Lisa Lynn Backus – författare

When the hospitality industry turns into a hostile industry ... Charlie Champagne's life as a Las Vegas Catering and Convention Services Manager is one of hectic schedules and frequent 24/7 chaos. Keeping the peace, spinning bad news into good, being therapist, complaint department and fix-it person all rolled into one just comes with the territory of a CCSM. But solving murders is not usually included with the job, so Charlie's intuition, investigative powers and steady hand are about to be put to the test. An otherwise ordinary woman with an ordinary life, a loving husband and a collection of beloved pets, Charlie also happens to have some extra-ordinary psychic abilities, which might come in handy as she works with Rex, a local detective, to get to the bottom of the mayhem that has been visited upon 'her' hotel, the Paradise Spectacular Resort Hotel and Casino. Meet a cast of quirky characters, most of whom find their way to the Libations on the Lobby ("e;LOL"e;), the ParaSpec's bustling haven for gossip, where Charlie often goes to de-stress from VIP events and putting out fires, all while hearing random melodies playing in her head that help her navigate the sometimes un-navigable. Will Charlie prevail and help solve a string of hideous murders, or will she herself fall prey to the murderer?

The role of the catering and convention service manager (CCSM) is diverse and must juggle event components. This book imparts authors’ in-depth knowledge of what a CCSM does, what emotional and technical skills are required, how to relate to planners, and execute contracts. It covers communication, food and beverage information, banquet service styles, menu planning, and event space setup standards.Included are best practices of working with nonprofits, social, wedding, association, corporate, VIP, celebrity events, and trade shows. The authors also discuss how this industry operates within casino properties. Then, the revenue up sell opportunities for all stakeholders, industry accounting, and the paperwork that pulls it all together.