Table talk
Pressing the flesh was never this much fun
For all the flurry of activity around Hotelympia last week, the show's technology wing, Hostec, remained rather quieter than its organisers would have wished.
It's universally acknowledged in event circles that free cocktails, coffee and nibbles are far likelier to draw visitors to your stand than brochures about booking management systems.
One stand, though, did buck the trend. Playboy TV's suggestive screen displays drew visitors - particularly college students - like moths to a flame, prompting one Hostec exhibitor to admit that he was considering ditching the free pens and key fobs and replacing them with saucy packs of cards at the next Hotelympia.
Blowing your own cream horn - or promotion hopes
Spotted in the comments book of a Eurest-run staff restaurant this week, a customer wrote: "The food is absolutely delicious. Congratulations to Carol and all the staff."
In the response section underneath, the catering manager had replied: "If you write in this book again, I may have to take disciplinary action."
Prof Chan, he say:"Smile more powerful than fist" Martial arts superstar actor Jackie Chan has become an honorary professor at Hong Kong's School of Hotel and Tourism Management.
The appointment is the latest in a long line of ambassadorial roles and some rather curious awards for the actor. He has been Hong Kong's tourism ambassador since 1995, and in 1992 he was honoured for being the most outstanding young Chinese in the World, and voted the healthiest person in Hong Kong.
At an inauguration ceremony at the school, Chan told students: "Everybody can be a tourism ambassador by smiling at visitors."
Running from the whips ought to keep them fit A Conservative attack on a Welsh Labour minister for accepting hospitality from McDonald's backfired last week - when it emerged that two Tories had enjoyed the same freebie.
Sports minister Alun Pugh came under fire for being wined and dined by McDonald's while campaigning to tackle child obesity. But while Conservatives rained down attacks on Pugh for his "blatant hypocrisy", it later emerged that two of their own members had also accepted hospitality from the fast-food chain - but hadn't declared it.
Tory Assembly members Alun Cairns and Glyn Davies also enjoyed hotel accommodation, hospitality and tickets to the Arsenal v Manchester United Community Shield game as guests of McDonald's. The freebie followed the launch of a sports strategy to promote a healthier lifestyle.
Oliver in Hollywood?It's the absolute Pitts
In a development that's sure to have creatives at Sainsbury's gasping with glee, Jamie Oliver and wife Jools were recently flown to the LA home of Hollywood golden couple Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston.
Apparently, the chef and restaurateur, accompanied by one of his chefs, had been invited over to cook for the pair after they became fans of his cooking programmes. They are now great friends.
Well, with Friends' final series already on, perhaps the foursome can get in front of the camera for Sainsbury's instead. It looks like time could be up for Jamie's mum, dad, sister, cousin…
