Project Outline – 40%
Groups of 2
2800 words (not including executive summary, front page, reference list and appendices).
Scenario:
Considering your expertise in sustainable hospitality, you have been approached by two investors willing to build, and later operate, the ultimate Eco lodge (Green Hotel) in a remote natural area. You can choose whether this Eco lodge will be in a coastal or mountainous zone, but there are some considerations you need to follow:
• There is a sanctuary wildlife in close proximity
• The closest town (20 minutes by car) is a rural community that highly depends on farming and animal husbandry. The majority of the population still practices indigenous cultural practices (weaving for instance)
• Nature and cultural tourism will be the cornerstone for your marketing strategy
Investors expect to obtain the Green Globe certification; hence this report includes the complete set of indicators for sustainability criteria as outlined by this organization.
1. Front page
This section should include information about the students (names and IDs), the subject (code and name), and total word count (Excluding executive summary, front page, references and appendices)
2. Executive Summary
An Executive Summary should cover all the aspects in the body of the report but in an abbreviated form. Write this section after the rest of the report is finished. It should not include new information.
3. Table of contents
This include all headings and subheadings with their respective page numbers
4. Introduction
The introduction prepares the reader by describing the main parts of the report.
5. Environmental Management System
The aim of the project is to prepare an Environmental Management System (EMS) that will be later the base to obtain the Green Globe Certification.
This report will focus on creating certain phases of the EMS including:
Phase 1: Initial Review
You have to investigate the trends that affect the business environment in relation to:
a. Legal aspects including developments in environmental legislation (local or international). You need to include at least two (2) legislations and relate them to the purpose of your eco lodge.
b. Competitive aspects including benchmarking with one (1) eco lodge with similar characteristics or with one (1) leading hotel. The benchmarking should include at least five (5) aspects.
Phase 2: Information and commitment
In this phase, sustainable goals are set in relation to environmental, socio-cultural and economic performance. You have to include at least two (2) goals per each aspect.
Phase 3: Data Assessment
The goal is to examine and analyse the status quo of the company. You have to prepare a SWOT analysis for the eco lodge. This SWOT analysis should include at least two (2) well-described aspects per each criteria.
Phase 4: Analysis and Training
This phase includes the development of a training programme for employees. The success of a business sustainable management system depends on the effective integration and internalisation of the system by employees. A defined training program will enable employees to understand the business’s goals, why they are important and how they can positively contribute to the business’ efforts in each of their individual roles. You have to create a training program with at least ten (10) items.
Phase 5: Management system and Documentation
This phase is concerned with the establishment of a controlling system. For this assignment, you need to focus on customer satisfaction and how it will be measured and how the procedures for corrective actions will be taken. You have to include at least four (4) aspects.
6. Standard Criteria: Social/Economic
In this section, you need to include information about the following areas:
a. Community development: three (3) initiatives for social and infrastructure community development including education and health.
b. Local employment: three (3) initiatives to employ local residents including managerial positions (skills development).
c. Fair trade: five (5) ways in which the eco lodge will use goods and services produced locally or with ‘fair-trade’ principles.
d. Support local entrepreneurs: three (3) ways in which the eco lodge will offer the means for local small entrepreneurs to develop and sell sustainable products based on the area’s nature, history and culture.
e. Exploitation: two (2) policies against commercial exploitation, particularly of children (for instance, not buying products produced with child labour).
f. Equitable hiring: three (3) initiatives on how the business will be equitable in hiring woman and local minorities.
g. Basic services: three (3) ways in which the eco lodge will ensure that its activities do not jeopardise the provision of basic services, such as water, energy, or sanitation to neighbouring communities.
7. Standard Criteria: Cultural heritage
a. Code of behavior: four (4) guidelines that the business will follow to minimize visitor impact and maximize enjoyment.
b. Incorporation of culture: three (3) ways that the eco lodge use elements of local art or cultural heritage in its operation, design, decoration, food or shops; while respecting the intellectual property rights of local communities.
8. Standard Criteria: Environment
a. Sustainable design and construction of infrastructure: five (5) ways in which you will use appropriate principles of sustainable construction and design while respecting the natural and cultural surroundings.
b. Purchasing policy: five (4) ways to ensure the company buys environmentally friendly products for building materials, capital goods, and food.
c. Consumable goods: this relates to responsible consumption and monitoring of waste to minimize environmental impact of the waste produced. You have to include four (4) initiatives.
d. Energy management and consumption: four (4) uses of renewable energy.
e. Water conservation and consumption: four (4) ways in which water consumption will be measured and sourced.
f. Wastewater: two (2) ways in which grey water will be reused where possible.
g. Waste management plan: six (6) ways to (a) reduce, (b) reuse and (c) recycle.
h. Biodiversity conservation: four (4) ways in which the company will contribute to the support of biodiversity conservation including supporting natural protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value
9. Marketing Strategy
In this section you need to provide information about:
a. Profile of your target market: four (4) characteristics of the tourists you expect to receive at the eco lodge
b. Positioning strategy of the eco lodge within your target market
c. Product/service policy: three (3) ways to communicate with visitors about your sustainable policies. For example, the creation of a menu with information about the source of ingredients, or a towel-reuse policy in the guest rooms.
d. Channels of promotion: two (2) channels that you will use for promotion.
10. Conclusion
The conclusion should contain a brief statement of the essential findings.
11. Reference List
The reference list should include at least 10 references (4 academic and 6 non-academic). It should be presented in alphabetical order and please remember to follow the Harvard Reference Style.
12. Appendix
Students should include here:
a. Any additional material (for instance, tables, pictures, etc.).