Hospitality News
Interview from the Frontlines
2020 has thrown us all for a loop but, luckily HMG+ has service professionals currently working safely in the field. I had the opportunity to interview one of our finest captains, Jacob Pressley and find out how things have changed in the field. I hope you’ll learn...
Soft Skills Test
By Noah Parks What does it mean to be successful in the workplace? What I thought success meant at a young age was having all 151 pokemon. Okay, fast forward to High School, I thought it meant lots of money, cars, and a huge house. I still am striving toward that kind...
‘Tis the Season for Leavin?
By Noah Parks While the circumstances are unique right now, we all have been in that untenable position of not knowing how to end a relationship with an employer. People leave because they have a better offer, are going back to school, or perhaps the company isn’t a...
Happy “Hy-bird” Holiday
By Noah Parks I was one foot out the door when the third Thursday of November approached. Grab my bag and head to the airport. I could see myself ready, masked, distanced, reviewing the safety improvements to the airport and the aircraft. I imagined my ticket on my...
Does the Perfect ‘Thank you’ Letter Exist? … YES!
By Noah Parks We’ve all felt it. That nagging feeling that we should’ve done or said something differently. The feeling that we messed something up and now it’s all over. Take a deep breath, it’s okay. It’s an interview. According to Glassdoor of 250 applicants only...
Be Yourself
By Noah Parks Have you ever felt nervous before an interview? Good. It’s natural. However, remember the company you are interviewing with wants you to be a catch. It’s not always apparent but, a lot goes into crafting an interview that will be successful. The company...
Hospitality Made Me Great
By Noah Parks “How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice.” It’s a classic. It’s message is pure. I have to say it feels the same way in the hospitality field. “How do I become a bartender?, Manager?, Captain?” It’s the same set up with a more...
Layer Take
By Noah Parks “Layer Take” Mother Nature makes everything seem preordained, perfect, one might say “natural”. How are we going to do it? Our industry has been “rebuilding” for two of our busiest seasons: Graduation/Spring, and Wedding/Summer. Now, how do you take a...
The New Roles of Hospitality
By Noah Parks Stardate *09.31.2020*: back to work. To boldly go where we used to go to do the things we used to do. Well, sort of. We’ll be venturing into the new normal like rangers through the wilderness: redundancies, loaded for bear with PPE, and an expanded...
Ice, ice, baby!
By Noah Parks Ice. Ice. Maybe? No. Definitely. Regardless of what you’re drinking or when, you probably prefer Ice get involved somewhere along the way. Unless you mess with Scotch, Apertifs, Digestifs, or taking shots of Malort, then indulge in the spirit however it...
The Ambassador
By Noah Parks There is this great job. It requires you to be whip smart, on the ball, and ready to serve. It also is a lot easier if you can smile with your eyes (because...masks). It’s not something you want to do as a kid but, by 33 (my age) it’s a job you ponder as...
Healing with Sound Baths
By Ashley Singh and Meghan Hanley Quarantine has me trying all types of new things. Until two weeks ago, I had no idea what a sound bath was, I just hoped it didn’t involve my actual bathtub. I mean, my tub is fine, but with two roommates it’s not quite the urban...
A 2020 Wedding
By Noah Parks Our work at HMG+ revolves around large events that are often some of the most memorable and important ones of people’s lives. The food. The lights. The dancing. The family. It’s a mix of love, laughter, and tradition. I...
Hospitality and the Phases of Reopening: An interview with Howard Kalachnikoff of Rolo’s Restaurant
By Noah Parks The HMG+ family has a core principle: build community. It may seem like community and hospitality are synonyms but that’s not always the case. Too often it’s shared stress, not community, that builds relationships while working in hospitality. The hot...
The Language of Hospitality
By Noah Parks I guess it’s everywhere. I see it. I hear it. The new guy knows about it. My chef is obsessed with it. The manager and the bar manager keep slipping it into their otherwise normal conversation. The bussers, the runners, the waiters, EVERYONE is saying...
SP Feature: Following Your Dreams
Written by Amanda Beni & Carolyn Roman We interviewed our incredible Service Pro Carolyn Roman to learn more about her passions and career as a chef. What inspired you to become a cook? I've always wanted to cook professionally, ever since I was a child. However,...
Boxing in the Time of Quarantine
By Noah Parks I have two animals and a fiance. I love them very much, but none of them know how to box a table. My dog, Arlo, loves the idea. My cat, Paws, settles indifferently next to his food bowl and waits for my next great idea. Lucy, my fiance, loves me for...
Hospitality & Justice: The Okra Project Makes an Impact on the Black Trans Community at NYC rally.
By Jared Smith Along with some of the popular lockdown lingo like “new normal,” “PPE” and “re-opening phases,” the term “pivot” has certainly made the pandemic era list of words we never want to hear again. Yet some may argue that it is the most prevalent and concise...
Mindfulness & Hospitality
By Ashley Rose Singh and Meghan Hanley What is mindfulness anyway? I’m sure you know it well. That jittery, uncomfortable something-is-just-not-right feeling. It has a label. It has a mission. It has a name. Anxiety. Many service professionals, working in the...
3 Ways to Introduce Wellness Into Your (at home) Workspace
By Ashley Rose Singh and Meghan Hanley Home is where the office is. This is our new norm. So how can we make the best of our current reality? Focus on well-being. Here’s how: Create Boundaries Trust us, you’re definitely not the only one doubling your kitchen /...