MEMO: GANA HOTELS

Observing the growing interest on this platform, it has become necessary to push the pause button to the series on 'The Image of Hotel Supervisors..' to quickly put out this briefing.

As known in the hotel industry, although briefings are traditionally given at the beginning of shifts, nothing stops supervisors from quickly calling on their teams during the course of work for a quick 'briefing'.

This briefing is therefore not to check your preparedness(that was done with the presentation of the agenda at the beginning of the year. Ref. Jan 9, Welcome Brief). It is to share some critical information, motivate us and together, enhance our learning process and experience.

Cautioning ourselves not to have a 'business as usual' attitude as implied in earlier articles at the beginning of the year, a new approach to draw us/learners into near real-life environment, is described; the benefits are first listed followed by a background information.

Benefits 
The new approach will:

• Keep us together. 
• Enable us maintain focus.
• Provide us a common understanding of our total learning environment.
• Add value to our learning experience.
•  Enhance our powers of observation, analysis, integration, understanding and decision making.
• Build our confidence towards making the required adjustments for a renewed and enhanced supervisory image.

 Background
(We need to have knowledge of the hotel 'environment' in Ghana)

Facts: Hotels in Ghana
(As at 31st December 2016(the latest information in hand)

•  Total number of licensed hotels 2,969
• Only approximately 23% are Star-rated
• About 71% are Budget hotels
• Approximately 6% are Guesthouses

Star-rated Hotels 
(Of the  681 star -rated hotels)

• 1-Star hotels approx. 59%
• 2-Star hotels approx. 33%
• 3-Star hotels approx. 6%
• 4-Star hotels approx. 2% 
• 5-Star hotels approx. non existing(0.44%)

A quick analysis of the above data shows that the majority (2,119) of our hotels  are Budget rated, followed by 403 (no.)1-Star hotels and 223 (no.) 2-Star  hotels.

Ghana has 39 (no), 3-star rated hotels, 12 (no.), 4-star rated hotels and 3(no.), 5-star rated hotels.

The above data throws a lot of light on the likely contributory factors to the challenges we have been observing in our industry.

Nevertheless, the data also serves as useful information for us on this platform to work within the realities the industry is facing. We will therefore find ourselves addressing issues rampant in budget rated hotels as well as 1- and 2-star rated hotels more often than the 3 to 5 star rated hotels. (this does not imply we will ignore them)

Information provided below will be serving as reference to 'the current series' when the pause button is released.  Additional information will be introduced as and when necessary.

NOTE: FOR SIMULATION PURPOSES ONLY

For the purposes of this PLATFORM ONLY please take note of the hotel industry statistics in GANA (not a spelling mistake). It is our conception information required to continue our learning series.

Country:GANA

Name:(reference of all licensed commercial lodging facilities) GANA Hotels
 

REGIONS	3/4/5 -STAR	2-STAR	1-STAR	GUEST- HOUSE	BUDGET	TOTAL
ASHANTEY		2	3		16	21
BRONGUE					7	7
CENTRALE			1		9	10
EASDERN		1	2	1	10	14
G/AKRA	1	3	6	3	22	35
NORDERN					3	3
TAMAR			1	1	7	9
U-EST					3	3
U-WES					1	1
VULTA			1	1	5	7
WESDERN		1	3		6	10
TOTAL	1	7	17	6	89	120

Overview of the Hotel Industry in Gana

Gana has a total of 120 licensed accommodation facilities as at 31st December 2016. The table above categorizes them into star -rated, guest houses and budget hotels.
(At appropriate times in our discussions, we, as individuals, should be able to demonstrate our ability to determine what these categories imply so that we can make meaningful recommendations at our respective work places when the need arises). 

Reading the 'Total'  column(last box on the left), you will observe that G/Akra has the largest number of hotels, 35; this is followed by Ashantey with 21 hotels. These two regions also reflect the highest number of star-rated hotels except Ashantey which does not have hotels within 3-star to 5-star ratings.The least number of hotels (1), is found in U-Wes.
The black patches imply there are no hotels of the specified rating in the regions against the patches.

3/4/5-Star Hotels
Gana has only one hotel within this category and the hotel is located in G/Akra.

2-Star Hotels
Gana has seven of such hotels. They are dotted in Ashantey, Easdern, G/Akra and Wesdern, with G/Akra topping the list with three hotels in the region. This is followed closely by Ashantey, two and  Easdern and Wesdern having one each.

1-Star Hotels
1-star rated hotels in Gana is the second largest category of hotels after budget hotels. Again the majority can be found in G/Akra with six, followed by Ashantey and Wesdern regions each carrying three.

Budget Hotels
Budget hotels make up the most of the hotels in Gana. This category comprises 74% of hotels in Gana. Further, it is interesting to note that budget hotels can be found in every region. The most, twenty-two, are in G/Akra region followed by sixteen in Ashantey. 

You may carry out further analysis using the above table. (this exercise alone can be a learning experience)

As indicated above this is just the conception stage of GANA hotels on this platform. The above information immediately places us in a 'neutral gear' and has enabled me to know how to 'steer our ship'.

You are invited to have fun on this learning platform by providing me names of  our 'make believe hotels'! Just make sure you indicate the region and the star-rating or if its a guest house. Providing the number of rooms won't be bad. I will register you as the 'Owner'/Supervisor !

😊😊😊.

WHO SAYS LEARNING CANNOT BE FUN?

LET'S FUN-LEARN  TOGETHER!!!

THE IMAGE OF HOTEL SUPERVISORS -DEMANDS & UNIQUE CHALLENGES- PART I

Hospitality  Under  Pressure

This article, a three-part series, seeks to establish a common understanding of our work environment, hotels in Ghana. 

It assumes that we (readers) participated in the self appraisal and now know where each of us is at (in respect to the assessment we participated in.  Reference to ‘Self Appraisal’ Parts 2a and 2b).

Now is the time to pen down the demands made of us, Supervisors, and the unique challenges which seem to legitimize those demands! Hopefully, after this, we will begin to put in the efforts required of us in our respective hotels, since we would have a better understanding of our individual work environment and the work dynamics we operate in. 

The hospitality industry generally keeps us, on our toes whether we are serving guests’ food, drink or providing accommodation. As industry professionals, irrespective of position, we were trained (at least in my time), to serve first and foremost, creating a memorable experience for every guest.

 

The above statements alone, betray the industry as a physically and a psychologically demanding workplace, which many of us take for granted (part of our problem).

While workers in general may take pride in their jobs, perhaps because they are ‘dressed up’ to look good and the environment may look glamorous, there are times when the physical demands of the job are greater than their two arms and two legs can bear...and this can be especially true for the aging body (considering all the older women engaged in hotel housekeeping activities), and the pregnant body (the young ladies at the front desk and waitresses standing for long periods of time). I seem to be gender biased, here, but the men also have their challenges too!

We work long/late hours; are expected to be multi-tasked(often unrelated jobs are involved), smile while cleaning up messes created by work colleagues and/or guests and work holidays and weekends. Some of us have developed abnormal sleep schedules and stress related health challenges as a result of experiencing bursts of intense activity followed by long dull drags of boring nothingness. 
This is not to suggest that the hotel work environment is void of exciting opportunities. 

If you get it right, it can be an exciting and rewarding work environment!

Generally, work settings create physical stress because of noise, lack of privacy, poor lighting, poor ventilation, poor temperature control or inadequate sanitary facilities. At least, except for the back-of –the-house areas (which I cannot vouch for), most hotels in Ghana definitely make efforts to create good first impressions (the design of hotel infrastructure, physical surroundings and interior décor).

For many (guests), a hotel is much more than a place to sleep. It is the gateway to a whole new world of experiences, especially for those located in urban areas. To others, it is a safe haven from the stresses of working away from home. For others still, it is a reliable place for their favorite outings and events. Our guests therefore come with varied expectations. Those expectations, though legitimate, may seem to be 'way above' the resources we as Supervisors have at our disposal. We strain to meet the expectations, but oh, how much more is required of us to exceed guests' expectations! 

Is it not true that we feel we have too much responsibility as Supervisors and too little authority…Is it not true that we ‘close our eyes’ to unfair labor practices and 'cringe' with inadequate information and resources to try to function effectively? Sometimes we and our bosses cannot even agree on what our job descriptions should be!

Occasionally, traumatic events take place either with co-workers, guests or other staff and we feel helpless or are expected to ‘hush’!

Even though you may be applauding to the above points as samples of the challenges we face, use this opportunity to challenge yourself to take note of other unique characteristics at your workplace. As a Supervisor, a good grasp of these and the dynamics of your work environment can give you a  head start!

To be cont.