Report on Managing Accommodation Services: Unit 7 Analysis

This report delves into the multifaceted aspects of managing accommodation services within the hospitality sector, using the Four Seasons Hotel London as a prime example. It explores the industry's structure, including the classification of services into luxury, mid-range, and budget categories, and examines different forms of ownership like sole traders, partnerships, limited companies, and franchises, outlining their respective advantages and disadvantages. The report further analyzes grading and classification systems, highlighting the significance of star ratings and online review platforms like TripAdvisor. It details the crucial functions of a front office, such as reception, reservation, and telephone services, and emphasizes their importance in enhancing guest experiences and operational efficiency. Finally, it provides an overview of key roles within the front office department, including the front office manager, guest services manager, and various desk clerks, underscoring the importance of effective management and customer service. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of organizational systems and culture in defining a hotel's market value.

Managing Accommodation
Services
Unit 7

Introduction
The effective management of the accommodation services in hospitality sector is
considered as the most tough to practice and the managers in accommodation
providing organizations have to face a lot of things while setting up the planning
and control for the overall process. The luxury hotel industry of UK has a well
renowned name of Four Seasons Hotel London in it, .Currently it is owned by
Cascade Investment Kingdom Holding Company Triples Holding is ranked
among top class luxury hotel. The hotel was established in London England in
1921 as a very small venture of accommodation service provider in United
Kingdom.

Introduction to the industry
Four Seasons Hotel London is the hotel that ha s the most significant place in the
the super luxury accommodation service industry of London, UK. The major
component in the hospitality industry of United Kingdom does involve the
elements of .accommodation service at a luxurious range. The hotel does also
provides the services to organist the meetings and events. These events involves
major cooperative meetings and conferences.

Scale and size of the accommodation services
Luxury – The highest range of service are classified in the luxury section. The
visitors who subscribes this segment are befitted from getting certain advantages.
Mid-range – The mid range segment involves the type of medium scale hospitality
sector. He hotels with rating of 3 and 4 are classified in mid range scale of
accommodation service
Budget or Limited – The hotels in accommodation service which provides a very
limited options of facilities to its visitors and new guests. These are considered as
the cheap source of getting the accommodation service.

Different Forms of ownership
The ownership in accommodation services are generally classified in multiple forms
these are as sole traders, partnership, limited company by shares etc. some of the
major classifications are described with advantages and disadvantages hereby in
relation to the hospitality sector of UK:-

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Ownership Description Advantage Disadvantage
Sole Trader A single owner of an accommodation
service is known as the sole trader. No profit is divided on the basis
of ownership. The single person is liable for
all the negative factors all by
oneself.
Partnership When two or more persons come
together to perform the business
according to their proportion of ratio.
There is no compulsion for
paying the income tax within
these partnership firms.
The rise of conflicts is
common in these type of
companies.
Limited
Company A certain limit is determined in these
types of firms in respect of either
shares or liability.
Each and every member is liable
only for their respective share and
investment in the said
organisation. .
Outsourcing of funds is not
allowed as these types of
organisations have fixed
capital.
Franchise It is a systematic approach of
expanding the business by sharing the
ownership particularly of every
branch under the company's
Franchises can enhance the
revenue and popularity of the
firm. The optimum market
capturing can also be achieved by
the accommodation service
provider.
This form increases a high
chances of brand failure
among the respective market.
If the said franchisee would
not be able to operate on
certain standards of the
ultimate hotel.

Different Forms of ownership
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Grading, classifications systems and online review sites
Grading
System Definition Example
5 stars The rating of five star hotel is considered as the top rank in hospitality sector. These type
of hotels provides the best amenities to their guests . Four Seasons
Hotels
London
4 stars Those hotels which provides premium services but on a limited value are considered in the
range of 4 star segment. These service consists of providing valet parking, laundering,
private dining etc.
Edinburgh
Grosvenor
Hotel
3 stars Such type of hotels provides the best services in average criteria. For instance any
accommodation centre that provides amenities like swimming pool, restaurants or other
entraining elements but only for a specific period of time and in addition to that they are
considered as the public places .
Ramada
Hounslow
2 stars These hotels share the same qualities as of the 1 star hotel. Such as they provide the same
facilities with some extra amenities. Such as wall coverings and timely mattress changing City Inn
1 star In such type of hotel, only the basic facilities are provided whereas the staying charges are
also the least. School House
Hotel

Online review sites
Accommodations are generally be classified according to the standards which are set up by various online reviewing
channels.
These portals helps the visitors to select the right hotel as per the guidelines which the accommodation service follows.
The overall experiences of the guests does also helps in getting the feedback for the particular hotel.
TripAdvisor is one of the most efficient website which categories numerous hotels and other accommodation
providers by rating them according to the quality services and other specific factors. It helps to the potential visitors
to choose the best place to stay by considering the star rating of a hotel.

Functions of front office within a variety of
accommodation services
Reception: The reception is referred to as the front desk of the hotel where the staff is obliged to
greet and interact with every new visitor. Here in this function the front officer is assigned to take
the necessary information of the client and making entries in the hotel entry checklist.
Reservation: This function of their front office is considered as the pre-booking of the rooms or
staying locations with their respective guests. This is performed to ensure that the regular and
genuine consumers get their accommodation services without any excess time taking process.
Telephone: The telephone section of the front office at Four seasons Hotel is responsible to attend
the calls and answer the queries off customers and making their bookings. This function is also
used to make a contact with the previous customers in case of any lost and found.

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Importance of these function
The necessities to establish and operate an efficient front office management are required by the
respective hotel in terms of increasing the effective role of accommodating the new and potential
visitors. The reception center in a front office has a high value in representing the overall hotel as
well as the other functions like a good reservation system increases the efficiency of managing the
accommodations on time and cash and billing process helps in maintaining the balance among
financial system of hotel in a transparent manner.

Key roles within the front office department
The front office department plays certain key roles while attending the guests. Thus they
have to be humble, respondent, formal as well as effective at the same time of operating
their all functions. The respective management of Four Seasons Hotel London has
segmented the each and every function of front office desk into sub groups and
departments. These department are assigned to perform their respective key functions.
The reservation manager, guest services manager and check in manager are the
subordinate mangers to the front office management.