Impact of COVID-19 on Hospitality Industry: A Case Study on Savoy Hotel

This research investigates the impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality industry, with a case study on the UK-based luxury hotel Savoy. It aims to understand the changes in the industry, impact on consumer behavior, challenges faced, and identify solutions.

Research and
Study skills
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Contents
TITLE: An investigation into impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality industry. A case study on
Savoy Hotel......................................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Research Background......................................................................................................................3
Research Aim and Objectives..........................................................................................................4
Research rationale............................................................................................................................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
Critical reflection.............................................................................................................................5
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TITLE: An investigation into impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality
industry. A case study on Savoy Hotel.
INTRODUCTION
The hospitality industry has been hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, as hospitality
is dependent on travel and tourism, which was restricted during the height of COVID-19
pandemic in major tourism areas across the world. COVID-19 has not only affected the
profitability of the hospitality industry, but also introduced new inventions and practices in the
hospitality industry, which were initiated in order to handle changing consumer behavior during
COVID-19. This research focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality industry and
the selected organization for this investigation is the UK based luxury Hotel Savoy.
Background of the company: Savoy Hotel is considered one of the most luxurious hotels
in United Kingdom and is located on the posh area of central London. The hotel is near river
themes and offers in rumors, wide variety of amenities as well as hospitality services, including
dining and free Wi-Fi services. The Savoy hotel has been considered a leader in the hospitality
industry of United Kingdom because it has adopted the hospitality services to fit needs of the
consumers and ensure that consumers gain the best experience. The Subway hotel has been in the
hospitality industry of United Kingdom for the past 130 years offering consumers exceptional
luxury experience.
Research Background
The hospitality industry is one of the most volatile industries in the world because it is
affected by various external factors such as traveling conditions and changing consumer
demands. This means that businesses in the hospitality industry have to continuously innovate
and reinvent themselves in order to ensure that consumers are attracted to the company, and the
company remains in a competitive position. COVID-19 pandemic led to closure of various
tourism and travel sites along with international travel as various governments impacted
guidelines to reduce spread of the virus. In United Kingdom, the implementation of a
countrywide lockdown affected the hospitality industry and influenced the industry to change its
ways in order to facilitate better profitability after the pandemic.
Businesses across the hospitality industry have adopted new practices and innovative
techniques in order to attract consumers. In a post covert environment. It is important to
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understand the ways in which the hospitality industry can quickly cover from the COVID-19
pandemic and the overall impact. In addition to this, the understanding the changes in consumer
behavior because of the COVID-19 pandemic in case of hospitality industry can also help
businesses make plans for future changes. it is important to conduct research on the topic of
impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality industry because it helps domain strategies which can be
used by the hospitality industry to recover and flourish in the aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic.
Research Aim and Objectives
Research aim: The aim of the research is to “examine the impact of COVID-19 on the
hospitality industry. A case study on Savoy Hotel”
Research Objectives:
 To understand the changes in hospitality industry introduced by COVID-19. A case study
on Savoy Hotel.
 To determine impact of COVID-19 on hospitality consumer behaviour. A case study on
Savoy Hotel.
 To evaluate the challenges faced by hospitality sector because of COVID-19. A case
study on Savoy Hotel.
 To identify solutions which can help hospitality industry from negative impact of
COVID-19. A case study on Savoy Hotel.
Research Questions:
 What are the changes in hospitality industry introduced by COVID-19?
 What is the impact of COVID-19 on hospitality consumer behaviour?
 What are the challenges faced by hospitality sector because of COVID-19?
 What are the solutions which can help hospitality industry from negative impact of
COVID-19?
Research rationale
The reason behind selection of impact of global 19 on the hospitality industry as the
research topic is that hospitality industry has been fatally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
and conducting research on this area can help understand the impact of global crisis on
businesses and the ways in which businesses can take action to recover from global crisis
situations. This will help build understanding of the ways in which businesses can recover from
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crisis situation, which is useful in developing professional knowledge needed to survive in the
corporate world. The personal interest of developing knowledge about the hospitality industry is
another reason for conducting research on the specific topic. In addition to this understanding,
the environment of hospitality industry will provide sufficient managerial knowledge useful in
time of crisis which can help gain success in future career. Finally, personal interest in
starting own enterprise will also benefit from this research, as looking at the ways global crisis
affects the hospitality industry can develop knowledge about how to manage enterprise to
survive crisis situations.
TASK 2
Critical reflection
From the above, I have learned that the impact of COVID-19 are enhancing day by day
within hospitality industry. This has been that COVID-19 has huge impacts upon particular
sector. Moreover, I have evaluated that COVID-19 has not only affected the profitability of the
hospitality industry, but also introduced new inventions and practices in the hospitality industry,
which were initiated in order to handle changing consumer behavior during COVID-19.
Hospitality have been hit hard by corona virus pandemic as well as effect has been uneven; clubs
and bars having fared the worst but campsites has relatively effective year in comparison to rest
of the industry. Along with this, customers spending upon hospitality initiated for enhancing in
year 2021 but remains at lesser than 70% of pre-pandemic levels; a similar image is been seen in
turnover. Also, the job vacancies within hospitality industry has been huge enhances as well as
are higher than pre-pandemic levels. However into June 2021, the number of staff in sector
remained 11% below February 2020 levels.
In addition to this, COVID-19 pandemic led to closure of various tourism and travel sites
along with international travel as various governments impacted guidelines to reduce spread of
the virus. In United Kingdom, the implementation of a countrywide lockdown affected the
hospitality industry and influenced the industry to change its ways in order to facilitate better
profitability after the pandemic. Also, the understanding the changes in consumer behavior
because of the COVID-19 pandemic in case of hospitality industry can also help businesses
make plans for future changes.
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Furthermore, The Code of Practice for Research is vital reference tool for supporting the
investigators as well as research firms into conduct of study of higher standards and quality.
Additionally, there are various code of practice are as follows:
 The integrity of any investigations is based not upon their scientific rigour, but also on
their ethical adequacy. Ethical problems are various and varied, as well as can be quite
difficulties. In addition to this, research incorporating participants of human is considered
through several different disciplines and perfume into a wider range of institutions and
settings. While few problems are particular towards specific professional groups, whole
investigation might be guided through a set of primary ethical principles for assuring the
safeguards of human participants.
 Various procedures of investigation might be described upon an information sheet written
into simple language which is simple comprehensible through potential participants of
study
 Additionally, the information sheet might set out: the intent of research, process risk, any
advantages to individuals or others in future or to society, a statement which person can
reduce to participates, those participation is voluntary as well as informed related to
withdrawal process and invitation for asking questions.
 Participants have to acknowledge the intent as well as nature of research , what
participation into investigation needs as well as how the outcomes or findings would be
utilised.
 Voluntary informed consent, have generally be gained from any participants who become
competent for providing those consent. If deception is needed for the research, as well as
have been approved ethically thereafter they also required to be an effective debriefing
document for participants.
 Researcher has to follow the University’s Data Protection Policy and Guidelines.
Moreover, the University Data Protection policy and students privacy notice sets the rules
for adherence to needs of data protection laws.
 Researchers have to be aware of risks to anonymity, privacy and confidentiality that
posed through whole forms of personal information storage as well as processing that
incorporates paper & computer files, e-mail records, audio and videotapes or any other
data which determines an individual.
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CONCLUSION
As per the above, it has been concluded that COVID-19 has not only affected the
profitability of the hospitality industry, but also introduced new inventions and practices in the
hospitality industry, which were initiated in order to handle changing consumer behavior during
COVID-19.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Davahli, M.R., Karwowski, W., Sonmez, S. and Apostolopoulos, Y., 2020. The hospitality
industry in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic: Current topics and research
methods. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(20),
p.7366.
Jiang, Y. and Wen, J., 2020. Effects of COVID-19 on hotel marketing and management: a
perspective article. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management.
Kaushal, V. and Srivastava, S., 2021. Hospitality and tourism industry amid COVID-19
pandemic: Perspectives on challenges and learnings from India. International journal of
hospitality management, 92, p.102707.
Kaushal, V. and Srivastava, S., 2021. Hospitality and tourism industry amid COVID-19
pandemic: Perspectives on challenges and learnings from India. International journal of
hospitality management, 92, p.102707.
Sanabria-Díaz, J.M., Aguiar-Quintana, T. and Araujo-Cabrera, Y., 2021. Public strategies to
rescue the hospitality industry following the impact of COVID-19: A case study of the
European Union. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 97, p.102988.
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