Operations in Hospitality

This report is structured to understand the Operations of The Old Rectory Hotel, showing evidence of its accomplishments and how it has been adapted to fit into the ever growing industry of Hospitality.

Location

‘Our handsome Georgian house is set within 3.5 acres of beautiful walled gardens with rolling lawns and stunning views and located on the edge of the bustling market town of Wem in Shropshire' (Old Rectory Hotel, 2010). Based on the outskirts of a tranquil village once a thriving market town and most known for the Sweetpea festival. The famous quotation from Conrad Hilton, who determined the most important factors for success in the hotel business as ‘location, location, location' remains valid today (Bowie and Buttle, 2004;134). The characteristic of a location actually influence potential hospitality target markets and determine the demand potential (Wood and Brotherton, 2008). Jones (2000) and Best (2010) both agree that thorough research needs to be taken into consideration when looking for an establishment's pattern of demand in a potential location, the level of demand needs to justify investment (Shivers and Delisle, 1997) . Location is a widely recognised factor in the success of a hotel. ‘Ideal hotel locations are close to travel networks and nearby destinations' Barrows and Powers (2009;399), as with the Old Rectory Hotel, the train station is a short walk of half a mile from the hotel, they do however offer a pickup service from the train station. An ideal location and appropriate orientation are believed to bring prosperity to the hotel (Prideaux, 2006).

Services offered to guests

‘Guests who use hospitality services are influenced by the quality of products and the quality of service delivery' Andrews (2009; 109). From the guest point of view, service is the performance of the organisations and its staff (Sloan, 2009). Service is all the actions and reactions that customers perceive they have purchased. The Old Rectory Hotel (2010) offers many services to a wide variety of customers, such services include: meetings, business lunches and dinners, company away-days and residential and non-residential conferences, the hotel provides the perfect location for business needs. With its private and discreet location and easy road and rail access, the hotel has become an established part of the business community (Shropshire Tourism, 2010). There is the use of fully-equipped wireless internet access and private telephone and fax lines available upon request, providing customers with the latest technology is to the organisations advantage, confirmed by Torkildsen (2010), this can be still be accomplished whilst keeping characteristics of a building or location (Sloan, 2009) .

Number of departments.

‘Hotels