Hotel & Motel Management - January 7, 2008 - (Page 6) Checking In PERSPECTIVE H&MM January 7, 2008 | HotelMotel.com EDITORIAL A few deep thoughts for 2008 IN THE details Study reveals trends Cognitive scores drop Applicants are older More education common How to contact the H&MM editorial staff 600 Superior Ave. East, Suite 1100; Cleveland, OH 44114 Tel: (216) 706-3700 Fax: (216) 706-3711 www.HotelMotel.com By Jeff Higley Editorial Director ith the many challenges hoteliers face finding quality employees, this item caught my eye: A study released by Libertyville, Ill.-based Wonderlic— the company made famous by conducting tests for draft picks of National Football League teams—reveals a steady decline in the cognitive ability scores associated with specific education levels. This recent analysis compared a decade of occupational norms from a sample of more than 200 employers, 2,000 jobs and 100,000 applicants to comparable occupational datasets from previous studies. Using the Wonderlic Personnel Test, the results show a steady decline in the average scores for college and high school graduates between 1970 and 2005. The WPT measures cognitive ability, which has proven to be a critical predictor of learning speed and success on the job. But here’s the clincher for hoteliers looking to fill jobs: The study suggests that be- W cause the ability level of the average high school graduate has changed over time, finding job candidates with the same level of ability as 1970 high school graduates requires employers seek out applicants with two or more years of college training. But there is some good news. The study also shows that, on average, job applicants are nearly seven years older and have a full year more of education than they did in 1970. What this all means for hotel owners and operators is no surprise: Job applicants from housekeepers to general managers expect higher compensation, and that must be factored into any budgetary planning. We’re still in a fantastic environment for hotels—at least until the end of 2008—but the big question from hotel operators remains: When will the constant increases in operating costs level? From higher pay for employees to skyrocketing energy costs, 2008 could be the year that sends everyone scurrying for cover by the time December rolls around. It’s synonymous with getting an idea. Heck, I’ve even had a few of them appear over my head during my first 45 years. But it seems the days of the light-bulb shaped light bulb are getting dimmer. The incandescent bulb, invented by Thomas A. Edison more than 125 years ago, will be produced no more after 2012. The energy bill signed by President Bush in December requires lighting to use up to 30 percent less energy. Hoteliers who have resisted will have to start being green, thanks to the bill. Almost 90 percent of the energy used by today’s incandescent bulbs produces heat, and only 10 percent goes to giving off light. One estimate says that when the 4 billion light sockets in the United States eventually make the switchover, the efficiency standards will lower household utility bills by more than $18 billion a year. The efficient bulbs also will prevent 100 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions at power plants, according to the Alliance to Save Energy. One change you will see in Hotel & Motel Management this year is the departure of the “At Your Risk” column authored by Anthony Marshall. After Tony died in December 2006, we decided to run a “Best of” series of his articles in 2007. Now it’s time to move on. Starting in this issue, you’ll see “Legally Speaking” from Karen Morris appear every other issue. Karen is a judge (Brighton, N.Y., town justice for 14 years), lawyer (31 years of experience) and professor (Monroe Community College) who will focus on hotel-related issues. You can see more of her credentials by visiting www. judgekaren.com. We’re working on some other changes, including the introduction of a law-related frequently asked question column and a sales-and-marketing column from the experts at Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International. jhigley@questex.com Jeff Higley Editorial Director jhigley@questex.com 600 Superior Ave. East, Suite 1100, Cleveland, OH 44114 Jeff Higley, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR . . . . . . . . . jhigley@questex.com Ph: (216) 706-3728 | Fax: (216) 706-3711 Stephanie Ricca, MANAGING EDITOR . . . . . . . sricca@questex.com Ph: (216) 706-3791 | Fax: (216) 706-3711 Elaine Simon, SENIOR EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . esimon@questex.com Ph: (216) 706-3782 | Fax: (216) 706-3711 Stacey Mieyal Higgins, SENIOR EDITOR . . . . . .shiggins@questex.com Ph: (216) 706-3783 | Fax: (216) 706-3711 Heather Gunter, ASSOCIATE EDITOR . . . . . . . hgunter@questex.com Ph: (216) 706-3792 | Fax: (216) 706-3711 Jason Q. Freed, ASSOCIATE EDITOR . . . . . . . . jfreed@questex.com Ph: (216) 706-3727 | Fax: (216) 706-3711 Emily Hanna, ASSOCIATE EDITOR . . . . . . . . . ehanna@questex.com Ph: (216) 706-3784 | Fax: (216) 706-3711 Patricia Sheehan, MANAGING EDITOR, Hotel Design Ph: (216) 706-3753. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .psheehan@questex.com Amy B. Witek, ART DIRECTOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . awitek@questex.com Rob Ghosh, ART DIRECTOR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .rghosh@questex.com (216) 706-3728 ADVERTISING/SALES/CIRCULATION 600 Superior Ave. East, Suite 1100, Cleveland, OH 44114 John McMahon, GROUP PUBLISHER . . . . . jmcmahon@questex.com 757 Third Ave., 5th Floor, New York, NY 10017 Ph: (212) 895-8243 | Fax: (212) 895-8212 Matt Waddell, PUBLISHER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . mwaddell@questex.com 2835 N. Sheffield Ave, Suite 236, Chicago, IL 60657 Ph: (773) 880-2240 | Fax: (773) 880-2241 Mary Malloy, NORTHEAST, INT’L. . . . . . . . . .mmalloy@questex.com Ph: (216) 706-3790 | Fax: (216) 706-3711 Brian Levine, SOUTHEAST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . blevine@questex.com 757 Third Ave., 5th Floor, New York, NY 10017 Ph: (212) 895-8285 | Fax: (212) 895-8215 Jason Wallace, WEST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jwallace@questex.com 1461 S. 375 E., Kaysville, UT 84037 Ph: (801) 499-9999 | Fax: (801) 315-4137 Brian Olesinski, CLASSIFIEDS, RECRUITMENT, DIRECTORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .bolesinski@questex.com Ph: (216) 706-3794 | Fax: (216) 706-3711 Heidi Spangler, DIR., AUDIENCE DEV. . . . . . . . hspangler@questex.com Ph: (216) 706-3705 | Fax: (216) 706-3714 Stephanie Ricca Managing Editor sricca@questex.com (216) 706-3791 Elaine Simon Senior Editor esimon@questex.com BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Stacy Silver, BUSINESS DEV. 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Questex Media Group, Inc. provides certain customer contact data (such as customers’ names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses) to third parties who wish to promote relevant products, services and other opportunities which may be of interest to you. If you do not want Questex Media Group to make your contact information available to third parties for marketing purposes, simply call toll-free (866) 344-1315 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. CT and a customer service representative will assist you in removing your name from Questex Media Group’s lists. Outside the U.S., please phone (615) 377-3322. Jason Q. Freed Associate Editor jfreed@questex.com (216) 706-3727 Corrections On page 72 of the Nov. 5 is http://www.HotelMotel.com http://www.HotelMotel.com http://www.judgekaren.com http://www.judgekaren.com http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm110507/index.php?startpage=74 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm111907/index.php?startpage=24
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