Managing Hospitality Properties - General Manager Perspective

Introduction:

This course seeks to introduce you to the range of issues that arise relating to properties from the perspective of the general manager.  It does not approach these issues from the perspective of technical property managers.

Having completed approximately half of the course, you will now know that managers of hospitality properties (and managers in general), become involved with decisions relating to the design and maintenance of physical properties.  Indeed, for hospitality managers, the physical property is a fundamental part of the business they run. 

The challenge for them is to accomplish this aspect of their jobs satisfactorily without being technically trained in property design and maintenance.  In general, hotel managers’ familiarity with this area is gained through courses such as this one and through experience on the job. One aspect of this area which becomes clear to them as their careers progress is that the technical issues are only one part of the challenge in managing their property.  The other, and at times more critical, issues relate to the relationships which exist between property owners, business managers, technical staff and other managers in the business, all of which have implications for their management of the property.

The Stonington Beach Hotel case presents such a situation where a hotel manager must make recommendations to his Board about the property he manages…the type of situation for which this course will provide you with knowledge and an opportunity to apply that knowledge.

The Assignment:

You are required to analyze the case from the perspective of a consultant to Bill van der Plog. 

Your task is to identify the key issues which Bill faces as he considers what to recommend to the Board.  Obviously, specific issues related to the status of the property will be of primary concern. However, your analysis should include consideration of marketing, human resources, and organizational structure implications as they apply to the property. 

You must prepare a report to Bill which is approximately 2,000 words in length, not including appendices and tables, which discusses your analysis and recommendations.

Questions:

Feel free to raise questions about the case with me.  I want you to use this assignment to expand your thinking in terms of the management of property from a general management perspective. And be sure to raise any questions you have regarding the assignment itself…I want you to concentrate on your analyze and not be to be overly concerned about questions relating to assessment criteria, etc. 

Feel free also if you wish to consult and discuss with each other about this assignment.  But keep in mind that it is an individual assignment and what you submit must be your own work.