Case Study: The Impact of COVID-19 on London B&B Sector Supply Side

This case study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the London Bed and Breakfast (B&B) sector, specifically from a supply-side perspective, using Mountview Guest-house Crouch End as a case study. It identifies issues such as supply chain disruptions, reduced customer base, and labor shortages faced by B&Bs. The study evaluates strategies employed by Mountview Guest-house Crouch End to overcome these challenges, including the use of machine learning, AI, and mobile application integration. It further explores the advantages gained by the guest house through these strategies, such as improved market position and customer retention. Finally, the study suggests strategies like remote working, enhanced safety measures, fair recruitment policies, and employee training to help Mountview Guest-house Crouch End and other B&Bs mitigate the ongoing impact of COVID-19, aiming to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on London B&B sector’s business performance.

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Contents
Title: The impact of COVID-19 on the London B&B sector: A supply perspective”..........3
INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................3
1.2 Background .............................................................................................................3
1.3 Mini literature review ...............................................................................................3
To analyse the impact of COVID-19 on London B&B sector’s.................................3
To determine the various issues faced by Mountview Guest-house Crouch End
due to COVID-19.......................................................................................................4
To evaluate the several ways applied by Mountview Guest-house Crouch in order
to overcome the COVID-19 impact...........................................................................5
To ascertain the various advantages which are obtained by Mountview Guest-
house Crouch by overcoming the COVID-19 impact................................................5
To suggest the different strategies which would be utilized by Mountview Guest-
house Crouch in order to overcome the impact of COVID-19?................................6
1.4 Problem statement or aim and objectives................................................................6
1.5 Research methodology............................................................................................7
1.6 Timescale.................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................10

Title: The impact of COVID-19 on the London B&B sector: A supply
perspective”.
INTRODUCTION
In United Kingdom, London B&B sector is known to be developing industry in which several
activities as well as roles are being conducted in order to facilitates the services to their guests.
The present research highlights the impacts of COVID-19 on London B&B sector’. The topic
which are going to be discussed in this study are background, literature review, problem
statement, research aim, objectives and questions. Apart from this, research methodology and
time scale are also discussed in this research proposal.
1.2 Background
London B&B is considered as the modern accommodation capacity which is located across the
London Hotel districts. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic situation has impacted whole
industry across the world essentially London B&B sector. Additionally, respective industry in
London is largely impacted business performance as this outbreaks forced many firms to shut
down their business. In addition to this, it has been seen that B&B sector of London and faced
various problems due to COVID-19 in which entities evaluated minimisation in their
profitability, revenues and so on.
1.3 Mini literature review
To analyse the impact of COVID-19 on London B&B sector’s.
According to Fu, (2020), due to the implication of COVID-19 the industry of B&B has faced
different issues in which the industry had issues in managing their survival. The B&B industry is
directly related with its customers and due to global pandemic COVID-19 there were several
restrictions in which people were not able to come out and use services of B&B. This was the
major reason that this industry has faced severe issues in attracting customers and dealing with
their business policies.
One of the significant effects of COVID - 19 circumstances has been interruption inside
the production network which has made London B&B area free their proficiency as well as
adequacy inside the market. This has likewise made London B&B business see decrease in client
base because of absence of item accessibility. The supply chain of B&B has disrupted as due to
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certain lockdown and other restrictions this was not easier for the industry to instigate regular
supply chain which lead them into facing of different challenges. On the other hand, as the
pandemic has resulted in different restrictions and lockdown which means that the organisation
was not able to catch needed customers and retaining them as well.
To determine the various issues faced by Mountview Guest-house Crouch End due to
COVID-19.
According to Chang and Kim, (2020), due to global pandemic the hospitality industry has
faced the major issues as the industry is directly linked with their customers. The industry has
developed differential aspects due to which they are wholly dependent over their customers and
within the period of COVID the industry is facing negative implication of COVID-19. Some of
the issues are elaborated as under:
The lack of work put an enormous effect on the general creation and efficiency of the
organizations. Disturbance of supply chain additionally caused significant issue during the
pandemic. Because of the lockdown, trading labour and services was very troublesome. Due to
the implication of COVID-19 the labour shortage was seen in the industry as the labour has left
their jobs and reached to their homes. It has been analysed that the time of COVID-19 was very
crucial due to which industry faced different financial crisis and disasters. The buying behaviour
of customer has changed amid COVID-19 as customer now willing to expand over their
necessities. Another issue is related with maintaining hygiene over the premises so that customer
may feel safe and secured. The extra efforts to manage safety and hygiene would lead into
increasing the overall cost of the business offerings by which customer expenditure would
increase. As per the WHO guidelines this has been analysed that there are several regulations and
guidelines which were introduced and these were needed to be followed which has reflected the
services of the organisation. The B&B services is the services which needs higher magnitude of
the research in which direct communication with customer is needed to be build up so that the
impact of COVID-19 has diminished the existence of the industry.
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To evaluate the several ways applied by Mountview Guest-house Crouch in order to
overcome the COVID-19 impact.
According to Sinem, Känzig and Surico, (2020), The several ways applied by Mountview Guest-
house Crouch in order to overcome the COVID-19 impact are:
Machine learning and AI system is embraced as truly outstanding and powerful pattern
close by this with the help of taking advantage of advancement like AI search and booking
informational index firms in London can gainfully allow clients to search for and book rooms in
lodgings. With the help of machine learning minimise interaction with customer will be made so
that safe stay can be provided to the customers. On the other hand, by giving options to the
customers to book hotel by using internet this will develop ease within the customers and could
be helpful for Mountview Guest-house Crouch to catch attention of higher customers.
Mobile application integration, this is attempted as one of the fundamental ways for
London B&B firms to improve their business execution. The Mountview Guest-house Crouch
has introduced mobile application integration so that to platform to the customers can be given in
respect of booking the services and using the same. This is the gateway which would be helpful
for the customers to use such services in easy manner and retain into the organisation for longer
period.
To ascertain the various advantages which are obtained by Mountview Guest-house
Crouch by overcoming the COVID-19 impact
According to Huang and et. al., (2020), this has been analysed that with the help of
dealing with the impact of COVID-19 the hospitality industry is able to regain their market
position which means that losses was recovered in a very short span of time. On the other hand,
with the help of appointing talented staff this is helpful in meeting business standards and
objectives in timely manner. Besides this using such measures hospitality industry was able to
manage their profitability in effective manner so that overall business functions can be managed
in effective manner. The major advantage is related with retaining customers as in the context of
hospitality industry this is analysed that the industry needs direct interactions with the customers
so with the help of using appropriate measures this is helpful in retaining customers for longer
duration of time.
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To suggest the different strategies which would be utilized by Mountview Guest-house
Crouch in order to overcome the impact of COVID-19?
According to Thams and et. al, (2020), there are different systems that can be taken on by
Mountview Guest-house Crouch to conquer the difficulties presented by the circumstance of
COVID - 19 pandemic. The associations can utilize the system of remote working which will
permit the business to protect its representatives as well as guarantee that keep up with its
proficiency inside their business tasks. Moreover, it can permit the associations to keep their
representatives intention in the pandemic circumstance.
By taking all the aspects of COVID-19 the company is needed to manage safety and
hygiene measures so that customers can be retained and at the same time business functions can
be managed appropriately. The hospitality industry is also needed to use measures of fair
recruitment policies so that appropriate staff can be appointed and at the same time business
functions can be managed in significant manner.
Another strategy is related with giving prominent trainings and development measures to
their staff so that skills and capabilities of employees can be enhanced and they can cater
customer in better way. In hospitality industry customers are directly related with employees so
that by giving ample amount of trainings to the employee this will be easier for the organisation
that to acquire desired market image.
1.4 Problem statement or aim and objectives
Research Aim
“To analyse the impact of COVID-19 on London B&B sector’s business performance. A
case study on Mountview Guest-house Crouch”.
Research Objectives
 To analyse the impact of COVID-19 on London B&B sector.
 To determine the various issues faced by Mountview Guest-house Crouch due to
COVID-19.
 To evaluate the several ways applied by Mountview Guest-house Crouch in order to
overcome the COVID-19 impact.
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 To ascertain the various advantages which are obtained by Mountview Guest-house
Crouch by overcoming the COVID-19 impact.
 To suggest the different strategies which would be utilized by Mountview Guest-house
Crouch in order to overcome the impact of COVID-19?
Research Questions
 What are the impacts of COVID-19 on London B&B sector?
 What are the various issues faced by Mountview Guest-house Crouch due to COVID-19?
 What are the several ways applied by Mountview Guest-house Crouch in order to
overcome the COVID-19 impact?
 What are the various advantages which are obtained by Mountview Guest-house Crouch
by overcoming the COVID-19 impact?
 What are the different strategies which would be utilized by Mountview Guest-house
Crouch in order to overcome the impact of COVID-19?
1.5 Research methodology
Research philosophy: Interpretivism research philosophy is taken into account as it is more
appropriate and assist in obtaining information based on facts. The main motive behind this
selection is Interpretivism helps in drawing conclusions which are free from biasness and make
effective use of statistics to obtain more reliable information.
Research method: There are two main forms of research that is quantitative and qualitative. In
the present study, qualitative research is appropriate and effective as it assist in gaining in-depth
and numerical information about topic.
Research approach- It is categorised into two types which is inductive and deductive research
approach. In context to the present investigation, inductive approach is appropriate as it assist in
collecting qualitative information in less time frame.
Data collection: it is mainly categorised into two types which is primary data and secondary
data. In the present study, both of these methods are to be used in obtaining information related
to the topic. The use of primary data would help in gaining first-hand information making the
research more authentic and original. Whereas the secondary data would facilitate the study
through making a vast range of information available through huge availability of articles, books
and journals.
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Data analysis: it refers to the action of analysing data so that better conclusions and
interpretations could be obtained from summarising the data. This can be done through thematic
analysis and frequency distribution analysis but as per this study, thematic will be used as it
helps in understanding and analysing data through effective use of in depth aspects.
Research instrument: It is referred as the technique which is used by researcher in order to
collect data. There are different forms of research instrument that is questionnaire, interview,
focus group and many more. For the present study, interview will be used as it assist in
collecting primary data and also help investigator to collect valid information directly from the
respondents.
1.6 Timescale
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REFERENCES
Books and Journal
Chang, H. and Kim, M., 2020. PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGY FOR COVID-19 FOR
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IN TAIWAN. In BET ON HEALTH, INTERNATIONAL
SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE, OCTOBER (p. 61). Faculty of Tourism, University of
Maribor.
Fu, Y.K., 2020. The impact and recovering strategies of the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons from
Taiwan’s hospitality industry. Cogent Social Sciences, 6(1), p.1829806.
González-Torres, T., Rodríguez-Sánchez, J.L. and Pelechano-Barahona, E., 2021. Managing
relationships in the Tourism Supply Chain to overcome epidemic outbreaks: The case of
COVID-19 and the hospitality industry in Spain. International journal of hospitality
management, 92, p.102733.
Huang and et. al., 2020. Understanding the impact of COVID-19 intervention policies on the
hospitality labor market. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 91,
p.102660.
Mehta, M.P., Kumar, G. and Ramkumar, M., 2021. Customer expectations in the hotel industry
during the COVID-19 pandemic: a global perspective using sentiment analysis. Tourism
Recreation Research, pp.1-18.
Sinem, H., Känzig, D. and Surico, P., 2020. The Distributional Impact of the Pandemic.
Sobaih, A.E.E., and et al., 2021. Responses to COVID-19: The role of performance in the
relationship between small hospitality enterprises’ resilience and sustainable tourism
development. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 94, p.102824.
Thams and et. al, 2020. An initial assessment of economic impacts and operational challenges
for the tourism & hospitality industry due to COVID-19 (No. 2/2020). IUBH Discussion
Papers-Tourismus & Hospitality.
Yang, M. and Han, C., 2021. Revealing industry challenge and business response to Covid-19: a
text mining approach. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management.
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