Реферат: Analysis Of Hotel Case Study Essay Research

Monetary 0.00%

Labor 4.51%

Trade 84.21%

d. Technological environment:

The technological trends identified through this research are very specific to the hospitality industry, but are closely related to technological improvements experienced globally. The major tendencies in technology call for an increased use of the internet, a constant development of new technologies to improve hospitality operations and the creation of new technologies to improve food handling, processing and sanitation.

One of the most popular topics today is the wonder of the internet. It appears that every industry has at least experimented with this new technology, and the travel and hospitality industry is not an exception. The

major uses of this technological marvel include the development of internet-based reservations systems, the creation of web pages as marketing tools, and the use of the internet as an outlet for increasing research and

education in the field of hospitality. A curious development is the incursion of some companies into the business of gaming through the internet. Virtual casinos seem to be popping up everywhere. Hospitality

operators must maintain themselves updated with the new ways this technology can be used to improve their operations and increase sales.

A recurrent topic throughout this environment is the continuous development of new systems, machinery and software to aid the hospitality operator. Major developments include new PMS systems, new reservations

systems, new safety and security systems and some new facility designs that enhance customer appeal and ease of operation. An example is the emphasis on the development of new entertainment options for travel and lodging customers. The trend towards offering video-on-demand features in hotel TV systems, in-room video games and electric outlets in airplanes is widespread, and it will probably continue in the near future. The

hospitality operator must keep informed of these technological improvements in order to remain competitive in a market where the customer is increasingly demanding cutting-edge services.

A minor theme covered in the analysis was the development of new products and technologies geared specifically for food operations. Food sanitation is a big concern, and some companies are coming out with products that help increase the safe handling on perishable goods. An example is the invention of a bacteria-fighting towel to be used by kitchen personnel to avoid food contamination. Due to the potentially damaging effects of a food poisoning situation, F&B and restaurant managers must take advantage of

these technologies to avoid such complications.

Table 7: Distribution of Major Technological Developments

Aspects % of Environment Space

Computer, Electronic 63.16%

Equipment, Facilities 30.53%

Food Handling 6.32%

Specific Environment

As mentioned before, the news provided by Hotel Online is quite industry specific. As a result, most of the postings were related to management practices of several hospitality related companies. This characteristic allowed the researcher to determine major trends experienced by the hospitality industry in the six main functional areas of management. After the analysis of these trends was completed, it was clear that most of them were outcomes or effects of the general environment trends identified earlier. As it is described in Figure 2, the most important topics appearing in Hotel Online related to finance, marketing and operations, as opposed to

research and development, administration and human resources.

a. Finance:

According to Figure 2, discussion of financial situations covered the 24.41% of the space dedicated to the specific environment – the second in importance after operations. The major subjects mentioned in Hotel Online

postings are the continuing epidemic of mergers and acquisitions among hospitality companies, the increasing level of complexity of financing activities in the industry and the reporting of good financial performance

by most hospitality companies in the period analyzed.

The trend of mergers and acquisitions has taken front stage in the hospitality industry since the last decade. The original factors that gave birth to this trend where “the scarcity of land sites suitable for hotel

development, high cost of building, and the need for strategic market locations.” Even though the latter is probably the only factor still present in the industry, the trend has survived and will probably continue

for several years. Small firms continue to merge with larger ones in order to survive and improve their financial status. Large companies are always willing to acquire more hotels, more restaurants and more management