Monthly Archives: March 2013

by | March 11, 2013 · 8:08 am

Hospitality Industry Health Risks: Washington Restaurant Closed For Multiple Health Code Violations That Led To Food Poisoning Outbreak

“…(violations included)…foods not protected from cross contamination, poor personal hygiene practices and Restaurant Health Code Violationsinsufficient handwashing; equipment not properly sanitized, handwashing facilities not working and an imminent health hazard: establishment linked to a foodborne illness outbreak…”

The Ambassel Bar and Restaurant on Jefferson Street in Seattle, Washington has been closed by health authorities after they discovered several health violations and associated it with a food poisoning outbreak. Public information officer for the Seattle and King County Health Department Katie Ross told Food Poisoning Bulletin that they are aware of two cases of E. coli associated with this restaurant in mid-February. She said that both cases were adults. One person was “briefly hospitalized” and both have recovered.

Seattle and King County health authorities closed the restaurant, which serves Ethiopian food, after a number of food safety violations were discovered and patrons who ate at the restaurant became ill.  Five violations were listed on the notification of closure.

Restaurant employees are a contributing factor in more than 65 percent of all foodborne illness outbreaks in the U.S.,  according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  Bacteria that causes disease can be transmitted directly from an infected food employee through food. That’s why restaurant employee health and personal hygiene are so important.

For more:  http://foodpoisoningbulletin.com/2013/food-poisoning-outbreak-closes-ambassel-restaurant-in-seattle/

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by | March 10, 2013 · 8:20 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Pennsylvania Restaurant And Bar Settles “Music Copyright Infringement Lawsuit” For $9,000; Disc Jockey Played 12 Songs From Music Catalogue

“…any establishment that plays music is required to pay a licensing fee which, for bars and restaurants, is based on the square footage of the establishment…the owners agreed to settle the case to avoid the expense and Hospitality Industry Music Copyright Lawsuitsuncertainly of continuing the litigation. The settlement equates to a penalty of $750 per song. Federal law allows for penalties up to $30,000 per song…”

The owners of the Brews Brothers bar and restaurant in Jenkins Township have agreed to pay $9,000 to settle a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by a music publishing company. Broadcast Music Inc. filed suit against the bar in October 2012 after a representative from the company visited the establishment that March and witnessed a disc jockey playing 12 songs from artists who are part of BMI’s catalogue.

BMI, one of the nation’s largest music publishing companies, collects and distributes royalties to artists whose music is played on radio, television and at public venues.

BMI has been aggressively enforcing its copyrights in the region over the past several years, filing at least 11 federal lawsuits against various establishments in Luzerne, Lackawanna and other nearby counties since 2010, according to court records.

The settlement, filed Thursday, says Brews Brothers acknowledges it violated the copyrights for the songs.

For more:  http://psdispatch.com/news/333542/Bar-settles-copyright-infringement-lawsuit

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by | March 9, 2013 · 8:19 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Idaho Restaurant Chain Sued By Male Employee Who Claims “Only Women Allowed To Work As Bartenders”

“…lawsuit claims that service manager (stated) that the Louisville,Ky.-based chain’s regional director “only wanted girls working in the bar.” The complaint (states that restaurant) told women employees to wear tank EEOCtops and shorts to work and to “flirt with every guy that sits at the bar top…”

A former employee of the Texas Roadhouse restaurant in Ammon alleges only women can work as bartenders there, according to a complaint filed with the U.S. District Court of Idaho. Tim Fenton was employed at the restaurant as a trainer, bartender and server before his dismissal in October 2012.Fenton lost out on bartending assignments and Baird allegedly promoted a woman to tend bar that he had a crush on.

Baird also demoted Fenton from his position as a trainer allegedly in retaliation for his and his wife’s reports to Texas Roadhouse about the discrimination. Sam Angell, Fenton’s attorney, said his client made a formal complaint to the chain’s human resources department, but did not receive a report back regarding an investigation of the charges or its findings.

According to the Texas Roadhouse in Ammon, Baird is no longer employed at the restaurant. A representative for Texas Roadhouse corporate headquarters said he hadn’t seen the lawsuit so could not comment.

In order to pursue a job discrimination lawsuit in federal court, plaintiffs must first file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. According to Angell, the EEOC determined it would not be able to complete its investigation in the required 180 days so it issued a “Notice of Right to Sue.”

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by | March 8, 2013 · 7:39 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: South Carolina Motel Fire Caused By Gasoline Vapors Ignited By Water Heater; $300,000 In Damage

“…vapors from gasoline stored there apparently ignited the pilot light in the water heater…it took 90 minutes for Motel Firemore than 50 firefighters from the town, Monetta, Ridge Spring and Lexington County to bring the blaze under control…”

A motel on the east side of town is closed after fire destroyed two-thirds of the 27-room structure, authorities said. Damage to the Leesville Lodge is estimated at $300,000, fire chief Jay Hendrix said.

The fire started shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday in the laundry room at the 27-year-old motel in the 600 block of East Columbia Avenue, he said.

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2013/03/07/2664768/batesburg-leesville-motel-closed.html#storylink=cpy

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by | March 7, 2013 · 7:18 am

Hospitality Industry Payment Risks: Hotel Tech Trade Association Releases “Secure Payments Framework For Hospitality”; Best Practices Advocates “Tokenization” And “Removal Of All Guest Credit Card Data From Systems”

Hospitality Industry Secure Payment Framework-page-001

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Hospitality Industry Secure Payment Framework Executive Summary-page-001

For more:  http://www.scmagazine.com/hotel-tech-trade-association-offers-best-practices-for-reducing-payment-card-risk/article/283129/

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Filed under Crime, Guest Issues, Insurance, Labor Issues, Liability, Management And Ownership, Risk Management, Technology, Theft

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by | March 6, 2013 · 6:57 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Missouri Restaurant Fire Starts In “Wood Pile Near Outdoor Smoker”; Spreads To Roof And “Guts Interior”

“…it appears that (the fire) started in a wood pile near a smoker that was attached to the main building…the Restaurant Firerestaurant’s walls were left standing, but the interior was gutted…”

An early-morning fire today that burned down Bandana’s, a popular barbecue restaurant in Crystal City, apparently started in a pile of wood near an outdoor smoker, the fire chief says. Crystal City Fire Chief Tony Bova said the state fire marshal’s office is investigating this morning’s two-alarm blaze, but he said early indications are that the fire was accidental.

No one was injured in the fire, which was reported at about 3 a.m. today at the restaurant on South Truman Boulevard. A passerby saw what appeared to be a trash bin on fire. It turned out to be the outdoor smoker. When the first crews arrived, they saw flames already shooting through the roof.

About 75 firefighters from seven fire departments fought the fire. It took them about an hour to bring the fire under control.

The pile of wood where the fire originated could have been smoldering for hours after the restaurant closed Tuesday night, the chief said.

For more:  http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/fire-destroys-crystal-city-barbecue-restaurant/article_c8df0871-d275-508c-ac51-47e0e3d049e1.html

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by | March 5, 2013 · 8:21 am

Hospitality Industry Theft Risks: Alabama Motel Clerk Arrested For Stealing 23 Guests’ Credit Card Information; No Background Check Because It Was “Too Expensive”

“…(the motel clerk) used his position to remove credit card information from 23 customers from the motel database and used 12 of the card numbers in a fraud scheme to steal cash from the business…the owner Hotel Credit Card Fraudadmitted that he did not do a background check prior to hiring this person…the background check was too expensive…”

Mobile police have arrested a man for credit card fraud and trafficking in stolen identities after they say he took credit card information from 23 motel customers. Police said Bryant Onell Niles, 28, worked as a desk clerk at the Baymont Inn Suites in Mobile, where the alleged crimes took place.

Police said he was found in possession of the 11 unused credit card numbers with names and expiration dates belonging to former customers of the motel. Mobile police said last year, Niles was working as a desk clerk at an unnamed hotel when he stole credit card information from a person who had stayed at the hotel.

Police said he used the guest’s information to book hotels for himself and his friends. That’s how authorities say they caught him.

For more:  http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/local_news/mobile_county/mpd-hotel-clerk-stole-23-credit-card-numbers

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by | March 4, 2013 · 7:17 am

Hospitality Industry Insurance Risks: “Slip And Fall Accidents” And “Cooking Fires” Represent Top Operational Risks For Restaurant Owners

“…more than 3 million foodservice employees are injured each year from slip-and-fall accidents. With an average cost of almost $21,000 per claim, this is a substantial risk when you consider the number of guests slip_and_fall accidentwho also fall each year in a foodservice establishment…”

Cintas Corporation, a nationwide leader in restaurant facility solutions, identified the top 13 hidden risks to restaurant operations in 2013. By identifying potential risks before they become a problem, restaurant owners and managers can reduce their exposure and maximize their bottom line by ensuring the proper programs are in place.

  • Slip and falls: According to the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), more than 3 million foodservice employees are injured each year from slip-and-fall accidents. With an average cost of almost $21,000 per claim, this is a substantial risk when you consider the number of guests who also fall each year in a foodservice establishment. Protect floors, workers, and patrons with a comprehensive safe-floor program that includes deep cleaning, protection, and ongoing maintenance.
  • Cooking fires: By knowing that the majority of restaurant fires occur around 10 a.m., restaurant operators can develop a fire protection system that prevents or limits the spread of cooking fires. Ensure that hood suppression systems are regularly inspected by a licensed fire protection provider so they are always in working order and ready to extinguish a fire. Also, have your kitchen hood and exhaust ducts cleaned of excess grease and fuel at regular intervals.

For more:  http://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/cintas-reveals-top-13-hidden-restaurant-risks?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+QSRmagazine+%28QSR+magazine%29

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Filed under Guest Issues, Injuries, Insurance, Labor Issues, Liability, Management And Ownership, Risk Management, Training

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by | March 3, 2013 · 7:40 am

Hospitality Industry Payment Risks: Restaurants Can Utilize New “Smartphone Apps” To Reduce Credit Card Fraud, Increase Guest Satisfaction

“Tabbedout” is a new free app for smartphones. The credit card number is encrypted in the phone and tied to a tab…(the guest) can walk in, open (their) tab and show the phone to TabbedOut Merchant Payment Smartphone Applicationthe bartender (or waiter) and literally start ordering food and beer right away…when they feel like leaving the venue, press one button on (the) smartphone and leave…”

Crooks are constantly stealing credit card numbers. Often times it’s skimmers attached to credit card machines or some other crafty way to lift information. Now a new app may help reduce the chances of that and simplify the dining out experience.

Denver is a test market for a new service that makes paying a tab in a restaurant or a bar as simple as just one quick click. It’s a legal way of “dining and dashing.”

Who hasn’t been frustrated while waiting to pay a tab? And how safe is sending a credit card off with a waitperson? Now there are options. “Credit card fraud is the handing the cards back and forth. Someone will snap a picture of it and then steal your identity or take your credit card,” bartender Josh Finocchiaro said. “With this, it’s set up through your phone, so the card isn’t passed back and forth.”

Restaurants like the Ice House in LoDo like it because it means the wait staff can focus on serving good food and drinks without worrying about serving up a check at the end of a meal. Diners gain more control over their experience and there’s no waiting around to pay.

Tabbedout is now in 25 restaurants around Denver and some in the mountains as well.

For more:  http://denver.cbslocal.com/2013/03/02/tabbedout-app-helps-pay-restaurant-bill-avoid-credit-theft/

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by | March 2, 2013 · 7:23 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Mississippi Hotel Fire Caused By “Lamp Cord Short”; Damage Contained By Room “Designed To Isolate Fires”

“…(the cord) was stuck under the lamp and wore out after a while…friction likely caused the shorted cord to HOTEL FIREignite, and sparks caused the carpet to catch on fire, which then spread to a couch and the wall…”

Starkville Fire Department officials confirmed the cause of a fire Thursday that destroyed the interior of a hotel room at Americas Best Value Inn & Suites on Miss. Highway 12 as electrical. SFD Training Officer Charles Yarbrough said he concluded in his investigation that the fire was started by a short in a lamp cord.

On Thursday, a shift manager at the hotel said  she called 911 after a customer came into the lobby and said he saw smoke emitting from the back of the building. The manager, who refused to be identified, said neither the room where the fire took place nor any nearby rooms were occupied at the time the smoke was first reported and there was no one in the vicinity of the fire.

Yarbrough said everything in the room, from the furnishings to the walls would have to be replaced, but said the hotel’s structural integrity was satisfactory as the rooms were designed to contain and isolate fires.

For more:  http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/node/13339

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