Skip to main content

The hospitality industry amidst the pandemic (by Anna Liang)

   

We are in the middle of a pandemic that has affected every aspect of our lives. Many have lost their jobs, and unemployment is at an all-time high. The hospitality industry, in particular, is taking a devastating blow as it depends heavily on travel and a stable economy. As a result, individuals in the hospitality industry are greatly being affected as companies are making the difficult, but necessary decisions to cancel internships and fire employees during the pandemic. Additionally, many hospitality companies are uncertain about what their futures hold.

Under normal circumstances, companies plan for how many employees they need at a given time based on forecasting and demand. Although demand can generally be predicted based on trends, a devastating external factor, such as a pandemic, can throw things out of balance and make planning and forecasting more difficult. The reason being that devastating events are generally not something that a company can predict and plan for ahead of time. Hospitality companies, such as Marriott International, have needed to take drastic measures in order to cut their losses. As a result, individuals are then affected by the decisions of the companies that they work for.

One example can be seen in how Marriott canceled their entire college internship program that was supposed to take place in the summer. Personally, I was one of the individuals who were affected by their decision. Months prior to their decision, I was offered a place in their internship program, and I had already signed a contract with them. However, due to the pandemic, I, unfortunately, lost the opportunity. I can imagine how all the other college students in the program were affected as well; we had solid plans for earning an income and our plans were forcibly taken away from us. We can see how serious the situation is just from their decision as it is not often that a company cancels a large-scale program that gives opportunities to individuals across the United States.

Another example of a drastic measure that Marriott had to take can be seen in how they fired over 600 employees from their headquarters. A large number of people that lost their jobs in this example was from only one location, so we can imagine all the other individuals that lost their jobs in Marriott’s properties nationwide and even internationally. This time, it is not just college students who are losing their internship opportunities. It is the full-time employees who have already started their careers in the hospitality industry, and their jobs are part of their livelihood.

In both of these scenarios, individuals were greatly affected by the necessary decisions of a company. However, from Marriott’s perspective, their priorities lie in keeping their company afloat and getting through this time where demand is extremely low, and the economy is declining. This is how Marriott is adapting to the changing situation, so this can be seen as their way of creating a new plan based on new circumstances.

To conclude, although individuals are negatively affected by a company’s decisions, sometimes it is necessary for the company to make those decisions in order to prevent more losses to the company as a whole. Marriott International is a good example when a company has to make difficult decisions in response to the pandemic. Individuals with prospective and existing careers in the hospitality industry are now uncertain about their future, as the industry continues to suffer in a time of travel restrictions and low demand.

What are some things that hospitality companies can do to potentially help their employees whom they had to lay off? How have you or someone you know in the industry been affected by rising unemployment rates during the pandemic?

Anna Liang is a third-year student at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management and is planning to graduate by 2021. Her work experience includes working for Marriott International as a summer intern, and her other experience includes volunteering in her community. In her career, she aims to work in multiple areas of the hospitality industry in order to diversify her experience. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, journaling, reading, and gaming. She also finds importance in spending quality time with her pets and her friends.

Comments

  1. Although I personally disagree with the manner in which many of these businesses have been treated throughout the pandemic, I can understand the necessity for operations to shut down in temporarily in order to protect the public and stave off bankruptcy. Unfortunately this means that most individuals in the hospitality industry have been laid off indefinitely, oftentimes with little to no information as to when work may be available again. In order to help many of those unemployed right now, I think that many businesses in the hospitality industry should at least guarantee that their current employees will be rehired to the same, or better, positions they worked pre-pandemic. Another thing businesses should be doing is be willing and available to communicate with the employees that they have had to lay off in order to be more transparent. There is a lot of uncertainty and misinformation going around right now so I think that the businesses that we once worked for should feel obligated to help alleviate some of that. I have had countless friends and loved ones be laid off in the past couple months due to closures in the hospitality industry and lately it has really felt as though the state and federal governments are doing the absolute minimum to keep us satisfied.






































































    ReplyDelete
  2. Although I personally disagree with the manner in which many of these businesses have been treated throughout the pandemic, I can understand the necessity for operations to shut down in temporarily in order to protect the public and stave off bankruptcy. Unfortunately this means that most individuals in the hospitality industry have been laid off indefinitely, oftentimes with little to no information as to when work may be available again. In order to help many of those unemployed right now, I think that many businesses in the hospitality industry should at least guarantee that their current employees will be rehired to the same, or better, positions they worked pre-pandemic. Another thing businesses should be doing is be willing and available to communicate with the employees that they have had to lay off in order to be more transparent. There is a lot of uncertainty and misinformation going around right now so I think that the businesses that we once worked for should feel obligated to help alleviate some of that. I have had countless friends and loved ones be laid off in the past couple months due to closures in the hospitality industry and lately it has really felt as though the state and federal governments are doing the absolute minimum to keep us satisfied.

    HRT 3030.01, Sterling Magana

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Luxury vs. Millennials and Their Technology: The Ritz-Carlton (By Julia Shorr)

Embodying the finest luxury experience, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC has been established since 1983. In 1998, Marriott International purchased the brand offering it more opportunity for growth while being independently owned and operated. They are known for their enhanced service level as the motto states, “Ladies and Gentlemen serving Ladies and Gentlemen”. The luxury brand now carries 97 hotels and resorts internationally and is attempting to keep the aspects of luxury while keeping up with the trends of the technologically improving generations. The Varying Demographics of the Target Market The Ritz-Carlton’s typical target market includes: business executives, corporate, leisure travelers, typically middle-aged persons and elders, and families from the upper and upper-middle class section of society .   This infers a large range of types of travelers in which all are similar in that they are not opposed to spending extra for the luxurious ambiance. However, with

Is It OK for Hotel Staff to Wear Piercings and Tattoos?

Time has changed. I see more and more college students wearing piercings and tattoos nowadays, but is it OK for hotel staff to wear piercings and tattoos? The answer is “no, no, no.” According a report at USAToday.com, customers across the board do not want to see any hotel workers with pierced eyebrow, pierced tongue, tattooed arm, or nose ring. Some may argue that tattooed and pierced workers may seem more acceptable in edgy boutique hotels as compared to the big franchised hotels, but the survey results did not find any differences among a variety of lodging products. Many respondents believe people who wear visible tattoos and piercings are taking a high risk of their professional lives. If you stay in a hotel, do you mind being served by tattooed and/or pierced staff? What if you are the one who makes the hiring decision? References: USAToday.com: http://tinyurl.com/linchikwok08042010 Picture was downloaded from http://tinyurl.com/linchikwok08042010P

In what ways will AI affect restaurant operations?

A new wave of industrial revolution is here --- AI (artificial intelligence) will change everything we do. Undoubtedly, AI can improve restaurant operations.     Menu Engineering and Quality Control    AI can provide insights into a restaurant’s menu offerings and pricing strategies based on consumer data and market trends. Restaurant owners can adjust the recipes/menu and price accordingly.     AI can help restaurants monitor food temperature, cleanliness, and safety procedures, ensuring they comply with health and safety regulations. For example, AI can remind a sushi chef to replace a sushi plate that has been “sitting” on the conveyor belt for too long with a more popular item.     Consumer Experience   AI can help restaurants create location-based, personalized marketing campaigns to reach specific and targeted customers at the right time. Then, AI-empowered chatbots, reservation, and table management systems can help restaurants answer customer inquiries, manage reservations, and