技能训练
Please choose a correct answer for each question.

1. When will the conference take place?
A) The first weekend in February
B) The second weekend in February
C) The third weekend in February

2. When will guests arrive?
A) Friday morning
B) Thursday morning
C) Saturday morning

3. When will the conference end?
A) late Sunday afternoon
B) late Sunday morning
C) late Sunday evening

4. What are the normal off-peak rates?
A) 75 pounds for a standard double, 85 pounds for a standard single
B) 85 pounds for a standard double, 70 pounds for a standard single
C) 85 pounds for a standard double, 75 pounds for a standard single

5. How many people are expected for the conference?
A) 100-200
B) 100-150
C) 100-120

6. How many waiting staff does Jenny think they will need?
A) 1 for every 20 guests
B) 1 for every 10 guests
C) 1 for every 30 guests

7. Where does Steve suggest placing an advert?
A) in a local newspaper
B) at a recruitment agency
C) in a university

8. How many quotes from catering companies is Jenny asked to get?
A) 2
B) 3
C) 4

9. When will they meet again?
A) Wednesday morning
B) Thursday morning
C) Friday morning

10. What is the emergency?
A) there’s a fire in the kitchen
B) there’s a flood in the kitchen
C) there’s a fire in the restaurant
文本
Luke: Wow! That is great news for the hotel, hosting that conference would be wonderful publicity for us. You’ll have your work cut out for you, Jenny!

Jenny: Yes, I think we all will if we win the bid to host the conference! Luckily, it would be at a time when the hotel is usually quiet, in February.

Luke: Are you going to take on more staff, if we win the bid that is?

Jenny: Good question, Luke. In fact, Marina, Steve and I are meeting this evening to talk about that. I presume we would need to. Let’s see what kind of package we can put together to present to the conference organizers first.

Naomi: Is this the first time the hotel has hosted a conference?

Luke: Well, we have organized smaller events, Naomi, but this sounds like a major undertaking. A 3-day international conference – lots of guests, plenary meetings in the large hall, lots of smaller seminars in the meeting rooms, a formal dinner. You’d better start memorising all those dishes, Naomi! Eh Roberto?

Roberto: Absolutely, I can’t have half-trained staff ruining the good name of my restaurant. Ciao!

Naomi: Oh, for heaven's sake, I’m trying my best!

Luke: Oh he’s only joking Naomi! Look I’ll help you if you like. I can test you this evening on the menu.

Naomi: Thanks, Luke. You really are a great colleague, unlike some people I could mention. Now, look, I’d better get back to the restaurant, dinner service starts soon.

(Later on)

Steve: Right, Jenny, Marina, before we get too excited, we’ve got to put together a conference package that is feasible and competitive if we’re going to stand any chance of winning that contract.

Jenny: Hmm, yes of course. Have we got definite dates for it yet, Steve?

Steve: Yes, the organizers say it should take place over the second weekend in February. Guests start arriving on the Friday morning and the conference would end late on Sunday afternoon.

Jenny: Well, it is one of our slackest periods so those dates don’t look like too much of a problem for bookings. We’d have to decide what kind of rate to offer on the rooms of course.

Steve: Yes, I think we should go as low as possible. After all, it could mean a repeat event the next year.

Jenny: I’m not so sure about that, Steve. I looked up the organization concerned and they hold a conference in a different city where they have an office every year. I don’t think we should count on any repeat business from them – at least not for several years.

Marina: Oh, I see. That’s good work, Jenny. But hosting the conference would attract a lot of publicity we could capitalize on – and that is free! And then other organizations might choose us for their conferences…so I agree with Steve, let’s try to make the offer as attractive as possible, even if we have to cut our margins right down to the bone.

Jenny: Okay, I agree. Steve?

Steve: Yes, I see your point. So what sort of room rates do you think we should offer then.

Jenny: Well, our normal off-peak rates are £85 for a standard double and £75 for a standard single - er, how many rooms would they need?

Steve: Well, there would be about 100-150 people in all I think – I’ve got their letter here…

(After a while)

Steve: Great, so we all agree on special room rates of £75 for doubles and £65 for singles then. Now Marina, what about the 2 big catering events – the gala dinner and the final evening buffet. Any thoughts on them?

Marina: Well, the kitchen staff has catered for that many people before. I think it is a question of getting enough waiting staff – 1 every 20 people I would say. We’d definitely need to hire more.

Jenny: Why don’t we advertise at the university - they often have students looking for work?

Steve: Hmm, that’s a possibility we could look into. It is certainly a cheap option, but on the other hand, the students may need to be trained up and may not be that reliable for a one-off event. I suggest we also get in touch with a catering company and enquire about costs for hiring their staff.

Marina: Yes, that sounds a good idea. As for the food costs, that would depend on the menu. Did they ask for anything specific?

Steve: No, it’s completely up to us what we propose.

Marina: Well, I’ll talk to Roberto and we’ll come up with a couple of menus to suggest to them, okay?

Steve: Yep, that sounds good. Well, Marina if you can do that and Jenny if you can get quotes from 3 different catering companies by Wednesday, then let’s say we meet again on Thursday morning and finalise our proposal. We’ll have to look into rates for meeting room hire and any extra conference facilities or technical equipment they may need – OHPs, power-point connections, etc., but I can do that before Thursday I should think.

Jenny: Sounds good.

Marina: Oh, excuse me. Hello, Marina speaking.What? A fire in the kitchens? Oh my God!

Steve: What?

Marina: I’ll be right there. Sorry, I’ve got to go. There is an emergency in the kitchen. Sorry!

Steve: Good grief! What on earth! We’d better get down there too, Jenny. They may need all the help they can get!
实战商务词汇
publicity (n.) – activity designed to increase public interest or attention 宣传,宣扬
The company has launched a campaign of publicity for a new car.
公司为它的新型汽车大作宣传。

have your work cut out for you (expression) - to have something very difficult to do 有艰巨的任务

bid (n.) – an offer to do something when you are competing with other people to do it 出价(或投标)的机会
Our firm won the bid.
我们公司中了标

plenary (adj.) –全体出席的
A plenary meeting was held.

ciao (n.) – goodbye in Italian

feasible (adj.) – able to be made, done or achieve 可行的;可实行的[+to-v]
It was not feasible to build a bridge at that point.
在那个地点造桥是不可行的。
That is a feasible scheme.
那是一个可行的方案。


capitalize on (phrasal v.) – to use a situation to your own advantage 利用
cut something right down to the bone (expression) – to reduce something to a level at which only what is necessary is left 尽量削减开支

margins (n.) – the profit that can be made in a business after the costs have been subtracted利润;赚头
This price will allow a good margin of profit.
这一价格可获厚利。

off-peak (adj.) – not at the most popular and expensive time 非高峰期的，淡季的

off-peak electricity / travel 非高峰时期的电力，淡季旅游

standard double (n.) – a standard hotel room for two people 标准双人间

waiting staff (n.) – a gender-neutral term for waiter and waitress 服务员

quotes (n.) – quotations, the price that a person says they will charge to do a piece of work【商】报(价),开(价)[(+at/for)]
The heavy oil was quoted at $17 per barrel.
重油报价为每桶十七美元。
He quoted 2,000 dollars for repairing the door.
他要价两千元修那扇门。
答案
1. B

2. A

3. A

4. C

5. B

6. A

7. C

8. B

9. B

10. A