Westward Hilton

Steve McKenzie a management consultant from New Jersey reflected back on his Easter Holiday trip where they stayed at The Regal Carnation Hotel in Guam. He remembered the false advertisement of the website, many missed opportunities, and the lack of management and customer service on a vacation that over promised and under delivered. He contemplated writing a letter to the Hotel owners and management, although he may not personally receive something in return, knowing he may be able to make improvements on future travelers was motivation enough.

The growth strategy of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Inc is multifaceted. Their growth strategy is driven by opening the finest hotel, in the right destination, which will lead to the right economics for the hotel owner. They not only discover destinations where their consumers want to go, but target those markets where they want to create their presence and to increase awareness for future Four Seasons’ travelers. But at the same time investigate opportunities to engrain their positions in those destinations, where they have already operated. According to Kathleen Taylor ‘Four Seasons has approximately 50 projects in various stages of design and construction. The vast majority will come outside the U.S., with a focus on China, India and Latin America. There are lots of cities in those areas where Four Seasons needs to

The hotel chain, Astor Lodge and Suites, Inc., operates 250 properties in 10 western and Rocky Mountain states. The company’s customer base primarily comprises business travelers. In addition, the locations of the properties surround airports, large regional shopping centers, and major highways close to suburban industrial sites as well as office complexes. Projections of 2005 fiscal year forecast a fifth consecutive year of a gross loss for the firm. The estimates include an anticipated $422.6 million in company lodging revenues but a net loss of $15.7 million for 2005. As a result, Joseph James, president and CEO of Astor Lodge and Suites, Inc., initiated a challenging goal for executive management to devise a strategy achieving net profits in two years and sustaining positive growth in the future.

1. Assess the decisions made by the hotel’s management in relation to the various offers received

For a long time researchers are trying to find the perfect recipe for success, however it is very hard to predict the response of the market to a new product and its adaptation to the environment. The Ice Hotel and the Travelodge are two ventures established in the end of 20th century both in the travel and hospitality sector but each one with its own unique business strategy. In evaluation of their success the decisions made throughout the development of the above mentioned ventures can be categorized as effectual and causal, as explained by Sarasvathy (2010). G.Sanvikarja suggests that causational logic is more rational and based on prediction where as the effectual strategy is more creative and is control orientated. Each of these approaches implies different strategies and reasoning behind both individual decisions and responsiveness to the environment. Furthermore, most enterprises follow a set of common principles that are key for building a business strategy including defining means, setting affordable loss, leveraging contingencies and forming partnerships (S. et. al, 2010). These four aspects are crucial for understanding how is a business created and what is its approach. However, it should be noted that most of the businesses are not strictly effectual or causal, rather a mixture of both with a tilt towards one. Every business is individual and should be treated like one. This paper will examine the business strategies behind the Ice Hotel and the

For instance, Jason Felix, a Human Resources Technician with College of the Desert describes his thought after having dealt with a rude applicant over the phone, “while physical labor is no walk in the park, dealing with people can leave you just as drained, if not more, and it can take longer to regain your emotional stability” (J. Felix, personal communication, January 30, 2017). After having been cut off, yelled at, and harangued, Jason had to still go about his day as if nothing happened. The use of good customer service in the face of disrespect is reminiscent Karl Marx writes, “the realization of labor appears as a loss of reality for the worker”. It is not the real person who is being polite but the person created for the work environment that is required to be polite. With this in mind, having to create an atmosphere of happiness when one isn’t feeling happy could result in the depersonalization of happiness with the self (Herpertz et al, 2016). The problem then turns into the employee not knowing whether they are actually happy or is only so used to being happy. How does the employee then adjust to the “real world” outside of the workplace? In A Managed Heart by Arlie Russell Hochschild, she speaks with airline attendants who must always create a positive space for passengers, their smiles being of most value to the company. One flight attendant interviewed is quoted saying, “Sometimes I

The main objective of the company is not only to attract but also to retain staff who are interested to work in the hotel business for the five-star level of high service, taking into account the wishes of clients, and which offers an innovative, dynamic environment and reflects the culture of the local country. To achieve this, Hyatt strives to be a company listening to well-informed and concerned people. Hyatt provides plenty of opportunities at all levels for their employees, which are accompanied by numerous development

Maverick Lodging is a hotel management company that manages the day-to-day operations of third party franchisees of the Marriott Corporation. The company has recently implemented a balanced scorecard in an effort to align company strategy, structure, performance measurements, and incentives. The organization strategy involves growth in revenue and customer base with the use of differentiation. Issues with the current scorecard and its measures have been identified. Alternative solutions have been researched. A recommended course of action is presented that will allow Maverick Lodging to achieve its strategic goals and objectives.

This paper is designed for exploring the reasons for the success of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in Paris (Four Seasons). Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is Canadian based international leading operator of midsized luxury hotels. Four Seasons has enabled guests to maximize the value of their time with providing high-quality and truly personalized service. Four Seasons was able to succeed with their unique strategy of dealing with cultural differences, unique corporate culture, and strategy of human

“Dave Sinclair vice-president of human resources at Blue Mountain Resorts, on December 2, 1999, was looking at his service quality program by introducing three new proposals to the company executive team on Monday December 5th” (Analysis of the Case, Campbell). “Blue Mountain had been using the service quality program for the past nine years, and has improved their service rated by the customers every year. The three proposals that Dave is reviewing are ways to enhance the customers experience at Blue Mountain Resorts by making it easier to navigate and reduce stress” (the BMR official cites). As Dave analyzed the three proposals he saw that they were a very logical continuation of the service quality program that he

Hospitality Management is a difficult and competitive market, and any lack in customer service can result in defecting customers or the termination of a relationship between a customer and a service provider. In this paper we will look at Hilton a company that has continually ranked amongst the top ranking hotels and continues to improve. Hilton’s customer service ranks as one of the top hospitality providers in the United States. We will look at the history of how Hilton came to be the name brand it is today and some of their process the used to narrow the customer service gaps such as Hilton Honors, the Hiltons Reservation Customer Care, and RESMAX. We will look at how they look at how Hilton manages the customer expectations through the use of employee training and their decreased the customer service gap through employee retention. We will also look as how Hilton co-partnered with Citibank in order to offer its Hilton Honors member additional benefits in order to keep in line with the customer service that the customers have come to expect.

Customer service is very important element in hospitality industry. A good restaurant or a good hotel always have an excellent service first. Hotels and restaurants put added value in their products and service make guest love it. Some hotels give guest drink when they arrived or prepare small birthday gifts to their loyalty guests. But sometimes hotels spend lots of money to added value of customers’ experience but customers still don’t like their service. So, what’s happening? Hotels gave service and improved service are not customers needed or most needed. That’s the gap between you and your customer. “You know your hotel inside out, but do you ever see it through your guests' eyes? In many cases, there is a disconnect between what hoteliers think

The following report was derived from the primary use of secondary sources, in addition to telephone contact with hotel representatives. Secondary sources included research from the Internet, industry books, company marketing communications, trade and general business newspapers and magazines, among others. Through all the sources, relevant data and information was extracted into the report's appendices. After individual analysis and group discussion, the following report was devised. The mandate of this report is to provide a macro examination of the luxury hotel industry and specifically the future outlook of Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts, Inc.

The report focused particularly on the following hotel chain Hilton Worldwide. Hilton legacy began in 1925, it was founded by Conrad N. Hilton. The first hotel was built in Texas and had 40 rooms; today Hilton is one of the most respected brands in the world. The company owns, manages or franchises a hotel group of some of the most famous and highly regarded hospitality brands worldwide, including Hilton, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Double Tree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hampton, Hilton Grant Vacations, Homewood Suites by Hilton and the Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts. With 4000 hotels and 650,000 rooms in 90 countries Hilton Worldwide is one of the world’s leading hotel. (Hilton Worldwide, 2013)

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company operates within the upscale & luxury hotel industry. While it could be argued that Ritz-Carlton operates in the more broad and inclusive lodging industry, they offer a highly differentiated product and service and therefore find themselves operating in an exclusive industry alongside very few direct competitors, such as Four Seasons Hotels, HongKong and Shanghai Hotels, and Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Therefore when analyzing this industry I will not be including cheap hotels, motels, lodges, or inns, unless to offer potential substitutes to luxury hotels. In order to assess the attractiveness of the upscale & luxury hotel industry, an analysis of the general environment surrounding the industry must be