Introduction
I conducted my externship at Grand Formosa Regent Taipei. This is a five star rated hotel located in Taipei, Taiwan. The hotel was opened in 1990 by the founders of Regent. Back then, the hotel went by the name, ‘The Regent Taipei’. The name of the hotel has change since then to the Grand Formosa Regent Taipei. This paper will entail the externship experiences and the practices at Grand Formosa Regent Taipei and their correlation to the HOTS program. The paper will also compare the simulation to the hospitality industry practice.
A Correlation of the Externship Experiences with the HOTS Program
My externship at Grand Formosa Regent Taipei was an experience like no other. Although it lasted for a short period of time, there was a lot to learn. It is noteworthy that I had several volunteer employees who offered close supervision. They also informed me about the daily routines and practices of the hotel as visited different departments within the hotel. The externship at the hotel allowed me to the coursework material I have learnt in a real life and business setting. It was a sample of career possibilities and prospects after completing my studies. During the externship, I was able to observe the employees at different levels in the organizational tier and also ask questions on pertinent matters.
The externship experience at Grand Formosa Regent Taipei is very alike to the experience one gets at the HOTS programs. The program offers information that one can get in various departments in a hotel. Additionally, the program has the equivalent of the volunteer employees. The user guide feature in the program guides the use on how the program works and how to retrieve information from different departments. Although it is devoid of the human touch, the experience with the HOTS program is closely like the one I had during my externship at Grand Formosa Regent Taipei.
Comparison of the Simulation to Industry Practice
The simulation performed by the HOTS program is not very different from the practice in the hospitality industry. This is because the simulation provides most of the information that hoteliers need in order to operate efficiently. Part of the industry practice is to submit reports as frequently as required by the corporate strategy. More often, reports are submitted on a weekly and monthly basis, a practice that is embodied by the simulation.
Comparison of different Parameters with Industry Practices
- Marketing Strategies vs. HOTS
The marketing strategies applied by the Grand Formosa Regent Taipei are very similar to those simulated in the HOTS program. They range from point of sale informative materials, posters and billboards, local radio stations. Other prominent marketing strategies include telemarketing through its website and public relations.
- Facilities, upgrades and long-term strategy vs. HOTS
There is a stark similarity between the facilities available at Grand Formosa Regent Taipei and the simulation in HOTS. For instance, the mini-bar, health club, swimming pools and laundry services are some of the facilities common.
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- Revenue management strategies
The revenue management strategies applied by the two entities are very similar. They involve the generation of weekly and monthly reports that shows the state of operations. From the weekly and monthly reports, the management can perform an analysis of parameters to determine whether the hotel gained or lost efficiency.
Conclusion
Externships allow a student many opportunities in his school life, and prior to the commencement of his career. The exposure to a model working environment helps mould a student into a pseudo-professional
