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'Housewives' Simon Van Kempen Offers Advice on Hotel Careers

There's tons of hotel news flying around this week and we don't have time to give each and every story the love and attention it may deserve, so you will have to settle for some news briefs.

· Remember Simon Van Kempen?: He's one of the "Real Housewives of NYC's" hubby who also is the general manager of the Hotel Chandler in Murray Hill. On his family's website he has begun addressing his career as a hotel manager and offered this advice to anyone how wants to work in the biz:

Since season 1 started airing I’ve received many emails from students considering embarking on a similar career path and I can say that it’s an industry that through hard work, a commitment to guest service and the ability to continually juggle different demands can be tremendously rewarding. One of the best things I learned through my own experience is that you can only learn so much in a college environment and there really is no substitute for on the job learning.

After listing some of his hotel experience (mostly F&B and then accounting) he goes on to talk about his favorite menswear designers. Although we are wondering who put him in that brown leather jacket. Blech.

In other news:
· Top Model Auditions Will Go On: Despite the stampeded that erupted outside the Park Central Hotel on Saturday, auditions for "America's Next Top Model" will still go on, says Tyra Banks. [NY Times]
· Spend a Night in Ice, Win a Ticket to Space: The Ice Hotel in Sweden is now selling tickets for Virgin Galactic's space trips. Those should start in 2012 and the tickets cost $200,000. No joke. [AP News]
· W Fort Lauderdale Close to Opening: The opening date is now set for April 2nd. [Sun-Sentinel]
· La Lohan Loca is Back!: Hotels, guard your suites and now, apparently your walls. Lindsay Lohan's driver crashed into a wall outside the valet at the long-suffering Mondrian Hotel. [E! News]