University of New Orleans panel to discuss state of hospitality

New Orleans CityBusiness, Jul 23, 2006 by CityBusiness Staff Report

The University of New Orleans will hold a free seminar on The Hospitality Industry - Restoring the City's Jewel from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Aug. 6 at the 2006 Louisiana Restaurant Association Expo.

The event, sponsored by the UNO College of Business Administration's Lester E. Kabacoff School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Administration, will be held in Auditorium 282 in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

John Williams, director of the UNO Kabacoff School, will deliver the introduction and welcome guests and speakers.

The first panel will focus on issues and trends in the restaurant and hotel industries in the New Orleans region and nationwide. Edward Tinsley III, chairman of the National Restaurant Association Tinsley Hospitality Group LLC in Sante Fe, N.M.; and Pedro Mandoki, president of the Mandoki Hospitality Group and chairman of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, will be keynote speakers.

Melvin Rodrigue, president of the New Orleans Chapter of the Louisiana Restaurant Association; Darrius Gray, president of the Greater New Orleans Hotel & Lodging Association; and Terry Epton, chairman of the board of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, will also participate.

Mark Sanders, general manager of the Marriott New Orleans hotel, will moderate the discussion.

To register, visit www.UNObusiness.com or call Aundrea Kloor at 280-1322.