Authored by Jim McManus
I love the Hospitality Industry; I have dedicated my en- tire life to the service of others within the context of the “Philosophy” of hospitality, from a very unique view- point, having been raised in one of the most beautiful and exciting places in the world, Southampton, New York out on the Eastern End of Long Island, as they say out east, “I am a local”. My first job was as a paperboy, working for Newsday, diligently riding my cherry red stingray bicycle with the chopper style handlebars with a yellow “banana” seat. My paper route was mansion row, and from the start, I was given the opportunity to see what was happening “Behind the hedgerows” and it shaped my life, and it sent me on a journey into the world of hospi- tality literally taking me around the world and to this day
I am constantly learning from the best and experiencing the “La Joie de vivre” from a unique perspective. I learned quickly that it was the quality of ingredients that made a successful recipe, each ingredient in balance, complimenting each other in a harmonious symphony of taste and artistic presentation. I was mentored by the best people in the best industry, it was more than a simple culinary experience, as I was educated in the creative arts of hospitality embracing the diversity of cultures from around the world, and my palate was not the paint colors, it was the people, beautiful people, who enriched my life, I became an artist and, in a recent, great and inspiring conversation with Donna Drake, she highlighted it to me in
a special gift to me , a copy of the book, “Manifesting Your Dreams”, a collection of stories by Marla Mckenna. Donna signed the part of the book which told her amazing story, “We paint with people, Jim & Donna-5-26-2022”, and I agree we must paint our masterpiece with people. As a noun, the definition of hospitality is the “generous, and friendly treatment of visitors and guests”, it is about the “hospitable treatment of others”. Some definitions go further, describing the “generous reception of guests, visitors, or strangers”. As a verb, it’s about how you make people feel, by sharing and embracing the diversity of our
cultures with others, the enrichment of our lives with joy, by sharing the gifts of ourselves in service to others. The pineapple, as a fruit is the international symbol of hospitality, representing friendship, wel- coming, and hospitality. When I graduated from Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration in January of 1989, I earned a college ring which highlighted the four symbols that are the four pillars of hospitality which are; The Key, Two Grasping Hands, The Knife and Fork, and The Lamp. The Key to every door represents real estate, venues, architecture, and security, the Key also unlocks opportunity. The Knife and Fork represent the culinary arts, which embraces the diversity of ingredients and culture. The Two Grasping Hands greeting each other is about friendship and networking representing people, commu- nity, coming together in collaboration with the fusion of ideas. The Lamp is the “Beacon of Hospitalities
PAGE 7 / HOSPITALITY NEWS JUNE 2022
Powered by FlippingBook