Travelodge Hotel: A Comprehensive Report on Personal Development

This report examines the personal and professional development of an assistant manager at Travelodge Hotel, focusing on self-managed learning and skill assessment. The report begins by evaluating different approaches to self-managed learning, such as internet resources, seminars, and conferences, and their benefits. It then explores ways to encourage lifelong learning within the hotel, including allowing self-directed learning, connecting learning goals with professional goals, and providing mentorship opportunities. The report also includes a self-assessment of the skills required for a manager, a personal development plan, and a discussion of time-management strategies. Finally, the report discusses the implementation and updating of the development plan and reflects on the learning process, emphasizing the importance of continuous improvement and the benefits of a productive workforce for Travelodge Hotel.

Personal and Professional
Development

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Evaluating the approaches of self-managed learning............................................................3
1.2 Different ways in which life-long learning can be encouraged in Travelodge Hotel...........5
1.3 Evaluating the benefit of self-managed learning..................................................................6
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
2.1 Evaluating self-assessment of skills required for manager in Travelodge Hotel..................6
2.2 Identifying own development needs and the activities requires and ways to improve them 8
2.3 Identifying development opportunities to meet the needs and skills....................................9
2.4 Personal and professional development plan......................................................................10
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................11
3.1 Discussing the process and activities required to implement development plan................11
3.2 Implementing the development plan by undertaking activities as planned........................12
3.3 Reflecting the learning process as per aims and objectives set in development plan.........12
3.4 Updating the development plan based on feedback and evaluation....................................13
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................13
4.3 Evaluating and using effective time-management strategies to improve employee desire to
continue their work...................................................................................................................16
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................17
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................18

INTRODUCTION
Personal and professional development refers to the activities which help in contributing
to improve a person's talent, potential, employability, skills and abilities. It is essential to
continue enhancing the skills and abilities of a person which will assist him in developing in his
personal as well as in professional career. Personal development will assist a person to have a
clear vision and set a future goal and target that needs to be achieved. Self-managed learning is a
technique in which a person learns in order to enhance his skills and knowledge. It is very
important to become self-managed and self-directed person that will assist him efficiently in
managing his skills in order to achieve personal and professional goals.
Present report will help in understanding the importance of self-managed learning in
personal and professional development. The report is based on Travelodge Hotel as per the given
scenario. Different approaches of self-managed learning will be discussed with their benefits for
employees and for Travelodge. Further, self-assessment on the skills will be done which will
assist in identifying own development needs. Report will also include personal development
plan. Furthermore, importance of continuous review of personal and professional development
will be discussed. Different interpersonal and transferable skills will be discussed here as well.
TASK 1
Personal development portfolio
By, Assistant Manager
Travelodge Hotel
1.1 Evaluating the approaches of self-managed learning
In process of personal and professional development, it is essential for a person to take
initiatives in the learning process. Self-managed learning is referred as a process of initiating by
a personal in some new learning by himself. It is achieved when a person has determined his
goals, objectives and target which gives them motivation of learning. As a manager of
Travelodge Hotel, through self-learning I will able to apply my new acquire skills in daily
operations which assist me, my staffs in order to grow and also Travelodge Hotel for its growth.
There are different approaches that are very effective for self-learning process. Some of the
methods that I have used for self-learning are:
Internet: With the increasing in technology, different learning tools and application are
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available on internet (Hildebrand, 2018). I always use internet and social media and found many
interesting software multimedia tools which helped in acquiring different knowledge. Online
videos, word processor, search engines are different sources which I regularly follow that
helped me in gaining more knowledge. Online channels and videos helped me in improving and
enhancing my communication skills. As a hotel manager, communication skills are foremost
important that will assist me in my professional growth.
Strength:
 I can use internet anywhere, whenever I'm free. It can be used at any place. Through internet, I can get lecture from various known professors of various university.
Weakness:
 It requires effective accessibility skills. It has limitation of hand on learning.
Seminars: It is a kind of lecture or presentation that are delivered to the audience on a particular
topic (Cunningham, 2017). I regularly attend different seminars that are on some educational
topics. These seminars help in acquiring new educational knowledge.
Strength:
 It assist me in getting wealth of knowledge that is presented by many people at one time
in one place. It is an effective tool for the one who doesn't like reading books much.
Weaknesses:
 The entry fee of Seminar could not be affordable for me. As assistant manager, it would not be possible to take leave or break in order to attain
seminars.
Conference: It is also a presentation, it is very useful as it helped me to learn from others.
Conferences are held for a variety of reasons, including resolving problems, making decisions,
developing cooperation, and publicising ideas, products, and services. As a professional,
conference helped me a lot to improve my knowledge.
I can say that this approach is very effective to manage our self-learning. For my staff,
our organisation should conduct different seminars as this would be very suitable for staffs to
attend it. Online presentation is also a suitable approach for the staff in order to manage their
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self-learning process.
1.2 Different ways in which life-long learning can be encouraged in Travelodge Hotel
Learning is about reaching one's best potential that will help them in achieving their
personal and professional goals. Life-long learning is very beneficial for every employee which
helps in evolving their skills and knowledge in their field. There are different methods through I
can encourage lifelong learning in my staff. In order to make continuous learning development
in staff, there are many ways through which I can encourage my staffs:
By allowing self-direct their learning:
Many times, I have to make my employees understand what exactly they need to learn.
But rather than this, I will ask them about what they want to or need to learn. It will also help
me in engaging them in this process (Pedler, 2011). Self-directing is beneficial for employees as
they will themselves organise their work, without asking me for their work (10 Simple Ways to
Engage in Lifelong Learning, 2019). An important way to encourage my staffs to self-direct
their learning I can pinpoint their personal interest which assist me to give them motivation to
increase self-direct learning in them.
By combining learning goals with professional goals:
As my staffs has limited time to engage in self- learning process, connecting working
goals with their lifelong learning will be an efficient way to encourage them. It can be possible
when I make their learning goals real by setting targets and through individuals learning KPIs it
will help me to efficiently encourage my staffs to indulge in learning process.
By connecting employees with inspirational mentors:
I can arrange formal seminars or mentorship programs in order to encourage my staff to
be a lifelong learner (Von Haenisch, 2011). It will help the staffs to connect with more
experienced colleges or people. This provides my staffs to learn from their achievements and
failure. It will also help in encouraging my staffs to discuss their challenges, their ambitions that
assist them in visualizing their growth.
Enabling learning as an achievement:
In order to encourage life-long learning in my staffs, it is very essential to appreciate
their learning (A List of 6 Powerful Pathways for Encouraging Lifelong Learning, 2019). As I
know the importance of self-esteem and recognition to motivate the employees. Recognising
learning as an achievement will enable me to encourage my staff for their learning. Awarding
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my employees on completing any self-learning course will help in providing them a sense of
achievement that will also motivate other employees for life-long learning.
1.3 Evaluating the benefit of self-managed learning
Self-managed learning can be defining as the process in which an individual himself
takes initiative to learn in order to enhance his skills sand ability. Self-managed learning is very
essential for the personal and professional development of an individual. As an assistant
manager, self-managed learning will assist me to clear my aim and goals in personal as well as
in my professional career. Engaging in self-managed learning is beneficial for me to acquiring
new skills and further educational knowledge and understanding. Continuous development in
my skills will assist me in performing my roles and responsibilities in a better way. Through
self-learning I can be able to handle any stressful situation with my problem-solving skills and
through innovative and creative ideas (Moon, 2013). Self-managed learning will assist me
meeting challenges and objectives, self-awareness of the situation, dealing with my self-
consciousness. Self-managed learning is an effective way through which I can improve and
progress in my professional career and contribute in progress of my company as well.
It can be said that a self-learned employee will effectively apply their new skills and
knowledge for the growth and progress for their company and its employees. Having a self-
learning employee is very much beneficial for Travelodge Hotel, by increasing my skills and
knowledge I will be able to handle and resolve any issues and problem in hotel which assist to
make my company a progressive unit (Elliott, 2012). Through learning new skills, I will be able
to train my staffs which help them to improve their performance level that brings the best
productive outcomes from them. It is very beneficial for Travelodge Hotel to have productive
workforce which helps in earning more revenue and attaining its organisational growth.
TASK 2
2.1 Evaluating self-assessment of skills required for manager in Travelodge Hotel
Working as an assistant manager in Travelodge Hotel, I have realised that to be a hotel
manager there are certain skills and capabilities that are set for a manager in Travelodge Hotel.
As per the professional standard that are set to be a manager, following skills are essential to
have:
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My current skills Professional Standards Job role objective
Interpersonal skills: This
skill plays huge role for a
person to be an effective
communicator.
Interpersonal skills will
help the manager to keep
the customer and
employees happy. This
skill includes
professionalism, patience
and understanding.
Critical thinking: it is important for
a manger to have an ability to solve
the problem efficiently.
Organisational knowledge:
It includes the basic
understanding of the
working of hotel. This
knowledge will assist
manager to better lead and
run the overall operations
of the hotel.
Leadership: it is very
essential to be manager to
be strong leader that will
lead their employee’s
morale, encourage them,
resolve their issues and
assign them their
responsibilities.
Decision making: to make quick
decision on the time to solve the
problem of employees or customers.
Customer oriented: It is an
important role and
responsibility of a manager
to make sure that the
customer is satisfy with the
hotel services. A manager
should always works to
improve the customer
experience in hotel, which
also assist in increasing
sales and profit.
Team building: This skill
required to build a positive
working environment
which also assist in
maintaining the employee’s
interaction with guests
(Olsen, 2015).
Communication skills: It is the most
essential skills that are required to be
a manager in Travelodge Hotel.
Manager are the main representative
of the hotel to guests; hence they
need to have an excellent
communication skill.
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As per professional standard to be a manager in Travelodge Hotel, I possess some skills
that matches with the professional standard of manager in Travelodge Hotel (Patzelt and
Shepherd, 2011). As per professional standard to be a manager in Travelodge Hotel, My
professionalism attitude, patience and sense of understanding are some interpersonal skills, I
have an effective leadership and team building quality are very essential for my professional
growth to be a hotel manager. I have also analysed that there are some skills on which I have to
work on to attain my professional goal to become a manager. Some of the skills on which I have
to work on is critical thinking, decision making skills. I also identified that the most essential
skills on which I have to work on is communication skills.
2.2 Identifying own development needs and the activities requires and ways to improve them
It is very essential for me to identify my development needs in order to identify the areas
for improvement. Identifying the development and learning needs will involve the self-
assessment of the capabilities and skills that I have and the areas that are required for
improvement. Through identifying my own development needs I can be unable to find the
appropriate learning provision that are required in order to sustained business performance. The
best way to identify the development needs is to self-evaluation of my performance level and
find the areas which I need to work on or the skills that I have to improve.
Skills to be
Developed
Methods of Development
My strengths It can be said that strength of a person are those abilities and traits which
help them in meeting their professional goals. As per the self-assessment
of my development needs I have analysed that I have good leadership
skill, I can manage the works and responsibilities of my staffs, encourage
them to improve their performance and for their further improvement. I
have also identified that I have effective team building skills which
assists me in building a co-operative working environment for my staffs
that helps in increasing employee's productivity and customers'
satisfaction (Robertson and Robertson, 2012). Along with this I possess
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some interpersonal skills also which are essential to be a manager in
hotel business.
My weaknesses: After doing mu self-assessment of development needs, I analysed that
there are many areas on which I have to work in order to progress in my
professional career. I analysed that I have issues in my oral
communication with people. I hesitate while interacting to people, foe
being a hotel manager he should be excellent communicator. I can do lot
of activities that will help in improving my communication skills by
participating in group presentations, through online videos and through
asking honest feedback from my colleagues I can improve my
communication skills. Another area where I need development is my
organisational knowledge, which includes basic understanding of
concepts like accounting, human resource management, cost control and
decision-making skills. In order to overcome these weakness, I can
attend the tuition classes, research study through case-studies and can
take guidance from my seniors. In order to attain my personal and
professional goals, I have to overcome my weaknesses and have to
improve some of the skills like communication skills, critical thinking
and decision-making skills.
2.3 Identifying development opportunities to meet the needs and skills
There are many opportunities in order to develop my needs and skills, these opportunities
will help in me in overcoming my weaknesses and achieving my personal as well as professional
aim to be a manager in Travelodge Hotel. The different development opportunities available for
me inside and outside the hotel through which I can improve my development areas are as
follows:
 Mentoring: It is an important opportunity through which I can came in contact with
senior employees (Griffin and Care, 2014). Through mentoring I can get to know about
their experience and can take guidance in order to improve my communication skills by
interacting them and increase my knowledge of organisational functions.
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 Seminars: There are many seminars arranged in Travelodge Hotel, which are focused on
a particular topic regarding our company. Attending this seminar are very beneficial in
order to improve my weaknesses and develop the skills that are required to be a manager
in Travelodge Hotel
 Training sessions: Our hotel arranges different training sessions for employees on
regular basis. By attending these training session, I can improve my skills and also
acquiring new knowledge and understanding on different operations and activities that
are required in daily basis.
 Research studies: Other than inside the hotel, there are other opportunities also which
assist me to develop my needs and skills. I can research on themes of improving
communication skills, through different case studies I can learn the basics to speak in
front of people.
 Online videos: With the increase in technology, internet provides us various
opportunities in order to develop my skills and overcome my weaknesses (Trevithick,
2011). Through online video channels I can practice on my oral communication in order
to improve my speaking skill. I can also study about different functions of operation in
hotel.
2.4 Personal and professional development plan
Personal
Development Plan
Skills needed to be
developed Priority Activities required Time scale
Critical thinking High
Critical thinking can be done by
increasing the ability to analyse the
situation, by communicate regarding the
situation, by researching about the
problem and the facts behind it (Assiter,
2017). I can engage in some play games
like simulation games which will assist
me in developing my critical thinking .
From 1-3-2019 to
1-9-2019
Decision making Very high I can improve my decision-making skills From 1-3-2019 to
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by engaging in activities like studying
case-studies.. 1-8-2019
Time management high
Time management skills can be
improving through prioritize my work.
By learning between important and
urgent work, I can set up deadline to
arrange and complete my time within a
span of time also I can take on the
activities like scheduling my work,
prioritize the work and make a to-do
list .
From 1-3-2019 to
1-5-2019
Professional
Development Plan
Skills needed to be
developed Activities required Time scale
Communication Very high
I can participate in different group
discussions, attend different conferences
and seminars. I can also learn from
online videos and practice to speak
fluently.
From 1-3-2019 to
1-6-2019
Coordination skills
I can gain coordination skills by taking
guidance from my seniors, by observing
hotel daily operations (Earl, 2012). I can
also study from academic books about
basic concepts . I can also take activities
like role play
From 1-3-2019 to
1-8-2020
Planning and
organising
It is an important skill which can be
achieved by effectively prioritizing
different tasks, coordinating with
resources available and organising my
work by making to do list.
From 1-3-2019 to
1-7-2019
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TASK 3
3.1 Discussing the process and activities required to implement development plan
I have identified the need for development in order to attain my goal to become manager.
In order to implement the development plan, following are the activities that I will undergo in
order to develop skills and knowledge. They are follows:
Attending Formal learning and training: I can take learning and training sessions that can
assist me in learning new skills and knowledge. Different training session will assist me in
developing the skills I required to work on like organisational knowledge (Broadfoot, 2012). I
can also learn to plan and organise my work through different sessions.
Mentoring: It is an effective activity through which I can connect to the senior and more
experienced employee in my company. He can mentor me and guide me to over my weaknesses.
He can assist me in developing my critical thinking skills and decision making through giving
me practical example in Travelodge hotel.
Interaction with others: In Travelodge hotel, I can get in contact to various people. It is an
affective process which will assist me in improving my communication skills.
3.2 Implementing the development plan by undertaking activities as planned
As per identified my personal and professional development needs, I have implemented
my development plan as below:
Date of
activity
Activity What I have to done outcomes Further action
01/03/19 Activities and
development
opportunities:
After making
my
development
plan, I have
analysed and
identified
Identifying the
development need:
As per the
professional standard
set by the Travelodge
Hotel for manager, I
have analysed the
skills that I need to
develop within
It will assist me to
get along with my
staff, my
development
needs will help
me to be
motivated. I will
be engaged in
different case
Feedbacks: I have taken
feedbacks from my
collogues, mentors, seniors
regarding my improvement
and development.
Update my development
plan: based on the
feedbacks I have further
make improvement and
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