semester at my college I had the amazing opportunity as President of the Hospitality Club to help take the lead in opening our own student run café. It was an absolutely amazing and fun journey which I enjoyed every minute of. I proudly present Java Junction:

What Is Java Junction?

Java Junction was created by a vast team of professors, student leaders (such as myself), college professionals and others. Our goal was to take the vacant space left behind from our colleges old food service company, Canteen, and create a new space where students, professors and the community could all gather, enjoy a nice refreshing beverage and snack. Once our costs are covered, all profits go directly back to the business clubs (Hospitality Club, Business Club, Accounting Club, Legal Club, PBL, etc.), help support scholarships for students, and help support the business department in obtaining resources to further help students succeed. 


When students and professors support Java Junction, they are not only supporting the café, they are also helping fellow students. This is where our mission statement For The Students. By The Students was created from. It is the single most important line that helps drive the café and the decisions we make.

Reflections & Reactions:

From the very moment I heard my Professor’s idea to take the old unused café space and turn it into a new café, I was instantly excited and wanted in on it. I will say the entire experience was full of challenges that not only pushed me as a student, it was also very rewarding and well worth the experience. Not only did I gain valuable experience, and grow my skills, I was also able to get college credits while doing so. In order to get credits, us students had to write a brief journal each week about things we learned, insight we gained and reflect on the week.

I remember when we first got approval for the space and the café, there were some interesting discoveries we made. First, the previous operators left the café in a not so clean state and there were many things not up to code. I was honestly surprised by this and shocked with how some of these items went unnoticed and were not addressed promptly. This was good though since I learned certain things I did not know previously.

During week 5 of the experience, the café was in a transition state where we had to deep clean, repair any equipment and update the café so it was up to code and could pass health inspection. It was at this time we didn’t have Ecolab supplies, soap or any basic essentials to clean. I had to “borrow” the Clorox wipes that were in the lobby to clean the café. When I was trying to clean, all I had was cold water and hand soap. I will say it was definitely interesting and reminded me of a challenge I would get as an engineering student where I had limited supplies and had to make something work.

As time moved on, we got our Ecolab supplies, got the necessary updates and FINALLY passed the health inspection. I put such an emphasis on finally since it took us at least 3 or 4 tries to pass.

Progress Photo Gallery:

Grand Opening:

During week 10 of the experience, it was grand opening week and it went very well. It honestly exceeded my expectations of what I thought would happen. Recalling my journal from that week, I wrote the following about the opening:

“This week at Java Junction was both very busy and exciting since it was grand opening week. Prior to the grand opening, there were many steps that had to be completed. First, we had to stock all of our supplies, unpack any foods that were still in storage as well as prepping anything we needed to. After these tasks were done, focus was shifted to completing the POS system set up, setting up all the grand opening décor and getting ready for ribbon cutting. Also this week at Java Junction, I kept up with my marketing and promotional efforts for the café. The designs I created for the loyalty cards for our loyalty program were sent over to the C.R. team for approval, we are in the process of getting a social media account, branded merchandise, QR codes and flyers. (I can’t wait for these items!) Overall all the marketing efforts thus far, and work we have done has paid off tremendously. I can’t wait to keep marketing the cafe and expanding it as it reaches its full potential”.

My Role at Java Junction:

I briefly mentioned this above, however for those who aren’t as familiar with my responsibilities and things I do at college, I want to explain them a little bit more. I currently serve as President of Hospitality Club and sit on the Hospitality & Tourism Management Program Advisory board. As president I am responsible for promoting the club, leading events, assisting professors with club tasks, etc. Being in this role, tied in perfectly with the creation of Java Junction. One of my specialties is marketing and promotion. Let’s take a look at some of the marketing I have done so far for the café:

Lessons Learned:

  1. Mission & vision statements are a must. A vision statement is what goals or what you want to achieve from your business or operation. The Mission statement on the other hand, is a short statement of why an organization exists, what its overall goal is, identifying the goal of its operations: what kind of product or service it provides, its primary customers or market, and its geographical region of operation. These two statements go hand and hand are key elements to creating your business plan, branding and marketing.
  1. Always listen to your guests and customers. They are the lifeline of your business and it is crucial to keep guests and have them coming back. One thing I did for Java, was any time a student or Professor made a suggestion, I made sure I wrote it down in a notebook so that way when we did a food order or sat down to discuss things about the cafe, I could do my best to make their suggestions a reality. 
  1. Conduct your research! What do I mean by this? Well, in order to understand your business model or how to operate the best, conduct a survey or collect data on your target market and competitors. Use this data to help yourself out. For our cafe, I sent out a survey to the entire college to get suggestions, input and menu suggestions. This really paid off a lot! I was able to get a lot of helpful points and suggestions that I was able to use to create the cafe.
  1. Have fun and enjoy yourself! Starting your own business takes a lot of time and effort. You have to enjoy what you’re going to be doing and have a passion for it otherwise what’s the point? My advice to anyone starting their own business is to make sure you enjoy it, have passion and are energetic about it. As the owner, it all stems down from you. If you aren’t into it and are just a wet sock (so to speak), your staff will also be. 
  1. Don’t be afraid to be creative and innovative.

6. Take every opportunity you get! Don’t be afraid to take an opportunity just because you don’t think you’re qualified or are afraid you won’t get it! I always say go for it! What’s the worst that can happen?

PA Weekend Getaway (Part 1) – Hotel Review & Ice Cream Experience

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After a long tiring (yet rewarding) semester of college and a hectic work schedule, I decided to take a brief vacation from work and do a quick overnight trip to Pennsylvania to kick back and relax. In today’s Touristician Review I will be recapping my trip from my hotel and all the stops I made along the way. In part one, we will be focusing on the hotel review and our visit to The Turkey Hill Experience. In part two, we’ll focus on the restaurants we are at during our trip. So without further ado, let’s dive into today’s review!

Holiday Inn Express Lancaster – Mount Joy, PA

Customer Service – 5/5

One of the main reasons I always choose this particular brand is because of the high service standards and never having a problem with service. This time was no different. Upon entering the hotel, the gentlemen working the front desk gave a very friendly and welcoming greeting. I honestly didn’t catch his name but I wish I did so I could have left a positive comment about him online. It honestly felt good to be on the receiving end of a check in versus on the giving end. Throughout the check-in process, the gentlemen were very friendly, helpful by providing information on the amenities and also thanked me for being an IHG Rewards member. Being a rewards member, I was able to get the membership rate of $127.00 for the stay plus taxes versus $149.00 for the standard rack rate. Honestly not a bad deal at all! Well worth it!

As a fellow front desk agent who also works in the industry, to see someone else doing your job and killing it (in a good way), is absolutely amazing to see.

Rooms – 3.8/5

Now for one of the most important areas of the review, the hotel room! This particular location was brand new and only about a year old. When you entered the halls, lobby, etc you can definitely tell it was new since it had that new building smell.

Overall, I was very impressed with the design of the room and the attention to detail that was done in the room. For example, the pillows being embroidered with the type of pillow it was (soft, firm, etc.). This not only is amazing attention to detail, but it helps you be more comfortable while relaxing and sleeping. Many of the hotels don’t do this and it makes figuring out what kind of pillow you are using difficult and more time consuming. On top of very detail oriented rooms, the technology utilized at this location is very impressive and should be used at all their locations. Upon walking in and turning on the television, you are greeted with a screen that welcomes you, says your name on top and acts as a personal concierge. From the tv you can view your bill, check out, request a late check out, explore attractions in the area as well as get information about the hotel.

You may be asking, why such a low score for such an impressive room? One of the main reasons for such a low score was due to some minor cleanliness issues in the bathroom of the room. It was mostly some soap scum stains under the shelving units in the shower, shampoo and soap remiance (these came from the shampoo, body wash and dispensers in the shower. IGH eliminated single use toiletry items [with the exception of soap] and replaced them with dispensers in the bathrooms). Other than those few issues there were a few stains on the wallpaper but they were not earth shattering nor did they affect the functionality of the bathroom.

The only other cleanliness issue I had was the microwave in the room was covered in food. It appeared like it was some kind of soup broth. (I’m honestly not sure what it was). Regardless, it was pretty gross.

Amenities – 3/5

I’m going to be honest, this was the most disappointing part of the stay right here. Upon going down for breakfast at 8am, the cinnamon rolls that were under the lamp were dry, crusty and hard. I can tell they haven’t been changed out for a while. When I went to get a fresh one that wasn’t warmed, I found a piece of plastic in the roll as I bit into it. Also too, I can tell food wasn’t being rotated out like it should have been either. A lot of the food looked like it was out for a while when I went down. I would say the absolute worst thing about today was seeing the breakfast server take the garbage can full of trash, put it on the coffee counter where I just made coffee moments earlier, take the garbage out, put a new bag in, then put the can back and never wiped down the counter.

As someone who works in the industry, I definitely have a level of understanding for employees who work in hotels. However, when I see simple things like this being done incorrectly and food not being handled safely where it affects you, I do get fired up so to speak about it. I think if you work in the industry, you tend to be a lot more nit picky and notice everything that a normal guest wouldn’t see since you’re exposed to the line of work daily.

Final Thoughts & Rating

Overall, minus the few issues I had with the stay, I did have a very nice relaxing stay. Getting back to customer service for a second, when I did mention the issues I had the brand and management was very polite and professional and handled all the issues I addressed with them. As mentioned above, one of the main reasons I always choose this particular brand is because of the high service standards and never having a problem with service.


Rating the hotel on a scale of 1 to 5, I would rate this location a 3.8/5! But hang on, that’s not the end of the review! We still have an ice cream factory to talk about!

The Turkey Hill Experience – Columbia, Pennsylvania

The Turkey Hill Experience features interactive exhibits allowing you to learn about dairy culture, the story of Turkey Hill Dairy, and how the company’s ice cream and iced tea flavors are selected and created. The best part is the unlimited free samples of iced tea and ice cream!

I have to say this was a very fun and interesting experience. When was the last time you were to eat unlimited amounts of free ice cream and sample as many ice tea and lemonade products? That was honestly the best part of the whole place! Despite having a lot of exhibits geared towards younger children, the displays and history where very interesting to both learn about and see. My favorite exhibit was the one where you had to pick a ice cream flavor and be quizzed on what went in it. Overall, a very fun stop on the trip.

If you enjoyed today’s review, be sure to check out part 2 of this post coming out shortly. In part 2, we’ll be covering all the delicious eats and restaurants that where experienced during this weekend trip.