Q1/.Develop a mission statement for the front office. Keep in mind that this is a mid-price, medium-sized hotel.

Q2/Determine three strategies that fit into the mission statement of the department pertaining to employee friendliness, speed of check-in, and product information about the inn.

Q3/Develop two tactics for each strategy above. (you will use the answers to question 2 about strategies to develop these tactics)

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Read the mini case study below, then answer the questions to the best of your ability. For full credit be purposeful in your answer, with complete sentences and valid reasoning. Feel free to cite from the text book to support your answer:

Mini-Case Study: “A Compass for the Driftwood Inn”

Bill Colby has just been transferred to the 250-room Driftwood Inn as front office manager. The Driftwood Inn is a mid-price hotel operated by HMA Lodging Management for a local investor. The inn was opened just over a year ago in a good market and its financial performance to date has been below expectations. In addition, there have been many guest complaints. Bill has been transferred to the Inn because he is the best front office manager in the HMA company.

Bill arrived at the Inn to find a front office with no direction. Employees were not well trained and turnover was high. Only one employee knew how to use the computer system completely. Employees did not know what was expected of them. The reservations clerk complained of getting conflicting instructions from the sales manager and the front desk manager. The previous front desk manager did not venture to the desk very often, preferring to remain in his office and produce reports for the general manager on why revenues were not meeting expectations.

When Bill visited the human resources office, he asked to see the front office mission statement, organization chart, and job descriptions. He was told none were available. Bill read through many guest comment cards and the assistant manager’s log. Poor employee attitudes seemed to be a major problem, as did a lack of organization.

Finally, Bill met with various division heads and heard nothing but complaints. The housekeeping manager told Bill she was never included in departmental meetings. The hotel accountant said the front desk staff never financially balanced at the end of their shifts and the night audit was a disaster because of it. The food and beverage manager said he made test calls to the reservation department and they never recommended his restaurant.

With all this in mind, Bill has decided to “start from scratch” in order to meet the Inn’s objectives of happy guests and employees, while producing an appropriate profit for the owners. He must develop a mission statement for the department. He must also develop an organization chart and job descriptions. You have been asked to help Bill with these tasks. While Bill is trying to establish stronger working relationships with the other departments.