Hospitality Entrepreneurship
...e always had the need for a place to stay when traveling to far places an individuals or groups often prefer eating outside than cooking at home. According to Gailliard, the hospitality industry have changed significantly over the past few years and today, it is one of the fastest growing sectors in the economy. It is already a multibillion dollar enterprise and is constantly growing. In February 2003, the Black Collegian has released a document stating that the hospitality industry has remained stable in spite of the economic slump of the country. After the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, the industry had suffered a devastation brought about by the consumers fear in traveling to far places and even going out in crowded restaurants. Therefore unfortunate employees were laid off and many suppliers were left unpaid due to the losses incurred by the business. However, two years later, when security measures have been successfully applied, people have lost some insecurities about traveling and the industry is back on its feet. After the nightmare of 9/11, the industry has flourished and ultimately recovered in a year’s time despite of the ongoing economic and security crisis. In 2002 alone, the lodging industry has opened 77 new properties and 19,000 guestrooms. There are also more than 700 properties under construction and 2,112 hotels waiting approval to open. The food and beverage industry sales increased by 3.5% as of 2003 with a net profit value of $437.94 billion compared to the $423.23 billion of 2001. (Campbell, 2003) The hospitality industry is such a diverse and dynamic industry with unlimited opportunities. It is never dull nor tedious for it offers a variety of options for individuals to work in different areas of their choice while still employed under the same industry. (Gailliard, 1998) Mayo (1997) agrees by saying that the hospitality industry offers numerous employment opportunities that span a wide spectrum of career choices. In addition, in the Afro-American race, Gaillard predicts that 45-50% of the workforce and consumers of the hospitality industry will be non-white by year 2000. This means that discrimination among races have grown less and less in the 20th century and this is a very positive improvement in the industry itself. (Gailliard, 1998) However entry into this field requires special preparation, including participation in a hospitality management/administration program at an accredited educational institutions, as well as relevant work experiences. According to Lois Jacobs (1998), one of the important changes in the industry is the fact that it is looking for more applicants who posses a formal training in the facets of the industry rather than in on-the-job trainings alone. However, some managers prefer to assess the interpersonal skills of the individual rather than on educational achievements. According to Jacobs, Marriott’s recruiting officer Steve O’Connor emphasized the hospitality skill, which is all about a winning smile, an open receptive manner, the drive to go beyond the requirement and first-class interaction skills that lead to excellent and superior customer service to the guests. The general manager of Hyatt Regency Crystal City further adds that he is likely to accept candidates who look at him in the eye, smile, joke and laugh and exhibit the spirit and initiative to ensure guest satisfaction. (Jacobs, 1998) In other words, job applicants must possess a service attitude in addition to management and leadership skills. They must also be flexible and enjoy serving guests. Hospitality careers present the most energizing, inspiring, and challenging options and opportunities today. Technology, intense competition, shrinking world border, economic growth and an increased level of guest expectations are some reasons hospitality careers are considered “hot” careers now and for the emerging 21st century. Hospitality careers include a broad spectrum of career choices found in restaurants, cruise ships, gaming, culinary, vending, and gourmet groceries/food services. Within each category are a multitude of jobs. Some specific job titles include the following: manager, director, supervisor, coordinator of food services, room divisions, housekeeping, laundry, guest services, beverages services, room services, convention services, banquet and special functions, valet parking and bellmen services, business and reservation services. These are but a few of the titles found in the choices of hospitality careers used by hospitality industry (Mayo, 1997). Moreover, it is said that options and opportunities are unlimited for people preparing for careers in hospitality. For success, pursuing a career requires a special level of preparation which includes enrolling in a hospitality management or administration program at an accredited college or university. Additionally, it is vital for the student or hospitality graduate to have potential qualities to the hospitality entrepreneurship. First potential quality is service attitude which means that one must be inspired to provide service that exceeds the expectation of guests and going an extra mile to make a guest comfortable and abiding with the corporate rules. Second potential quality is flexibility and open-mindedness. This means that one have to accept the fact that changes are rapid and constant. It is important that one should be aware that in the hospitality industry, rapid change is the norm. Third potential quality is enjoying serving people. One must enjoy, care about people of diverse cultures, backgrounds, and social agendas. Hospitality is a people service people business in a atmosphere of ambience, care and excited employees who smile and are genuinely interested in serving guests. Guests expect positive experiences when they pay for a room, food, beverages or some other product or service. Fourth potential quality is management and leadership qualities. One must know and practice the business functions of planning, directing, controlling, staffing, coordinating and evaluating hospitality operations. Leadership qualities includes being able to develop vision that when implemented adds value to an operation. A leader whose vision has no strategic planning and action is like a manager who plans to fail because he failed to plan. Taking action within the parameters of operation demonstrates leadership potential. Other leadership skills or qualities include staying in a learning mode, promoting team concepts as you develop people and develop the greatest abilities like accountability, credibility, reliability and responsibility. The fifth potential quality is enjoying what you do. One needs to have a great satisfaction and enjoyment with what one is doing to be able to extend such a satisfaction to the customer. It is important to realize that each day in the industry is an avenue for a fresh insight and great challenge and a chance to meet new people and be an instrument for their enjoyment. An entrepreneur must realize that people possess individual differences and we have to cater to their diverse and varying desires. We cannot have the same model for everyone, we have to constantly innovate and improve to meet the standards of the global market. Lastly, it is very essential that a hotel or resort manager must instill the value of dedication and commitment to all its employees in the entire organization. Many hospitality industry firms open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If this is the case, all hotel services should also be available 24 hours a day seven days a week, This schedule demands must be very taxing and stressful for managers and workers, that is why it is necessary that per...