Travelodge UK: Digital Technologies & Covid-19 Productivity

This report investigates the impact of digital technologies on the productivity of the travel and tourism industry, focusing on Travelodge UK during the Covid-19 pandemic. It identifies the concept of digital technologies, assesses their impact on productivity amidst the challenges posed by Covid-19, and evaluates the specific difficulties Travelodge faced, along with potential digital solutions. The research employs an interpretivism philosophy and an inductive approach, utilizing secondary data and qualitative research design. Key findings highlight the essential role of digital technologies in maintaining and enhancing productivity during the pandemic, enabling Travelodge to offer services, manage remote work, and implement solutions like virtual tourism and robotics to overcome challenges such as decreased profitability and health and safety concerns. The report concludes that digital technologies were crucial for Travelodge and the broader travel and tourism industry in navigating the crisis and satisfying consumer needs.

Foundation Year Research
Project
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Chapter 1..........................................................................................................................................3
Aim.........................................................................................................................................3
Research Objectives...............................................................................................................3
Research problem...................................................................................................................3
Research Questions................................................................................................................4
Chapter 2..........................................................................................................................................4
Methodology...........................................................................................................................4
Chapter 3..........................................................................................................................................5
Literature review....................................................................................................................5
Chapter 4..........................................................................................................................................5
Chapter 5..........................................................................................................................................6
Conclusion..............................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6
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Chapter 1
The world has been shattered by the outbreak of covid-19 which also disrupted each and
every business organisation in nearly all industrial sector. In this, digital technologies plays
essential role which helps organisation to manage their operations digitally during the pandemic
(Aldao, C., Blasco, Espallargas and Rubio, 2021). Present research identifies the impact of
digital technologies on the production of travel and tourism industry. Research is conducted on
Travelodge UK which is operating as a hospitality company in the hotel and hospitality industry
sector. This organisation offer wide range of services and facilities to customers research include
aim and objectives, research problem, methodology and literature review.
Aim
“To identify the impact of digital technologies on the productivity of travel and tourism
industry during Covid-19 ”. A study on Travelodge
Research Objectives
 To identify the concept of digital technologies.
 To determine the impact of digital technologies on the productivity of travel and tourism
industry during Covid-19.
 To evaluate challenges that Travelodge has faced during covid-19 and potential digital
technologies which help in overcoming the challenges.
Research problem
Due to the outbreak of covid-19 organisations in travel and tourism industry sectors such
as Travelodge get affected as the lock down and strict measures imposed by government halted
smooth business activities. In this digital technologies plays crucial role and have positive
impact on productivity of travel and tourism industry during the outbreak of covid-19. Research
focuses on the problem and challenges that has been faced by Travelodge during covid-19 and
impact of digital technology on organisation productivity.
Research Questions
 What is the concept of digital technologies?
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 What is the impact of digital technologies on the productivity of travel and tourism
industry during Covid-19?
 What are the challenges that Travelodge has faced during covid-19 and potential digital
technologies which help in overcoming the challenges?
Chapter 2
Methodology
In order to fulfil present research objectives the methodology that has been undertaken by
researcher is interpretivism research philosophy, as this is mainly based on principle that states
that investigator to perform a specific role in observing the social ways. In addition to this
researcher have undertaken the use of inductive approach in order to have flexibility and make
generalization from specific observation (Gallego and Font, 2021). In this research investigator
have undertaken the advantage of secondary research in which use of already existing data is
being utilised to summarise and collect information to draw valid conclusion. Furthermore,
research undertaken the advantage of qualitative research design to establish answer about the
manner in which phenomenon in question is determine. Researcher undertaken the advantage of
secondary data collection method to analyse secondary sources and fulfilled research objectives
with authenticity and viability. With the help of undertaking advantage of all these appropriate
research methods as research methodology researcher aim towards accomplishing research
objectives in effective manner to draw valid conclusion.
Gantt Chart
Gantt chart is a series of horizontal line which outlines the amount of work which is
required to be completed in certain period of time. In order to fulfill present research objective
researcher undertaken the advantage of Gantt chart in order to plan and schedule research
activities in effective manner. With the help of taking advantage of this research aimed towards
managing dependency between tasks in a well defined and effective manner.
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Chapter 3
Literature review
Concept of digital technologies
As per the view point of Hao, Xiao and Chon, 2020 digital technologies are devices, electronical
tools and resources that helps in generating, storing and processing data. Some example of digital
technology includes social media, multimedia, mobile phone etc. In today's business world
digital technologies is helping organisation to create new value in business model and strengthen
their internal capabilities to enhance consumer satisfaction. With the help of digital technologies
organisation can perform their business operations with the help of internet and can significantly
enhances overall efficiency of the products and services (Herédia-Colaço and Rodrigues, 2021).
Digital technologies also help in tracking and streamline processes and assist organisation to
maintain data flow and increase efficiency of their operation. Thus. digital technology include
artificial intelligence, blockchain, internet of things, virtual reality, robotics etc which is playing
important role in today's business world.
Impact of digital technologies on the productivity of travel and tourism industry during Covid-
19
As per the view point of Iqbal, Waqas and Abrar, 2021 Digital technologies infused artificial
intelligence and robotics, blockchains, internet of things, augmented reality and virtual reality
which is allowing organisation to increase efficiency of their business operations. During the
outbreak of covid-19 digital technologies played essential role as it helps in increasing efficiency
and productivity and delivering services to consumers in efficient manner (Ivan, 2020). Digital
technologies also assisted organisation to conduct activities and increased their responsiveness
towards consumers during the outbreak of covid-19. Organisation faced challenges due to the
lockdown and strict restrictions imposed by government. In this travel and tourism industry faced
major challenges which affected their overall productivity in negative manner (Jin, Bao and
Tang, 2021). In this help of digital technologies organisation like Travelodge in travel and
tourism industry offered services to customers which benefited them in terms of increased
productivity.
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Challenges that Travelodge has faced during covid-19 and potential digital technologies
which help in overcoming the challenges
As per the view point of Kaushal and Srivastava, 2021 Covid-19 is an infectious disease that has
shaken the whole world. In affected all businesses around the globe every organisation in nearly
every industry faced number of challenges due to this pandemic which affected their growth
profitability and long-term sustainability. It has been identified that covid-19 has affected every
sector across the globe and the travel and tourism industry is among the hardest hit. In this
Travelodge faced challenges in terms of decrease in profitability health and safety of employees,
lower occupancy rate, increase in operating cost extra (Lin and Zhang, 2021). All these
challenges affected Travelodge smoothly of trade their roles and responsibility and satisfy
consumer needs and demands. With the help of artificial intelligence, internet of things, virtual
reality, social media, Travelodge is making their recovery during the outbreak of covid 19 and
offered facilities like virtual tourism to their customers (Litvin, Guttentag and Smith, 2021).
They are taking advantage of digital platform to manage remote working of employees,
undertaking use of robots for essential services such as quarantine facilities which help them to
overcome the challenges such as decrease and profitability due to tea outbreak of covid-19.
Chapter 4
Due to the outbreak of covid-19 business organisations around the world faced number of
challenges. Especially travel and tourism industry faced many issues in managing their business
operations. As due to the restrictions and guidelines imposed by government this industry need
to maintain proper standards (Liu and Liu, 2021). Organisations in this industry needed to
maintain health and safety standards to attract population and operate successfully in industry.
However it has been identified that Travelodge faced any challenges in terms of decrease in
productivity and managing health and safety of employees and consumers, standards of
government, Travelodge also faced the challenges of occupancy rate, increases in business
operating cost extra. All these challenges has been overcome at some extent with the help of
digital technologies in which with the help of artificial intelligence, robotics extra Travelodge
managed to satisfy consumer needs and demands (Mukarromah and Wijayanti, 2021). It has been
determined that digital technology played essential especially for travel and tourism industry in
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which organisations like Travelodge provided digital services to consumers and satisfy the needs
and demands effectively (Scholtz and De Ridder, 2021). It helps in enhancing organisation
profitability and allowed them to manage their business operations and effective manner.
Chapter 5
Conclusion
As per the research it has been concluded that digital technologies played essential role
during the outbreak of covid-19 which assisted organisation in travel and tourism industry such
as Travelodge to offer our services to customers and enhance their productivity during the
pandemic. It significantly help organisations to satisfy consumer needs and enhance and
maintain efficiency in this services. Researcher accomplished objectives with the help of
appropriate methods which enhances efficiency of research outcomes.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Aldao, C., Blasco, D., Espallargas, M.P. and Rubio, S.P., 2021. Modelling the crisis management
and impacts of 21st century disruptive events in tourism: the case of the COVID-19
pandemic. Tourism Review.
Araten-Bergman, T. and Shpigelman, C.N., 2021. Staying connected during COVID-19: Family
engagement with adults with developmental disabilities in supported
accommodation. Research in developmental disabilities, 108, p.103812.
Gallego, I. and Font, X., 2021. Changes in air passenger demand as a result of the COVID-19
crisis: Using Big Data to inform tourism policy. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29(9),
pp.1470-1489.
Hao, F., Xiao, Q. and Chon, K., 2020. COVID-19 and China’s hotel industry: Impacts, a disaster
management framework, and post-pandemic agenda. International journal of
hospitality management, 90, p.102636.
Herédia-Colaço, V. and Rodrigues, H., 2021. Hosting in turbulent times: Hoteliers’ perceptions
and strategies to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. International Journal of
Hospitality Management, 94, p.102835.
Iqbal, M., Ahmad, N., Waqas, M. and Abrar, M., 2021. COVID-19 pandemic and construction
industry: Impacts, emerging construction safety practices, and proposed crisis
management. Brazilian Journal of Operations & Production Management, 18(2), pp.1-
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Ivan, I., 2020. Effects of Dynamic Organization and Digital Innovation on the Hotel Tourism
Industry during the Coronavirus Pandemic Period. Available at SSRN 3617528.
Jin, X., Bao, J. and Tang, C., 2021. Profiling and evaluating Chinese consumers regarding post-
COVID-19 travel. Current Issues in Tourism, pp.1-19.
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Kaushal, V. and Srivastava, S., 2021. Hospitality and tourism industry amid COVID-19
pandemic: Perspectives on challenges and learnings from India. International Journal
of Hospitality Management, 92, p.102707.
Lin, Y.H. and Zhang, C., 2021. Investigating air travellers’ travel motivation during a pandemic
crisis. Journal of Air Transport Management, 97, p.102138. Aziz, N.A. and Long, F.,
2021. To travel, or not to travel? The impacts of travel constraints and perceived travel
risk on travel intention among Malaysian tourists amid the COVID‐19. Journal of
Consumer Behaviour.
Litvin, S.W., Guttentag, D. and Smith, W.W., 2021. Who Should You Market to in a Crisis?
Examining Plog’s Model during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Travel Research,
p.00472875211018502.
Liu, C.H. and Liu, B., 2021. Using DANP-mV model to improve the paid training measures for
travel agents amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Mathematics, 9(16), p.1924.
Mukarromah, U. and Wijayanti, W., 2021. Implementation of the online learning at vocational
high school during Covid-19: Between obligations and barriers. Jurnal Pendidikan
Vokasi, 11(1).
Ngoc Su, D., Luc Tra, D., Thi Huynh, H.M., Nguyen, H.H.T. and O’Mahony, B., 2021.
Enhancing resilience in the Covid-19 crisis: lessons from human resource management
practices in Vietnam. Current Issues in Tourism, pp.1-17.
Scholtz, M. and De Ridder, K., 2021. Brace for impact! COVID-19, lockdown and the initial
reaction and adaptability of Flemish travel consumers. Journal of Tourism, Heritage &
Services Marketing (JTHSM), 7(2), pp.28-37.
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