by Scott McCaffrey, Managing Editor, Sun Gazette Newspapers
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Even though I have no direct connection to Arlington's hospitality industry, the morning of March 18 will find me front-and-center at the Crystal Gateway Marriott, as the Chamber holds its 10th Annual Hospitality Awards, saluting some of the true superstars who work on the front lines of the industry.
And even if you don't have any direct connection, either, I'd encourage you to purchase a ticket (or a table!) for the event. There are three main reasons.

1. To say thank-you to a vital Arlington industry.
According to state figures, Arlington's hospitality industry drew an eye-opening $2.78 billion in tourist and business-traveler spending in 2012 to the county. That's higher than any other jurisdiction in Virginia, edging out Fairfax County ($2.75 billion) and representing more than double the visitor spending of that summertime mecca, Virginia Beach. These tourism revenues boost the local economy, and the tax revenue they generate helps support the high quality of life in the local area.

The world of hospitality is an incredibly competitive industry, and those on the front lines who have the most interaction with guests often make or break the experience. Saluting the best in the profession is the right thing to do.

2. To hear some incredible stories.
The hospitality industry is legendary for employing workers for lengthy periods of time, but whether a worker has been there for a few months or a few decades, he or she can make all difference the difference to a visitor's experience.

Consider the case of Teklay Gebre, who last year was honored with a Hospitality Superstar Award for his work at the DoubleTree by Hilton Crystal City. At the hotel, Gebre was approached by a woman who had been part of a contingent of World War II veterans and spouses having a reunion in the local area. The guest told him that she believed she had left her camera in a taxi after spending a full day sightseeing. The camera was not expensive, but what was inside was priceless - there were photos of the woman's husband, who recently had passed away. 

Gebre used his extensive contacts in the taxi industry to locate the driver, but a search through the cab turned up nothing. Undaunted, Gebre convinced the driver to bring the cab to the hotel and conducted a more thorough search. The camera was found and reunited with its grateful owner. Tell me that isn't a heart-warmer of a story! And it's just one of dozens every year.

3. The event is just plain fun.
Despite the early hour, it's a raucous group that turns up and fills the ballroom to celebrate the achievement of their peers. The multi-cultural nature of the staff of Arlington's hospitality industry only adds to the fun, as winners come from every corner of the country and every corner of the globe.

As Rich Doud likes to say, it's the most uninhibited Chamber event of the year. (Rich loves it so much, he's the one who reads off the name of each recipient, even though some of them can be tongue-twisters. Although our Chamber president is soon to retire, I'm going to make it my mission to see if he can be enticed to come back in future years to continue that tradition.)

Another fan of the awards program is Arlington County Board member Walter Tejada, who calls it one of his favorite events of the year. "I'm not necessarily a morning person, but I am for this," Tejada said at last year's event.
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So now, the secret is out: The annual hospitality awards aren't just for the hospitality industry. Get your ticket now; I promise a good time is in the offing.

Scott McCaffrey is managing editor of the Sun Gazette newspaper group and the Chamber's Vice-Chair for Government Affairs and Economic Development.

Kelly Doherty, Social Media Coordinator, Blogger, Technology Management Inc.

Many of us dream about working from home.  It sounds fantastic, right?  You're in your favorite sweatpants at your kitchen table, you didn't waste a minute on a lengthy commute.  With some self-discipline, working from home really can be the dream you've imagined!

Here are six tips from a work from home employee:

1. Set and maintain “office” hours.  
Working from home gives you some leeway, surely, but there are still only 24 hours in a day. Whether you work from home for another company or you are self-employed, others will appreciate knowing that they can count on you to be available at certain times of the day.

2. Designate a work space.  
You might not have the space to have a home office, but you can certainly clear a space to call your “office.”  Human beings are creatures of habit and if you are trying to work on that comfy sectional where you watch football and toss back nachos and beer, I promise it is going to be harder to stay focused. 

3. Document your time.  
Documentation keeps you accountable.  It gives you a record of what you have already accomplished and can function to remind you of what you have left to do.  It also gives you a great reference when speaking with a boss or a client.  “I emailed you the document on Tuesday and revised it on again on Thursday.”  Often when working from home, a casual demeanor is adopted and documentation will go a long way towards making it clear that while you might not be wearing a tie or pantyhose you are still on point. 

4. Take breaks.  
You wouldn't go into the office at 9 am and expect to not get up from your desk for 8 solid hours.  So, don't do that at home. Designate a lunch hour and feel free to throw in a load of laundry or walk your dog after you eat a sandwich.  Telecommuting gives you ample opportunity to take care of your home during working hours, but be careful to set parameters.  Take advantage of being at home, but be careful not to let your work day get eaten up with home chores. 

5. Get out of the house! 
What?  You thought you were working from home? Sometimes the pressure of being at home is too much.  Maybe you need outside stimuli or you can't possibly crank out 87 more pivot tables when folding laundry sounds more fun.  Get out! Grab your laptop and go. Just make sure that you take a look in the mirror before you walk out the door.  Working from home can get a little scary and nobody wants to see you in those old sweatpants.  

6. Lastly and perhaps most importantly, set yourself up to work remotely, not “from home.” 
Telecommuting should be giving you the flexibility to work from anywhere, not only from your home office.  Telecommuting means freedom.  Take an honest look at your resources.  Are you storing your work files in the cloud or on an old laptop? Do you have a streamlined process for backing up important data? Is your data safe?  Do you have adequate bandwidth to have a conference call and view an online meeting slideshow at the same time?  Examine your home office with the same scrutiny you would your office at “work.”  Everyone loves to say they would be more productive if “the boss” provided sufficient resources.  You are the manager of your home office.  Make sure that you give yourself the resources you need to do the best job you can. 

Kelly Doherty telecommutes  to TMI in Arlington, VA from her home office in North Carolina.  Feel free to email her at [email protected] with any questions about telecommuting or more advice for working from home.

by Jennifer Paquette Galloway, Living Vicky, Consultant with Wolcott Hill Group  

I am a 30-year old self-employed consultant and YES … I am a Millennial!  By definition, Millennials (Generation Y) are qualified as 18- to 32-year olds and are typically considered  “entitled”; Part of a generation of “yes we can” and not enough “no, not your turn.”  According to an article by CIO.com, a common myth the Baby Boomer generation embodies is: “Millennials are not like us. I can’t relate to them. They’re spoiled and don’t want to pay their dues.”

From my personal experience this myth is entirely false. In 2009, I was working for a small boutique Government Relations firm as an Associate in Connecticut; it was a rewarding and wonderful job. I had a willingness to do what it took on behalf of my clients, never complained about working late or taking on a heavy workload. I most certainly was paying my dues! In the summer of 2009, I wanted a change so I quit my job, packed my bags, and moved to Washington DC. 

I moved to Washington and am still here, just shy of five years later, with a small business that is blossoming and having learned more than I could have ever imagined about myself and my peers.

Throughout my career, each generation before me had the willingness and patience to do two very important things: listen and teach.  This is what makes not only a great boss but a great mentor.  A Partner at my former firm taught me one of life’s great lessons, he taught me to remember that every person you meet has potential and you never know where they will end up in five or ten years.  Treat everyone with respect and in return, they will do the same.   

​I would encourage the Baby Boomer and Gen X generations to take the Millennials out to lunch and get to know them.  I think you will have more in common than you can imagine and we might just surprise you.  Oh, and don’t worry, we won’t keep our cell phone on the table!
The Big Question still remains: what can I (as a Millennial or GenX/Baby Boomer) do to debunk the myth and make changes individually/within my company?

• Embrace technology: Empower the Millennials to assist in training staff.
• Encourage one-on-one experiences: Create opportunities for Millennials and managers to interact one-on-one showcasing the power of person-to-person interaction sans technology (the old school way!).
• Be flexible to change and ask questions: This is applicable to Millennials and managers – we can learn from one another.  For example, managers and Millennials desire a great work/life balance, it likely just means something different to each age group.

​At our core, Millennials are hardworking individuals who want respect and recognition.  We don’t need our name plastered on a billboard, but we certainly don’t want to go unnoticed; this is most likely true for managers of earlier generations.  Perhaps the ideas mentioned above can at least springboard a conversation at your company or within your staff.  All companies and personnel find themselves at transitional points, but they don’t have to be roadblocks for success.