Stephen Barth is an American lawyer, professor, author, keynote speaker and entrepreneur. He is a professor of leadership and hospitality law at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston. He is also the co-author of Hospitality Law 5th Edition and Restaurant Law Basics. He is a distinguished speaker and the founder of HospitalityLawyer.com, the annual Hospitality Law Conference, and the Global Travel Risk Management Summit Series. His hospitality interest combined with his legal experience have made him a pioneer in the hospitality industry, where he focuses on making hospitality law a specialty area of the law.
Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Texas Tech University, 1977Master of Arts in Communications, Texas Tech University, 1979Juris Doctorate in Law, Texas Tech University, 1984Licensed to the State Bar of Texas, 1984After working in the hospitality industry to implement his education and post-graduate life, Barth attended law school and was licensed by the State Bar of Texas. He is also a founding member of the Hospitality Industry Bar Association. Barth's articles on legal issues are regularly published in a variety of leading hospitality publications. Barth assisted in developing the Safety and Security Seminar and the Responsible Service of Alcohol program for the National Restaurant Association.
Barth's twenty five year career at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, University of Houston, focuses on researching and teaching hospitality law and leadership. Previously, he taught Legal Aspects of Hospitality Management at Texas Tech University. As an award winning professor, Barth researches and teaches many topics involving hospitality law and leadership. In addition to his University of Houston teaching accomplishments, he was also selected as an instructor by the Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Lodging Association to teach its Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE) program.
Barth spent over twenty years working, managing, owning, and consulting in the restaurant and night club industry.
In 2000, further pursuing his career in hospitality law, Barth founded HospitalityLawyer.com, an online resource for the hospitality industry's legal, safety, and security solutions. HospitalityLawyer.com hosts two industry conferences, The Global Congress on Travel Risk Management, an intensive educational conference surrounding a business' "Duty of Care" to mobile employees, and The Hospitality Law Conference, each year in Houston, Texas both of which serve as an intellectual convergence of hospitality and travel professionals.
Barth's presentations focus on topics including emotional intelligence, emotionally intelligent leadership, positive leadership techniques, and methods for preventing liability in the hospitality industry and other customer service centered businesses (such as health care, sales organizations, corporate associations and more). He was a keynote speaker for the World Association of Chef's Societies and the 2012 Best Western Business Travel Forum. Stephen has also developed numerous other presentations concerning success in the workplace and emotional competency, including Emotionally Intelligent Leadership, STEM the Tide of Litigation, Positive Leadership for Positive Performance, A Model for Reducing Worker’s Compensation Costs for the Hospitality Industry, Enhancing Your Presentation Effectiveness, and Legal Updates for Lodging, Restaurant and Club Operations.
Hospitality Law: Managing Legal Issues in the Hospitality Industry. 5th Ed. (John Wiley & Sons, 2017).Restaurant Law Basics: Wiley Restaurant Basics Series (John Wiley & Sons, 2001).Articles
Barth, Stephen. "Food-and-beverage legal compliance worth the time, money" Hotel Management. (Web.) April 27, 2017.Barth, Stephen. "Reasonable care reduces labor, transaction issues" Hotel Management. September 2015. PrintBarth, Stephen. "Compliance, common sense help ensure guest safety" Hotel Management. August 2015: 14. PrintBarth, Stephen. "Mutually Beneficial Meeting Contract Clauses" themeetingmagazines.com,(Web.)July 1, 2014.Barth, Stephen. "Food Safety and Sanitation" foodsafety.ecolab.com, (Web.) March 26, 2014.“Alcohol Accountability, Responsible Service Must be a Cultural Element.” NightClub&Bar, July 2009, (pg 39)“Defining Hospitality Entities in Contracts and Statutes: A Proactive and Preventative Approach,” Golden Gate University Law Review, Volume 33, No. 2, Spring 2003. Co-authored with Andrea Bastian.“The Impact of 9/11 on the Hospitality Industry.” Praxis – The Journal of Applied Hospitality Management, volume 6, number 1, (Spring 2003), 30-45. Co-authored with San San Lee.“How Private Is Private?” Club Management Magazine, (Vol. 82, No.2; April 2003), 18, 22.Barth, Stephen and San San Lee. “Threats of Terrorism: Practical Implications for Day-to-Day Hospitality Operations.” Probate and Property - A publication of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the American Bar Association, (Volume 16, Number 5, September/October 2002), 43-48.Barth, Stephen. “Eliciting Feedback on Your Teaching.” Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Education, (Volume 12, Number 1, 2000), 19-20.Barth, Stephen, and Nancy L. DeLeon, J.D. “The Dynamics of Sexual Harassment: Prevention Techniques.” Praxis – The Journal of Applied Hospitality Management, volume 1, number 2, (Fall 1998/Winter 1999), 118-135.Barth, Stephen. “Third-Party Harassment: Expanding the Scope of Sexual Harassment.” Hospitality and Tourism Educator, volume 7, number 2, (Spring 1995), 5-6.Referenced in the following articles
Mohn, Tanya. " For the Business Traveler Worried About Security: You're Not Alone." Web. June 20, 2017. <http://p.nytimes.com/email/re?location=pMJKdIFVI6og8d+ofNlzG07t8ZB9ws7t&user_id=487fdfeb95a1282fc97e320ab8c84952&email_type=eta&task_id=1497927228584699®i_id=0>Tiezen, Beatrice. "A diferença entre as obrigações legais e morais na gestão de riscos." Panrotas. Web. April 20, 2017. <http://www.panrotas.com.br/viagens-corporativas/mercado/2017/04/a-diferenca-entre-as-obrigacoes-legais-e-morais-na-gestao-de-riscos_145991.html>Baker, Michael B. What's the Difference? Duty of Care Versus Travel Risk Management." Business Travel News. Web. April 17, 2017. <http://www.businesstravelnews.com/Research/Travel-Risk-Management/Whats-the-Difference-Duty-of-Care-Vs-Travel-Risk-Management>Burnell, Susan. "Do You Have the Emotional Intelligence You Need to Succeed?" Resident Assistance Program Newsletter, Vol. 13, No. 4, Web. December 2016. <http://www.woodassociates.net/rap/Search/PDF/RAP%20December%202016%2012_2_16.pdf>Jonas, David. "Reasonable care reduces labor, transaction issues." The Company Dime, Web. 15 December 2016. <http://www.thecompanydime.com/hotel-safety/>"New Abortion Rights Law, Risks of Short-Term Rentals: Monday's Show (December 5, 2016)." Houston Matters. Houston Public Media. Dec 5, 2016. Podcast. <http://www.houstonmatters.org/show/2016/12/05/cremate-or-bury-sanitary-remains-in-a-landfill>Dangremond, Sam. "Would Kim Kardashian Have Been Robbed If She Were Staying at a Hotel?" Town & Country, Web. 3 Oct. 2016. <http://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/travel-guide/news/a8071/kim-kardashian-robbery-security/>Ward, Stephanie Francis. "Business owners grapple with serving armed customers." ABA Journal, Web. 1 July, 2016. <http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/business_owners_grapple_with_serving_armed_customers/>Watkins, Ed. "Exterior corridors: The motel look returns in lifestyle" Hotel News Now, June 2016. <http://www.hotelnewsnow.com/Articles/52849/Exterior-corridors-The-motel-look-returns-in-lifestyle>Houck, Brenna. "Why the Laws Policing Menu Fraud Don't Really Work" Eater, August 2016. <http://www.eater.com/2016/8/2/12346492/fake-food-menu-fraud-prevention-prosecution>Medina, Kerry. "New overtime rule to reshape hospitality environment" Hotel Management Magazine, May 2016. <http://www.hotelmanagement.net/operate/new-overtime-rule-to-reshape-hospitality-environment?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWVRZME1qSmxPVFF4WWpCaiIsInQiOiIxb2pvVjRwREI3eXk4VmowZWtEdHlDR01ubGRhSXk3Z2loRHZjZkh1elc0VDA0dW9RS2R2SjJOd3IwR2tBNDdaQkxcL3JReGZPZ3RJbktLNU4wdW1PbExtTzJUcU9scGxjWUt4OWV6UWhIdXc9In0%3DRaman, Medha. "UW School of Law brings hospitality and travel law to the forefront" The Daily, April 2016. <http://www.dailyuw.com/news/article_5b8bc60e-01e7-11e6-98dd-d31f9a5279c3.html?mode=jqm/>Gale, Casey. "Where Liability Falls When Guest Safety is Compromised" Lodging Magazine, April 2016. <http://lodgingmagazine.com/where-liability-falls-when-guest-safety-is-compromised/>Wroten, Bryan. "What the Erin Andrews Lawsuit Means for Hotels" ''Hotel News Now'', Web. March 11, 2016 <http://www.hotelnewsnow.com/Articles/32653/What-the-Erin-Andrews-lawsuit-means-for-hoteliers>Medina, Kerry. "IHIF's Road to Berlin: Terrorism casts new light on hotel security" Hotel Management, Web. February 12, 2016 <http://www.hotelmanagement.net/operate/ihif-s-road-to-berlin-terrorism-casts-new-light-on-hotel-security>Biesiada, Jamie. "Presence of Security Forces Reassure or Frighten Tourists" Travel Weekly, Web. November 22, 2015 <http://www.travelweekly.com/Europe-Travel/Presence-of-security-forces-can-reassure-or-frighten-tourists>Austin, John. "Restaurant owners unsettled about open carry in Texas"Weatherford Democrat, Web. July 28, 2015 <http://www.weatherforddemocrat.com/news/restaurant-owners-unsettled-about-open-carry-in-texas/article_a6f999b8-357d-11e5-972f-0fab2693e769.html>Steffy, Loren. "Whatabattle" Texas Monthly, September 2015. <http://www.texasmonthly.com/the-culture/whatabattle/>Barth, Stephen. "Price Gouging" Lodging Magazine, December 2014. <http://bluetoad.com/publication/frame.php?i=237281&p=26&pn=&ver=flex>Connectyourmeetings "2014 Groundbreakers | Stephen Barth, Hospitality Lawyer", Web. March, 2014 <http://www.connectyourmeetings.com/feature/2014-groundbreakers-stephen-barth-hospitality-lawyer/>Scofidio, Barbara "Social Media Influencers: Richard Branson Tops Our List of Online Stars" MeetingsNet, Web. February 19, 2014.Elliott, Christopher "Watch for "time-outs" on airline-ticket cancellations" The Seattle Times, Web. January 27, 2014 <http://seattletimes.com/html/travel/2022745963_airlinecancelelliotttravelwisexml.html>Becker, Jill "Slaying the silent killer, carbon monoxide" Hotel News Now, Web. January 23, 2014 <http://hotelnewsnow.com/Article/13007/Slaying-the-silent-killer-carbon-monoxide>Morgan, Jamie "Law of the Land" Leisure & Hospitality International, Print & Web. Winter 2013 Edition <http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/phoenix/lhi_2013winter/#/12>Ryckaert, Vic "Grieving mom takes on stadium vendor over beer sales" USA Today, Web.December 22, 2013 <https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/21/mom-takes-on-stadium-vendor-beer-sales-daughter-death/4161629/>
Ryckaert, Vic "Mom takes on Colts' stadium vendor over beer sales, daughter's deathIndyStar, Web. December 21, 2013 <http://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2013/12/21/mom-takes-on-colts-stadium-vendor-over-beer-sales-daughters-death/4158339/>
Elliott, Christopher "Should travelers demand refunds for 'junk fees'?" USA Today, Web. December 2, 2013 <https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2013/12/01/airline-hotel-rental-car-fee-refund-lawsuits/3798845/>Rajkovic, Nik "The End of Restaurant Tipping?" AM740 KTRH Newsradio, Web & Radio. August 26, 2013 <http://www.ktrh.com/articles/houston-news-121300/the-end-of-restaurant-tipping-11600466/>Doyle, Andrea "Secure Lines." Successful Meetings, Print. May, 2013. <http://successfulmeetings.texterity.com/successfulmeetings/201305#pg14>Wilkonson, Tracy "Mexico scrambles as violence threatens tourism zones." Los Angeles Times, Web. 9 Feb 2013 <http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-mexico-tourism-violence-20130210,0,1625782.story>Mohn, Tanya "Traveling to Mexico? Violent crimes uncommon in tourist areas, risk experts say." NBCNews.com, Web. 7 Feb 2013 <http://www.nbcnews.com/travel/traveling-mexico-violent-crimes-uncommon-tourist-areas-risk-expert-says-1B8275682>DeLollis, Barbara "Hotels fixing flaw that made room locks vulnerable to hackers." USA Today, Web. 12 Dec 2012 <https://www.usatoday.com/story/hotelcheckin/2012/12/14/hotels-fixing-flaw-that-made-room-locks-vulnerable-to-hackers/1769081/>.Mohn, Tanya "The Travel Industry Takes On Human Trafficking." The New York Times, Web. 8 Nov 2012 <https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/09/giving/the-travel-industry-takes-on-human-trafficking.html?emc=eta1>.Stoessel, Eric "Understanding the Pool Lift Issue" Lodging Hospitality, Web. 5 Sept 2012 <http://lhonline.com/topstory/pool_lift_Issue_0905/index.html>.Luongo, Michael T. "At a Hotel On Business? Be on Alert, Too." The New York Times. The New York Times, 25 July 2011. Web. 8 June 2012. <https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/26/business/at-a-hotel-on-business-be-on-alert-too.html?_r=1>.Rodman Johnson, et al. "Viewpoints." Houston Chronicle Archives. Houston Chronicle, 22 Dec. 1996. Web. 15 June 2012. <http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/1996_1385117/viewpoints.html>.Wolfe, Michael. "Can I License a Restaurant Out of Another Restaurant?" Small Business. Houston Chronicle, n.d. Web. 15 June 2012. <http://smallbusiness.chron.com/can-license-restaurant-out-another-restaurant-13719.html>.Huynh, Dai. "Laying down the Law / Legal Experts Explain the Rules Governing Professional Hospitality." The Houston Chronicle 4 Oct. 2002, 2 STAR ed., DINING GUIDE sec.: 6. Print.Awards and honors
HospitalityLawyer.com Twitter Feed included in Top Hospitality Leaders to Follow on Twitter, Capterra Hotel Management Blog, 20162014 Groundbreakers, Connectyourmeetings.com, 2014“HVS” Research Award, Conrad N. Hilton College, University of Houston, 2009Outstanding Teacher Award, Conrad N. Hilton College, University of Houston, 2007Distance Education Award, Conrad N. Hilton College, University of Houston, 2000Teaching Excellence Award, Conrad N. Hilton College, University of Houston, 1998Honorary Member of Eta Sigma Delta, International Hospitality Management SocietyState Bar College of Texas, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence, Conrad N. Hilton College, University of Houston, 1996Advisory Committee to the National Restaurant Association on Responsible Service of Alcohol, 1994, 1995Outstanding Faculty Award, Conrad N. Hilton College, University of Houston, 1995Certified as an Attorney-Mediator, granted in 1995Honorary member of Golden Key National Honor Society, 1994Advisory Committee to the National Restaurant Association on Crisis Management, 1994Advisory Committee to the National Restaurant Association on Safety and Security, 1992 
