Overview of the Hospitality and Tourism Industry
Introduction
Hospitality and tourism industry management, like any other business, has its challenges that inhibit performance and productivity. There are myriad issues that hospitality and tourism industry management face in their daily business operations. For instance, the increased competition, customer related challenges, geographic, and social problems that are associated with the hospitality industry. On the contrary, the top management cadre is obligated to handle these challenges as they arise in order to allow efficiency in operations. Tackling restaurant issues play an imperative role in the success of hospitality and tourism business. This paper will focus on various challenges faced by the hospitality and tourism management, focusing on the impact of computerization on hospitality and tourism industry, and the relationship between various hospitality segments.
The demographic challenge remains to be one of the greatest hurdles in the hospitality and tourism business. The management has a core responsibility of ensuring that customers, consistently, flock into their business in order to increase sales. The marketing in the hospitality and tourism industry determines customers’ availability and attraction to the business. For example, a restaurant within a state that has a high population is likely to sell more as compared to a restaurant in a scarcely populated region. As a result, it is advisable to carry out some demographic research before the establishment of a restaurant business. This helps in attracting customers, thus improve productivity and business returns .
Social issues play a significant role in the success of a hospitality and tourism business in a state. This is possible as a result of varied social and cultural beliefs among different communities. Diversity in cultural beliefs and norms determines the type of food individuals consume. As a result, restaurant management is advised to undertake some background checks on socio-cultural factors among individuals in a state before the establishment of a restaurant. Adherence to stipulated policies and regulations has a significant effect on the restaurant business. Rivalry among other restaurant is also a challenge among the management team. As a result, the management can opt to diversify its food and beverages in order to attract more customers .
Impact of Computerization
Improved and advanced technological services have been useful in the hospitality and tourism industry in the recent years. As a result of computerization of most activities in the industry, an increase in revenues has been observed. In the modern times, customers book restaurant products and services through the internet for ease of operations. Creation of restaurant websites has helped in booking for various services within a restaurant as all the required information can be found on the internet. On the other hand, the restaurant business can utilize computers in performing accounting practices. Keeping of records and data in a computer is safer relative to manual record keeping. Some accounting systems are more effective in a computerized environment leading to efficiency in accounting operations and practices. Computerization in restaurant business also facilitates in keeping of employee records, thus help in managing personnel in the restaurant. Use of computers, therefore, is of crucial importance as it is effective, convenient, and reliable. As a result, business operations are done in a systematic and efficient manner .
Over the recent years, there has been a rise in computer usage among many restaurant businesses with the aim of improving productivity. Computerization of restaurant activities has also enhanced daily operations and improved performance. The use of technology has, on the other hand, improved customers’ operations in booking reservations in advance irrespective of the geographical location. Computerization of restaurant activities through a website has also facilitated the marketing of products and services offered by the restaurant. This ensures that customers get access to all information concerning the business before making any decision .
Interdependence between various Segments
The hospitality and tourism industry is composed of various interlinked segments that operate together day to day activities. The food service segment operates in conjunction with lodging, and the meeting places. The aforementioned three segments play a substantial role in facilitating operations among them. Restaurant management should ensure that customers get sufficient services within a restaurant. Lodging services within a restaurant need to be augmented by food and meeting services. Meeting segments, on the other hand, has to be supplemented by the food segment in order to ensure customers have a quality time. As a result, there is a link between the three segments in order to ensure customers’ satisfaction .
There are various ways through which the synergy between the aforementioned segments can be improved to allow effective customers’ services. The food service segment is offered to all customers irrespective of whether they are to book for accommodation. As a result, the management should ensure that customers who need lodging services are sufficed with adequate food. Meeting services are also expected to be augmented with food services to ensure active participation in every aspect in a restaurant. Some of the improvements that are necessary include clear information and directives as per the restaurant objectives. Customers need to be aware of all services that are available in order to make a choice according to their tastes and preferences .
Improving the Relationship
The connection between lodging, meeting, and food service segments forms part of the business management strategies and practices in ensuring efficient and smooth flow of activities. The management needs to implement some practices among employees that allow coordination among the three segments. This can be achieved through computerization and improved technology to ensure cooperation .
In a restaurant business, customers have different tastes and preferences regarding services offered. In this case, it is important to listen and acknowledge various customers’ needs in order to improve services according to their expectations. Acknowledging and understanding various customer needs allows the management to change or design their products and services in a manner that customer wants. An effective combination of these services ensures high production and performance within the business. These segments complement each other thus allow active participation in all segments.
Advertisement and marketability of these segments play a crucial role in the sales performance of a restaurant. A perfect relationship between the three segments can be achieved through the implementation of any regulations within the business to ensure an effective coordination of services. For instance, the management needs to employ more workers to cater for the increased number of customers. As a result of the interdependence that exists between the three segments, their operations significantly affect each other. The management can decide to make advancements in the core sector in order to increase demand to the other sector. For instance, if the food services were to be improved, the other segments would benefit from the improvement through spillover effects .
The management will be obliged to attract customers in other segments by improving only one segment. As a result, customers in need of food services will also require lodging and meeting services at the same place. Restaurant business management and co-ordination of these segments is of an imperative objective in improving its efficiency and performance.
Impact of Gaming in Hospitality Industry
Gaming activities have an imperative role in the hospitality industry. Individuals converge in various joints in order to interact and play games. In the modern times, improved technology has resulted into a wide variety of gaming consoles that suit every individual. As a result, individuals can select a particular game from a variety of games thus allowing flexibility of gamers. Advanced technology has changed the way gamers operate. For instance, individuals can compete in a certain game despite geographical disparity. This has been facilitated by online gaming that allows players to select their competitors and play games through the internet. Initiation of gaming entertainment will have a significant impact on the hospitality industry and to the economy in general .
Gaming entertainment will attract individuals from various geographical regions leading to the improvement of other restaurant segments such as food, and lodging services. As a result of linkage between segments in the hospitality industry, introduction of gaming will increase the number of customers in other segments leading to high performance within the industry. This will, positively, influence the economic status of the industry. Gaming entertainment will diversify the number of segments available in the hospitality and tourism industry. The entire hospitality industry will, therefore, be positively affected through improved productivity and performance.
References
Andrews. (2008). Introduction To Tourism And Hospitality Industry. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill Education.
Hayes, D. K., & Ninemeier, J. D. (2009). Human Resources Management in the Hospitality Industry. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.
Nickson, D. (2007). Human Resource Management for the Hospitality and Tourism Industries. New York: Routledge.
