International Hospitality Operations
Task
You are a management consultant that is about to undertake a piece of research for the LSBU group of hospitality operators. The LSBU group is an international business with a Head Office based in London. The portfolio of strategic business units that they operate in developed countries include;
- Budget Hotels
- Luxury Hotels
- Fast Food Outlets
- Contract Catering
- Night Club Operations
- Fine Dining Experiences
- Event Management Operations
You have been seconded by the Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O.) of the company to conduct some research into the opportunities for expanding their business operations in the developing nations of the world. You may pick any type of hospitality operation that you wish to review for this assignment. The C.E.O is particularly interested in expanding their portfolio and wants to expand the different types of businesses that they currently offer.
The new C.E.O. believes that global expansion must be furthered. However, the C.E.O. wishes to update their knowledge of the differing nature of regional operations. They wish to reassess the characteristics of the regions with regards to potential investment.
The C.E.O wants detailed information from a country and specific destination in that country of your choice (from the developing nations of the world) and is asking you to: “Evaluate the opportunities for success for any type of hospitality expansion and assess the pitfalls that a potential investor should be aware of before entering the market of your choice.” In order to do so you should attempt to:
– Analyse & evaluate the profile of the hospitality industry in a chosen region.
– To critically assess the opportunities of expanding operations in that destination.
– To provide a deeper understanding of the challenges that the destination presents to the international hospitality operator in operating across international boundaries such as cross-cultural differences.
– To assess the relative merits and pitfalls of current business practices in that destination in areas including; human resources; land availability; the role of the government in providing incentives and taxes; financial considerations; sustainability issues around scarce resources; environmental issues; types of capital and resources available; planning and operational considerations; demographic issues affecting the industry; political, economic, social and technological advances in the destination;
The C.E.O. expects you to construct a report that demonstrates evidence of research, the use of academic theory and commentary of your findings. The report should outline the destination you are investigating and highlight the salient issues that should be considered when developing in this region. You must prepare a strategy (or strategies) for development given the evidence you have provided and the argument you have constructed. There should be evidence of research and an extensive reference list to highlight the research you have undertaken when constructing this report.
