Group Report Assignment

This assignment is designed to assist students gain an understanding and appreciation of front office and housekeeping activities. In a group of no more than four (4) people, students will submit an analysis of the Front Office and Housekeeping departments of a new hotel that will be opening in Perth within the next two years. Students are to evaluate emerging technologies and contemporary issues in the front office and housekeeping departments, such as new trends in consumer groups, new trends in technology, and new business concepts/trends that might potentially affect the managing of the front office and housekeeping of a new hotel. Secondly, a case study, including a number of recommendations for the hotel operation are to be identified.

Preparation

In this assignment, demonstration of creativity and critical analysis will be highly regarded. In your report, you are expected to integrate theory from relevant literature (e.g., from the hospitality service literature, other service literature), and class themes/discussions with your own thoughts, ideas and understanding of the topic.

Assessment instructions: Structure of the Group report

• Unit identification (unit title, code), title of assignment, and students' full names and student ID numbers.
• Introduction (Approximately 200 words). Provide a brief background of the topic (emerging issues/technologies in the hospitality industry), and a brief background of the hotel in terms of size, location etc. The group could also conduct research on planned hotel facilities in Perth in the next few years (a few hotels are indeed planned to start their operations in the near future in Perth).
• Main body, which should include sub-sections:

A review of the literature, which includes:

A) an in-depth discussion on Front Office in hotels, (importance, challenges, emerging technologies, etc.), referring to the hospitality literature, using appropriate referenced material in the text: the material must be post 2010 or more recently published. Please, only reliable sources are allowed; do not use Wikipedia, blogs, and/or similar Internet sources. Approximate word count: 500 words.

B) an in-depth discussion on Housekeeping in hotels. As was the case in section A, focus on the importance, challenges, and/or emerging technologies, referring to the hospitality literature, using appropriate referenced material in the text; the material consulted can be from journal articles, textbooks, industry reports, and must be post 2010 or more recently published. Please, only reliable sources are allowed; do not use Wikipedia, blogs, and/or similar Internet sources. Approximate word count: 500 words.

Be sure the discussion on the two sections is clearly distinguished (Front Office versus Housekeeping).

Hotel case study (proposed new hotel in Perth), which includes:

C) Strategies for Front Office, for instance, catering to new segments of consumers (e.g., age, income groups, etc.), focussing and acknowledging new trends, technologies, and how all these elements could be maximised to provide a more memorable experience to guests, while maintaining/improving the hotel's efficiency. Approximate word count: 800 words.

D) Strategies for Housekeeping. As was the case in section C, focus on catering to new segments of consumers (e.g., age, income groups, etc.), focussing and acknowledging new trends, technologies, and how all these elements could be maximised to provide a more memorable experience to guests, while maintaining/improving the hotel's efficiency. Approximate word count: 800 words.

Be sure the strategies presented for the two sections are clearly distinguished (Front Office versus Housekeeping).

A conclusion, summarizing the study, final thoughts/reflections on the importance of the identified emerging issues, as well as on the proposed strategies. Approximately 200 words.

Content of reference pages, charts, figures, tables will not count words of the assignment.