The functions and departments of a hotel
1. Read the text and translate it. While reading try to find answers to these questions:
1. What is a modern large hotel made up of?
2. What is the main responsibility of a general manager (GM)?
3. Why may some hotels be awe-inspiring?
The primary function of a hotel is to provide lodging accommodation. A large hotel is run by a general manager (GM) and an executive committee comprised of the key executives who head major departments: rooms division director, food and beverage director, marketing and sales director, human resources director, chief accountant or controller, and chief engineer or facility manager. These executives generally have a regional or corporate counterpart with whom they have a reporting relationship, although the general manager is their immediate superior.
A hotel is made up of several businesses or revenue centers and cost centers. A few thousand products and services are sold every day. Each area of specialty requires dedication and a quality commitment for each department to get little things right all the time. Furthermore, hotels need the cooperation of a large and diverse group of people to do it. Godfrey Bier, the general manager of the elegant 800-room General Eisenhower Hotel calls it a business of details. Another wise comment comes from Matthew Fox: «If you ignore the little stuff, it will become big stuff».
Hotels are places of glamour that may be awe-inspiring. Even the experienced hotel person is impressed by the refined dignity of a beautiful hotel like a Ritz-Carlton or the artistic splendor of a Hyatt. The atmosphere of a hotel is stimulating to a hospitality student. Let us step into an imaginary hotel to feel the excitement and become a part of the rush that is similar to show business, for a hotel is live theater and the GM is the director of the cast of players.
Hotels, whether they are chain-affiliated or independent properties, all exist to serve and enrich society, and at the same time make a profit for the owners. Frequently, hotels are just like pieces of property on a Monopoly board. They often make or lose more money with equity appreciation or depreciation than via operations.
Hotels have been described as people palaces. Some are certainly palatial, and others are more functional. Hotels are meant to provide all the comforts of home to those away from home. A gracious feeling of warmth and welcome is a hotel's most valuable asset. Hotels have personalities that are created by the combined chorus of effort, interest, and sincerity on the part of every member of the staff.
2. Answer the questions on the text:
1. What is the primary function of a hotel?
2. Whom is a large hotel headed by, as a rule?
3. What directors and managers run a large hotel?
4. Why is the rush of a big hotel similar to show business?
5. What is sold every day in a typical hotel?
6. What are hotels meant to provide to those away from home?
7. Whom is an executive committee comprised of?
8. Why do hotels need the cooperation of a large and diverse group of people?
9. How many products and services are sold every day in a large hotel?
10. Why does each area of specialty require dedication and a quality commitment?
11. What does Matthew Fox's comment «If you ignore the little stuff, it will become big stuff» mean? Do you agree with him?
12. What is a hotel’s most valuable asset?
3. Complete the sentences using proper words and phrases in the box.
1.
Even large hotels may not only make but sometimes even lose__________.
2. Some hotels certainly look like palaces, while others are_____________.
3. Hotels are usually made up of several________.
4. All hotels exist to serve society, and at the same time _____ for then" owners.
5. Hotels provide _____ to people who are away from home.
4. Say whether the following statements are true or false. Comment on the true statements and correct the false ones.
1. A large hotel's executive committee is usually comprised of two general managers.
2. A city center hotel needs the cooperation of a big and diverse team of experienced people to run it.
3. The human resources director is the immediate superior of the general manager.
4. The elegant 800-room General Eisenhower Hotel is run by a GM.
5. All departments are supposed to get things right all the time.
6. Hotels exist to serve their owners, and at the same time make a profit for the guests.
7. Hotels are meant to provide all the comforts of home to their managers who are often away from home.
5. Complete the sentences with the suitable words and expressions.
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1. If you book a room for one person, you usually book a ………………………
2. If you want a room with a double bed, you book a ………………………………
3. If you want a room with two separated beds, you book a ……………………….
4. For families there are usually special offers if they take a ………………………
5. In youth hostels rooms are often shared by 10 or more people. This kind of room is called ……………………………………………………………………………
6. To get 10 people into one room, two beds are usually placed on top of each other. They are called ……………………………………………………………………
7. No matter where you’re staying, you usually have to fill in a form at the ……….
8. Then the receptionist tells you your room number and gives you the ………. for your room.
9. During high season it’s advisable to book a room in …………………………….
10. If a B&B is fully booked, they usually have a sign in the window saying ‘No …’
The functions and departments of a hotel 1
How many products and services are sold every day in a large hotel? 10
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