THT3112 Reflective Journal: Global Tourism and Hospitality Future

This reflective journal explores the student's understanding of the Global Tourism and Hospitality Futures subject (THT3112). It highlights the impact of changing consumer behavior, the role of technology, and the significance of political, sociocultural, and economic factors on the global tourism sector. The journal reflects on personal experiences, such as a visit to the Canopy Treehouse in Queensland, and connects them to theoretical concepts like the increasing demand for leisure, luxury, and environmental sustainability. The student also discusses the trend of green building in the hospitality industry and emphasizes the importance of hotels maintaining a strong brand association with environmental sustainability while ensuring service quality. The journal concludes by stating that the knowledge gained from the course has enhanced the student's understanding as both a student and a consumer, providing valuable insights for future experiences.

Running head: GLOBAL TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY FUTURE
GLOBAL TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY FUTURE
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1GLOBAL TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY FUTURE
Tourism and hospitality sector has been recognized as the world’s largest industries along
with the global economic contribution with an anticipated value of around U.S $8 trillion in
2016. Several nations have been benefitting economically from the industry thus increasing their
economic growth and development (Mok, Sparks & Kadampully, 2013). This essay is a
reflection of the subject which entails the areas of Global Tourism and Hospitality Futures that
has been covered in this assignment has enhanced my level of understanding in the areas of
international hospitality sector.
The Global Tourism and Hospitality Futures subject are considered as a significant topic
which has effectively increased the level of engagement of students with essential knowledge
and awareness of the factors related to tourism and hospitality sector (Dredge, Airey & Gross,
2014). My learning experience of this module has successfully enhanced my level of awareness
on the international tourism sector which was earlier not been put into light. The THT3112
subject has explicitly evaluated certain significant facets of the international tourism sector by
introducing vital areas of transformations and trends which the Tourism and Hospitality sector
has been undergoing in recent times. The lectures and notes provided during the first week have
explicitly revealed the shifting changes within the hospitality sector such as the occurrence of
rapid change in guest or consumer behaviour and their high anticipations and expectations.
Furthermore, the importance of advance technology, media and social networking in the
changing preferences of consumers as well as the impact they have on the consumer journey
experience. However, the in-class workshop sessions which I have attended for few weeks have
aided me to attain significant practical insights which explicitly illuminated the political, socio-
cultural and economic factors which act as decisive factors to the emerging global tourism sector
in recent times. The in-class workshop sessions further provided thorough understanding and

2GLOBAL TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY FUTURE
explanations of the tourism and hospitality sector by employing several theoretical factors
associated with legitimacy, modernity or post modernity as well as factors related to the
globalization and the impact on international scale.
Through the understanding of this course, I have identified certain theoretical aspects
which reveal the way hotels in the tourism sector in recent times have been undergoing
complexities in adapting to the new wave of consumer base that has high degree inclination
towards new requirements and demands which are vary significantly from the previous consumer
age group. Theoretical factors provide explanation to the ranging demands and shifting
preferences of the consumers who rather than preferring white linen services is demanding for
stays which will offer utmost leisure and comfort during the stay (Zervas, Proserpio & Byers,
2017). At this juncture, I must shed light on one of the personal experiences which I have faced a
few months ago during my visit to Cairns Highlands region, Queensland. However, I can
thoroughly relate my experiences with the theoretical understanding I have attained through this
course and the areas of progress the global tourism sector has been undergoing. The major
proportion of consumers of international hospitality industry is comprised of millennials (Li, Ye
& Law, 2013). Thus belong to this generation I could easily associate myself with the demands
and choices the new wave of consumers have been showing. As a consumer, I have a great
degree of inclination towards leisure and strongly consider that leisure and luxury along with
environmental sustainability can be attained together. My recent experience which I have
gathered from my stay at the Canopy Treehouse a few months ago have revealed the way
today’s hospitality industry have been successfully adapting the changes in accordance to the
emerging preferences of new consumer base.

3GLOBAL TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY FUTURE
Following to the in-class workshop sessions, the evaluation process executed by our
group has further facilitated me and my peers and has further enhanced my awareness on the
areas related to the mega trends of tourism and hotel industry. The notes, lectures provided by
my supervisor have explicitly explained the latest trend that several hotels have been following
that is adapting the concept of green building. The concept of green building I have realized is a
constructive effort in order to reduce the negative environmental impacts and further enhance the
beneficial factors. Thus hotels and resorts like Canopy Treehouse has been implementing this
theory in order to increase its efficiency level thereby saving energy consumption along with
other forms of resources (Gustavo, 2013). However, I have identified the proper explanations of
the causes what led modern hoteliers to seek to be environmentally accountable to develop their
economic as well as financial productivity and further to enhance consumer satisfaction level by
further introducing environmental sustainability (Baker, Davis & Weaver, 2014). By analysing
the theoretical aspects I have noted that this trend towards environmental sustainability not only
concentrates on environmental concerns by consuming energy, water as well as resources but
further is anticipated to enhance guest satisfaction and comfort level. However, I can certainly
state that hotels acknowledging such trends and theories have successfully enhanced the
satisfaction level of consumers like my generation who prefer the amalgamation of both luxury
and green.
The group assignment allocated to us in the third assessment, has aided me to obtain my
awareness on tourism sector and hospitality futures reports which has further assisted me in
identifying certain areas of improvement in the global hospitality sector. As this new wave of
consumers have revealed being green savvy thus have been taking efforts of sustainability as
serious concern. Hotels must keep in consideration to maintain a strong association with their

4GLOBAL TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY FUTURE
brands that serve to the environment. However, hoteliers must not introduce such sustainable
services at the cost of service and quality. Furthermore, hotels must consider the outlook related
to sustainable luxury travel has remained at an established position with the increasing demand
for purposeful travel across the entire hospitality sector. Thus the explicit evaluation of this
subject has assisted me to gain insights and further identify the areas of enhancement in the
hospitality sector.
Therefore, from the above discussion it can be noted that the above mentioned subject
course has effectively developed my understanding not only as a student but also as a consumer.
Thus, the obtained knowledge from this subject will guide me in my future experiences and
assist me in instilling similar understanding within my peers and other associates.

5GLOBAL TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY FUTURE
References
Baker, M. A., Davis, E. A., & Weaver, P. A. (2014). Eco-friendly attitudes, barriers to
participation, and differences in behavior at green hotels. Cornell Hospitality
Quarterly, 55(1), 89-99.
Dredge, D., Airey, D., & Gross, M. J. (Eds.). (2014). The Routledge handbook of tourism and
hospitality education. Routledge.
Gustavo, N. (2013). Marketing management trends in tourism and hospitality industry: Facing
the 21st century environment. International Journal of Marketing Studies, 5(3), 13.
Li, H., Ye, Q., & Law, R. (2013). Determinants of customer satisfaction in the hotel industry: An
application of online review analysis. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 18(7),
784-802.
Mok, C., Sparks, B., & Kadampully, J. (2013). Service quality management in hospitality,
tourism, and leisure. Routledge.
Zervas, G., Proserpio, D., & Byers, J. W. (2017). The rise of the sharing economy: Estimating
the impact of Airbnb on the hotel industry. Journal of Marketing Research, 54(5), 687-
705.