PURCHASING OF HOTEL SERVICES
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
In this nation today, as economic activities advance, purchasing activities are changing fast. New markets are emerging, trading blocks are extending, and communication channels are diversified. Even selling of services are changing at revolutionary pace.
However, for any business organization to keep to pace, it must incorporate some element of purchasing programmes into its programmes and policies. There fore , for us to effectively appreciate purchasing of hotel services, it become imperative for us to understand what purchasing, services and hotels are all about.
Purchasing could be seen as a process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion and distribution of ideas, goods and services to create exchanges that satisfy individuals and organizational goals.
According to Kotler the second European Edition, principle of Purchasing, Purchasing is a social and management process by which individuals and groups obtain what they need and want through creating and exchanging products and value with others. These would say purchasing is living for customer through a firm and being sustained such firm. A service is any activity or benefit that one party can offer to another which essentially intangible and does not result in ownership of anything. Activities such as rendering or rending a hotel, depositing money in a bank, traveling on an aero plane, visiting a doctor, getting a hair cut having a car repair. It is also important to note that many manufacturers also supply a range of services alongside their product, like distribution and delivery, equipment repair and maintenance, training programmes, technical consultant and maintenance. building where meals and rooms are provided for travelers. These services are usually offered and in return customers pay money for such services. Quality halls and rooms suite are provided such as swimming pools, complete business center, laundry services to mention few. Hotels in Nigeria offer important services and facilities such as lodging, accommodation (presidential suite, executive suite and master bedroom).
The word restaurant is used synonymous with hotel, both the basic difference is that a restaurant is a place where meals are prepared, served and eaten. Some restaurant are well equipped having television sets, musical sets etc, where customers can have relaxation and comfort. The increased challenges in hotel services has made it necessary for hotels to be more purchasing oriented in thej cause of rendering their services. They aimed at satisfying customer’s needs and want as well as fulfilling their own organization goals.
Hotel management therefore can be defined as the application of purchasing concept in the hotel industry so as to achieve more effective services to customers. There have been many changes and development in the hotel industry over the past years. Some of these change reflect on the economic, political and social life of customers.( with other change like technology). It was recently that hoteliers become more transformed and re – engineered to meet this present day trend hotel management.
Hotel industries are confronted with drastic competition to determine who will concern or win the customers patronage based on goods oriented services. In view of these, any hotel wishing to survive in the present day competition should endeavor to provide good and result oriented services to its vast customers and as such create better image of their organization. This help to boast the promotional activities of the company (to succeed in satisfying customers and building good will, for the organization)
A prepared application of purchasing concept by any organization in its operation is very vital to the successful existence of such organization such as Mac –davos hotel. Purchasing concept as a commercial process starts before production sets in it continues even after sales if form of after sales services long after the production have been sole and transferred to the customers. As concept, purchasing philosophy focus more on the customer’s satisfaction as against other concept like the selling concept or production or product concept. Purchasing concept coloring expresses the following
- Purchasing needs profitability
- Finding want and fulfilling them
- Love the customers not the product.
