Research Project: COVID-19 Impact on UK Hospitality - Marriott Hotels

This report investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the UK hospitality industry, focusing specifically on Marriott Hotels. It identifies the challenges faced by the industry during the pandemic, examines the impact on Marriott Hotels' productivity, and evaluates the strategies used by the hotel chain to overcome the consequences of COVID-19. The research utilizes a qualitative methodology, drawing on secondary data sources to analyze the challenges, impacts, and coping mechanisms. Findings highlight the importance of hygiene measures, technology adoption, and communication strategies in maintaining customer trust and operational resilience during and after the pandemic. The study concludes that the hospitality industry, particularly Marriott Hotels, was significantly affected by the pandemic, necessitating adaptive strategies to navigate the crisis.

Foundation Year Research
Project
(Effects of COVID-19 on Marriott
hotel)

Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................3
Research Topic............................................................................................................................3
Research Background..................................................................................................................3
Research Aim..............................................................................................................................3
Research Objectives....................................................................................................................3
Research Problem.......................................................................................................................4
Research Questions.....................................................................................................................4
CHAPTER 2: METHODOLOGY...................................................................................................5
Research methodology................................................................................................................5
Gantt chart...................................................................................................................................5
CHAPTER 3: LITERATURE REVIEW.........................................................................................7
CHAPTER 4: SECONDARY DATA ANALYSIS.........................................................................9
Presentation of findings..............................................................................................................9
Summarisation of findings..........................................................................................................9
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION......................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Research Topic
To identify the effect of COVID-19 on productivity of the UK hospitality industry.
Research Background
Outbreak of global pandemic COVID-19 has created lock down restrictions, closure of
unessential business and restriction on movement of people. This recent pandemic crisis is
considered as one of the unprecedented and influential events for policy makers, market
participants and investors (Ntounis and et. al., 2022). The outbreak of COVID-19 has spilled
over economically to major capital sectors and market. It has also affected the stability and
performance of the whole hospitality industry. The negative impact of global pandemic COVID-
19 has mainly hit service oriented sectors like hospitality industry. Hospitality industry plays
significant functions for job creation and economic growth all over the world (Mitha, 2020). It is
indirectly and directly responsible for creating numerous jobs and the development of whole
nation. During the global pandemic COVID-19, government of the UK have taken many
measures in the fields of economic, health and public (Keogh-Brown and et. al., 2020). These
measures were taken by government for containing the spread of virus in an attempt of
minimising the negative impacts of COVID-19. The major interventions that have taken by
government of the United Kingdom that have majorly impacted the business and operations of
hospitality industry are: lockdown restrictions, social distancing measures, cancelled public
gatherings and many more. Thus, the current study focuses over carrying out in-depth
information about the effects of COVID-19 over productivity of the UK hospitality industry
along with various ways used by hotel to decrease the negative impacts of pandemic.
Research Aim
To identify the effect of COVID-19 on productivity of the UK hospitality industry. A
study on Marriott Hotels
Research Objectives
 To determine the challenges faced by UK hospitality industry during period of COVID-
19
 To examine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on productivity of Marriott Hotels

 To evaluate the ways used by Marriott Hotel for overcoming consequences caused by
COVID-19
Research Problem
The major research problem identified in the current investigation is various challenges
faced by hospitality industry due to outbreak of global pandemic COVID-19 (Filimonau, 2021).
It is being determined in the study that hotels were forced to close their all operations so that
gatherings of people could be stopped and spread of virus could be controlled. Many restrictions
imposed by government on travel of people have negatively impacted performance and
productivity of hotel. Thus, this report carries out the strategies adopted by hotel to overcome the
challenges and consequences of global pandemic COVID-19.
Research Questions
 What are the challenges faced by UK hospitality industry during period of COVID-19?
 What is the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on productivity of Marriott Hotels?
 What are the ways used by Marriott Hotels for overcoming consequences caused by
COVID-19?

CHAPTER 2: METHODOLOGY
Research methodology
It is one of the vital sections in the investigation because it gives methods for the
accumulation and analysis of information (Thambinathan and Kinsella, 2021). The present will
be using qualitative methods of research for accumulating theoretical data and it also includes
secondary source to assemble data.
Qualitative research method: Qualitative research method helps researcher in carrying
out data which is available in theoretical form. This method helps in collecting all that
information which is in text and in non-numerical form (Silverman, 2020). It is generally
required for recording and analysing data which is not available in quantitative form. This
method assists in analysing the opinions, ideas, thoughts and views of other authors about the
proposed research study. The main advantage of using the qualitative method of researcher to
collect in-depth data in shorter time period.
Secondary research method: It is the method of collecting data which is already
collected or published by some other authors for their own purpose and motive. This is the
method which is necessary in an investigation because it helps in finding out the research gap.
The major advantage of secondary research method is that it facilitates in accumulating
information without consuming longer duration (Camic, 2021). There are several secondary
sources such as journals, articles, publications, newspapers, magazines and so on.
Gantt chart
It is the chart which focuses over illustrating schedule of each study. This is the chart that
assists researcher to plan whole investigation in such a manner so that each activity could be
finished in already set deadline. It showcases the start and end date of the whole study along with
dependent tasks and major milestones (Stenfors, Kajamaa and Bennett, 2020). The major
advantage of using Gantt chart is achieving each objective to complete in timely and systematic
way. Gantt chart is formed so that each activity can be broken into smaller tasks and assign apt
time to each activity.

CHAPTER 3: LITERATURE REVIEW
What are the challenges faced by UK hospitality industry during period of COVID-19?
According to Wieczorek-Kosmala (2021), customers book hotels to relax and enjoy but due
to outbreak of COVID-19, people were forced to stay at home. There are several challenges
which are faced by hospitality industry because of global pandemic COVID-19. Hospitality
industry has seen large number of cancellation on pre-booking made by people due to lockdown
restriction imposed by the government. The other major challenge faced by hospitality industry
is decreased revenue and profitability because of unable to carry out their business operations.
Many hotels have shut down permanently due to loss caused by global pandemic. Another major
challenge faced by this industry is giving priority to health and safety of employees and workers
due to fast spread of global pandemic.
What is the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on productivity of Marriott Hotels?
According to Gordon-Wilson (2021), outbreak of COVID-19 has shut down the whole
world’s economy overnight. Many strategies adopted by the government such as community
lockdowns, stay at home orders, social distancing and many more. These restrictions have direct
link with the productivity of hotel because businesses had to stop their operations or decrease
their productivity level. The hotel has to face temporary closure of their business and they have
also seen there was decreased demand. Restrictions created by Government on travelling of
people from one place to another had decreased revenues and occupancies of hotel. Hotel has
made substantial changes in their business operations by ensuring health and safety of employees
as well as customers. Therefore, it is analysed that COVID-19 has forced hotel to lay-off
employees so that they do not need to pay in tough situation, many productive employees have
left the organisation due to fear of pandemic, more expenditure and many more.
What are the ways used by Marriott Hotels for overcoming consequences caused by COVID-
19?
According to Nhamo, Dube and Chikodzi (2020), hotels have mostly affected by the
outbreak of pandemic COVID-19. However, there are many strategies adopted by hotel to
overcome each consequence created by pandemic. Hotel has adopted proper sanitisation and
social distancing measures to give priority to health and safety of employees as well as
customers. This has helped hotel to build confidence among employees and customers that they
are safe in the hotel. The other method by hotel is adopting advanced technology so that physical

touch among people can be reduced and labour intensive could also be decreased. This has
included contact less check-in and check-out so that customers could feel safe.

CHAPTER 4: SECONDARY DATA ANALYSIS
Presentation of findings
With the above information assembled in the section of literature review, it is analysed that
due to global pandemic COVID-19, hotels have seen tremendous change and they have focused
on adopting hygiene measures for reassuring health and safety of guests and employees.
Unmanned reception areas, sanitisation stations and COVID crushing cleaning have become new
norms of hotels (Devereux and et. al., 2020). Hotels have identified that the declaring
commitment to hotel hygiene is necessary for satisfying each concern of the guests. Hotels have
made communication with its guests through different social media channels so that guests could
be familiar with the steps hotels have taken to deal with the situation of COVID-19. Due to
COVID-19, guests have started keeping more expectations with the hotel that they adopt new
and advanced technologies. Hotels have started using sensors by replacing handles, buttons or
any other traditional means for operating devices and entering rooms.
Summarisation of findings
As per the above gathered findings, it is summarised that good hygiene is necessary and
essential for the success of hotel after outbreak of global pandemic COVID-19. Hotels have set
certain protocols, measures and policies to deal with uncertain and unpredictable situations such
as COVID-19 (Spanaki, Papatheodorou and Pappas, 2021). Thus, maintaining hygiene has
played significant role in gaining trust of the customers. Hotels have adopted air sterilisers, air
purifiers, regularly disinfecting surfaces, hygienic door handles, anti-bacterial floor mats and
many more to improve their hygiene services.

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION
From the above assembled information, it is concluded that hospitality industry is majorly
impacted by the outbreak of global pandemic COVID-19. This is the industry which is largely
dependent over travel plan of people but due to COVID-19, customers were quarantined at their
home. Due to restrictions imposed by government hospitality industry was unable to carry out its
business operations and activities. Thus, this report has covered all the negative impacts of
COVID-19 over hospitality industry.

REFERENCES
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Devereux and et. al., 2020. Discretionary fiscal responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Oxford
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Filimonau, V., 2021. The prospects of waste management in the hospitality sector post COVID-
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