UNIT HANDBOOK 2021 - 2022

Hospitality Today

CONTENTS

I. UNIT DETAILS & SPECIFICATION.................................................................................................................2

II. ETHICAL ISSUES..............................................................................................................................................2

III. LEARNING OUTCOMES................................................................................................................................2

IV. WEEK-BY-WEEK DELIVERY.......................................................................................................................3

V. SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT ELEMENTS....................................................................................................3

VI. ASSESSMENT 1 (with marking and assessment matrix).................................................................................4

VII. ASSESSMENT 2..............................................................................................................................................9

VIII. ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT........................................................................................................................9

IX. LEARNING RESOURCES & REQUIREMENTS.........................................................................................10

I. UNIT DETAILS & SPECIFICATION

2021– 2022: American Hotel Academy, Academics

 Course Title Hospitality Today
Course Code
Credits 10 Level 4
Unit Leader & Name E-mail Office
Contact Details Ioana Turcas Ioana.turcas@americanhotelacademy.ro
Programme BA (Hons) International Hotel Business Management
Title
Academic Year 2021- 2022
Start Date 04 October 2021 (Teaching Week 1)
End Date 10 December 2021 (Teaching Week 10)
Number of 10 Weeks
Weeks

UNIT SPECIFICATION - The specification for this unit is available online within Online Campus.

II. ETHICAL ISSUES

Within this unit, any issues relating to the American Hotel Academy ethical code of practice will be addressed
by tutors. If a student has ethical concerns regarding teaching and learning, it is their responsibility and right to
bring it to the attention of the Unit Leader.

III. LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. To describe the size of travel and tourism industry, the changes that affect this industry and explain the concept “service make
a difference” within this sector.

2. To investigate the dynamic hotel industry, in comparison with the cruise industry illustrating how hotels and cruise ships can
be categorized and managed while identifying the most important hotel and cruise lines guests’ segments.

3. To analyse other sectors of hospitality industry such as meetings, conferences., clubs

4. To describe how hotels are managed and to determine the approach of all management schools highlighting their influence on
the hospitality industry

2021– 2022: American Hotel Academy, Academics

5. To underline the franchise concept and to present the advantages and disadvantages of owning a franchise for both the
franchisor and franchisee while analysing the current and new trends within the hospitality industry.

IV. WEEK-BY-WEEK DELIVERY

Session No. Activity Topic

Free conversation
Service Makes the Difference
“Bad service” – students will be asked to
1. The travel and Tourism Industry
think about an experience in hospitality
where they received bad service. Arguments.
Free conversation
“Chain hotels vs independent hotels” – the
Understanding the World of Hotels
2. class will be divided in 2 groups. One group
will represent chain hotels and the other the
independent hotels
Free conversation
Hotel organization and management
3. Discussion about ways hotel can be
How management companies manage hotels
managed. Exploratory research.
Free conversation
Lecturer will simulate a booking for a cruise
4. using the official site of Carnival Cruise Line Floating Resorts
for students to better understand the cruise
industry
Recap and preparation for the midterm
5. All chapters taught.
examination
Free conversation
An introduction to the meeting industry
View the website of a variety of city and
6. Club Management
country clubs followed by class discussion
on each property’s amenities and services.
Free conversation
7. Present a video to the class that reflects Managing and leading hospitality enterprises.
some aspects of the management schools
Free conversation
8. Open discussion about franchise. Pros and Franchise is big business
cons with arguments.
Free conversation
Current and future trends in the hospitality
9. Current needs of the industry.
Hospitality and Tourism tomorrow industry
Anticipating hospitality issues
10. Recap for the final examination
11. Final examination - online TBD

V. SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT ELEMENTS

2021– 2022: American Hotel Academy, Academics

 Weight
No. Assessment Name Factor Submission Date
(%)
Week 6
1. Midterm – individual project 40% 08..11.2021 –
12.11.2021
Week 11 / 12
2. Final Written examination 60% 13.12.2021 –
201.12.2021

To pass the unit, students must receive a passing grade (40% or above) in each element of assessment.

ATTENDANCE RULE

Except from Attendance Policy – American Hotel Academy Assessment Rules and Regulations

4.2. Penalties for exceeding the number of allowed absences

4.2.1 If a student registers more than 51% absences for a theoretical class and more than 31% absences for a
practical class, it is deemed that the student cannot meet the course learning outcomes, will not be able to take
the final exam, nor participate in the resit exams.

4.2.2 The student will need to retake the entire course (both the theoretical and practical part), as if for the first
time the next time it is offered. Students will be charged a per credit fee.

VI. ASSESSMENT 1 Midterm examination

Assessment 1 – Applied Assessment (Project, Essay, Practical Training)

Unit Title Hospitality Today
Unit Code
Weight Factor
Assessment Name Individual Report 40%
(%)
Learning Outcomes
1. To describe the size of travel and tourism industry, the changes that affect this industry and
to be Assessed
explain the concept “service make a difference” within this sector.
through this Work

2021– 2022: American Hotel Academy, Academics

 2. To investigate the dynamic hotel industry, in comparison with the cruise industry illustrating
how hotels and cruise ships can be categorized and managed while identifying the most
important hotel and cruise lines guests’ segments.
Programme Title BA (Hons) International Hotel Business Management
Tutors Ioana Turcas
Submission Date Week 6 (08.11.2021 – 12.11.2021
Feedback Policy Available on the Ecampus
Submission Location Assignment is a digital submission on the Online Campus
Penalties for Amount of the submitted is more than the provided guidance:
0%-10% None
Exceeding Word
11%-30% Mark reduced by 10%
Count >31% Mark capped at 40%
Support Students can always contact me via e-mail or meetings can be arranged whenever
Arrangements is possible both for students and lecturer.
Confirmation of Moderation Panel scrutinised this Assessment and it is considered as appropriate
Moderation for the level of study and credit value of the unit.
Date of Panel
24.09.2021
Meeting
Name of Approved
Ada Terea / Ioana Turcas/ Ramona Costin/ Ioan Enache
Internal Moderator

Instructions to students:
Students will have to make a comparison between the hotel industry and the cruise industry highlighting
the main differences found in managing both, the hotel, and the cruise ship. To create the project,
students will need to research and report on one of the hotel chains and cruise line listed in the course
material. At least two academic sources must be used. All sources should be credited at the end of the
paper. Sources such as Wikipedia or Google are not considered valid research sites. Make sure that all
your sources are from different sites. The project will be submitted on the online campus not later than
31st of October 2020.

The project should not exceed more than 1000 words, the font will be Times New Roman 12, with 1.5
spacing.

Assessment Objective/Rationale:

Type of expected answers will be a description, explanation, and summary of data collection.

Assessment Task:

Paper must cover the following topics:

1. Names of hotel chain and cruise line chosen.

2. Description of the hotel chain in terms of how many hotels do they have, in which country are they
located, who are their target customers?

2021– 2022: American Hotel Academy, Academics

 3. Description of the cruise line, how many ships do they have. Where do they sail, who are their target
market?
4. Explain how the chain hotel and cruise ship are organized, underlining the cost and revenue centres for
both.
5. Describe at least three of the features of the hotel chain and cruise line that you find interesting or
unique. What makes these features stand out to you?
6. Research any current news articles written about the hotel chain as well as for the cruise line/cruise
ship. What is trending with them? Are they dealing with negative press? Justify your answers.
7. Research and report all marketing efforts they are currently using. Do you think their marketing efforts
are effective? Why or why not?
8. Provide recommendations for this hotel chain and for this cruise line.

Grading

1. Description of the hotel chain/cruise line 5/5 points

2. Description of the organization for hotel chain/cruise line 10/10 points
3. Description of features 10/10 points
4. Description of marketing 10/10 points
5. Current news information 10/10 points
6. Recommendations 5/5 points

2021– 2022: American Hotel Academy, Academics

 Assessment 2 – Written examination
Unit Title Hospitality Today
Unit Code
Weight Factor
Assessment Name Written examination 60%
(%)

3. To analyse other sectors of hospitality industry such as meetings, conferences., clubs

Learning Outcomes 4. To describe how hotels are managed and to determine the approach of all management

to be Assessed schools highlighting their influence on the hospitality industry

through this Work

5. To underline the franchise concept and to present the advantages and disadvantages of
owning a franchise for both the franchisor and franchisee while analysing the current and
new trends within the hospitality industry.
Programme Title BA (Hons) International Hotel Business Management
Tutors Ioana Turcas
Sitting Date 13.12.2021 – 201.12.2021
Feedback Policy Online, on Ecampus
Submission Location Assignment is a digital submission on the Ecampus
Confirmation of Moderation Panel scrutinised this Assessment and it is considered as
Moderation appropriate for the level of study and credit value of the unit.
Date of Panel
24.09.2021
Meeting
Name of Approved
Ada Terea / Ioana Turcas/ Ramona Costin/ Ioan Enache
Internal Moderator

Examination Rubric

Duration of Examination 1 hour

40 multiple choice questions/true or false questions
Number of questions to be answered
5-10 open questions
Any additional information
N/A
requirements
Laptop or any other device valuable for the completion of
Materials allowed in examination
the exam

2021– 2022: American Hotel Academy, Academics

2021– 2022: American Hotel Academy, Academics
VIII. ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT

Academic misconduct is defined as any action or omission by a student that has the potential to give the student
an unfair advantage in any assessment. All student created assignments, other than written examinations, may
be checked against plagiarism using an originality check software such as Unplag

Tariff of penalties For the BA studies:

Plagiarism Penalty Consequence

The assignment will be marked, and Type of engagement:
< 20%
no cap will be applied. Developmental Engagement
Type of engagement:
 Written warning Formal Meeting with Head of
> 20% First Offence AND Department

 a mark of 0 for the element given Student will have to re-sit the
failed element of assessment.
Type of engagement:
 Written warning Formal Meeting with Head of
> 20% Second Offence (any
AND Department
course within the same
 a mark of 0 for the entire course Student will have to re-sit all
programme of study)
will be given elements of assessment for the
course.
 a mark of 0 for all the courses Type of engagement:
taken so far in that year Assessment Disciplinary
Further offences at the same AND Committee
academic level  marks capped at 40% for all Student will have to retake the

subsequent marks for courses entire year with marks capped

taken at that level at 40%.

IX. LEARNING RESOURCES & REQUIREMENTS

Angelo, R., M. and Vladimir, A., N. (2007) Hospitality Today, An

Essential Texts
introduction, 6th Ed.
Supplementary Texts Cooper, C., P. (2012) Essential of tourism
Mihaylov, B. (2004) Cruise ship job in 14 days: The laser strategy for
next generation applying
 Bisio, R. and Kohler, M. (2009) The educated franchisee:
-The how to book for choosing a winning franchise.

Additional Resources journals, magazines, internet websites

END OF DOCUMENT

2021– 2022: American Hotel Academy, Academics