Grand Hotel History

The hotel was built in the Mediterranean Revivalist style and has become one of the grandest hotels in the U.S. After its heyday for some years it was used by the federal government, the University of Miami’s School of Medicine and then sat vacant.

Conrad Hilton (Figure 1.1), the man who started Hilton hotels. He was born on December 25, 1887 in San Antonio, New Mexico and died on January 3, 1979 in Santa Monica, California. Conrad Hilton was famous as American hotelier and businessman. For instance, he was also the founder of Hilton hotel chain (Figure 1.2A - Figure 1.2C) and in 1925, he built his first hotel in Dallas Hilton and it costs $1million. Conrad Hilton was deep faith in God and country. Not only that, he belief in hard work and has the ability to dream big. Thus, he was influenced by his mum’s Catholic beliefs and told by his mum prayer was the best investment ever. Furthermore, “digging for gold” and “esprit de corps” are his golden principles of being successful. He published his autobiography,”Be My Guest” in 1957.

Since it is one of the largest privately owned house in the U.S., it attracts a lot of tourists. About one million tourist visit this house each year. Before a railroad was built near the city in 1880, Asheville was relatively quiet . After the railroad was built, tourists began visiting the city. Of these tourist was George Washington Vanderbilt. He was visiting the city with his mother to find aid for her chronic malaria. At that time, Asheville was known to have a “healing environment” due to its altitude and climate.

In Bangkok, Thailand, a group of financial investors invested in a hotel called The Regency Grand Hotel. This hotel is the most cherished hotel in town, where the employees and guests enjoy spending time at this five-star hotel. This place hosts approximate 700 employees that give fantastic benefits, year-end bonuses and ensures job security.

In 1930 till 1934 the hotel was turned into a junior college. Due to the great depression the college would ultimately close. In 1937 the most infamous owner of the hotel purchased it. Norman Baker, he bought the hotel and turned it into a cancer hospital and offered patients “miracle cures” to heal their cancers. Baker claimed he was a doctor. Baker was no doctor, and the cure he possessed was not actual medicine. The entire operation was a huge ruse to get money from dying, desperate people. None of the patients died from his false medicine but many died from the lack of actual treatments. Baker stole about $4,000,000 from unsuspected patients that would never get cured.

The Portman Hotel was built with the intent of being a 5 star hotel that provided superior service to its guests. This superior service centered around a business plan that was based on Asian standards of hospitality.

Hilton Hotel is founded by Conrad Hilton, they started their operation since 1919 and since then, they become one of the well-respected premier hospitality organizations with diverse employees worldwide. Currently, they have more than 4,600 owned and franchised hotels and resort chain in 100 countries. It has more than 200,000 rooms to accommodate guests from different parts of the world. It has more than 400,000 employees and team members to answers the needs of their guests (Hiltonhotelworldwide.com, 2016). In most of their branches their organizational structure is simple, with managers and supervisors from a different department, including admin, marketing, finance, human resource, concierge, food and beverages, housekeeping and etc.

The Peabody Hotel was the place to see and be seen in the late1800s. The opulence and the Renaissance architecture of the historic Tennessee hotel, epitomized southern hospitality. However, it wasn't just the luxury of the hotel or the celebrities who stayed there that made it notable; it was the hotel's feathered resident guests which made the hotel a must-see stop on any Memphis, Tennessee itinerary. Since the 1930s to the present, five Mallard ducks have taken up residence at the famous hotel, and march down to the lobby twice a day to greet their adoring public.

Premier Inn is the name of a British Budget Hotel chain running the largest hotel brand in the United Kingdom. Hotel chain is running 690 hotels with more than 50,000 rooms built in different countries. The hotel chain listed in London Stock Exchange in 1987 with brand name of “Whitebread” and started trading of its services under the chain of “Travel Inn” in order to compete with travellodges. Business operation of Premier Inn is not only limited to city centers but also covering suburbs and airports locations Hotel chain is following the expansion and acquisition policies since the time of its inception and acquired hotel chain named as Premier Lodge in 2004 (Whitebread, 2013). This acquisition increased the number of hotels and the profit as well. Premier Lodge was running with 141 hotels and contributed 70% of the total profit of “Whitebread”. Target market of the hotel chain is not only the leisure visitors and families but also the world business class seeking countless business and travel facilities. Award winning business services, comfortable sleep on king size beds and delicious breakfast are further adding value for the hotel chain while elevating the status of Premier Inn to be the first choice of families and business class to take their stay decisions at Premier Inn. The ambitious and high paced profitable progress of the Hotel chain is opening new ways of expansion and development. The hotel chain is therefore, planning to increase around 45% i.e. 75,000 rooms

This proposal provides blueprint to any business that tries to take over other business in International market by providing importance of cultural adaption especially Guanxi or connections in Chinese Market by providing an example of how Hotel international failed in building Roaring Dragon Hotel reputation back by ignoring the importance of cultural adaption (Guanxi Connections in this case). In addition, business should implement new methodologies considering existing methodologies unlike redundancy of employees with Guanxi connections losing its base on which the company is built.

Cindy is the director of human resources. She has been a working member of the

From the description of the case study, it seems that the reason lead the Portman Hotel to this terrible situation was that their HR policies were inconsistent with its strategies. The Portman Hotel's philosophy is that if they want their customers treated better, they must treat each other better. They also think the Portman Hotel is a place where they can make their employees feel satisfied with their jobs. Their jobs will be fun and they will fulfill their expectations. The employees will have the best work experiences. Besides, the Portman Hotel expects to be the best employer in San Francisco. They are willing to show their trust and pride in their employees. That's why the hotel considered their "associates" of the highest potential,

These days, there have been a number of hotels in various cities, towns and countries. From when I was young to now, I have visited many inns since I loved to travel to somewhere. I had any feeling and impression about hotels where I have been before I became eighteen years old. Hotels were just hotels that I needed to stay for the night. No more than that I thought. Before I went to Canada to study English in 2011, my family had a plan to travel somewhere and stay in a hotel for my farewell in Korea. After we visited many attractions, we were heading to the hotel that we made a reservation. When I saw the entrance of the hotel, I was surprised at first, and when we went inside of the hotel, I was surprised again. For two days, I was very impressed and I thought a lot in positive ways. I always had a desire to visit again and I wanted to get a hotel like that inn. It was the first time for me to know what I want to become. The trip to the hotel was totally changed my life and my dream.

Recently purchased by a large American hotel chain, the Regency Grand hotel, located in Bangkok Thailand, is an example of prestige, with a 5-star rating. For the past 15

In this case, Elite Hotel is planning to employs a total of 300 full-time staff across 7 departments for locals are cheaper than their foreign counterparts. It is good news to the hotel owners and also forces hotel management companies to think carefully when staffing a hotel. As Tim Williams (2013) addressed, "Do not hire expats as Resident Manager, Rooms or F&B Director unless you think they have the potential to push through to GM."