Term Project Introduction And Trends ID

This is  a 2 part assignment.  Part 1:

The purpose of this assignment is to get you to begin your term project through the creation of an introduction as well as the identification of three (3) trends that will impact your industry of choice or specific job within your industry of choice. Again, the purpose of the term project is to expose you deeper into one of the many individual subsectors that comprise the tourism and hospitality industry. 

As part of your industry sector final assignment, you will need to become a quick study expert. Well, maybe not an expert; however, you will need to become familiar with many aspects of the industry including staffing, costs, competition, etc… Since no business operates in a vacuum, as a future business owner or manager you will need to keep on top of the industry and societal trends. This assignment will require you to identify current industry trends. Further, you will need to describe how the current trends will affect your industry sector of choice and how these trends will personally affect your involvement/actions within this industry sector of choice.

Identify (2-trends) found within newspapers/newsletters/trade journals (no older than 2-years) and (1-trend) found within a refereed journal article (no older than 3-years) concerning societal or industry trends affecting your industry sector of choice.

o Briefly describe the trend

o Describe how and why this trend affects your industry of choice

o Describe how this personally affects your involvement/actions within this industry sector of choice (personal weaknesses or opportunities)

For this paper:  

Start with an introduction that states the purpose of the term assignment (e.g. identify and present trends affecting my industry subsector of choice) 

Include a bibliography of at least three references

Strong conclusion noting one major implication of trends impact on your subsector

Paper Directions

Single-spaced

11 or 12 point font

Pages numbered on the bottom center of each page

Document title (e.g. Assignment 1)

Use of page layout to ensure clear and efficient reader comprehension

Proofed and grammatically correct

FULL NAME LEFT MARGIN FOR BOTH YOU AND YOUR TEAM MEMBERS

DATE LEFT MARGIN

CLASS TITLE LEFT MARGIN

MY NAME LEFT MARGIN

Part 2:

Purpose of the Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to expose your deeper into one of the many individual sectors that comprise the tourism and hospitality industry. Additionally, this assignment will require you to consider viable career tracts including job titles, job roles, and responsibilities, character traits for success, and future job outlook and salary prospects. Finally, this assignment will require you to identify, solicit, and complete a face-to-face interview with an individual currently working in this position to gain a greater appreciation and understanding for the identified career track as well as an expanded network of professional contacts. 

Tasks for the assignment

1. Identify which industry      sector most interests you.
   1. Lodging
   2. Restaurants
   3. Gaming
   4. Convention Visitor       Bureaus/State Tourism Offices
   5. Contract Services
   6. Attractions
   7. Cruise Lines
   8. Consulting
   9. Transportation (i.e.       airlines, buses, jet charters)
   10. Conventions, meetings, and       special events
   11. Etc. etc. (just ask?)
2. Study this industry sector      thoroughly collecting data through a literature review, association website,      and governmental reports. 
   1. Identification of Industry       sector trade associations or professional organizations involved with       specific topical area
   2. Definition of the sector       (SIC and NAICS codes)
   3. Segments of the sector
   4. Unique aspects of the sector
   5. Statistics regarding the size of the sector

i. Annual sales

ii. Number of establishments

iii. Number of employees

iv. Industry sector and unions

v. Labor shortages/surplus

vi. Sector major players (companies)

1. A brief overview of Industry players (i.e.       Harrahs, Wynn)
2. Company or franchise or?
3. Job titles of interest (i.e.       Dir. of Group Sales)
4. Job responsibilities of (e.g.)       (i.e. sell, prospect, reports)
5. Job requirements of (e.g.) (i.e.       Bachelors degree)
6. Character traits for success       or failure for (e.g.)
7. Specific details of (e.g.)

i. Salaries

ii. Minorities and gender issues

iii. Moving requirements

iv. Glass ceiling

v. Working conditions

vi. Trends within the specific job or industry career track

1. After a thorough analysis of      literature and all secondary data sources, you will conduct a face-to-face      interview with an individual currently working in this position to gain a      greater appreciation and understanding for the identified career track as well as an expanded network of      professional contacts.

a. Identify the locals who have the specific job of interest

i. Business directories

ii. Teachers

iii. Business websites

iv. Local industry association websites/contacts

b. Develop interview goals and objectives

c. Identify specific interviewee prospect

v. Document interviewee contact information

d. Develop an interview schedule (i.e. questionnaire)

e. Contact and schedule interview 

vi. Tell them who you are HRT Grad student

vii. State the purpose of your call and your project assignment purpose

viii. Do not let them force you into doing it over the telephone or email

ix. Try to get them off-site for coffee (i.e. fewer work interruptions

x. Tell them you need about 30 minutes of time (i.e. they will talk longer no worries)

xi. Call or email them 24-48 hrs. in advance to confirm time and place and to see if other more pressing matters have changed their schedule

f. Conduct the interview 

xii. Professional dress

xiii. Professional demeanor

xiv. Bring two copies of the questionnaire

xv. Bring paper and pens (DO NOT BRING A COMPUTER TO TAKE NOTES ON, IT WILL SLOW THINGS DOWN, NOT SPEED UP, AND MOST IMPORTANT IT MAY INTIMIDATE YOUR INTERVIEWEE)

xvi. Pay the bill for both you and your interview subject

g. Send them a thank you note

1. Write up the interview      lessons learned.
   1. Positives and negatives of       this type of position
   2. An in-depth look at how this       position interacts with the rest of the organization
2. Add the interview summary and      lessons learning into your DRAFT term paper already 70% completed      (hopefully)
3. Develop a strong conclusion
   1. Purpose of your paper
   2. Industry sector overview
   3. Specific job       overview/details
   4. Interviewee details
   5. Overall project and       interview identification of new knowledge
   6. Application       of this new knowledge to your life

Suggested Format

Cover Page includes:

Title of Paper

Name of Course

Date of Submittal

Your Name

Table of Contents includes:

Title of each section

The page number on which each section starts

Introduction (about three paragraphs) that includes:

The purpose of the assignment

The sector of interest

The position of interest

Your reasons for interest in this sector and more specifically this position

The body of Paper may include:

Current requirements of the position

Availability of positions for this position in the nation

Starting salaries of this position

A direct conversation with someone in this type of position (including their name, position, organization, phone number and e-mail address where they can be reached)

Positives and negatives of this type of position

An in-depth look at how this position interacts with the rest of the organization

Current trends affecting this type of position

Conclusions include:

Restate the purpose of the paper

Your thoughts on why this is a desirable position and the downsides of this position

Major lessons learned

Application of new knowledge attained throughout the assignment

Paper Specifications

• Single spaced
• 12-point font max except for      title page (no page number on the title page)

Pages numbered on the bottom center of each page

• A paper table      of contents page
• Include the statement the      purpose of this paper is to .
• Accurately cite all resources      both in the text body where it appears and then listed at the end of the      paper within the references section using APA formatting.

Use of page layout to ensure clear and efficient reader comprehension

• Proofed and grammatically      correct
• Include FULL contact      information for your interview subject
• Include a copy of the      interview questions in the paper appendices