Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Hotel Sector: A Hilton Hotel Case Study

This report investigates the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the hotel sector, using Hilton Hotel as a case study. The introduction highlights the challenges faced by the industry, including travel restrictions, lockdowns, and employment losses. The research aims to identify the pandemic's impact, evaluate the issues Hilton faces, and explore strategies for recovery. A literature review examines the economic and operational challenges, including revenue decline, job losses, and the need for new strategies. The research methodology includes a positivism philosophy, a quantitative research method, and a deductive approach, using primary and secondary data sources. Data was collected through questionnaires from Hilton Hotel employees, and a Gantt chart is included for project management. The report identifies the need for hotels to adapt to new consumer expectations, manage price wars, and ensure safety and hygiene to regain customer confidence and achieve long-term sustainability.

COVID-19 Coronavirus
pandemic and impact on hotel
sector
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Research Title:.................................................................................................................................3
COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic and impact on hotel sector. A case study on Hilton Hotel.....3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Research aim and objective....................................................................................................4
Research questions.................................................................................................................4
Literature Review.............................................................................................................................5
Research Methodology....................................................................................................................7
Gantt chart........................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11
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Research Title:
COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic and impact on hotel sector. A case
study on Hilton Hotel
INTRODUCTION
Each and every business organisations around the world are facing number of challenges as
well as losses due to the outbreak of covid-19 pandemic. It has been identified that the hardest-
hit industry is hotel sector (Hao, Xiao and Chon, 2020). Due to the number of travel restrictions
as well as lockdowns imposed by countries around the world in order to break the chain of the
spread of the virus there are number of short term as well as big is long term challenges is faced
by this industry, as from now Hotel owners and independent hotel chains and having major
responsibility to continue their operations with the new world of hospitability by effectively
redefining productivity, safety and sustainability. In addition to this it has been identified that
employment loss is the major challenge which is affecting organisations within this industry.
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Along with this hotel market players are also required to promote dynamic price cuts in order to
continue their business. This pandemic have adversely affected this industry and created a
number of challenges which is required to be overcome by hotel owners in order to effectively
robbers consumer connect ecosystem as to form their operations while assuring long-term
sustainability.
Present report has been conducted on health and hotel which is performing its business
operations in hospitality industry. It is one of the global recognised brands and provides number
of services to customers. In this report formative discussion has been conducted on the aim,
coronavirus pandemic and the impact upon hotel sector. In addition to this report involves
objectives of research, question and literature review through which in depth analysis the covid-
19 upon business within hotel sector is identified. Along with this report include discussion upon
research methodology that involves aspects like research philosophy, research method, approach
and source of data. Along with this report involve instrument and sample method which is used
to conduct is report. Furthermore, Gantt chart is also given in this report that allows to manage
research activities in effective manner.
Research aim and objective
Aim
“To identify the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on hotel sector”. A case study of Hilton
hotel.
Objectives
Research objectives are stated below:
 To determine the impact of Covid-19 on hotel sector.
 To evaluate the issues that Hilton hotel is facing due to Covid-19 on its business
operations.
 To identify the strategies that can be implemented by Hilton hotel to overcome the impact
of Covid-19 on its hospitality operations.
Research questions
 What is the impact of Covid-19 on hotel sector?
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 What are the issues that Hilton hotel is facing due to Covid-19 on its business operations?
 What are the strategies that can be implemented by Hilton hotel to overcome the impact
of Covid-19 on its hospitality operations?
Literature Review
Impact of Covid-19 on hotel sector
As per the view point of Le and Phi, 2020 due to the outbreak of Covid-19 each and
every business sector across the entire world are facing economic as well as corporate loss that
lead towards sharp selloff in equity market across the globe. It has been identified that the major
impact of covid-19 is upon hospitality sector, as in order to break the chain of covid-19 spread
government of all the countries around the world imposed lockdown in order to curb the spread
of Covid-19 that affected business operations of restaurant services, tourism and travel. In
addition to this it has been identified that business organisations in hospitality industry or facing
serious challenges as there is significant decline in revenues, job losses, insolvency in the sector.
According to the report of The World Travel and Tourism Council it has been identified that the
covid-19 pandemic can lead to words cutting down of 50 million jobs in this sector. Along with
this it has been identified that there is large scale travel destruction on hotel industry due to this
pandemic that lead towards slowdown in economic activity of this industrial segment.
Furthermore, according to the analysis it has been identified that this industry is facing number
of threats which is been imposed by this unexpected pandemic (Pettenuzzo, Sabbatucci and
Timmermann, 2020). This industry is it impacted due to this pandemic that lead towards number
of losses of the organisations who are operating in this segment. Thus, according the above
mentioned analysis it has been identified that there is an adverse impact of covid-19 on
hospitality industry that affects each and every segment such as jobs, profit business operations.
In addition to this it has been identified that some of the organisations are even striving to ensure
their sustainability. Hotel sector get adversely affected due to this pandemic and are facing
countless loss. There is an adverse impact of covid-19 on hotel industry that leads number of
organisations in this sector to face many losses in terms of sustainability and continuous business
operations.
Issues that Hilton hotel is facing due to Covid-19 on its business operations
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As per the view point of Bove and Benoit, 2020 due to coronavirus number of adverse
circumstances has been faced by each and every industry around the world. However hospitality
industry is somehow affected at greater extent due to the lockdown imposed by countries around
the world. In addition to this, it has been evaluated that, due to this endemic hotel revenue
managers are struggling to effectively manage price wars, occupancy drops as well as pressure to
reduce rates. It has been identified that in order to make dramatic price cuts there will significant
affect on quality, experiences and other business operations. In addition to this it has been
identified that the major challenge for hotels owners is to provide safe and hygienic place for
customers, employees or guest by taking all the necessary measures stated by government and
healthcare authorities. Furthermore it has been identified that it is the challenge for organisations
operating their functions in hotel sector to effectively gain confidence of customers by offering
them safe and secure environment in order to overcome the impact of covid-19 Hotel market
area face number of challenges in order to device destructive marketing strategy with the use of
strong digital presence in order to ensure reputation as well as visibility in market segment. In
order to significantly maintain profit margin hotels are facing challenges to design attractive
packages as well as in offers for customers in order to attract them towards services and
facilities. Furthermore, according the analysis it has been identified that organisations within this
sector are also facing challenges to have sensible cost cuts in order to make sure that that will not
affect their long as well as short-term business investments (Nhamo, Dube and Chikodzi, 2020).
It is essential for hotel to effectively evaluate emerging market opportunities in order to develop
futuristic plans according to the analysis. It has been identified that in there is aggressive
competitiveness among companies within hotel sectors that creating challenges to overcome the
crisis of this pandemic and survive and recover from the heavy losses that has been faced by
them such as shortage of employment opportunities after the crisis.
Strategies that can be implemented by Hilton hotel to overcome the impact of Covid-19 on its
hospitality operations
According to the point of Lai and Wong, 2020 it has been identified that hotel sector is
facing number challenges due to the outbreak of corona virus. This is basically related to
employment as well as occupancy issues. In addition to this it has been identified that this
industry is severely affected due to the outbreak of corona virus. However according to the
analyses it has been identified that there are a number of strategies with the help of which losses
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can be overcome by organisations who are conducting their operations in hotel sector. With the
help of borrowers and lenders and servicers organisation within this industry can continue to
provide their facilities to customers (Sarwari, Huq and Minar, 2020). With the lift on travel
restrictions which is an opportunity through which organisations in hotel sector can come out
with best options for customers. It is essential for companies within this sector to act with
maturity and work together in order to show to hospitality commitments in order to cope up with
the losses that have been suffered due to covid pandemic. In this with the help of different
strategies like providing cost effective services to customers with high quality and proper safety
measure is the best way through which hotels can effectively overcome the losses that has been
suffered by them. In addition to this, with the help of collaborative approach organisations
within this sector can ensure sustainability. Furthermore by engaging with government as well as
local communities companies within hotel sector can enhance confidence level of customers and
can significantly provide them services according to their changing needs as well as references.
Research Methodology
In order to fulfil research outcomes in a justifiable and sustainable manner they are
various types of research approaches as well as methodologies through which research can be
accomplished in an effective manner.
Research philosophy-
Research philosophy mainly includes four different items that are Positivism,
Interpretivism, Pragmatism and Realism. With the help of these investigator can accomplish
research objectives in a well-defined an efficient way. In addition to this it has been identified
that as to accomplish present research objective investigator take use of positivism as to
effectively fulfil research outcomes in practical and scientific manner.
Research method-
Research methodology mainly involved two primary elements that are quantitative as
well as qualitative (Shneider, Kudriavtsev and Vakhrusheva, 2020). These methods allow
researchers to fulfil research objectives with more effectiveness, as to fulfil research outcomes of
present research investigator take advantage of quantitative research as to research objectives in
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an effective manner. With the help of this investigator acquire information and data from
evaluating respondent’s viewpoint.
Research approach-
According to the analysis it has been identified that there are basically two forms of
research approaches that are inductive as well as deductive. With the help of these investigators
can accomplish research objectives with more efficiency, as to fulfil present research investigator
take advantage of deductive research approach in order to accomplish research outcomes while
assuring effective success.
Source of data-
Primary and secondary sources of data collection method allow it investigator to evaluate
information in data from different sources. With help of this research outcomes can be conducted
with more effectiveness (Bove and Benoit, 2020). To fulfil present research outcome
investigating will take use of both secondary as well as primary source of data collection. In this
investigator will take advantage of questionnaire in order to ask question on present topic from
respondents. While on the other while if it is talked about secondary research, investigator
acquire information from journals, existing records, books, articles and more.
Instrument used-
In order to accomplish present result outcome investigator will collect and acquire data
from questionnaire method through primary data collection method.
Sample method-
In this investigator will acquire information from primary sources in which investigator
will ask questions from 70 respondents those who are employees of Hilton Hotel.
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Gantt chart
Gantt chart is defined as a bar chart the duly illustrate project schedule with the help of
this investigator can effectively manage their project while placing activities against proper time
schedule. With the help of this investigator can accomplish complex project with more efficiency
that provides investigator to accomplish research outcomes in an effective manner. With the help
this investigator can have graphical illustration of schedule to which they can effectively co-
ordinate, plan and track specific tasks in a project.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Hao, F., Xiao, Q. and Chon, K., 2020. COVID-19 and China’s hotel industry: Impacts, a disaster
management framework, and post-pandemic agenda. International Journal of Hospitality
Management, 90, p.102636.
Lai, I.K.W. and Wong, J.W.C., 2020. Comparing crisis management practices in the hotel
industry between initial and pandemic stages of COVID-19. International Journal of
Contemporary Hospitality Management.
Le, D. and Phi, G., 2020. Strategic responses of the hotel sector to COVID-19: Toward a refined
pandemic crisis management framework. International Journal of Hospitality
Management, p.102808.
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Nhamo, G., Dube, K. and Chikodzi, D., 2020. Impacts and implications of COVID-19 on the
global hotel industry and Airbnb. In Counting the Cost of COVID-19 on the global
tourism industry (pp. 183-204). Springer, Cham.
Wu, F., Zhang, Q., Law, R. and Zheng, T., 2020. Fluctuations in Hong Kong hotel industry room
rates under the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak: Evidence from big data
on OTA channels. Sustainability, 12(18), p.7709.
Barrero, J.M., Bloom, N. and Davis, S.J., 2020. Covid-19 is also a reallocation shock (No.
w27137). National Bureau of Economic Research.
Pettenuzzo, D., Sabbatucci, R. and Timmermann, A., 2020. Dividend suspensions and cash flow
risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. Available at SSRN 3628608.
Gunay, S. and Kurtulmuş, B.E., 2020. COVID-19 SOCIAL DISTANCING AND THE US
SERVICE SECTOR: WHAT DO WE LEARN?. Research in International Business and
Finance, p.101361.
Bove, L.L. and Benoit, S., 2020. Restrict, clean and protect: signaling consumer safety during the
pandemic and beyond. Journal of Service Management.
Shneider, A., Kudriavtsev, A. and Vakhrusheva, A., 2020. Can melatonin reduce the severity of
COVID-19 pandemic?. International Reviews of Immunology, pp.1-10.
Wong, I.A., Ou, J. and Wilson, A., 2020. Evolution of hoteliers’ organizational crisis
communication in the time of mega disruption. Tourism Management, 84, p.104257.
Sarwari, D., Huq, S. and Minar, T.A., 2020. COVID-19: The Way Luxury Hotels Deal with the
Pandemic. Available at SSRN 3690758.
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