Professional Identity and Practice in Hospitality Management at Hilton

This report delves into the concept of professional identity and practice, specifically within the framework of Hilton Inc., a leading hospitality company. It begins with an overview of Hilton, highlighting its market position and services. The report then explores the benefits of ongoing professional development, emphasizing the acquisition of new skills, industry relevance, and the refreshing of existing knowledge. It outlines the skills and competencies expected of a hospitality manager, including leadership, financial management, and interpersonal skills. The report also assesses the author's current abilities and competencies, identifying strengths and weaknesses through a skills audit. Different learning theories and approaches are discussed, followed by an examination of appropriate methods for enhancing personal and professional skills. A personal development plan (PDP) is included, detailing specific activities and resources for skill improvement. The report concludes with a reflection on the learning process and its implications for the author's career as a hospitality manager.

PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY
AND PRACTICE

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
Overview of Hilton company......................................................................................................3
Key benefits and significance of on-going professional development........................................3
Skills and competencies expected by employer for the hospitality manager role.......................4
Current abilities, skills and competencies for hospitality manager in Hilton Inc........................5
Different learning theories and approaches.................................................................................7
Appropriate approaches to improve own professional and personal skills.................................8
Personal development plan (PDP)...............................................................................................8
Reflection...................................................................................................................................12
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................15

INTRODUCTION
Professional identity is very necessary for a person for achieving better outcomes in the
life. Currently most people within the market focuses on improving their various skills and
competencies for developing their personality and professionalism. Basically, a well-developed
personality and professional always able gain huge success in its personal life, and this the main
reason that most people should improve their abilities, skills and competencies. In this dynamic
and modern world, lots of companies and businesses are giving high priority in their hiring
processes to only those candidates who has well-developed personality and professionalism. This
report discusses ‘professional identity and practice’ in the context of Hilton Inc. This is one of
leading hotel brands in the United Kingdom’s hospitality industry. There are some productive
ways and methods also has discussed in this report which can help to anyone for developing its
personality and professionalism. An effective PDP (personal development plan) also has been
created in this report.
MAIN BODY
Overview of Hilton company
Hilton Inc. is one of the largest hospitality companies in the world which was founded in
1919 by Conrad Hilton and currently it runs by Christopher J. Nassetta. It has delivered highest
growth in the hospitality industry (Cain, Moreo and HaninNazlan, 2018). Its posse’s broad
portfolio of hotels and resorts and offers it’s services worldwide. Hotels and resorts are the main
product of Hilton Inc. that are highly demanded by customers. It is not only offer hospitality
services but also provide different type services such as tourism services, transportation services,
customized room services and others to customers. It has captured 10.17% market share that is
quite high as compared others. Due to strong global presence has strong awareness in people.
Key benefits and significance of on-going professional development
Continuous professional development plan has various benefits that are described as follows:
Developing new skills and achieving competitive edge

Continuous professional development (CPD) supports employees or individuals to
develop new skills to improve sets of skills. It benefits individuals to gain competitive edge by
keeping their skills current accordingly workforce needs.
Keeping up to date with particular industry
On-going professional development keeps up to date individuals about organizational
change wherein they offer their services (Cetin, Demirciftci and Bilgihan, 2016). So, it become
easy for staff member to accept all new changes instead of resisting which leads high
appreciation for them from their senior authorities.
Refresh memories and relearning new techniques
With ongoing professional development approach individuals enables to analyze why
things are done in that manner and expands new ideas to deal better way. It also supports
individuals to refresh their memories by relearning all old techniques which they have learnt
prior.
Ongoing professional development plays significant role because it assures individuals
continue that they are competent in their profession or not. It is highly important for individuals
if they in responsible post that time they must ensure about themselves like whatever roles are
performed by them that is compatible for their profession and organization. CPD supports to
develop dynamic capabilities in individuals which makes them more competent and ideal for
their designated position in the company. I am at the post of hospitality manager in the Hilton
Inc. and I know it is essential for me to keep skills upgraded time to time so that I can play my
role more effectively within company. Ongoing professional development supports in improving
managerial skills in hospitality department which make me more competent and highly effective
leader in Hilton Inc.
Skills and competencies expected by employer for the hospitality manager role
There are various skills and competencies that requires for the hospitality manager role in
Hilton Inc. such as a hotel manager must have friendly personality along with genius desire to
support and please others. This skill keeps working environment healthy in-service sector
organization like Hilton Inc. As known Hilton Inc. is a multinational service provider

organization which provides it’s hotel and resort services across the world so it is mandatory for
the hotel manager to have attractive and supportive behavior which influences all employees to
follow all strategies which have implemented by manager prior (Jack, Stansbie and Sciarini,
2017). Employer expects that if they hire hotel manager then he must have quick decision-
making skills so that he can deal all issues associated with hotel effectively and gives creative
solution which leads profitability from all over sides. A hotel manager must have effective
leadership skills so that they can influence their staff as part of hotel to give productive
performance in their working and motivates them time to time. With the effective leadership
skills manager can maintain wellbeing employees and can retain talented staff within hotel.
Financial management is also another essential competency that expects by employer in hotel
manager so that they can lead high financial profitability in company and improves selling
revenue by implementing effective strategies. Operational knowledge, flexibility, team building,
interpersonal skills and communication skills are expected by Hilton Inc. in the hospitality
manager because these are important managerial skills which helps to smooth run all operation
within company effectively.
Current abilities, skills and competencies for hospitality manager in Hilton Inc.
Hilton Inc is a global company so it requires that hospitality manger must have industry
awareness because company believes that if hotel manager have extensive knowledge about
hotel expansion and it’s approach then it can determine competitors weakness effectively and
helps take advantage of all emerging opportunities (Madera and et.al., 2017). So massive
knowledge of hospitality industry will support to gain highest positioning in the global market
whereas competitors cannot reach. Another current skill is interpersonal skills that are also
expected by Hilton because in hotel manager because there are various hotel manager who are
more competent and have takes company in good height but unable to gain sustainable
performance of business due to lack behind interpersonal skills. So, organization considers that
hotel manager must have interpersonal and social skills which helps in negotiating staff member
to accept changes which are emerged through change management approach time to time so that
it enables to gain profitability from all prospects. Hilton also expects from the hotel manager that
must have hazard awareness or workplace hazards because when hotel manager have idea about
hazardous associated with hotel then he can aware it’s staff member about kitchen hazardous and
health and safety regulation and implements rules effectively so that they follow all rules while

performing their responsibilities. These skills are transferable skills so these are considered
competencies for hospitality manager. Effective leadership skill is highly required by Hilton Inc.
in hotel manager because it is essential for organization’s achievement. Critical thinking is
another skill, knowledge that must presence in hotel manager of Hilton Inc. that states that
critical thinking on each and every aspect helps to taken best decision for company and staff.
With this skill hotel manager can be critically evaluated different resources, technology and staff
member performance which leads best outcomes within company.
Skill Audit
Strength Weakness
I have effective interpersonal skills that is my
strength which is supported me to establish
strong relationship with other staff members
who are working together for influencing
their work performance as well as
productivity in their working.
Time management and listening ability are
one of the major weakness of me and I know
these are very essential for hotel manager to
understand viewpoint of others and complete
task within timeframe (Roulston, Cleak and
Vreugdenhil, 2018).
Threat Opportunities
I have ability to make effective decision but it
takes bit more time to choose best decision as
resulted often miss or delay available
opportunity. So, it is very essential for me to
work on decision-making and problem-
solving skills so that I can manage staff
members effectively who perform different
functions in the company.
Effective interpersonal skills can give me
excellent opportunities to encourage staff and
become ideal and successful hotel manager by
fulfilling their needs time to time.
Skills ranking scale
Skills 1 (Bad) 2 (Below
Average)
3
(Average) 4 (Good) 5 (Excellent)
Management ✓

Communication ✓
Team work ✓
Self-motivated ✓
Problem
solving abilities ✓
Time
management ✓
Hazard
awareness and
industry
awareness
✓
Different learning theories and approaches
There are various professional and personal development theories and approaches which
improves personality and professionality in individuals.
Learning theories
Behaviorism: this learning theory mainly emphasize on external stimuli such as praise
and scolding, pay and poverty and others which directly impact on learning. This theory believes
that appropriate behavior can be learned by continuous performing a task while gathering
feedbacks from superiors so that can analyze effectiveness of learning. However positive
feedback influence individuals while negative feedback decreses repetitions of mistakes.
Cognitivism learning: it is the process of gaining and storing information. This theory
mainly emphasizes of memorizing all learning which individual has learnt through learning
classes.
Constructivism: it is process of building and developing understanding. With this
learning theory individuals can recall that what they do know and explores new ideas to retain
knowledge for long time.

Connectivity: It is another theory of learning that helps individuals to improve sets of
skills through technology. In this learning theory, internet plays essential role to improve
learning in individuals effectively.
Learning approaches
There are various approaches of personal and professional learning such as:
Personal and professional learning plans: With this approach individuals can enlist
number of skills which are required to develop to be successful in job or career (Weber, Leeand
Crawford, 2020). It supports to determine skills gap in their evaluable skill which can impact on
their personal and professional learning in future and assists to improve them.
Coaching: It is another approach that supports individuals to develop new skills in
individuals and improves competencies in them by transforming weaknesses into strengths.
Appropriate approaches to improve own professional and personal skills
Personal development and Professional plan is one of the best approach to develop own
skills for the hotel manager role because it will highlight weaknesses that needs to be improved
for professional career. Skill audit is another approach that helps to determine best rated skills
through performance rating scale and identify skill gaps. These both approaches are more
specified for improving personal and professional skills in hotel manager.
Personal development plan (PDP)
There are personal development plan plays an excellent role for a person to develop its
various skills, abilities and competencies (Albelbisi, 2019). Basically, development of skills and
abilities is very necessary task to me, because if I have lots of well-developed skills, then it will
be able to develop my professionalism and personality in the job role of hospitality manager. In
this situation, an effective personal development plan has been included to me. This PDP
includes various innovative methods and tricks which will definitely support me for improving
my weak and average skills, abilities and competencies.
Skills/Abilities Activities Resources Time Scale Evaluation
Time
management
I have highly
required to
There are
magazines and
3 moths There is time
period of 3

skills develop my time
management
skills, because
by developing
these skills, I
will be able to
systematically
manage my
time. For
developing these
skills, I will read
different books
and journals and
magazines
which has based
in time
management.
books & journals
are key
resources to me
for developing
these time
management
skills. Basically,
in these books &
journals and
magazines many
of writers and
authors has
shared their
productive
solutions and
opinions on
“how to develop
time
management
skills”. That’s
why these
sources
moths is enough
to me for
developing these
time
management
skills. In this
time period, it
will defiantly put
lots of efforts to
develop these
skills effectively.
Listing abilities Listing ability
also I have
highly need to
develop for
communicating
with some in
very effective
manner.
Basically, a
For improving
listing ability, I
have only
required human
resource
(Amusan, 2016).
It means, a
person who has
well developed
6 months In these six
months, I will
live with a
person who has
developed listing
ability. With
conducting day
by day practices,
I can be easily

highly
professional
always made
balance between
speaking and
listing, so I will
try to
communicate
with that person
who has well
developed listing
skills. I can learn
from that person
about how to
develop listing
ability.
listing ability is
enough to me for
learning about
different ways or
methods of
listing ability
development.
developed these
skills
Problem-solving
skills
Problem-solving
skills always
helps in solving
different
problems,
difficulties and
challenges in the
workplace.
That’s why I
highly need to
develop these
skills. I will read
different articles
and blogs on
internet which
There is smart
phone, internet,
personal
computer, laptop
etc. some key
resources which
can contribute in
improving my
problem-solving
skills. Basically,
through smart
phone and
internet etc. I
will be capable
to develop read
8 months Time period of
eight months is
very appropriate
to me for
developing my
problem-solving
skills. Generally,
develop
problem-solving
is not a small
task to a person,
so that I can put
any efforts for
successfully
developing these

has based on the
development of
problem-solving
skills. In these
articles and
blogs, many of
people has
properly shared
their point of
views about
‘developing
problem solving
skills’. So that,
by conducting
these all
practices and
activities, I will
be definitely
developed
problem-solving
skills.
different articles
and blogs.
skills.
Team work
ability
Team work
ability is another
key ability that I
should be
developed for
being high
professional in
personal life.
Generally, a
professional
Mainly a trainer
and some books
& journals can
give huge
contribution in
the development
process of
teamwork
ability. When
will join the
12 months Team work will
be played an
excellent role to
me for
developing my
professionalism,
in which I have
required time
period of twelve
months for

always has idea
about how to
develop make an
effective team
work, because
an effective team
always provides
very excellent
results in the any
workplace. For
improving team
work ability, I
will join a
training where a
trainer can
support me for
developing these
skills. I will be
read some
teamwork-based
books and
journals as well.
training centre,
then it can get
productive ways
of developing
team work
ability from
trainer. On the
other side, by
reading
teamwork-based
books and
journals also I
can develop this
ability.
perfectly
developing this
ability (Jenkins
and Nickerson,
2019). In these
months, I will be
putted lots of
efforts to
improve team
work ability
effectively.
Reflection
Currently I am planning for attending an interview within the Hilton hotel for the post of
hospitality manager. Of course, I should be developed various skills and abilities before
participating in that interview. It is very necessary task to me, because according to job
specification of Hilton Inc., this hotel only hires those candidates in their organisation who has
well-improved or well-developed skills (Tam, Wong and Chan, 2019). These requirements of
hotel are completely logical and realistic, because currently each organisation or company is
preparing to achieve an effective workforce, and this is the main reason that Hilton hotel also has