Blogs related to the hotel industry

This is the link to the article about blogs related to the hotel industry:
http://www.e-marketingassociates.com/5-hospitality-blogs-every-hotelier-should-be-reading/

These links take you to some other blogs in Spanish:
http://josefacchin.com/2013/05/05/tendencias-actuales-e-innovacion-en-el-sector-hotelero/
http://www.blogtrw.com/tag/industria-hotelera/
http://www.elbloghotelero.com/

I encourage you to start reading blogs about your profession.  If you don't feel interested in the ones I propose, just look around the Internet and find something that you like.

Verb patterns (Gerunds / Infinitives)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B191zavOLyXDSTlvV3BndHFCTDA/view?usp=sharing

Cooking verbs

Conditional sentences - Information and practice

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

If Clause Type 0
if + Simple Present, Simple Present

• Type 0 indicates what happens, every time a certain situation is given. 
• It reflects a fact or general truth, so it’s in general likely to happen.

Examples:
If you reduce your costs, you obtain more profits.
If your customers phone your company, the receptionist answers the phone.

If Clause Type I
if + Simple Present, will-Future

• Type I indicates what will happen, provided that a certain situation is given.
• It is possible and also very likely that the condition will be fulfilled.

Examples:
If you send your order by fax, we will deliver the goods immediately.
If you invite me for lunch, I will help you with your presentation.

If Clause Type II
if + Simple Past, would + infinitive

• Type II indicates what could happen if a present situation were different.
• It is possible but very unlikely, that the condition will be fulfilled.

Examples:
If we had more employees, we would work more efficiently.
If we delivered poor quality, we would not be the leading company in our business.

If Clause Type III
if + Past Perfect, would + have + past participle

• Type III indicates what could have happened in the past if a situation had been different then.
• It is impossible that the condition will be fulfilled because it refers to the past.

Examples:
If you had read the paper, you would have seen the advertisement.
If I had taken the bus, I would have been late.

Complete the sentences.

1. If your conditions are competitive, we (place) _____ an order immediately. 
2. Whenever the photocopier (be)  _______  out of order, we have more photocopies than ever to do.
3. If I had more time, I (do)  _______  a course in business English. 
4. If we had known more about their culture, negotiating (be)   _________ easier. 
5. If you (customize) ________ your CV, your chances of getting a job will be better. 
6. If there (be) _________ a fire, you call the fire brigade.
7. We (cancel)  ________ our order if you don't deliver the goods by Friday. 
8. If Brittany (speak) ________ better English, she would apply for a job abroad. 
9. If you (tell) ________  me about the problem, I would have helped you. 
10. As long as our customers (remain) ________  loyal to our brand, we don’t see any problems ahead.
11. I (let) ________ you know if I weren't satisfied. 
12. If you execute the order carelessly, they (place / not) ________ another order with you in the future. 
13. If I were you, I (worry / not) _______ about the presentation. 
14. Our company would improve its sales if our prices (be) _______ more competitive.
15. We wouldn’t have gone bankrupt if we (listen) ________   to our financial advisors sooner.
16. Unless you (press) _________ that bottom, the machine doesn’t work.
17. We will set up another meeting on condition that the main point of discussion (be) ________ outsourcing our production.

C

Passive voice - Practice 1

The exercise below offers more practice with Passive voice.

Passive voice - Practice

The following exercise provides practice for Passive voice.




You can find more practice in this link.

Passive Voice

Passive Voice is a grammatical construction used in many different languages.
To form the Passive Voice in English we need two verbs, an auxiliary verb, in this case BE and a main verb which makes the meaning of the message clear, used in the Past Participle form.

Example:  The window IS CLEANED every Sunday.

We notice that the auxiliary BE is conjugated in the Simple Present, so it becomes IS.
The main verb in this example is the verb CLEAN, but we use the Past Participle form, so it becomes CLEANED.

We can form passive sentences in any verb tense.  The changes in the tenses are marked by the verb BE.  That is to say that it is the auxiliary BE which makes all the changes to express verb tense, but the main verb is always in the Past Participle form.

Example:  The window IS CLEANED every Sunday.
                The window WAS CLEANED last Sunday.
                The window WILL BE CLEANED next Sunday.
                The window HAS BEEN CLEANED every Sunday since I remember.
                The window IS BEING CLEANED right now because it is Sunday.

Et cetera.

You can find more information about the Passive Voice and practice in this link.

"Wisdom is only found in truth."

(J. W.  Goethe)

Modal verbs

Dealing with written complaints

The topic we're dealing now is related to complaints and apologies.
Guests and tourists are likely to complain about many different things and the hotel staff or the staff at any other tourist service will surely have to apologize for the inconvenience the customer experienced.
In some cases, the staff may deal with the apologies and will find a solution to the guest in person, face to face.  So, everything will be done in a spoken format.
In some other circumstances, it will be necessary to manage the situation in written format.

In the documents below you'll find information and actitivites to practise dealing with complaints in written format.  You must complete all the tasks, except the ones that contain activities for listening.

LETTERS OF COMPLAINT
LETTERS OF APOLOGY
DEALING WITH COMPLAINTS

New links:

LETTERS OF COMPLAINT
LETTERS OF APOLOGY 
DEALING WITH COMPLAINTS

Spoken and written complaints

You're going to listen to a client services manager of a large hotel chain talking about the topic.
Listen and answer the following questions:

1. How is a spoken complaint different from a written complaint?
2. Is the response to a written complaint different from the response to a spoken complaint?
3. Do tourism managers deal more with written or spoken complaints?
4. What does the speaker suggest doing when someone is making a 'public' spoken compaint?
5. According to the speaker, is it easier to check details in a written or spoken complaint?
6. what does the speaker say is the most important point?

Conditional sentences in songs 1

The bits of songs below contain conditional sentences from various types, including type 2 and 3.

Tip: Since songs are always full of informal language, it's very common to find contractions and not full forms (e.g.: I'm, you're, it's, it'll, I'd, etc.).  Be sure to use the contracted forms and not the full forms according to what you hear.

There is a case of contracted forms that you may need to use in conditional type 3.  This is the case of WOULD followed by HAVE.  The contractions could be WOULD'VE or, more informally, WOULDA.

Be sure you use the correct contraction to complete the lyrics.

Come back, be here – Taylor Swift And this is when the feeling sinks in, I don't wanna miss you like this, Come back... be here, come back... be here. I guess you're in New York today, I don't wanna need you this way, Come back... be here, come back... be here. The delicate beginning rush, The feeling you can know so much, Without knowing anything at all. And now that I can put this down, If I 1) (know) what I'd known now, I never 2) (play) so nonchalant.

If I fell – The Beatles If I 3) (fall) in love with you 4) (you/promise) to be true? And help me understand Cos I've been in love before And I found that love was more Than just holding hands If I 5) (give) my heart to you I must be sure From the very start That you 6) (love) me more than her If I 7) (trust) in you oh please 8) (not/run) and hide If I 9) (love) you too oh please 10) (not/hurt) my pride like her Cos I couldn't stand the pain And I 11) (be) sad if our new love 12) (be) in vain

Time after time – Cindy Lauper Sometimes you picture me - I'm walking too far ahead You're calling to me, I can't hear What you've said - Then you say - go slow - I fall behind - The second hand unwinds [Chorus:] x 2 If you 13) (be) lost you can look - and you 14) (find) me Time after time If you 15) (fall) I 16) (catch) you - I'll be waiting Time after time After my picture fades and darkness has Turned to gray Watching through windows - you're wondering If I 17) (be) OK Secrets stolen from deep inside The drum beats out of time -

If I hadn’t got you – Lisa Stansfield Whose friend 18) (I/be) If I 19) (lie) all the time If you never 20) (trust) my word The love that we make when feelings run high Is all that makes sense in the world And I can never go back, oh no For a moment of sweet solitude If I ever 21) (go) back I'd be looking for you If I hadn't got you Whose friend would I be If I 22) (not/get) you I 23) (die) in solitary If I hadn't got you God only knows what I'd do God only knows Whose friend would I be if I can't take a joke If I can't pull a smile from a tear The love that I feel whenever you 24) (be) close Makes yesterday's hurt disappear And I can never go back, oh no For a moment of sweet solitude With my head in my hands I've been waiting for you

If I were a boy – Beyoncé If I 25) (be) a boy even just for a day I 26) (roll) out of bed in the morning And throw on what I wanted and go Drink beer with the guys And chase after girls I 27) (kick) it with who I wanted And I'd never get confronted for it 'Cause they stick up for me {Chorus} If I 28) (be) a boy I think I could understand How it feels to love a girl I swear I'd be a better man I 29) (listen) to her 'Cause I know how it hurts When you lose the one you wanted 'Cause he's taking you for granted And everything you had got destroyed

If it hadn’t been for love – Adele Never 30) (hitch-hike) to Birmingham If it 31) (not/be) for love Never 32) (catch) the train to Louisiana If it hadn't been for love Never 33) (run) through the blindin' rain Without one dollar to my name If it hadn't been If it 34) (be) for love Never 35) (see) the trouble that I'm in If it hadn't been for love Woulda been gone like a wayward wind If it hadn't been for love Nobody knows it better than me I 36) (not/be) wishing I was free If it hadn't been If it hadn't been for love

Score =
Correct answers:

Conditional sentences in songs

We can find lots of examples of conditional sentences in the songs we listen to.

The bits of songs below give some practice with conditional sentences type 0 and type 1.

Rain – The Beatles

If the rain 1) (come)

they run and 2) (hide) their heads

They might as well be dead
If the rain comes, if the rain comes

When the sun 3) (shine)

they 4) (slip) into the shade

(When the sun shines down)
And 5) (drink) their lemonade

(When the sun shines down)
When the sun shines, when the sun shines

Rain, I don't mind
Shine, the weather's fine

I can show you that when it 6) (start) to rain

When the rain comes down)
Everything 7) (be) the same

(When the rain 8) (come) down)
I can show you, I can show you

Rain, I don't mind
Shine, the weather's fine

If you love someone – The Veronicas

If you love someone
If you love someone

9) (wake) up in the morning, take a breath and let it out

Just 10) (forget) tomorrow's ever gonna come around

Everybody's medicating, taking time and waiting for the right time
In the short life, but it's your life

We can run around in circles we make or we could run straight ahead
Never ever let the moment pass by when all that matters in the end

If you love someone,
then 11) (tell) them right now
'Cause your heart won't rest 'till you let it out
Let the words you dream come out of your mouth
If you 12) (love) someone you gotta make a sound
If you love someone you gotta make a sound
If you love someone

If I lose myself tonight – One Republic

I stared up at the sun,
Thought of all of the people, places and things I’ve loved.
I stared up just to see
With all of the faces, you were the one next to me.

You can feel the light start to tremble,
Washing what you know out to sea.
You can see your life out of the window tonight.

If I 13) (lose) myself tonight,

14) (it/be) by your side.
I lose myself tonight...
(oh) yeah, yeah, yeah.

If I 15) (lose) myself tonight,
16) (it / be) you and I.
Lose myself tonight...

If you don’t know me by now – Simply Red

If you 17) (not / know) me by now

You 18) (never never never / know) me

All the things
That we've been through
You should understand me
Like I understand you
Now girl I know the difference
Between right and wrong
I ain't gonna do nothing
To break up our happy home
19) (not / get) so excited

When I 20) (come) home

A little late at night
Cos we only 21) (act) like children

When we 22) (argue) fuss and fight

If you 23) (not/know) me by now
You will never never never know me

Score =
Correct answers:

Conditional sentences videos

The following videos offer explanations and examples of Conditional sentences.

Conditional sentences type 0 and 1

Conditional sentences type 2 and 3

Conditional Sentences

In CONDITIONAL sentences there are always two parts, one part is the condition and the other part of the sentence is the consequence.
The condition is expressed using, in general, the word IF.

Some examples:
If you read this information, you are a student from Vatel.
If you read this information carefully, you will understand how to use Conditionals.

Reading practice 2

Here's another text for you to practise your reading skills before the test.

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Verb tenses - practice

The following links take you to some extra practice of verb tenses:

Simple Present-Present Continuous


Simple Past


Simple Past- Past Perfect-Simple Present-Present Perfect


Simple Past-Present Simple-Present Continuous

Reading practice

You’re going to read a magazine article in which people talk about their favourite London theatres.  Answer the questions with the theatres A-E.

Which theatre(s)

Is very convenient for sightseeing?	1
Have helped make history?	2	3	4
Recently acquired a new owner?	5
Was the venue of a first experience for an important person?	6
Are sometimes visited for more than just shows and events on stage?	7	8
At one time made it possible for its performances to be seen by people outside the theatre?	9
Could be unpleasant on a rainy day?	10
Do people sometimes not pay very much attention to?	11
Is exactly the same as an earlier theatre built on the same site?	12
Are being used today for the exact purpose they were built for?	13	14	15

LONDON THEATRELAND

A.      The Lyceum Theatre

David Bateman is a huge fan of this theatre. “You cannot find a theatre with a more varied past,” he argues.

So is he right? Well, initially a venue for musicals, the Lyceum soon began to host a variety of different events, such as the very first Madame Tussard’s exhibition in 1802.  After this came many successful theatrical productions but it wasn’t long before there were more changes and the theatre was used as a music hall before once again becoming a theatre.  And it was during this period, in 1934, that Queen Elizabeth II saw her very first pantomime here! Today it is the proud home of the stage musical version of the massively successful Disney animation The Lion King.

B.      The Savoy Theatre

The Savoy Theatre is built in a style called ‘Art Deco’, which is what first caught the attention of Mark Ford. “It is incredibly beautiful,” he explains, “and the first place in the world ever to be lit entirely by electricity.”

The Savoy was built specifically for performances of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, but other productions such as Shakespeare plays and ballet performances have also graced its stage over the years.  Now it puts on Gilbert and Sullivan musical productions again.  “It was recently bought by the Savoy Hotel, which added another storey to the top of the building,” says Mark.  “So now it has a health club and even a swimming pool, which I think is absolutely wonderful!”

C.      The London Palladium

Felix Knight would be surprised if you hadn’t heard of this very famous theatre in the West End.  “It is very dear to me,” says Felix, who has fond memories of the Palladium.

In the 1950s Felix, along with millions of other viewers across Britain, would watch Saturday Night at the Palladium, a weekly variety show televised live from the theatre.  Stars from all over the world appeared on the show, including Felix’s idol, Frank Sinatra.  “I was so familiar with the Palladium, but I had never actually been there!” laughs Felix.

Nowadays, the theatre hosts musicals, currently The Sound of Music, but it also maintains its glamorous image, hosting a number of important events such as the British film awards in 2007.

D.      The Globe Theatre

“People tend to overlook the Globe Theatre because it’s not in the West End, but this theatre is a jewel!” says Jane Campbell.

The theatre is a replica of the Elizabethan playhouse that was built there in 1599 and where Shakespeare’s plays were written and performed.  Every last inch of the rebuilt Globe is authentic, even the fact that it is an open-air theatre (so consider choosing a dry day to go there!).  The only difference is that four hundred years ago plays by different playwrights were performed there, whereas now the Globe is strictly for Shakespeare only.

Jane has enjoyed many plays at the Globe, but also appreciates other aspects of the theatre.  The theatre hosts many interesting exhibitions.  Plus, it’s only minutes away from other great attractions such as St Paul’s Cathedral.”

E.       The Piccadilly Theatre

For Mariella Clark, this theatre is her number one choice.  Opened in 1928, it may not be the oldest theatre in the West End, but it is one of the biggest and has definitely made its mark – during its time as a cinema it actually showed the first talking movie ever!  For a while it went back to functioning as a theatre again before its reinvention as a cabaret venue. The London Casino.  Now it’s a theatre once again.

“I’d always assumed that theatres put on plays or musicals from day one,” Mariella says, “so I was quite surprised when I first began to realise that they often have quite interesting histories.”

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Listening practice 1

Listen to five people talking about their holidays in North America.  Match each speaker with a comment they have made from A-F.  There's a letter you do not need to use.

A. This speaker did not do any sightseeing.
B. This speaker spent too much money.
C. This speaker made an unusual discovery.
D. This speaker's luggage was lost.
E. This speaker had something stolen.
F. This speaker had an accident.

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Listening practice

Listen to five people talking about trips they have made.  Match each speaker with a comment they have made from A-F.  There's a letter you do not need to use.

A. It started badly.
B. It was exciting.
C. It lasted too long.
D. It was better than I had expected.
E. It finished early.
F. It was badly organized.

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