Italy Centripetal and Centrifugal Forces Term Paper

Italy Centripetal and Centrifugal Forces - Term Paper Example New Europe shares 3 common divisors: Hellenism, Germanic migration and Christianity. The Germanic who ran into the Roman Empire about the 1st century A.D. was changed to Christianity [Catholicism] in final years of Western Roman Empire. In 800 A.D. the pope laurelled Karl [Karl der Grosse], the king of Germanic Frank, as the Emperor of Western Roman Empire. Karl’s enthronement was a historical milepost intending that the Rome society which transmitted Hellenism Culture was mixed with the Teutonic by Christianity. Thenceforth Western Roman Empire was separated into 3 different territories, inherited by Karl’s 3 grandkids severally, and they turned the source of present Germany, France, and Italy. 2 sources of the European centripetal force are in general recognized to have motivated the European conjugation following the World War II: 3 common divisors [Hellenism, Christianity and Germanic attitude which Europe has been dealing after the fourth century, and balancing of Germany and France which had been in opposition for numerous years. However 3 European common divisors never exist in parallel mode; they made multilayer structures, lapping in numerous layers in strain relations. Likewise, Germany-France association had formerly been under the significance of such multilevel constructions even earlier than the enthronement of Karl, whom both France and Germany admire as the founder of a nation. Then how and when such multilevel constructions were made and what do they do to the conjugation of Europe today? Let’s take a nearer look. Chapter II refines on how centripetal forces were integrated into multilevel shapes.

Western Financial Review Essay Example for Free

Western Financial Review Essay In 21st Century, women have learnt to be at par with men in various sectors of work. Viz. , pilots, engineers, scientists, CEOs and COOs in corporate sector. Banking sector is no exception for women to play a vital role in holding huge responsibilities. Gender difference is longer a taboo whereas a mixed and friendly environment began to sustain in corporate culture. All that matters here, how professionally a woman employee performs in working environment which is both rewarding and prospective for a career. For the year 2007, ‘Western Financial Review’ awarded â€Å"Outstanding Women Banking† viz. , Jackie Johnson, Executive Vice president of Community State Bank in Edgewood, Iowa, Anne Hofstede, Senior Vice President at United Banker’s Bank in Bloomington, Minnesota, Frandsen State Bank in New Ulm, Minnesota, Sharon Berger, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at American Bank Center in Bismarck, N. D, and Cathy Morrissey, Senior Vice President of correspondent banking and area manager for Wells Fargo Bank in Lincoln, Neb. These women have been chosen for the outstanding contribution that has been made to the respective banks in the capacity of respective designations, which is both quite appealing and inspirational for all aspiring women. Job in a bank is not easy, with the fact that a woman has to equip and participate both at domestic level and at working level which has to be managed efficiently and this has been proved successfully by many women in many corporate areas. The job of managing home and kids as home minister and working in corporate sector is both challenging and the image of women in society is of high esteem in this scenario. Sarah Strong is another successful example in women category who has joined the managerial level in Security Bank. Sarah has been performing extremely well year after year, which is why Sarah has been promoted three times with high rating which is a commendable performance for a woman. The problems of Sarah began when Sarah was transferred to a host bank in Mexico City where there were only 20 bank employees under the leadership of William Vitam. Sarah has been facing office-politics, for better or worse, confronted with situations which she handled with courage and positive attitude. Security Bank was supposed to intimate Mr. William Vitam about Sarah Strong, degree of work and a clear letter about Sarah’s role in Mexico city Bank. This was not performed by Security Bank in spite of the fact that Sarah’s contribution to the Security Bank was outstanding. Every bank must hold corporate social responsibility towards its employees when its workforce is on transfer or on deputation to other banks, which is a minimum courtesy to take care of employees. Security Bank has violated human rights especially in ignoring the value of ethics. It is important to take note here that religion and ethical standards are firm on â€Å"Conduct is Right because God commands it right. God commands right conduct because it is right†(Cyndi Banks). Women who are employed in European and American banks continue to face all sort of office-politics. A woman who quit a job in a European Bank states â€Å"One or two European banks in particular have an appealing attitude†. Women in European banks are facing more problems than in American Banks. There are no flexible working hours for women. The internal and external working environment is governed by organization behavior of a bank, whether it is for Security Bank or for host bank. Each bank must follow organization behavior both externally and internally which was not present in either of banks, whereas unwarranted bossism, office-politics, satire was prevailing in bank. This was certainly not expected from banks particularly, when women are making a huge contribution to the success and growth of banking sector. Some of the effective steps that bank should have undertaken is, to at least arrange for an office-politics adviser for the help of Sarah. Advisers would the situation of Sarah, and advise for a suitable action to continue working in a smooth and better environment. Harassment is basically of two types. The first is being direct and intentional and the second being quid pro quo which means â€Å"this for that†. Sarah was facing a sarcastic behavior from William Vitam who was on one side appreciating by saying â€Å" our lady banker† â€Å"my cute assistant† and on the other side, created an atmosphere where bank clients refused to seek the help of Sarah for any transaction and in fact bank Sarah began to receive negative marking for no fault. Sarah was in a fix in an unhealthy work environment, wherein the policies of Vitam were also contradictory in arranging uniforms for all women employees. The code of uniform was inappropriate and was demoralizing the employment of all women employees in bank. With the above scenario, Sarah must on priority basis consult an expert in office-politics and produce a written complaint against William Vitam, submit written complaint to both Security Bank and Mexican city Bank, with a copy to police department, seeking immediate relief from harassment. This is the first option for Sarah. The second option for Sarah is, if in case, Sarah is not interested in the advice of a consultant, with the fact that Sarah being a capable and an efficient woman, can seek the intervention of top management in Security Bank explaining in detail about the job situation in Mexican city bank, and submit a resignation letter and consider a written proof of service and conduct certificate to find a better placement elsewhere in another organization. The third option is to release a management article in popular newspaper or a magazine about women employees in banking sectors or contribute an article public forum in which case, a collective decision would solve the problem of Sarah. As per the above discussion, it can be concluded that both Security Bank and Mexican city bank have violated the rules and regulations of employment and the practice of human resource management. Both the banks do not have sound HR practices and even organizational behavior. One strong evidence for this, could be in the manner Sarah was exploited in bank with which, Sarah was heading towards negative marking in service record. Sarah was entitled to receive an appropriate and considerable greet from Mexican Bank with the kind of services that were rendered to Security Bank in a span of three years. Conclusion Banking sector offers good prospects for women and banking jobs are ideal for women. Every bank must recognize the services of women employees and must not take an easy-go for the services rendered by women employees. Even the problems faced by women employees must be resolved with the practice of human rights and in view corporate social responsibility. References Book Cyndi Banks, Criminal Justice Ethics: Theory and Practice Accessed December 11, 2007 from http://books. google.com/books? id=kwOHPCNaInoCpg=PA273lpg=PA272ots=L7EbrRCIshdq=ethics+for+women+in+banksie=ISO-8859-1output=htmlsig=T4fkqmMxxo6Va50kLplGO9CnD5s Influence at Work: The 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking Accessed December 11, 2007 from http://www. americanbanker. com/25mpwib/about. html Sandin, Erik (2007) Northwestern Financial Review, 2007 Outstanding women in Banking Accessed December 11, 2007 from http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_qa3799/is_20071115/ai_n21124748

Recession in the Hotel Industry

Recession in the Hotel Industry A marketing environment comprises of macro and micro elements. Marketers should consider both internal and external environments to understand the whole of the market in which they want to sell their products or services (Masterson and Pickton, 2004). Normally, in a time of recession, customers do not spend too much money on overseas holidays (Mintel, 2009), because they see them as a luxuries. One could expect, therefore, customers would prefer take short city breaks or a domestic holiday. Businessman also may choose budget priced accommodation for their business trips. Moreover, consumer-spending power has diminished, as they have had to draw-in their purse strings, although levels of personal disposable income have been maintained to a degree because of historically low interest rates. Mintel(2010) estimates that personal disposable income stagnated between 2004 and 2009. The hotel industry has been notably affected by the recession. Environment analysis using such models as, PRESTCOM, Porters Five Forces, SWOT Analysis and Segmentation can be used to examine the effect of the recession upon the hotel industry and for this reason models will be used in this report. 2.1.1 POLITICAL Up to 1978, the hotel industry developed rapidly but after that date, the economy increasingly became market-oriented. This improvement created a much better environment for the industry in which to develop (Hornsby, 1990). According to Kotler (1996), the political environment strongly affects the hospitality industry. The political environment is comprised of laws, government agencies and pressure groups that influence and limit the activities of various organisations and individuals in society. Furthermore, the EU has proposed plans to sponsor holidays for individuals who do not have enough money to travel. According to Travel Weekly (2010), these plans assist many customers with financial problems to have a holiday. For example, young persons aged from 18 to 25, disabled people and pensioners, etc. The idea to help these people travel was put forward by Antonio Tajani, the EU Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry, who declared that a holiday is a human right. Therefore, this proposal could actually stimulate consumption and offer individuals more opportunities to have holidays. Perhaps this might be good news for the hotel industry during the recession. 2.1.2 REGULATORY An environment that is regulated protects companies from each other. While most businesses praise the virtues of competition, they try to counteract it when it affects them. Another way is try to restrict a companys unfair dealings and illegal transactions. Furthermore, regulation also aims to protect consumers from unfair business practices. If unregulated, firms might provide unsafe, low quality products, poor services, be untruthful in their advertising or deceive through packaging and pricing. VisitBritain, the body, which aims to promote UK tourism, has launched a  £6.5 million advertising campaign outside the UK to promote the affordability of Britain as a destination. However, it calls for this investment to be matched by the UK government have so far been unsuccessful (Mintel, 2009). Moreover, hotel and restaurant taxes have become a popular source of revenue for local government. Hotel taxes are supposed to be used to support tourism; however, how this money is spent has been subject to liberal interpretation. Therefore, hotel managers should make sure that these taxes, which are designated to promote tourism, are used properly and effectively. 2.1.3 ECONOMIC FACTORS One factor that complicates the situation is the weakness of the pound against the Euro and Dollar. Sterling has lost value rapidly over the last year. In July 2008, one pound would still buy $2 but by November 2008, it was worth only $1.48, the lowest level for 6 years. Similarly, at one point the pound was almost equal in value to one Euro. While this is bad news for people buying goods or travelling outside the UK, it also means that UK goods and services become more attractively priced from the point of view of Euro Zone or USA travellers (OGrady, 2008) The economical environment is comprised of the following factors: Wage inflation: During a recession wages might increase. It is depends upon decisions to cut or increase wages that are made by employers. Therefore, hotel managers should pay more attention to income distribution as well as average earnings. Price inflation: In a recession, if the economy declines then commodity prices will rise. This factor will influence the decisions customers make whether to travel or not. Gross domestic product per capita (GDP): The most important economic factors are customers purchasing powers and spending patterns. GDP can indicate the magnitude of these factors, because total purchasing power depends on current incomes, prices, savings and credit. Hotel managers, therefore, must be aware of major trends in income and changing consumer-spending patterns. Exchange rates: The UK economy has weakened, the value of the pound against the Euro has decreased and therefore, customers might choose domestic tourism for their holidays. Even during a recession, customers still holiday but prefer to take short breaks to reward themselves. Mintels Annual Survey of Spending Priorities in 2009 showed that holidays remain the leading concern for consumers, despite the recession. Furthermore, all other leading consumer priorities showed little change compared to pre-recessionary times. Specifically, hotels in the UK appear relatively cheap since the fall in the value of sterling and hence more attractive to inbound travellers and tourists. At the same time, this means it is less attractive for UK holidaymakers to travel to the Euro Zone or USA and more attractive to stay at home. 2.1.4 SOCIAL FACTORS The age profile of the UK population is increasing. Furthermore, Mintels (2009) exclusive consumer research reveals that older adult usage of budget hotels is slightly below the national average; however, it is somewhat more than for young people. However, even during the recession, some people remain unaffected and they still stay in luxury hotels, such as, the Ritz or the Hilton. They do not care about the cost because they lead a luxurious lifestyle. Although these people have not changed their pattern of consumption, however, most customers will be affected by the recession and they might prefer to choose budget and not mid-range hotels when they travel. 2.1.5 TECHNOLOGICAL FACTORS Technology has a significantly affected the hotel industry in many ways, for example, Travelodge launched a free iPhone application that allows users to locate their five nearest Travelodges by GPS. They can see the availability, prices and book rooms. Moreover, customers can reserve their accommodation or check-in by via internet. In addition, they can obtain information via new platforms, such as, Facebook or Twitter. These and other technological advances help companies to become more effective in the marketplace, however, internet penetration levels and demographic breakdowns might make operators use of this distribution channel ever more viable. If firms adopt useful technological advances, they will gain a competitive edge. 2.1.6 COMPETITION FACTORS Since hotels are a service industry, human resources have become an indispensable element of the market. If the turnover ratio of employees is low, the centripetal of employees will be strong. As a result, the company will have the advantage of competition. The main substitutes who could replace the customers decision in the UK hotel market are those from other countries. Foreign customers may plan to visit the UK from places where they live, such as, France and Spain. However, Country House or Bed Breakfast hotels and so on which could also threaten substitutes in the UK domestic hotel industry. Hotels find themselves with different problems compared to their entrants. These problems include a high barrier of exit and entry costs with the investment. Thus, the large capital investment required to build a hotel represents a sunk cost. Hotels may not meet all their debt payments, taxes and other fixed costs but they can produce enough profit to cover their costs. Even they are perhaps prepared to operate at a loss rather than close their doors completely. However, when there is an oversupply of hotels but the total number of rooms remains the same, the result will be a price war within the industry. 2.1.7 ORGANISATIONAL FACTORS A Hotel manger should decide how to engage with the process of hostelry management using his/her capability and skills and be able to adjust and develop it to adapt to customer needs and preferences. For example, if a hotel could provide a high quality service or promote a particular customer-desirable activity then client return ratio will be increased. However, the problem that faces the hotel industry is recruiting qualified staff that can satisfy the standard of service required by customers. Most service employees lack the knowledge and skills to provide a service that meets international standards. This may be because employees have not received adequate training in the skills that are required. For instance, Whitbread has decided to open 1,700 Premier Inn rooms across the UK during 2009 and 2010. Whitbread is planning to increase their market share of the UK hotel industry. It will attempt to achieve this by building up its market position and providing customers with cost-effective packages (Mintel, 2009). It also plans to develop their booking platform, enhance their sales and put into place the next phase of its revenue management system. 2.1.8 MARKET FACTORS In the market sector, the most important thing is the customer; firms should affirm the clients they want to reach and their market segmentation. At the end of 2007, the UK hospitality as well as the hotel industry worldwide had been hardly affected by the recession and many commentators predicted that this would last until at least 2010. In the course of a few months, by early 2009, consumers had radically changed their attitudes and consumption. The optimism that had been expressed earlier could not be sustained (Mintel, 2009). The number of business travellers choosing budget hotels for their commercial trips is increasing. Moreover, the start of this trend corresponds to the beginning of the recession in 2008. Many companies have reduced their budget for commercial travel in response to recessionary conditions; therefore, commercial travellers now use budget hotels rather than mid-market ones. Green holidays and the effect of frequent air travel upon the environment are being raised as concerns (Bainbridge, 2009). Customers who want to reduce the effects of their pollution upon the environment choose to holiday within the UK (Bainbridge, 2009). However, these concerns are not entirely beneficial for the UK hospitality industry because overseas tourists share these beliefs, so this could reduce inbound tourism into the UK. Saving the environment, however, is currently a relatively low priority for most consumers but studies indicate that green issues will gradually become more important in the future (Key Note, 2009). A previous study has claimed that more customers prefer to holiday in the UK because of green considerations and as an alternative to flying abroad. Therefore, in 2008, travellers might choose the ferry to holiday as a greener alternative (Key Note, 2009). Budget hotels have made important investments in order to close the gap with mid-market brands. The three top most improved brands in terms of advertising awareness are Premier Inn, Travelodge and Holiday Inn Express. 2.2 SWOT analysis 2.2.1 Strengths The UK, like many other countries, after rapid economic growth with an open policy has now become one of the worlds most attractive places for travellers. On a positive note, the hotel market in the UK is a strong and sophisticated one that offers a wide range of options, which could meet different types of customer needs. This includes internationally famous brands as well as smaller individual enterprises. Moreover, there is a powerful promotion and support system in place for tourists through organisations, such as, VisitBritain. Moreover, the range of hotels offering different prices could meet individual consumer needs. Luxury, middle range, budget and even the country house hotel could satisfy every consumer. In addition, the growth of the budget hotel sector opened up a wider range of clients to the hotel market. In the past ten years, due to the rise in the level of consumers disposable incomes, the short break leisure market has grown. This phenomenon has allowed customers to have more domestic holiday choice and encourage travel within the UK. This trend has proven very positive for the hotel industry. Another factor that has strengthened the hotel market is the online reservation system. Customers are able to search for information, accommodation and book rooms online. This system is not only convenient for customers it is also efficient. 2.2.2 Weaknesses Profitability is a major concern for hotels. They worry about losing money during the course of chain operations. In addition, there remains an absence of an efficient system to monitor hotel management, which includes employees and retired employees etc (Gavin, 1997). The existing weaknesses in the hospitality industry are described below. Recession has been the influential factor from 2004 to 2009. As noted by Keynote (2010), the number of visits peaked in 2007 but fell during 2008 by one million. In the face of room oversupply, occupancy rates averaged approximately sixty percent but this figure fell by eight percent during 2007 to 2008 (Keynote, 2010). In an attempt to counter this fall, prices were reduced but this may diminish profitability. Mid-market hotels are coming under pressure, being squeezed, between budget and luxury hotels. Competition in the mid- and budget hotel market is becoming more intensive and probably there will be a price war. The performance of the global economy has a direct influence on the cost of hotel equipment. These costs have been rising and consequentially the financial burden has become heavier. 2.2.3 Opportunities Many tourist and hotel officials now believe that the UK will become the worlds most attractive visitor destination by 2011. This is considered an encouraging sign and a great opportunity for those who want to expand their hotel business in the UK. Any expansion is anticipated to be within the mid- or low-grade hotel sector. The demand for high star rated luxury hotels among the various hotel management groups is not expected to rise (WTO, 1999). In late 2008, the pound fell against foreign currencies and was very nearly equal to one Euro. This means that UK services, including hotels and tourist attractions have become more attractive to overseas tourists as they get more value from their Euros or dollars. The development of a global online reservation system will not only make hotels easily reachable but also provide an opportunity to access a wider client base. According to Keynote (2008), the age profile of the UK population is increasing. Many consumers that belong to this enlarged senior sector of the population have disposable assets, which they use to enjoy their leisure. In addition, the number of retirees is rising, which will have a positive effect upon the hotel market. In the next decade, due to a number of organized activities, such as, the 2012 London Olympics, more attention will be paid to the UK by the international market and it is anticipated that this will promote a growth in demand from overseas visitors for accommodation. Few leisure facilities, for example, restaurants and bars can cope with any extra business and, therefore, they are unable to create potential sales from the local area and hotels. 2.2.4 Threats Since 2004, the long-stay leisure market, that is, stays involving five nights or more has been in decline. Moreover, the number of long-stay hotel rooms booked in 2008 decreased by more than a half compared to 2006, at eleven million (BMRC, 2009). The threat of terrorist activities could discourage overseas travellers to stay in the UK. The success of the budget hotel sector is a threat to mid- and upmarket hotel chains. During the recession, customers may choose low price accommodation for their tourism. For example, self-catering and other less expenditure styles of accommodation manifest a big threat at this time. Some budget airline companies that offer low-priced flights to travellers for short weekend breaks may compete with domestic travel in the UK. 2.3 Porter Five Forces The structure of the hotel industry strongly affects competition between its members, which in turn directs decisions about the choice of strategies that are used by them. Therefore, Porters Five Forces analysis will be used to investigate the industry. New Entrants Government policies against entrants Fixed cost is huge Hard to access further credit Investments cannot be recovered immediately Buyers Large hotel, power low; Small hotel, power high Customers as a group have more power Sign contract gain more bargaining power Suppliers Bargaining power depends on the size of the hotel Unique technology and resources Switching costs Competitors Competition within luxury, mid-market and budget hotels Customers change consumption to budget hotels. Little effect on luxury hotels Substitutes Camping, caravan clubs, BB and country houses etc Camping and Caravan clubs had their best ever year in 2008 An attractive option for the budget conscious consumer The analysis includes the threat of new entrants, competitive rivalry within the industry, the threat of substitutes and the bargaining powers of buyers and suppliers. 2.3.1 The threat of new entrants Suitable hotel sites are not easy to find and building costs are very high. Furthermore, investments cannot immediately be recovered, especially during the period of construction. This factor represents a strong barrier to entering this market. The UK has enjoyed some of its highest periods of growth in property prices in recent years. The construction industry has been badly affected by the latest recession. Developers are hardly able to gain credit to support large scale building schemes; therefore, many hotel projects have stalled (Blitz, 2009). Aside from new developments, hotel managers who are unable to access further credit are finding things more difficult. Larger operators and branded chains are able to look to the medium and long-term over which a boom for hotels and travel are predicted due to emerging markets but smaller operators have less access to the resources that they will need in order to survive the next couple of years (Blitz, 2009). As a result, the threat of new entrants into hospitality industry is limited. 2.3.2 The competitive rivalry within industry In economic downturns, competition occurs within upmarket, midmarket and budget hotels. Mid-market hotels usually cater for tourists who do not travel a lot; also, their rooms are priced much higher than in budget hotels. In general, when the economy is in recession, consumer-spending power is less, therefore, they might choose lower priced accommodation. At the same time, budget hotels continue with their strong development plans to offer extra rooms through the expansion of new property. The development of budget hotels has eroded the mid-hotels market sector. However, the upmarket hotels have been little affected. Their customers are less likely to change their consumption patterns. The lifestyles of these customers engender very high consumption. Their expenditure would not change because they are not price sensitive. That is to say, no matter how prices changes, they will continue consuming. 2.3.3 The threat of substitutes There are some substitutes in this market, such as, camping, caravan clubs and BB and country houses. Mintel (2009) predicted that these holidays are an attractive option for budget conscious consumers. These substitutes will benefit from an increase in the number of families who because of financial reasons elect to stay in UK in 2009 and 2010. The Camping and Caravan Club market had their best ever year in terms of recruitment during 2008 (Mintel, 2009). Camping holidays are predicted to do rather better over the next few years before the long-term trend towards decline is re-instated. However, growth in this area might not be good news for the hotel industry, as by definition a stay in a hotel does not count as such for this type of holiday. 2.3.4 The bargaining power of buyers The hotel industry is faced by fierce competition. Companies will possibly sign a long-term contract with consumers to retain their customer base. Therefore, customers possess a strong bargaining power. Behind large hotel groups, there are large amounts of capital to support them to buy land and build new hotels. Consequently, the bargaining power of consumers is quite low with respect to these large hotel groups. Conversely, for small hotels, the bargaining power of consumers is much greater, which means these establishments might find it harder to fulfil customers, expectations. However, customers will segregate into two sectors, namely, individual and group. Customers as individuals: This sector will divide into business travellers and individual tourists. Business travellers may have a long-term contract with a hotel, therefore the price for them could be pre-negotiated but for individual tourists, their bargaining powers are almost none. Customers as a group: Groups usually book rooms through travel agencies, involving a large number of rooms and the travel agent takes the profit. However, the price is still much cheaper than for the individual. That is to say, their bargaining power is more than the independent tourist is. 2.3.5 The bargaining power of suppliers There are two main bargaining powers in the industry, one is furniture and fittings and the other is food and cigarettes. They are outlined below. Furniture and Fittings: When hotels purchase furniture; they typically establish criteria that they use. The number of pieces of furniture purchased is usually in bulk rather than separate items. Thus, orders must be relevant to the number of rooms they operate. For this reason, furniture is supplied by specialist contract providers, which are dedicated departments of businesses that already cope with the domestic market as well. Food and Cigarettes: Many food and cigarette manufacturers have their own specialised sector that supply and deal with the demands of the hotel industry. However, bargaining power is dependent on the size of the hotel. If a company has very many hotels then its bargaining power with its suppliers is enhanced. Conversely, if the company has few hotels then its bargaining power will be limited. 2.4 STP processSegmentation, Targeting and Positioning 2.4.1 Segmentation According to Swarbrooke and Horner (1999), the tourist market is divided into demand characteristics within a number of the different segments, which are described below. Family market: The definition of family means two parents with one to three children. The preference of many families is to minimise the cost that is required to meet their desire to have a vacation. However, these needs will depend on those of their children. Hedonistic tourist: According to Kozak and Andreu (2006), the number of hedonistic tourists has increased in recent years. They prefer a place with sun, sand and sea, such as, Ibiza. In fact, they have a desire for physical pleasure and a social life. The backpacker market: Backpackers generally keep their expenditure to a minimum; they have the time and want adventure as part of their holiday. Moreover, this tourist usually travels independently rather than in a group. VFR (visiting friends and relatives): People do not stay in commercial accommodation and usually domestic travel is involved (Swarbrooke and Horner, 1999). This form of tourism could also relate to weddings and funerals. In particular, their budget is limited in a similar way to that of a normal holiday. Excursionists or day-trippers: In general, these travellers do not travel far and it involves domestic transport. They would do not usually stay overnight. Educational tourists: They usually travel to other countries, for example, for foreign culture, student exchanges or attending language classes. Religious tourist: This form of tourism can be seen as obligation or duty for those who have faith and belief but recently traditional religious tourism has become, in part, a sightseeing tour, which visits churches and cathedrals (Swarbrooke and Horner, 1999). However, they usually visit the place at a specific time, such as, the Haj. The snowbird market: The snowbird refers to a tourist that travels during the winter, in order to avoid the cold weather. Retired people normally take this type of vacation because they have the time to travel. Tourists with disabilities: According to Swarbrooke and Horner(1999), there are many kinds and degrees of disability, which include the following: Mobility problems: These individuals are confined to a wheelchair and may have difficulty in climbing stairs. Sight problems: These individuals have minor eye impairments and unclear vision. Hearing difficulties: These individual have injuries to their ears and their hearing is impaired. It is important that hotels have regard for these conditions and have someone available to assist them. The short break market: This means tourists use their two-day weekend to have a vacation. According to Mintel (2007), the short break market is continuing to grow despite an overall stagnation in the growth of domestic tourism. It is forecast that the volume of the short break market will increase to 9.5 million and its monetary value will be  £2.5 billion by 2011. Commercial travellers: They usually travel for business and generally involve domestic travel. 2.4.2 Targeting In order to relate to the research objectives of this report as described in earlier in this chapter, the researcher will inquire into the budget hotels to investigate their target market. Budget hotels focus upon three types of domestic tourists during economic downturns: commercial, family and short break. Budget hotel characteristics are relevant to these three types of tourists in terms of limited cost, clean and comfortable accommodation in which to live. In addition, the fact that there many chains are available in this sector means that travellers can be reassured regarding expectations and quality as they are buying into a brand name (Brotherton, 2004). 2.4.3 Positioning According to Baines, Fill and Page (2008), positioning is important for a business because it differentiates it from other competitors. As Mintel (2010) argues, the first physical attributes of budget hotels for customers is that they have quality standards, consistent service and are located in many places, which are convenient to access. According to (Brotherton, 2004), the second positioning elements for budget hotels as perceived by customers are value for money, cleanliness and have a great brand reputation. Marketing communication can be used to position brands as a strategy to attract customers (Shimp, 2003). Budget hotels position their brand, products and services via three basic consumer needs, such as, functional, symbolic and experiential (Keller, 1993). These are described below. Functional needs: Budget hotel marketers adopt new technology and season sales to appeal to consumers needs for convenience, value for money, physical comfort, etc. These wants can met consumers functional needs and brand satisfaction. Symbolic needs: Budget hotels appeal to symbolic needs with their desire or self-image to associate with the brand. For example, tidiness, cleanliness and efficiency, etc. Experiential needs: Budget hotels use quality standards for accommodation to address the experiential needs for consistency and hygiene. For a marketer, it is important to recognize that brands benefit by fulfilling these needs, even by a combination of any two. This project will investigate consumer attitudes toward the budget hotel market during a time of economic downturn and analysis how the recession affects consumers consumption patterns and budget hotel strategy.

We Must Strive to Protect Privacy in Technology Essay -- Argumentative

We Must Strive to Protect Privacy in Technology Technology is getting more and more complex as the years come and go. The availability of personal information is easier to access and the risk of it being tampered with is also high. As the years pass, the threat of privacy invasion gets greater and greater and easier to happen. There are several ways that privacy is able to be invaded and there will only be more to come. Americans have had their personal information given away without even knowing it. From dozens of public and private sources that have created consumer profiles, â€Å"the average American is profiled in up to 150 commercial databases† (Hinds 7). People are trying to â€Å"prohibit collection of personal information on the internet without consumer authorization† (Hinds 9). This is a very difficult thing to have happen, but it is a goal of several people who feel the same way. The amount of technology that is able to raid privacy is growing. â€Å"Every day millions of ordinary people are subject to a variety of technologies that invade their privacy† (Regan 1). Even in ...

To Whom So Ever It May Concern

About six months ago, I devoted a considerable amount of my time searching the Internet for an appropriate graduate school where I could utilize and advance my knowledge as well as achieve my primary goal to work in the areas of graphic and web designing.I narrowed my choices to four graduate schools, namely, Dakota State University, Montana Tech, University of Missouri Kansas City, and University of California, San Diego Extension or UCSD. After further research my final choice was the Digital Arts Center at the UCSD. I was convinced and impressed after talking to friends, alumni and after reviewing available material about the Digital Arts Center that I had made the right choice.I will definitely recommend this School to anyone aspiring to make a career in the Digital Arts. Information Technology enables improved decision-making and information sharing, provides access to resources previously unavailable to business, facilitates learner-centered instructional organizations, makes p ossible new kinds of learning for students, and creates new professional development.In my opinion the happiest person is that person who works in a job that interests him or her. I like to learn new skills and acquiring up to date information, because they can help me to adapt to a fast-changing world, enrich my experiences, explore my interest, and give me higher self-esteem.I believe in the maxim that education is a constant pursuit, and that educated persons devotes their entire life to the quest for knowledge. At present I am working as an aircraft charter Coordinator and dispatcher for a private Jet firm. For the past few years I have been preparing marketing material for my company using Adobe Photoshop and this has brought to the surface my latent talent and desire to work in this fascinating field.My competence in this field has won me numerous accolades from my employers. I am very good at computers and have an innate talent for grasping the nuances of computer hardware an d software. My intention is to change my career to graphic and web designing.A visit to your fascinating web site reveals that the courses of particular interest to me, on offer are, first, digital design and communication, which involves the working with illustrations, photography, publications, etc. This course will help me to develop comprehensive presentation skills. Second, web design and production, this course enables one to create professional level projects.Third, multimedia production, this course makes one an expert in special effects, etc.(digital arts center, n.d). The well-qualified and experienced faculty, excellent laboratory facilities, exceptional research work and the inspiration given to students would provide me with an ideal platform for achieving my goals.I look upon the courses offered by you as avenues to achieve my objective. I assure you that I would keep up my diligence and good demeanor during the course. I hope you find my purpose definitive and that I satisfy your requirements in respect of a promising student. I am eagerly looking forward to prove my capability in your esteemed institution.References.Digital arts center. UCSD Extension. n.d. Retrieved from http://dac.ucsd.edu/index2.htm

Free Essays on Media As A Social Prolem

The Media as a Social Problem The mass media plays a large role in modern society. Indeed, many have argued that people spend more time in â€Å"mass-mediated† interaction than in actual human interaction. The mass media, then, would seemingly be an excellent position to initiate social change, positively affect social problems, and help combat social ills that are considered normal patterns of behavior. Yet, the mass media has largely failed in addressing and helping to solve social problems. As seen through its presentation of the three major variables of race, class, and gender, the mass media has actually served to contribute to the social problems it covers, reinforcing them, and creating an inter-related cycle in which these problems continue. TV has become perhaps the primary vehicle that society receives its information and presents its values and expectations. One of the most important roles television plays is its presentation of news and information. What a station chooses to present as newsworthy can play a strong role in how people view their society and the world around them. Often, television news sources have followed a philosophy of â€Å"if it bleeds, it leads†, focusing on violence in urban environments. This violence occurs more frequently in black neighborhoods, resulting in what amounts to essentially as a steady, nightly stream of reports on violence in the inner-city by and among African-Americans. In this way, the television media plays a strong role in formulating racial problems as seen by the interactionist approach. With the constant display of these images two problems quickly emerge. First, the minority groups become subject to stereotypes as the images presented become fixed mental images and are exaggerated and applied to the group as a whole. Whites, according to this model, â€Å"learn† that minority groups are â€Å"less intelligent, more violent, or generally less human†. Additional... Free Essays on Media As A Social Prolem Free Essays on Media As A Social Prolem The Media as a Social Problem The mass media plays a large role in modern society. Indeed, many have argued that people spend more time in â€Å"mass-mediated† interaction than in actual human interaction. The mass media, then, would seemingly be an excellent position to initiate social change, positively affect social problems, and help combat social ills that are considered normal patterns of behavior. Yet, the mass media has largely failed in addressing and helping to solve social problems. As seen through its presentation of the three major variables of race, class, and gender, the mass media has actually served to contribute to the social problems it covers, reinforcing them, and creating an inter-related cycle in which these problems continue. TV has become perhaps the primary vehicle that society receives its information and presents its values and expectations. One of the most important roles television plays is its presentation of news and information. What a station chooses to present as newsworthy can play a strong role in how people view their society and the world around them. Often, television news sources have followed a philosophy of â€Å"if it bleeds, it leads†, focusing on violence in urban environments. This violence occurs more frequently in black neighborhoods, resulting in what amounts to essentially as a steady, nightly stream of reports on violence in the inner-city by and among African-Americans. In this way, the television media plays a strong role in formulating racial problems as seen by the interactionist approach. With the constant display of these images two problems quickly emerge. First, the minority groups become subject to stereotypes as the images presented become fixed mental images and are exaggerated and applied to the group as a whole. Whites, according to this model, â€Å"learn† that minority groups are â€Å"less intelligent, more violent, or generally less human†. Additional...