Travelodge Employability Skills Report: Responsibilities and Solutions

This report analyzes the employability skills of a marketing manager at Travelodge, covering responsibilities, self-assessment, and performance objectives. It identifies work-based problems, such as labor turnover and conflict, and proposes solutions. The report delves into motivational techniques, including incentive programs, work-life balance, and job enrichment, to improve employee performance. It also explores team dynamics and strategies for achieving shared goals. Furthermore, the report includes a formal letter and memo addressing these issues, emphasizing the importance of conflict management and staff retention. The report provides a detailed evaluation of the marketing manager's skills, offers recommendations for improvement, and emphasizes the importance of adaptability, analytical skills, and knowledge of media trends. Finally, it suggests strategies to resolve the identified issues and their potential impact on the business.

EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
Set of own responsibilities and performance objectives.............................................................3
Evaluation of own effectiveness against defined objectives.......................................................4
Recommendations for improvement...........................................................................................5
Review of motivational techniques in improving quality of performance.................................6
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................7
2.2 Formal letter and memo........................................................................................................8
Effective time management strategies........................................................................................9
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................10
Roles that people play in a team and how they can work together to achieve shared goals.....10
Analyze team dynamics............................................................................................................11
Suggest alternative ways to complete tasks and achieve team goals........................................12
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................14
Tools and methods for developing solutions to problems........................................................14
Develop an appropriate strategy for resolving a particular problem of labour turnover...........14
Evaluate the potential impact on business of implementing the strategy.................................15
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................16
REFERENCE.................................................................................................................................17

INTRODUCTION
Employ ability skills are fundamental set of qualities which is required by each and every
personnel within any organizations. The study will cover a description to certain responsibilities
of marketing manager and self assessment. It will introduce work based problems and solutions
to overcome it (Raman and Koka, 2015). This report will cover its tasks in context of Travelodge
hotel of UK founded in 1985, with a number of approximately 19,000 employees till now. The
study will cover various motivational techniques to improve quality of work. It will include roles
that people play in a team to achieve shared goals. Along with this, the report will cover different
strategies to reduce identified issue of labor turnover in organization.
TASK 1
Set of own responsibilities and performance objectives
Being a Marketing Manager of Travelodge company, set of my own responsibilities can
be defined on the basis of different marketing functions performed by organization.
Developing marketing plan-
It is one of the foremost duty to formulate a proper marketing plan for company to
regulate certain marketing actions with respect to hospitality industries (Moore and Morton,
2017). For hotel Travelodge, I am responsible to deliver a strategic and clear outlet of activities
that has to be performed by team for advertisements, approaching customers and other related
functions.
Designing promotional strategies-
Effective planning for the hotel regarding its promotions is principle responsibility that
has to be designed collectively with support of team. Selection of proper media agencies,
specifying sales representatives, choosing suitable branding strategies etc. need to be look after.
Increasing sales and profit margins-
Being a marketing manager, increasing sales and attracting customers is one of the main
responsibility to perform (Vlachopoulos, Harris and White, 2016). At Travleodge hotel, I am
responsible to apply range of theoretical models and strategies to increase sales and profit
margins of hotel.
Developing market analysis strategies-

It is a responsibility to provide a sustainable image to hotel by analyzing the status of
competitors existing in markets. For developing suitable marketing analysis strategies, my
responsibility is to carry out different external assessments related to market trends. For this
analysis I also need to conduct customers' demands related to hotel services and related products.
Managing team work-
Managers have to manage its team and need to provide them guidelines, resolve their
issues and increase their productivity (Tan, 2016). At Travelodge hotel, I am responsible to attain
different needs of team members to make them feel motivated and supported.
Evaluation of own effectiveness against defined objectives
Skills Confident to
perform
I can still
improve
Need to
work on it
Adaptability
I am capable enough to adapt situation arises within
organizations and work accordingly.
✓
Analytical skills
I can conceptualize critical problems and solve them
effectively with help of applicable theories and
models.
✓
Knowledge of media trends
I am familiar and aware of changing and developing
various promotional trends of media.
✓
I have a great approach to inculcate evolving media
strategies with organizational advertisements.
✓
Prompt decision making
I can easily make quick and prompt decisions for
selecting or applying any modification within any
organizational plan.
✓
Attention to details

I pay keen attention to details to reduce chance of
occurring errors or faults and to improve quality of
work.
✓
Written skills
I am confident that my documentation and reports
are presentable and understandable to team work.
✓
Team management
I can effectively manage my team members and
solve their grievances.
✓
I am capable enough to maintain transparency and
healthy competition within team.
✓
Recommendations for improvement
Based on above designed plan, I need to increase my analytical skills, Written skills and
knowledge of media trends (Collet, Hine and du Plessis, 2015). To improve this skill following
measures can be taken-
Analytical skills-
 I can undergo and take help of different tutorials, books and journals to grasp basic
concepts of critical management models.
 I can take help of different brain games to improvise my analytical thinking.
 Participation in Debates and joining with a club that imparts certain brain utilization
activities will be helpful. Senior guidance will be an effective solution to increase level of analytical thinking
related to any organizational projects.
For Written skills-
 I have to be specific and practice to avoid use of jargon and unprofessional terminologies
within generated content.
 I can take help of senior guidance and ask for professional feedback at workplace. Adopting a practice of proofreading the content before forwarding it to team members or
office mates can be effective.

For increasing knowledge of media trends-
 I can take help of different online tutorials and guidelines of YouTube channels
displaying information related to trends and business activities through media.
 I can take help of colleagues and subordinates to understand and new, innovative media
trends applicable to marketing strategies.
Review of motivational techniques in improving quality of performance
There are number of motivational techniques that can be used to improve quality of
performance (O’Connor and Bodicoat, 2017). Managers of Travelodge hotel may undertake
different activities or implement certain models to improvise performance of employees. As far
as motivational theories are concerned, Travelodge may relate its functions with predefined
theories such as Maslow's need theory, Herzberg's theory. Based on motivational techniques,
managers may adopt-
Employees' incentive programs
Management of Travelodge hotel may adopt different incentive programs for its employees to
motivate them (Suleman, 2016). This will not only reduce labor turnover but improve their
quality of performance as well.
Maintaining work-life balance
Work- life balance is desirable to every employee working within any organization. At
Travelodge hotel, staff can be motivated by maintaining proper work life balance (Pusey-Murray,
Daly and Stewart, 2018). Reduction of long working hours, provision of half days etc. will
improve quality of performance of employees. It will reduce their workload and freshen up their
minds which will increase their productivity.
Sharing profits
It is a financial reward that can improvise task force's motivation and their loyalty towards
workplace. At Travelodge managers may opt for different profit sharing to eligible staff member.
This will motivate other staff to perform better thus increasing quality of performance of overall
staff.
Job enrichment

This is a common tool that can directly motivate employees and increase their morale. At
Travelodge hotel, quality of performance can be improvised by providing different job
enrichment facilities to employees or team members.
Providing Recognition
Managers of Travelodge hotel must provide adequate recognition to employees in front of their
subordinates and peers. This will boost up their morale and increase their interest towards
performing quality of work.
Apart from all the mentioned techniques or processes, managers at Travelodge hotel may
undergo for different performance audits to increase quality of performance of staff members
(Messum, Peters and Jackson, 2017). The Marketing managers may undergo for such audits to
improve the quality of its marketing activities. It will be helpful for marketing manager to
improvise productivity of team members for performing different functions related to marketing
researches and analysis.
TASK 2
Develop solutions to work-based problems
While working at Travelodge as a Marketing manager, certain work based problems have
been identified. These issues are increasing due to lack of coordination within team members of
hotels.
Staff turnover: This problem has increased in Travelodge due to the presence of several factors
like poor motivation to staff, extreme long working hours, hectic and extreme busy atmosphere
etc. It is the most common problem exists in large hotels which can be reduced by significant
measures.
 Managers may opt for open feedback and interaction with employees to know their
needs.
 Management may deliver highly supportive and friendly atmosphere to employees by
conducting some fun activities, celebrating employees' birthdays.
 Providing staff motivation through monetary rewards such as profit sharing, bonus, wage
increment. Non- monetary rewards such as recognition among employees, are more effective than
other type of rewards.

Conflict: Conflict management is a concerning issue that is arising in Travelodge hotel. High
level of disagreements among team members turns out into conflicts. It is important to reduce
this problem to maintain high level of productivity among team members and to deliver a
friendly atmosphere
 Managers of Travelodge need to opt for a standardized conflict management program for
team members.
 Active listening and imparting a win- win situation to both parties will be an effective in
maintaining healthy atmosphere.
 Proper counseling will deliver utmost effective results in resolving conflicts occurring at
workplace. Employees or staff members need to be trained regarding conflict resolution skills and
effective communication to reduce level of disagreements within workforce.
2.2 Formal letter and memo
To,
Senior Manager,
Travelodge hotel, UK
Subject: Regarding work-based problem.
Respected Sir,
It is a concerning an issue of Travelodge hotel that labor and staff members are leaving our
workplace and do not show considerable interest to work with us. We have also identified that
conflicts are increasing within staff members. To solve these issue, we have conducted an
assessment related the relevant problem and introduced a set of strategies for different managers
to control these issues. To reduce staff turnover rate, we have reached to solutions that inclusion
of open feedback must be applied within organization. Reward policies and strategies need to
be redesigned and structured. Our organization need to deliver recognition to staff members to
motivate and improve them.
As far as the issue of conflict is concerned, Travelodge hotel need to adopt a proper conflict
management plan. Managers of different departments should be provided with number of
guidelines related to managing staff issues and adopt a participative nature to resolve their
issues.

It is important for Travelodge hotel to act on plan perform in accordance with proposed
strategies to control the two major issues arising within organization. The managers and
executives need to be highly attentive towards both work based problems.
To,
All Staff,
Travelodge hotel,
Subject: Regarding work based issues within organization.
Respected Staff members,
Travelodge hotels have serious concerning issues of conflict management and Staff turnover.
Based on the assessment related to certain loopholes within system that are introducing such
problems have been identified. Different strategies and plans have been designed that need to be
followed by overall staff. These strategies are confined with conflict management plan, reward
structure and inclusion of open feedback for staff members. These strategies need to be
included and implemented as soon as possible to reduce problems of turnover and arising
conflict.
Effective time management strategies
For manager of any service sector, it is important to functions with proper management
of time. It is one of a requirement to avoid undesirable situations at workplaces (Messum, Wilkes
and Jackson, 2015). Manager of Travelodge hotel need to perform every responsibilities
promptly to facilitate its customers. Travelodge may attain strategic growth by adopting these
strategies. Some effective time management strategies that can be adopted by the manager are:
Proper delegation
Effective task distributions or delegation of strategy tends to provide a clear idea to
manager regarding the performance evaluation of task force (Matsouka and Mihail, 2016). It
reduces workload of staff as well as deliver a straight outlook to rest functions that has to be
performed.
Avoiding multitasking

Marketing managers of Travelodge hotel should avoid multitasking, he should not
undertake too many responsibilities collectively. It may introduce certain confusions and chaos
in working procedures and business activities of hotel managers.
Setting deadlines
This strategy will provide definite plan to accomplish given workplace's responsibilities
on time. In case of hotels, marketing managers may set deadlines to increase the work efficiency
staff and to monitor the level of progress (Pusey-Murray, Daly and Stewart, 2018). Proper
implication of deadlines for projects and marketing plans will deliver effective results to
marketing team of Travelodge hotel.
All mentioned time management strategies must be adopted by marketing manager of
Travelodge to effectively manage the workload and deliver high quality of performance to the
staff.
TASK 3
Roles that people play in a team and how they can work together to achieve shared goals
In case of hospitality sectors, roles within a team played by different functionaries like
HR mangers, housekeeping staff, front desk officers focuses on common goal. The main purpose
of team at hotels is increasing customers' satisfaction (Messum, Peters and Jackson, 2016). As
per the Nine Belbin Team roles, every team has number of specific persons who works together
to reach desired goals.
Specialists: In hotels, specialists are generally Managers, Leaders. Supervisors, General
Managers who provide key knowledge to perform various functions. Specialists provide core
guidelines of any function to all team members to accomplish their tasks.
Resource investigator: They investigate various resources that are useful for team to reach up
to desired goals. Resource investigator can work with specialist to know different requirements
of project, plan or functions.
Designer and Shaper: Main function of designer is to make proper plans and strategies related
to different tasks performed that are going to be performed within any organization. Designer
and shaper works together to design and match plans' primary outline.
Implementer: Implementer are key performers who perform the designed plan by specialists
and key members of hotels (Collet, Hine and du Plessis, 2015). At Travelodge, supervisors,

guests service assistants are the implementer who performs tasks assigned and alloted by
executives.
Coordinator and Team worker: They help team to perform and reach to desired goals. Leaders
and supervisors generally play the role of coordinator to support team members.
Completer: With the help of all team members, a completer finishes the running project or plan
by double checking it and ensure that it has been finished properly.
All nine functionaries form elementary structure to accomplish different tasks within any service
sector. At Travelodge hotel, all team members have their inter-dependency on each other to
formulate and perform different businesses activities.
Analyze team dynamics
Team dynamics are certain forces that inhibits within team members influencing nature
of whole team. It is highly dependent upon interrelationships that exists among members who are
sharing a common goal and approach to complete specific task (El Mansour and Dean, 2016).
Team dynamics must be maintained to achieve high competitive advantage and complete tasks
related to different departments of hotel.
Stages of team development-
Based on Tuckman's model of team development, team dynamics can be easily
recognized within each of the stages. The extent of dynamics within team differs as the
engagement and connectivity varies in each step.
Illustration 1: Stages of team development
(Source:Team work- Tuckman's Way,2015)

Forming: It is the initial phase of team development where manager are responsible to select
team members based upon their qualities. Team dynamics highly depend on this stage.
Storming: Level of team dynamics is extremely low at this stage (Williamson, 2015). Managers
need to impart employees' engagement activities and need to cultivate healthy competitions
within team.
Norming: It strengthens the team dynamics as people of team starts to share a friendly bond with
each other. Team engagement increases at this stage and manager can effectively perform
incorporating its team members.
Performing: At this stage, team dynamics increases due to increased connection and effective
relationship within team members (Williams, 2015). At this stage, manager are responsible to
maintain the state of team dynamics.
Adjourning: At the last stage, team dynamics reaches at neutral phase where the goal is achieved
and task is finished. At this stage, managers are responsible to motivate the task force to maintain
same level of behavior with each other to work collectively and with a shared approach.
Role of manager in improving team dynamics
At Travelodge hotel, Manager play a significant role to achieve team dynamics. Based on
Tuckman's model of team development the manager of hotel may op[t for certain strategies to
increase and maintain team productivity and engagement (Kumar and Natarajan, 2018). At the
point team development, manager play vital role to manage team dynamics.
Explore: Manager at Travelodge act as explorer to derive concepts and conclusions to plan
related to development of team dynamics. Managers tends to find out different reasons of
conflicts that take place within the staff of Travelodge hotel.
Coordinate: Management team coordinates with other functional department and team members
to resolve conflicts and behavioral issues persisting within employees. At Travelodge hotel,
Marketing manager tends to coordinate with other departments' manager to discuss the problems
and design suitable plan.
Administration: Managers of Travelodge hotel, is responsible to administer the working pattern
of team and involved participants of the plan to maintain healthy relation among employees.
Managers strategically administer performance employees in maintaining team dynamics.
Suggest alternative ways to complete tasks and achieve team goals
For completing tasks-