Sustainability and Supply Chain Management in Hospitality During COVID

This research project investigates the role of sustainability in promoting supply chain management within the hospitality industry, with a specific focus on the impact of COVID-19. The study utilizes Aloft London Excel as a case study, employing both primary (questionnaires) and secondary (literature review) research methods. The report examines the basic framework of supply chain management, analyzes the impact of sustainability on it, and explores the challenges faced by Aloft London Excel during the pandemic. The literature review covers key concepts like supply chain management, the impact of sustainability on it, and the challenges faced by the hospitality sector during COVID-19. The research methodology outlines the deductive approach and positivism philosophy adopted. The report aims to provide insights into how sustainability can enhance profitability and address challenges within the hospitality supply chain, ultimately offering recommendations for businesses to improve their practices in a competitive market. The research also highlights the need for effective communication, teamwork, and training to achieve advancements in the industry.

RESERACH PROJECT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of the study is to understand the topic of sustainability in the hospitality
industry. It is a wider term that arrived by in-room suggestions to reuse towels, save water etc. In
this hotel and other hospitality, sector business incorporates socially responsible practices along
with sound environmental policies. This report is based on the role of sustainability in promoting
supply chain management of the hospitality industry during the time of COVID 19. To
effectively complete the research on this title researcher takes Aloft London Excel that is a UK
based hotel offering services to customers for earning profits. This researcher focuses on
research methodology as it helps in presenting the best options for completing research that
supports in drawing a valid conclusion at the end of the research. In this research, the
investigator uses primary research and secondary research by using questionnaires and literature
reviews, so that appropriate information related to the topic is to be presented that helps in
recommending at the end so that business enhance their profits within a competitive marketplace.
In this questionnaire survey is adopted where company need to focus on effective
communication, teamwork and training sessions so that advancement would be gain.

Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................2
TITLE............................................................................................................................................................4
CHAPTER 1- INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................5
CHAPTER 2- LITERATURE REVIEW ...............................................................................................................7
CHAPTER 3- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.....................................................................................................9
CHAPTER 4 - DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS............................................................................................11
CHAPTER 5 – CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATIONS, REFLECTION..............................................................17
REFERENCES ..............................................................................................................................................20
APPENDICES ..............................................................................................................................................22
Appendix one: Questionnaire ...............................................................................................................22
Appendix Two: Gantt Chart ...................................................................................................................23

TITLE
“To justify the role of sustainability in promoting supply chain management of hospitality
industry during COVID-19”. A study on Aloft London Excel.

CHAPTER 1- INTRODUCTION
The aim of conducting this research is to examine the role of sustainability in promoting
the supply chain within the hospitality industry along with the impact of COVID 19.
Sustainability within the hospitality industry is highly essential and also a prime concern for
public and private sectors like hotels, resorts etc. This sustainability defines as a natural
ecosystem that continuously supports life by providing resources to meet the future and current
needs of the generation (Mosteanu and et. al., 2020). Sustainability in promoting supply chain
management includes the integration of environmental and financially viable practices that
completes the supply chain lifecycle. Sustainability in the hospitality industry focuses on
attracting the considerable attention of the investigators. Within the hospitality industry, the
concept of sustainability focuses on natural disasters and emergencies.
To complete this research project, the researcher undertakes the Aloft London Excel that is a
leading hotel within the UK that provide services to customers. This hotel has around 150
employees working for staff within the UK, and this hotel generates $3.80 million in sales (Aloft
London Excel,2021). This was started in 2012 and provides the services of hotels, motels,
lodging and resorts to their customers. It is a bold hotel featuring loft-inspired design where they
offer the ultra-comfortable signature bed, walk-in-shower and many more. The researcher selects
this topic to conduct the research so that they explore the issues which were faced by the
Hospitality sector in relation to supply chain management during COVID 19. Along with the role
of sustainability within supply chain management of hotels by using the primary and secondary
research methods where investigator adopts the use of questionnaire and literature survey to get
the reliable information that helps in drawing the conclusion in an authentic way.
Statement of the research problem
This research is based on sustainability in the hospitality industry, on which the
researcher conducts the research to solve the issues based on sustainability in supply chain
management within the hospitality sector during COVID 19. Involving in this research supports
in providing better outcomes by using primary and secondary data and information.

Aims
“To justify the role of sustainability in promoting supply chain management of hospitality
industry during COVID-19. A study on Aloft London Excel
Research Objectives
 To investigate the basic framework of supply chain management.
 To analyse the impact of sustainability within supply chain management of Aloft London
Excel.
 To explore those issues faced by Aloft London Excel in supply chain management during
COVID-19.
Research questions
 What is the basic framework of supply chain management?
 What is the impact of sustainability on supply chain management?
 What are the issues faced by Aloft London Excel in their supply chain management
during COVID-19?
Rationale
The main reason for conducting this research is to examine the impact of sustainability
within the supply chain management of a hotel along with the impact of COVID 19. It is
effective because it enhances the knowledge of the researcher and other individual persons who
are involved within this research related to a specific topic (Azevedo, Scavarda and Caiado,
2019). It is essential to increase the growth and sustainability of the hospitality sector within the
competitive marketplace. Although, this selected topic is also effective from the viewpoint of
developing education and professional growth of researcher because involving in this researcher
helps in maximises the research skills and various key understandings of an investigator. By
involving within this research, investigator internet savvy skills, communication skills is to be
improved that helps in growing the career within the professional field. The researcher chooses
this topic as this topic is of personal interest to the researcher due to which collecting and
gathering data would be easy.

CHAPTER 2- LITERATURE REVIEW
A literature review defines as a survey of scholarly sources on a particular topic. In
conducting this research, the investigator adopts the use of literature review as it plays a crucial
role because it summarises the comprehensive study that is based on the role of promoting
sustainability in the supply chain within the hospitality industry during COVID19 (Deng and
Jiang, 2019). It reflects the information that helps the researcher to make the right judgment on
the specific topic on which research is to be conducted. The literature review is conducted by the
use of scholarly articles, journals, books and many other sources. Therefore the use of literature
review supports the researcher to effectively draw a conclusion at the end of the dissertation.
Besides this, literature reviews focus on the author's viewpoints on a specific topic that helps in
addressing the specific issue that is present within this study.
The basic framework of supply chain management
According to the viewpoint of “Rohit Chauhan (2020)", supply chain management
defines as an activity that manages the customer values and attaining a competitive advantage of
the hospitality sector by offering services to the customers. Within the hospitality industry,
supply chain management is a process of planning and controlling the flow of services,
information and money across the values. Supply chain management includes several factors
such as quality, procurement of material, inventory management that helps the hospitality
industry to get sustainable results in their survival. The SCM within the hospitality industry
highly focuses on controlling or linking the shipment and distribution of services and products as
it helps in cutting the high cost by delivering the products to the customers quickly and
effectively. Supply chain management reflects the management of supply chain activities that
helps in taking advantage of customer value. It mainly focuses on the development of products
and services, sourcing, information system that are needed to coordinate the several activities of
SCM.
Impact of sustainability over supply chain management
As per the viewpoint of “David Luther (2021) ”, supply chain management within the
hospitality industry integrates customers with products and services around the globe, but it is
mainly implemented at the cost of the environment. To effectively achieve the supply chain,

companies need to focus on addressing a sustainable approach to eliminate the negative impact
on environmental, economic, social and legal concerns. By emphasis on the sustainable
approach, firms need to reduced waste and environmental footprint while developing the
conditions of labour and health and safety. This helps in attracting and retaining customers for a
longer period of time. In the present business environment, business enterprises mainly focus on
sustainability as it directly impacts the supply chain management so that potential and targeted
customers of an organisation are aligned for a longer period of time. The impact of sustainability
on supply chain management is positive because it improves productivity as well as also saves
money. In the hospitality industry, environmental responsibility is highly focused by leaders to
get sustainable results by showing relevance to customers as it reduces the carbon footprints by
supplying goods and services. This hospitality industry maintains a sustainable food website that
listed several suppliers who are committed to providing food services that are eco-friendly in
nature. Sustainability within the supply chain helps the hospitality industry to enhance the
demand for their services by attracting a number of customers. A sustainable supply chain also
reduces the societal risk that impacts positively on the businesses. Hence, it is to be reflected that
sustainability impact positively over the supply chain management in terms of enhancing
profitability. At the same time sustainability also create challenges over the supply chain of
hospitality business because the cost that was involved within this activities are huge that
companies mainly cannot afford it.
Hospitality organisations Supply change management during Covid
According to the viewpoint of “Jim Kilpatrick. (2021)”, there are several issues that are faced by
hospitality sector businesses within their supply chain management. COVID 19 imposed shocks
on several segments of the hospitality industry that simultaneously affects the production,
processing, transport, logistics etc. In the time of COVID 19, the supplies of hospitality needs
were stopped, and because of this reason, issues were faced by an organisation in dealing with
the customer’s needs. At the time of the pandemic attack, only essentials items are to be allowed
to be supplied that impacts the supply chain of the hospitality industry.

CHAPTER 3- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research methodology defines as specific procedures that are used to process and analyse
the information related to a specific topic. It plays a significant role in conducting the research as
it provides the proper framework that helps the investigator to examine relevant data and
information that is based on particular research and objectives (Hong, Zhang and Ding, 2018).
Research methodology involves several methods and techniques that are applied by the
researcher with the purpose of gathering authentic data on the specified topic on which this
research is conducted, so that appropriate results are achieved. Therefore, for gathering the
appropriate information, several methods are to be used, which are presented in the research
onion discussed below:
Research approach- It refers to a process that assists the researcher in completing the
research within the specified period of time. There are two types of research approaches such as
deductive and inductive approaches. This inductive approach is reflected as a complex approach
that presented resemblances and regularities etc., that are observed to reach a conclusion
(Vargas, Mantilla and de Sousa Jabbour, 2018). This approach is useful while qualitative data is
to be used, whereas the Deductive approach ensures better testing and scanning of numeric facts
and figures. To conduct the current research, the deductive approach is to be adopted as it
focuses on evaluating data by developing a hypothesis to converts it into an observation test to
accept outcomes. It is effective for gathering quantitative data that helps the researcher to make
the appropriate decision.
Research philosophy- While conducting this research, it is essential to deal with sources
and development of understanding that is based on the particular research topic. There are two
types of research philosophies such as interpretivism and positivism. This interpretivism is based
on the principle that is used by the researcher to states the specific role in observing the several
phenomenon and concepts of the social world. Therefore, positivism philosophy states the
genuine knowledge that derived from experiences of natural phenomena along with their
relations (Bastas and Liyanage, 2019). To conduct this research, the researcher adopts the use of
the positivism approach that helps in improving the sensory experience that is based on logic and
reasons. The main reason for selecting this research philosophy for conducting the research on

sustainability on the supply chain in the hospitality industry helps in presenting factual
knowledge through observation, and also, it is based on quantitative method.
Research strategy- It refers to the aspects of the process that is used by the investigator
for making the appropriate path so that objectives are to be attained effectively and efficiently.
By selecting the best research strategy, the researcher gets the appropriate results while
conducting current research (Al-Aomar and Hussain, 2018). It includes several types of research
strategies such as questionnaires, interviews, surveys etc. all these are effective for fulfilling the
needs related to aim and objectives. To complete this research, the investigator use questionnaire
as it provides an in-depth analysis in order to deal with research objectives. The main aim of
using this survey method is that it helps in providing viable information on the specified topic.
Research choice- At the time of doing research activities, there is a number of choices in
front of the researcher for gather data based on the specific topic (Kshetri, 2018). It is highly
significant for the researcher to choose the best choice for collecting the data so that an authentic
conclusion is to be drawn. There are mainly two types of research choices that are quantitative
and qualitative (Hussain and Malik, 2020). Both are very effective and efficient in providing the
appropriate information related to the particular topic. To conduct the current research
quantitative choice of method is to be selected by the researcher for gathering the data as it helps
in properly measure the information in a numeric manner. This method is used to examine the
numeric data, which is effective in addressing the problem based on research. This method is
deal with numerical and converting the information into numbers, so that valid and reliable
results are to be presented at the end of the research.
Data collection- It refers to that method that is used by the researcher to collect the
information for reaching the aims and objectives of particular research. It includes two types of
data collection that is primary research and secondary research (Ketchen Jr and Craighead,
2020). Primary data collection refers to that method in which the researcher collect first-hand
information that is valid and reliable, whereas secondary research refers to that in which the
researcher collects data by using books, journals, scholarly articles etc. To conduct this research
both these type of data collection is to be used for secondary collection of data books, journal,
scholar articles are to be used, and in primary research, the questionnaire is to be used. This
provides reliable outcomes by presenting authentic information related to a specific topic.

Time horizon- It refers to that method that demonstrates the time to complete the
particular activities while conducting current research. In this two types of time horizon that are
cross-sectional and longitudinal. Cross-sectional focus on covering more dimensions at once,
whereas longitudinal does not cover all the essential dimensions due to this, the project faced
delay (Mollenkopf, Ozanne and Stolze, 2020). To conduct this research researcher choose the
cross-sectional time horizon because it covers all the activities that are included within this
present research so that it should be done in the time period.
Sampling- There are two types of sampling that involve probability and non-probability
sampling. Probabilistic sampling refers to that in which the researcher collects respondents
randomly, whereas non-probabilistic sampling is that in which the investigator selects
respondents by using a non-random basis (Sauer and Seuring, 2018). To conduct this research
investigator, use the probabilistic sampling method that is selecting the candidate randomly
because it eliminates the chances of conflicts and biases. In this researcher select 40 respondents
on a random basis who are employees, customers of Aloft London Excel.
CHAPTER 4 - DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
Data presentation defines as a process of presenting data in the form of tables, graphs,
charts so that an effective and valid conclusion is to be drawn at the end of the research. To
conduct this research, the researcher uses the frequency table, pie charts so that findings are to be
presented properly, which helps members who are involved within this research to understand
the findings effectively. For the current research, the researcher uses thematic analysis in which
various themes are to be developed to evaluate the data appropriately related to research. Also
used MS excel to represents the finding via pie charts that helps researcher to easily represent
conclusion on the investigation.
Data presentation with interpretation
Theme 1: Knowledge about supply chain management within the hospitality industry
Q1) Do you have any knowledge about supply chain management
within the hospitality industry?
Frequency
a) Yes 38

b) No 2
Interpretation: From the above analysis, it is to be interpreting that out of 40 respondents, 38
respondents have knowledge about supply chain management within the hospitality industry,
whereas 2 respondents are not aware of the supply chain management in the hospitality industry.