Sharifa Murdock Shares Her Journey to ENVSN

Planning and organizing a large scale event is not an easy task. ENVSNFest co-founder, Sharifa Murdock is one of the best in the business. She is responsible for planning, organizing, and executing a variety of large events and trade shows around the country. Events and trade shows cover a small area in the hospitality industry that caters to M.I.C.E., meetings, incentives, conferencing, and exhibitions. M.I.C.E. is a niche area in the hospitality industry that focuses a variety of events and ENVSNFest falls into that category.  

Sharifa has solid experience in the fashion, music, and hospitality (event planning) industries with an insane ability to bring her visions to life. She recently sat down with us to discuss what her journey to creating ENVSNFest was like and how she was able to make it happen. If you missed it, submit your email below to get the webinar recap of Journey to ENVSNFest w/ Sharifa Murdock.

REGISTER TO GET THE FULL REPLAY

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

YB Faves: Top 5 Podcasts in Yellowbrick’s Rotation

If podcasting is something you’ve always wanted to get into, today (well, tomorrow) is the perfect time to start. While blogs and digital publications have flourished, podcasts have become a really cool alternative to sharing content. There are so many to choose from and it is easy to get hooked. When going back and forth to work was a thing, podcasts helped make the commute time a little less tedious. You could listen on the walk to the train, on the train, and on the walk to the office at the push of a button. 

Podcasts are a great way to tell a story and provide detailed information on a variety of topics. The Yellowbrick student, faculty, and industry expert community is stacked with people who are the voices of quite a few podcasts in rotation. Some of Yellowbrick grads, current students, and university faculty are lending their ideas and conversations to some very popular podcasts. Since International Podcast Day is coming up, September 30th, we took some time to compile a list of our favorites below. Each podcast comes with a description with links on where and how you can access them. All of the episodes featured in this post can be listened to at the bottom of the page.

The Complex Sneaker Podcast co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty engage in heavy sneaker conversation. The trio are no strangers to sneakers nor our audience as they are seen as industry experts in the Sneaker Essentials sneaker course. Their latest episode includes an in-depth convo with Gary Aspden, the adidas OG. He talks about meeting Kanye and what it took to create the Spezial. Aside from this latest episode, they have a solid archive of conversations to choose from. Click here to listen. 

Find Your Dream Job podcast by Mac Prichard is a great way to get some solid career advice. If trying to find the job of your dreams is something you have been trying to achieve, this is the podcast for you. This weekly podcast is all about sharing insider hiring info and tips on the job search that could prove to be helpful in any career. His latest episode, How to dine the Side Door at HR features Dana Pratt, the founder of DCP Training and Talent Development. Her company is the go to to help employers with performance consulting, leadership development, and talent management. Click here to listen.

Renaissance Soul podcast hosted by Kelly “K-Fresh” Frazier is the home for all things Detroit hip-hop and music. What launched as a digital hip-hop website back in 2001, is now an audio podcast with the same content just a different output. The pod recently re-launched in August and led with Detroit’s own Dan Charnas, NYU professor and music journalist who is the go-to for all things Detroit/J-Dilla related. To check out the pod and Dan’s episode, click here.

How to Share podcast is a hospitality focused podcast that discusses storytelling, travel, and marketing in the travel industry. Host Amy Draheim is a marketing maven in the hotel industry and presents new and innovative ways to market hotels and travel destinations. Drahiem also owns and creates content for The Traveler’s Journey, which provides blogging tips, trip storytelling, and how to make the most of your IG feed when traveling. She recently sat down with Moniqua Lane to discuss how she started in hospitality, her efforts to create one-of-a-kind guest experiences, and her efforts to keep her property open despite the current vibe of the country. Click here to listen.

Unravel is a weekly podcast operated by Dana Goodin, Jasmine Helm and Joy Davis. The trio create content that is geared towards educating people about the importance of fashion in the history and current culture of the world. One of their goals is to encourage conversation about these topics within their digital platform community. They are women with a plethora of scholarly knowledge and do a great job of presenting it to their audience. Their goals are to, “collaborate with experts, in their field, to expand the conversation, speak beyond the canon of traditional fashion media and history, and be on the “frontline” of solidifying fashion history as a serious subject to study and learn”. Click here to listen.

Elena Railean Discusses Why She Chose Hospitality and Tourism | #SoICould

Name: Elena Railean

Course: Hospitality & Tourism Industry Essentials

Instagram: @helenrai

I enrolled in Hospitality & Tourism Industry Essentials so I could…

Improve my knowledge in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry, to drive excellence and 5-star service.

Where are you working now?

Corporate Trainer in Customer Service for Airbnb Project, Lisbon.

Why did you think the course was right for you when you enrolled?

I’ve always had an interest in the Travel and Tourism Industry. I wanted to have an up-skill in this field. Life is a constant learning and improvement experience.

How did the course prepare you for working in the hospitality industry?

It made me aware that it is not only about hotels and restaurants, but it is an entirely new world to be prepared for in order to achieve an outstanding service experience.

What assignment, course, and/or instructor sticks out in your mind or taught you something valuable?

Event planning – How to use the space that has no purpose at this point for different business conferences and events, at a reduced price.

What would you say to a friend about Hospitality & Tourism Industry Essentials?

If you are currently stuck and not sure where to take the step-up from, this course is a great source of inspiration.

What is your biggest takeaway from this program?

I never expected to be so fond of Sales and Entrepreneurship. Enjoyed the class, and how interesting and easy it is integrating.

How To Become A Hotel Clerk

Hotel Clerk Career Profile, Salary & Job Outlook

What does a Hotel Clerk do?

Hotel Clerks are the first point of contact for internal and external customers at a hotel. They coordinate room reservations, greet hotel or lodging guests at arrival, and check them into their rooms. Clerks must maintain knowledge of room rates and housekeeping schedules to coordinate room availability. They also provide customer service to guests during their stay and complete check out when they depart.

How much does this career make?

According to Glassdoor, Hotel Clerks maintain a national annual salary of $26,309, which is an hourly wage of $12.65. Entry-level hotel clerks start around $19,000 annually. Senior-level clerks make an annual average of $37,000. The range in salary widely depends on factors including skill, seniority level, and location.

What impact does this career have towards the hospitality industry?

Hotel clerks ensure that hotels function smoothly and guest expectations are met consistently. They are the face of the business and represent the hotel to the general public.

What is the job outlook for a Hotel Clerk?

Projections show that hotel revenue will grow to $950 billion in 2022. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job opportunities for lodging managers (including Hotel Clerks) are expected to grow by 9% during the 2020-2030 decade.

How to kick-off your career:

  • Work on your customer service skills.
  • Get experience as a receptionist.
  • Take a communications or public speaking course to get comfortable speaking or communicating your ideas.
  • Explore the NYU x Hospitality And Tourism Industry Essentials online course.

Soraya Alolama

Learn from: 

Soraya Alolama

Assistant Manager, North America at Dubai Tourism

Hospitality And Tourism Industry Essentials contributor

Related Careers:

Concierge | Night Manager | Guest Relations Manager | VIP Lounge Assistant | Hospitality Services Coordinator | Hotel Event Coordinator

How To Become A Hotel Concierge

Hotel Concierge Profile, Salary & Job Outlook

 

What does a Concierge do?

A concierge works in a hotel. They assist guests by providing recommendations for entertainment and then coordinating those accommodations. They make reservations for restaurants, travel arrangements, procure tickets for events, and set up sight-seeing tours. As a client-facing position, they need to have exceptional customer service skills. A concierge may also work as a front desk attendant.

 

How much Hotel Concierge career make?

According to the U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics (BLS), Concierges maintain a national annual salary of $32,380, which is an hourly wage of $15.57. Entry-level hotel concierges start around $27,300 annually. Senior-level hotel concierges make an annual average of $40,540. The range in salary widely depends on factors including skill, seniority level, and location.

 

What impact does this career have towards the hospitality industry?

A concierge is crucial to guest relations. They create and coordinate memorable experiences for guests. Concierges can secure reservations in exclusive restaurants, find tickets for sold-out Broadway shows, and arrange for local entertainment.

 

What is the job outlook for a Hotel Concierge?

The hotel industry is expected to grow to $950 billion in 2022. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job opportunities for lodging managers (including Concierges) are expected to grow by 9% during the 2020-2030 decade (www.bls.gov).

 

How to kick-off your career:

  • Brush up on your interpersonal skills.
  • Get familiar with your local restaurant and entertainment scene for recommendations.
  • Take a communications or public speaking course to refine how you communicate your ideas.
  • Explore the NYU x Hospitality And Tourism Industry Essentials online course.

 

Soraya Alolama

Learn from: 

Soraya Alolama
Hospitality And Tourism Industry Essentials contributor
Assistant Manager, North America at Dubai Tourism

 

Related Careers:

Hotel ClerkGuest Relations Manager | Night Manager | VIP Lounge Assistant | Hospitality Services Coordinator | Hotel Event Coordinator

Student Success: Reid Conlon, Hyatt Chelsea

Reid enrolled in the Hospitality and Tourism Essentials online course to give him a head start on graduate school. He reflects on the course and his student success.

I learned to analyze trends in the industry, market to different groups, and create my own business plan.

ON CHOOSING HOSPITALITY & TOURISM ESSENTIALS —

I enrolled in this online course to prepare myself for the travel industry profession. I am actually going to grad school at New York University to earn my Masters in Travel and Tourism Management. So, I knew the program would be professional and educational.

ON BEING A YELLOWBRICK STUDENT —

All of the Vacation Planning Assignments were great practices for helping consumers plan a great vacation.

STUDENT ACCESS IN REAL-LIFE APPLICATION —

I learned to analyze trends in the industry, market to different groups, and create my own business plan. The world of travel and hospitality is always changing. However, the industry is able to adapt to new trends and will evolve with new creative ideas.

ON THE PAST & WHAT’S NEXT —

My student success looks like beginning to work at the Hyatt Chelsea in New York City. I will apply what I have learned in this course.

To keep up with Reid in his travels, follow him on Instagram @reidconlon.