Recycling Your Toothbrush

Small as they are, tossed toothbrushes certainly do create a lot of waste. Indeed, some 50 million pounds of them are tossed into America’s landfills each year. If we followed our dentist’s recommendations and replaced our toothbrushes every three months, wed be throwing even more of them away. Fortunately, there are some greener-friendly alternatives, most available at natural food retailers or, if not, online at the companies’ websites. Toothbrush Recycling The handle of a Recycline Preserve toothbrush, designed by dentists, is made out of polypropylene plastic that has been recycled from used Stonyfield Yogurt cups. And when a Preserve toothbrush reaches the end of its effective life, consumers can either put it out on the curb in the blue bin with other recyclables (if your community offers #5 plastics recycling), or send it back to Recycline in a postage-paid envelope supplied to you with your purchase. It will then likely be reborn again as raw material for a picnic table, deck, boardwalk or other durable long-lasting product. Toothbrushes With Replaceable Heads Another wise eco-choice is the Terradent line of toothbrushes from Eco-Dent. These innovative toothbrushes have replaceable heads so that once the bristles have worn out, consumers can retain the toothbrush handle and just snap on a new head, thus minimizing waste. Sustainable Toothbrushes Meanwhile, Radius offers stylish recyclable toothbrushes that are made not from plastic at all but from naturally occurring cellulose derived from sustainable yield forests. Beyond its standard toothbrush line, the company also sells a battery-powered electric â€Å"Intelligent Toothbrush† that uses replaceable heads to reduce environmental impact. And the company will take back the handle for recycling once the battery has worn out, usually after about 18 months. Toothbrush Subscriptions For those stuck on their favorite mass-market toothbrush brands, the online retail website Toothbrush Express offers a toothbrush recycling program similar to Recyclines. Consumers can sign up to receive new toothbrushes from Toothbrush Express at predefined intervals ranging from monthly to semi-annually. For only a few dollars extra, the company will include a postage-paid mailer inside each shipment for consumers to use to send their old toothbrushes back for recycling. Toothbrushes Reborn Dont want to bother sending your toothbrushes back? Crafts guru Carol Duvall recommends making kids’ bracelets out of old toothbrushes instead of sending them to the landfill. After about a minute in boiling water, a toothbrush with its bristles removed can be re-shaped accordingly by wrapping it around a small jar and then allowing it to cool.

Sociological Imagination, By C. Wright Mills Essay

I SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION CONCEPTUALIZATION As conceived by C. Wright Mills, sociological imagination is the mental ability to establish intelligible relations among social structure and personal biography that is observing and seeing the impact of society over our private lives. Sociological imagination helps an individual to understand on a much larger scale the meaning and effect of society on of one’s daily life experience. People blame themselves for their own personal problems and they themselves are responsible for their personal issues. Whether they fail or succeed, rich or poor, whatever the outcome, they find themselves responsible. C, Wright Mills allows us to see that sometimes that the problems we have are structural and that we are not the sole contributors to some problems we face. The structure and society at large play a very important role also in contributing to some of the issues we deem personal and private. APPLICATION TO SOCIAL ISSUE The issue of finance or monetary availability is a major problem facing the growing population today. These days, most people struggle to make ends meet at some point in their life and they tend to see this as an individual problem inflicted on them by themselves. Others tend to think that the challenge is as a result of something they did or did not do at some point in their lives thereby affecting their outcome. For example they blame themselves for not taking a second job, for spending too much on shopping, notShow MoreRelatedThe Sociological Imagination By C. Wright Mills857 Words   |  4 PagesThe sociological imagination is simply the act of having the capacity to think ourselves away from the commonplace schedules of our day by day lives keeping in mind the end goal to take a gander at them with a new perspective. C. Wright Mills, who made the idea and composed a book about it, characterized the sociological creative ability as the clear attentio n to the connection amongst encounter and the more extensive society. The sociological imagination is the capacity to see things sociallyRead MoreThe Sociological Imagination : C. Wright Mills907 Words   |  4 Pagesindividual s life a person will experience what C. Wright Mills refers to as the trap. The trap alludes to a person that can only see and understand their own small scope of life. Their frame of reference is limited to their day to day life and personal experiences that are directly related to them, they cannot see the bigger picture. They do not yet know that the sociological imagination can set them free from this trap and as C. Wright Mills said, In many ways it is a terrible lesson; in manyRead MoreThe Sociological Imagination By C. Wright Mills1315 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"The sociological imagination enables us to grasp history and biography and the relations between the two within society. This is its task and its promise.† C. Wright Mills writes abo ut the sociological imagination in an attempt to have society become aware of the relationship between one’s personal experience in comparison to the wider society. By employing the sociological imagination into the real world, individuals are forced to perceive, from a neutral position, social structures that, inRead MoreThe Sociological Imagination By C. Wright Mills986 Words   |  4 PagesMills Chapter Summary â€Å"Yet Men do not usually define the troubles they endure in terms of historical change and institution contradiction.† Stated from chapter one of â€Å"The Classic Readings in Sociology† which was based on â€Å"The Sociology Imagination† by C. Wright Mills. As our Sociology 131 class study the works of C. Wright Mills, we learn and examine his views. We learn how he view other things such as marriage, war, and the limitations of men. His view of war is that both sides playRead MoreSociological Imagination By C. Wright Mills942 Words   |  4 PagesSociological imagination according to C. Wright Mills (1959) â€Å"enables its possessor to understand the larger historical scene in terms of its meaning for the inner life and the external career of a variety of individuals† (p.5) Mills in this book of The Sociological Imagination explains how society shapes the people. Mills wants people to be able to use sociological imagination to see things in a sociology point of view, so they can know the difference between personal troubles versus personal issuesRead MoreThe Sociological Imagination, By C. Wright Mills799 Words   |  4 Pages The sociological imagination, a concept used by C. Wright Mills, is essentially the ability to perceive a situation or act in a much larger social context as well as examining the situation or act from many perspectives. In particular, it plays a paramount role in Donna Gaine s Teenage Wasteland. It is a tragic story of 4 teens who together, committed suicide. The teens were deemed as â€Å"dropouts, druggies† [Teenage Wasteland 8.2] by newspapers and were still treated with disdain even after theirRead MoreThe Sociological Imagination : C. Wright Mills1822 Words   |  8 PagesC. Wright Mills defines the sociological imagination as, â€Å"what they need, and what they feel they need, is a quality of mind that will help them to use information and to develop reason in order to achieve lucid summations of what is going on in the world and of what may be happening within themselves†. Mills also says that the sociological imagination enables us to grasp history and biography and the relations between the two within society. When I read Chapter One: The Promise from C. WrightRead MoreThe Sociological Imagination, By C. Wright Mills1692 Words   |  7 Pagesentire life, can be determined by examining his or her intellect, high school performance, and talents. However, C. Wright Mills proposes a new approach to this idea in his work, â€Å"The Promise.† Mills presents an idea known as the sociological imagination, which examines society on a larger scale to better grasp an individual’s life circumstances (Mills 2). The sociological imagination examines the role of social forces on the lives of individuals (Butler-Sweet, September 5, 2017). For example,Read MoreThe Sociological Imagination, C. Wright Mills1268 Words   |  6 PagesIn the novel, The Sociological Imagination, C. Wright Mills is trying to present the concept of how an individual’s ability is able to develop reason by using the information surrounding him. Mills explains that the sociological imagination is an important concept because it is what differentiate sociology from other social sciences such as political science or economic. It is the concept that will help people to have a better understanding of our world, to be clear of the connections within societyRead MoreSociological Imagination, By C. Wright Mills1762 Words   |  8 Pages 10/11/2017 ID 100602667 Soc. 1 FY40 Sociological Imagination The Sociological Imagination, by C. Wright Mills, was a statement that questioned the developing field of sociology, challenging sociologists and the public to take seriously the rise of elites and the decline of American democracy, American community, and American equality. Mills argues that the sociological imagination is a quality of mind necessary to the understanding of the human condition

Statement Of Purpose To Study In Aus Free Essays

â€Å"Man has always been fascinated and tries to delve into greater depths to learn more things that have amazed him.† And I believe that it happen through education. Therefore Education is playing an important role in our life. We will write a custom essay sample on Statement Of Purpose To Study In Aus or any similar topic only for you Order Now In my academic carrier I choose very dynamic and fast growing field of Computer Engineering. My ultimate goal is to earn myself a well-deserved position on my return to India and help my family as well as my nation progress by using effectively the tools of modern technologies. Masters in Computer and Network security is my key future plan; after accumulating enough research experience and comprehensive knowledge of core areas of Computer and Network security, I will like to do my own business in IT field. India is a developing country with an enormous potential in the field of Network Management and Security Technology. To serve the needs of industry and increasing automation in such industries, computers are going to play a vital role. I believe that if you give strong input in any endeavour, success would come easily to you. Going by this belief, I have always made it a point to participate wholeheartedly in anything I do. You may win or lose but you should be proud of your participation. Without an earnest participation one should not expect victory. About Self If were to talk about myself, I am carrier-oriented person and believe in hard work. My name is Mr. Savan Kanubhai Pidhadiya and I am 22 year old. I am living with my family in a small industrial city of India- Surat. I have done my S.S.C. (10th grade) in March-2006 from Gujarat Secondary Education Board in Gandhinagar and secured about 91.29%. I have done my H.S.C. (12th grade) in March-2008 from Gujarat Higher Secondary Education Board in Gandhinagar and secured about 79.20%. My Bachelor of Engineering (Computer Engineering) was completed in May-2012 with 8.31 CGPA from S.P.B PATEL ENGINEERING COLLEGE under Gujarat Technological University, which is, one of the most reputed University of Gujarat, India. Family Background My father, Mr. Kanubhai Ukabhai Pidhadiya, is farmer. He had completed his 10th in his native Chamardi. My mother Mrs. Bhavanaben Kanubhai Pidhadiya is a simple housewife. I have one younger Brother- Kishan Kanubhai Pidhadiya is studying IT at Dharmsinh Desai University, Nadiad. After introducing my family member, I would like to introduce my paternal uncle Mr. Manshukhbhai U. Pidhadiya and Shardaben M. Pidhadiya. They are wonderful people and my uncle has specially inspired me to be a self-made man like him. They have stood through thick and thin by my family. Actually Manshukhbhai U. Pidhadiya is the person who has encouraged me to plan for abroad study. I am very thankful to him for his great support in my application and processes for abroad study. English Language Proficiency I appeared for the IELTS exam and able to get the 6.5 bands. My break ups for the IELTS is Listening 6.0, Reading 7.0, Writing 6.0, Speaking 6.5. Why Australia? When I was in second year I decided to streamline my career by doing Master in Computer and Network Security field. In Australia, I have the freedom to choose a path that suits my particular goals. There are thousands of courses on offer. Whichever course I choose, I will experience a unique kind of education. Studying in Australia promotes innovative, creative and independent thinking. I will learn to work as part of a team, to communicate effectively with others and to develop the practical skills and intellectual  abilities I need for global success. Most importantly, I will learn how to use my initiative. The Australian education system has a strong international reputation and is known for its effective structure and innovative policy developments. Many other countries, eager to improve their own education systems, turn to Australia for advice. Australia is also one of the best places to live. It is a young, vibrant and friendly country in which students can live, learn and grow. So I want a quality education and a good lifestyle, Australia’s the place to be. Why choose EDITH COWAN UNIVERSITY in Australia? I realized the importance of breaking boundaries and going global in order to grow further, after a lot of research I shortlisted Australia for my destination. I personally consulted a few agencies and they suggested me few universities in Australia that can offer me a wide selection of courses of my field. Among those Universities I researched, and then I preferred EDITH COWAN UNIVERSITY. I heard that the institute provides excellent teaching skills as well as they assist students in achieving their educational goal. Also one additional reason for me to choose Perth is also the fact that my uncle is settled there. So it would be really easy for me to settle down me an alien Country. Moreover my parents also would feel less anxious about such a big transit. I also noticed that the weather of Australia is warmer friendly than the other countries suggested by agencies. So I found Australia most relevant for me both environmentally and educationally. What my main lookout was for a good quality education which can fulfill my need to be a Master in my field and ultimately can provide me a bright future. Why Master of Computer and Network Security? During my engineering major, I am particularly interested in Networking, Managements and Software engineering. Masters in Computer and Network Security is my key future plan; after accumulating enough research experience and comprehensive knowledge of core areas of Networking Technology, I will like to do my own business in IT field. The course content of Master of Computer and Network Security at Australian Universities, having very good subjects like IT Professional Practice, Advanced Business Data Communications , Local Area Network Design and Implementation , Network Security and Switching, Wireless Networks, Advanced Network Design etc. Future Goals Now a day due to globalization a large number of multinational companies have entered the Indian Market gaining high and generating goodwill as well. Therefore Indian Companies have to make unprecedented efforts to ensure survival and growth in the market. And Indian Companies have also started giving preferences to them who have an international qualification. I have decided to pursue the course of Master of Computer and Network Security, which will not only give an international degree but also will broaden my perspective and give me an international exposure. Thank You. Sincerely, Savan K. Pidhadiya History of networking Making devices talk to each other for the purposes of communication is nothing new. Early forays the telegraph and telephone have since evolved into more complicated devices, and now a computer can be networked to the Internet, another PC, or even a home stereo. In the early 1960s, individual computers had to be physically shared, making the sharing of data and other information difficult. Hence, the early computer network was born. Through the then-new communication protocol known as packet switching, a number of applications, such as secure voice transmission in military channels became possible. These new circuits provided the basis for the communication technologies of the rest of the 20th century, and with further refinement these were applied to computer networks. These networks provided the basis for the early ARPANET, The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) submitted the proposal for the project on June 3, 1968. This proposal entitled â€Å"Resource Sharing Computer Networks† would allow ARPA not only the further sharing of their data. After being tested in four locations, the  network spread and the new protocols created for its use evolved into today’s World Wide Network. In 1977, early PC-based Local Area Networks, or LANs (Local Area Networks) were spreading. LAN variants also developed, including Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) to cover large areas such as a college campus, and Wide Area Networks (WANs) for university-to-university communication .Networks have become an integral part of the corporate world. Ubiquitous computing and Internet-capable cellular phones have allowed people to remain connected, even if the individual is away from a fully wired office environment. Why need computer and network security engineers? The technology today allows a lot of possibilities which have not been available ten years ago. However, it has also opened up the possibilities of a world of threats and harmful things like viruses, worms as well as internet fraud and security issues. It is therefore important to understand the importance of computer network security, its implications as well as its advantageous for you to be able to stay protected both online and offline. Computer network security is now a necessity for computer user to keep them safe and protected from all the evil things that are lurking over the internet. But does all computer users can know how to protect their computers from this stuff. No, of course not that’s why we need computer and security engineers, who can maintain the good health of your computer software devices as well as any system that is continually using the web for various services. What is the Basic pay scale of Network Security Engineers? As i am so excited about my future study, i was doing some surfing at that time i got some valuable information regarding pay scale of networking field in india with their years of experience which is mention below Future of Networking Field? Network security is an important field that is increasingly gaining attention as the internet expands. There are so many responsible designations which is listed below which is my future plan for the next coming period. How to cite Statement Of Purpose To Study In Aus, Papers

Industry Placement Intercontinental Sydney Double Bay-Free samples

Question: Discuss About The Placement Intercontinental Sydney Double? Answer: Introduction I have always wanted to have a career that would make me face new challenges every day, improve my skills, and most importantly, keep me well-paid. Hotel Management certainly ticks all the right boxes; and I was more drawn to this field as in an ever-fortifying economy like Australia, there is ample need of premium hotels and with that, efficient service. I did some online research regarding the career opportunities in this line and with help from a friend, enrolled for my industrial placement at Intercontinental Sydney Double Bay, which I eventually acquired. The following report deals with my experience of serving as an intern at ISDB. I have provided an overview of the hotel and the induction process. I have analysed the organisations training program and the strategies it employs to achieve its targets. As expected, hard work is the only explanation of ISDBs notable success. Perseverance is the key to creating and maintaining a hotel that lives up to its motto- Great Hotels Guest s Love.. Reflection on Personal Journey of Securing Industrial Placement Into the penultimate year of Hotel Management studies at Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School, Australia, I was eager to secure an industrial placement in a leading Australian hotel, in order to kick start my career with on-field work experience. I finally decided on Intercontinental Hotel Double Bay, Sydney, a five-star facility which serves as the perfect place for a new-comer like me to learn the tricks of the trade in order to become a successful Hotel Management Executive in the future. I worked as an intern (as a club attendant) at ICH from 31st January 2016, 2017 to 30th July, 2017; after securing my internship placement in mid-January. The first task was to search for the ideal hotel and the right position that fits my qualifications and criteria of placement. I was already aware of IHG, one of the leading chains of hotels in the world; and right since I got into college it has been my desire to work there someday. IHG guarantees a productive career and a fair share of promotions and incentives after a considerable period of service. The official IHG career website lays out all the necessary information regarding the Intercontinental Group, training facilities, job openings, and an array of other features. The search-results display vacancies and job openings in a specified location. The job descriptions include the position applied for and the hotels offerings in such positions; while also incorporating other features like standards of service, working-hour flexibility, Responsible Service of Alcohol Certificate, individual employee aptitudes, and so on (ihg.taleo.net, 2017). After comparing and contrasting with a few other available options and after recommendation from a senior at Blue Mountains, I applied at Intercontinental Hotel Double Bay, Sydney for the position of Club Attendant. Job-Search Procedures and Personal Experience There are several techniques and approaches as to searching for hotel management jobs such as career websites, and online placement consultancies. It is necessary to create account in some of these websites and keep updating the candidates resume, preferences and personal information. Searches can be made on popular sites like seek.com.au, Indeed.com.au and so on ("Job Search | Indeed", 2017); (seek.com.au, 2017). Whenever the candidates profile with an available vacancy, the websites automatically send emails and text messages to the candidate. LinkedIn is another great platform which helps candidates apply for jobs online while also building up professional contacts. Personally I faced a couple of issues while applying for and getting this job, as I was a fresher had no prior experience in online job searching. I had a few hitches setting the proper parameters for my search and deciding upon the available options. Moreover, vacancies are not always available in hotel management internships, and I had to wait for about three weeks after applying before the application received feedback from the employers end. However, with time and several attempts, I was able to use the sites properly to my benefit. Employers Perspective behind Industry Placement IHG is reported to have a staff-strength of about 300,000 across its chain of hotels around the globe. IHG is said to have a staff-engagement of 82%; which appears quite futuristic and enhanced, in comparison to a figure of 62%, the average in the cordiality industry. It has also been observed in a survey that 8 out of 10 employees recommend Intercontinental as a favourable workplace; and every second employee has moved higher up the staff-hierarchy through promotions and rewards (Pollitt, 2008). For the interview, it is necessary that the candidate is aware of the hotel-authoritys requirements and presents himself as the right person for the job. IHG has a fair and equitable process of interviewing and appointment, where each candidate faces a series of questions and situations, depending upon the particular field of work he has applied for. This ensures that all appointments are carried out based on merit and skills, and not on the basis of personal favouritism or personal gains. During my interview with the Food and Beverages Manager and the Guest Relations Manager, I was asked a series of questions regarding my studies, prior experience in the field, future plans and so on. I was also given several situations and asked how I would respond to them and react during certain emergencies. Situation-management helps the employer assess the inherent aptitudes and possible strengths and weaknesses of a candidate; and also helps shortlist the ones to be employed (Endsley Jones, 2013). Overview of the Organisation and Evaluation of the Induction Process Overview of Intercontinental Sydney Double Bay Intercontinental Hotel Sydney Double Bay (ISDB) is a part of the Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), which runs a chain of over one hundred and eighty hotels, in more than sixty countries across the world. The group also has shares in over 5000 subsidiary hotels, operating in a hundred countries. The Intercontinental Sydney Double Bay is a magnificent five star luxury hotel situated in the eastern parts of the Sydney suburbs of Double Bay. The hotel-building was opened in 1991, then known as the Ritz Carlton Double Bay (Boyd, 2017). The Ritz Carlton was one of the most sought after luxury hotels in New South Wales, attracting celebrities, corporate personalities and world leaders like Princess Diana and former US President George W Bush. The wedding ceremony of former Prime Minister Bob Howke, and Blanche d Alpuget was also conducted here in 1995. In 2001, the lodging was subject to financial turbulence leading to a takeover, and was renamed the Stanford Plaza Hotel (Patterson, 2017 ). In 2013, about 22 years after its formal opening, the property was purchased by Royal Hotels Australia, who made an agreement with the Intercontinental Hotels Group regarding new ownership and management (Thomsen, 2014). This marked the inception of the Intercontinental Sydney Double Bay, a state-of-the-art facility which lives by the core value of its motto: Great Hotels Guests Love. ISDB is one of the forerunning hotels of the IHG hotels chain. It has 140 guest rooms and suites accommodated in luxurious private balconies and residences. The main building overlooks the Double Bay Beach, local villages and specimens of old French architecture. It is surrounded by themed restaurants and cafes, bars, shopping facilities, boutiques, and lastly, pristine beaches (De Vires De Vires, 2014 ). ISDB has a long array of facilities, like the Club Lounge which overlooks the French courtyards, and The Rooftop Bar and Lounge that provides a direct view of the Bay (Sydney, 2017). There is the Stoc k Room restaurant, a multi cuisine restaurant, which specialises in its unique botanical-inspired dishes. The Stillery is a cocktail lounge with a 1940s-inspired theme; while High Tea and High Martini are smaller facilities serving top-notch drinks and beverages ("Dine Drink", 2017). ISDB also has provisions for hosting meeting and conferences; and events like weddings, kosher events, private parties and so on. Process of Induction Every leading company has its own process of induction, by which they welcome new employees, and introduce them to the workplace, their colleagues and also brief them about the nature of work and the organisations goals (Marchington et al., 2016). This may involve taking the employee on a tour around the property and let him get used to the lounges, food and beverage stores, lobbies, and other public areas of the hotel (Strebinger, 2014). At Intercontinental Sydney, the process of induction is initiated before the employee joins work on his first day. The staff members are sent emails regarding the new employee, which enables them to give him or her a warm welcome, and the employee to interact and make friends with his new colleagues. Personal Experience On my first day, a senior executive of the Club Intercontinental gave me an insight on the department and how it functions. I was introduced to the other staff members who were very hospitable and helpful towards me. My line of work at the Club Intercontinental involves both the front offices and the Food and Beverages Department. The job requires working in quite a few locations inside the hotel premises and to help me get used to the compound and the people manned thereat. My colleagues introduced me to several of the departmental heads, from whom I learned about my duties and obligations; although the main highlight was Club Intercontinental and the Food and Beverages Department, as my primary work involves these two in particular (Walker, 2012). Lastly, the Human Resources Manager at ISDB had a short induction session with me where he laid out the necessary information regarding my job, payments and benefits. He also had me fill up some official paperwork about my personal detail s; along with an online HR Induction form (Hoque, 2013). Suggestions Regarding Induction A proper induction process is one of the most important steps for a new appointment as it considerably curdles the high staff turnover cost. The induction process should include all the required information for the candidate to start working without facing too many hitches along the way. It should be planned and should focus particularly on the department the candidate will function in. The induction process should have an optimum length, that is, it must not be too long and elaborate, nor too short (Cheng Brown, 1998). The idea is to welcome a new employee and prepare him for the job so that on the field of work, he can function seamlessly and most productively. It is also advisable to provide the candidates with some training manuals and information booklets which they could consult if no help is available (Armstrong Taylor, 2014). Evaluation of the Organisations Training Program; Comparison to Competitors Training Program The IHG Academy The Intercontinental Hotels Group hosts the IHG academy, through which Intercontinental Hotels collaborate with a number of community groups and institutes in order to assist candidates build up hospitality skills and improve their ability to get placed in hotel-management jobs (Turner, 2017). Operating globally, IHG Academies are tailor-made to fit the needs of the local group they cater to. Each academy has three common objectives: collaborating with local institutes and community groups, provide guaranteed placements, and give feedbacks to every person in every position. The IHG Institute was inaugurated in 2006, and ever since it has been growing steadily and now covers over sixty countries (Soekrino, 2017). The I-Grad Programme IHG also offers a host of openings and opportunities for talented and aspiring individuals who wish to become team leaders or senior executives in the future; through a training program called I-grad (Soekrino, 2017). The eighteen month course enables the candidates to pick up the necessary tactics and fundamental ideas on how to run a hotel business, while also developing their respective set of skills. The hotel management business, along with its various aspects and features, is taught from scratch to candidates in order to help them realise their career aspirations. The program has a large number of stages in which a candidate will work in a different branch of the hotel like Food and Beverage, Rooms Division, Room Service and so on; but keeping the focus on the distinct field of work (ihg.com, 2017). The program gives practical experience of work with the front office team and also instils the ability to be responsible for operations as one climbs up the supervisory hierarchy. A ll the stages are carefully devised to train the candidates for maximum career growth. The eighteen month course is segregated into three phases of six months each. They are as follows: Learning the ropes In the opening six months, candidates are made to spend most of their working hours with front line staff and observe how they contribute collectively towards the overall goal of the brand. This period helps build strong inter and intra-departmental relations; with most of the work in the Front Office, Banquets, Clubs, Food and Beverages and so on (Andrews, 2013). Choosing ones own path The next six months aim at specialisation at the candidates respective departments, focusing on the supervisory level to impart employee-specific information. I-grad trainees are given leadership-specific responsibilities which aid them in leading a team and taking the brand-name forward. Future as a leader This program deals with what lies in a candidates career or life after completion of I-Grad. The Future Leaders Program encourage graduate candidates to explore their work related aptitudes and innate creativity in correlation to how they can implement their skills in their lives and career. Comparison to competition The main contrast between IHG and other leading hotel chains is the fact that the company does not presume the graduates aims and aspirations; they ask and act accordingly. If we consider Accor for comparison, they provide an Executive Leaders Program which is a two-year course and also requires a minimum work-experience of two years in a supervisory role. However, it requires more time than I-Grad and is also not open to fresher candidates. The Marriot group offers a Management Development Program (MDP), which gives training on departments like Housekeeping, Room Divisions, Food and Beverage, Loss Prevention and so on. This course is usually 6-12 months long, with most of the work on the Front Offices. In a way the duration of IHGs I-Grad program is optimum for graduate and under-graduate aspirants (ihgplc.com, 2017). IHG stand out from the rest due to their futuristic outlook of tailoring their training program suited perfectly to both hotel and individual needs. Business Objectives of the Organisation and Strategies Implemented Brand Motto As already stated, Intercontinental Hotel Groups brand is to incept and maintain Great Hotels Guests Love. IHG emphasise on creating first-rate development, for which they maintain sustained and reliable growth in benefits and income over a long period. IHG are of the view that with such an optimistic model, the company focuses on creating esteem. This is done through constructing top brands, scale leveraging and income-delivery through the most cost-efficient media. Aided by organised execution and the promise of cooperation and dependence, IHGs target portfolio will definitely extract hefty returns for their shareholders (Xie, Zhang Zhang, 2014). Digital Reservations The chief blueprint of IHG regarding enhanced growth aims at reinforcing the various portfolio of segregated brands, establishing identity in leading markets, creating lifetime relationships with guests and transferring profits to hotels through the most direct and cost-efficient channels. At the heart of such technology lies potent innovation and aggressive proprietary policies; thereby drawing in huge returns (Jin, 2015). The IHG Annual Report 2016 states that there has been a gigantic increase in digital sales (ihgplc.com, 2017). These include booking and payments through websites and mobile apps. IHG has surpassed 3 billion users and have an annual growth rate of 300 million new users. The company calculated a 40% hike in booking via the mobile app, creating additional sales of over $1.2 billion (Turner, 2017). Amadeus- A Futuristic Reservation Platform IHG also considerate to the requirements of visitors, with the constant motto of serving the needs of the customer to the fullest potential. It has been reported that almost 70% guests are eager to pay greater room-rates for more facilities and better choice of rooms. IHG has also created a digital guest reservation portal called Amadeus, a system grants the visitor a level of discretion and customisation unlike any other framework operational in the present market (Sydney, 2016). Such a strategy will make the reservation system more flexible and provide a competitive edge to IHG. Never again will the visitor be bound by the rigid offline system where they have very little chance of choosing room-types, that too, based on vacancy (Tan, 2017). With Amadeus, they would now be able to add their own tweaks in their reservation based o their personal preferences. For the hotel staff, this means more customer interaction which augments the management process (Perez et al., 2003). The IHG Academy has been making great progress in recent years, building hospitality skills in domestic regions since ten years. It recorded 11985 new members in 2016 alone and the program now operates in 75 nations. The IHG Foundation support aspirants and help improve their skills and employability. It is due to their unique approach that the candidate-strength boosted from 6,666 in 2014 to n11985 in 2016. The CEO of IHG, Mr. Richard Solomons declared in the 2016 Annual Report that IHG will maximise their revenue and the turnovers through such operations, while building customer good will and fulfilling all necessary parameters (ihgplc.com, Exclusive Offers In order to realise the organisations aim, the one to produce the highest revenue, ISDB offers various packages and bonuses to their visitors in order for them to widen their stay. These include special Food and Beverage vouchers, club vouchers, room discounts, package upgrades and so on. For instance, ISDB gives a Double Delight offer on IHG outlets and special reward points (ihg.com, 2017). The hotel also has exclusive facilities for the Rewards Club Members like bonus points for visitors who book in to a certain criteria of accommodation ; such points can later be gelled together to be availed against a particular service like transport or a complementary stay. Guests can also improve their stay by availing the Club service which is supervised by Club InterContinental (Harris Mongiello, 2006). The offer is inclusive of complementary breakfast, tea in the afternoon with canaps; and day-long complementary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. This service comes at a lucrative additio nal charge of just A$ 165 a night for two adults. Most of the frequent guests avail the Club service to optimise the value of their stay. Unparalleled Staff-Management However, no brand can succeed without dedicated support and perseverance from the staff; and IHG are totally conscious of the fact. The staff is equally as responsible as the management or the ownership behind the luxurious experience the guests have during their stay (Enz, 2009). To this effect, the Human Resource Department of ISDB sincerely looks after the needs and requirements of the staff. IHG has created a stepping-ground for staff-enhancement with several staff-education and development procedures (Chand Katou, 2017). The Annual report states that there are opportunities to grow for every employee to reach the IHG Leadership Academy Program (ihgplc.com, 2017). The staff is applauded and rewarded for notable performances; and every month, there are token rewards for Employee of the Month, Manager of the Month and so on. IHG staff are granted special discounts for rooms or all IHG hotels on the world and 25% rebate on food and beverages in their respective property. Such conce rn and care about the needs of the staff will help IHG maintain their stellar level of staff performance Role of Internal and External Stakeholders and the Companys Policy Types of Stakeholders The involvement and exchange between the company and its partners is a primary requisite for the business of hotel management. Stakeholders (not to be confused with stock-holders or shareholders) are of two main types- Internal and External (Davies Chum, 2002). In IHGs case like any other global hotel chain, the employees, workers, owners, board members and shareholders constitute the internal stakeholders; while customers, corporate visitors, guests, suppliers and competitors are considered as external stake holders (Hwang Der-Jang, 2005). It is imperative to understand the needs of both internal and external stakeholders and develop an all-inclusive policy to balance both sides in order to achieve the brands goals. No business can survive without proper correlation and harmony between the internal and external stake holders. From the perspective of an industry placement candidate, it is easily possible to classify the stakeholders in to internal and external. Club Intercontinental Performance The collective contribution of all the stakeholders adds up to generating the companys revenue. Club Intercontinental aims at providing premium services to customers as the primary objective- as customers are one of the most effective means of promotion and revenue generation (ihg.com, 2017). For instance, if a guest stays at the hotel, avails the Club Continental facilities, and receives unparalleled service, he would feel at home with the brand. He would come back and avail those services again and definitely recommend the hotel and club to his friends, family and colleagues. This serves the role of a promotion when customers indulge in verbal and conversational publicity. From the hotels viewpoint, this form of publicity yields additional revenue as customers are influenced more and more, and from the verbal advertising , will look forward to visiting the hotel to avail similar premium services. Online reviews by customers have now become a major form of publicity these days (Jeon g Jeong, 2008). Using hotel-review websites and blogs, people can now decide upon a suitable hotel and get a qualitative and quantitative analysis, sitting at home or office (Park Allen, 2013). Suppliers Hotel suppliers are considered as important stakeholders, and their role is vital to the company achieving its targeted revenue figures. ISDB always emphasises on making transparent trade with the hotel suppliers and local forms of supply (Lambert, Cooper Pagh, 1998). From ISDBs perspective, it is profitable to trade with local merchants who provide premium products at lower rates, instead of large-scale storage facilities, who charge a lot higher but often do not make it up with the quality. Trading with local businesses is also more sensible as it cuts the expenses of transportation and duties (Sigala, 2008). This would further help the local businesses grow and create immense job opportunities in the region. The locals would realise the positive role of the hotel and feel included in its plan, resulting in recommending and promoting its name and goodwill (Holcomb, 2007). Intercontinental Sydney Double Bay collaborates with several local businesses. For instance it has a tie-up wi th a local florist, which serves both internal and guest requirements at the hotel. In this way, the florists business is augmented while ISDB gets the flowers at a much lower rate their value in the market. Since ISDB is not the largest property with but 140 rooms for guests, it joins hands with several local trades for guest-facilities- it has a contractual agreement with Trumps Spa and Snap Fitness. Such tie-ups also help the employees of local businesses who can avail special services at the hotel (ihg.com, 2017). Shareholders Shareholders of the brand constitute an integral part of ISDBs external stakeholders. Whenever the hotel requires capital for its business purposes, it asks assistance from its shareholders to invest the necessary funds. Such an engagement has to be profitable for both the hotel and the shareholder. For instance, for the renovation of the interior of Club Continental, the huge amount of money required needs to come from the shareholders end. The hotel needs to initiate and acquaint the shareholders regarding the type of investment and the foreseeable returns. In ISDBs case, the board of trustees have their own executives to review and analyse the nature and scale of such investments before they are requested or sanctioned (ighplc.com, 2017). With a perfect harmony and correspondence between the hotel and its share holders, more investors can be attracted, and the revenues can be increased manifold, almost in geometric proportions, unlike verbal and online promotions. In 2006, IHG rec orded a gross annual revenue of A$ 1.7 billion, and an unsurpassed 48.8% profit from its free revenues (Turner, 2017). Following the hotels massive growth and gigantic revenue figures, in May 2017, the property housing ISDB was purchased from Royal Hotels by the Shanghai United Real Estate Inc. And Zobon Real Estate Group Co , Ltd., for a reported 140 million dollars (Boyd, 201 Evaluation of Candidates Performance Main Strengths My internship at Intercontinental Sydney Double Bay is probably the most productive 18 months in my academic life so far. I have learned the basics of the hotel management business from scratch here at ISDB, starting from manning the Club InterContinental front desk to working with the room-service staff. This has been a period of effective self-evaluation and assessment for me. My reflections on the period of industrial placement are as follows: Customer-handling I always fancied if I would be able to manage and satisfy a large number of customers at a given time, which is a requisite for hotel management. Here at ISDB I have definitely learnt the ropes of customer-handling. While my duty hours, assisting the Club Intercontinental Receptionist, I followed what my supervisor was doing and learned how to deal with the visitors one at a time, yet maintaining a brisk space. By the end of my stay, I was quite confidently manning the Front Desk at the Club, under supervision. Anticipating Customer Needs I have often observed that while ordering at clubs in particular and restaurants in general, customers are often confused as to the quantity of food or drinks they require, owing to varying numbers and quantities in different restaurants and bars. While in the club, the couple of shots they have had before, do not help either. This results in surplus orders and consequent wastage of both food and the customers money. Although they profit the hotel just a tad bit, this kind of gain is not the aim of a state-of-the-art facility like ISDB. Since my elder-brother is a senior bartender in Melbourne and went through the same course, I ve had some order-taking lessons from him. I utilised that knowledge while taking food and alcoholic beverages orders, and more often than not, helped the customers order the correct number of plates or the proper quantity of liquor. It helps them get acquainted with the hotels facilities and also save money. Both the desk operator at Stillery and the Rooftop Restaurant Manager appreciated my aptitude in guessing customer requirements. Biggest Achievement While working at the front desk of Club Intercontinental here was one occasion when a visitor had received a wrong bill of $225 whereas his actual expenses had been $124 only. A fuss at the front desk escalated to a heated argument which as usual, spoiled such an elegant atmosphere. I was quick enough to get in touch with the billing department to trace the last receipt amounting to $225. When I found out that the person who should have got the $225 bill was fortunately a boarder, I immediately enquired room service about his room number and with all the details, initiated the Receptionist about the cause of this hitch. He then got the proper bills to reach the respective customers and resolved the matter. Later he complemented me infront of the other staff and said that it was great situation management on my part to quickly find out the root of the mistake that lead to sn unpleasant situation. The senior staff also followed up with a pat on my back. Areas to Improve On Management of Time The greatest issue I felt was hindering my progress was time utilisation. During my first few months, I found it extremely difficult to reach the productivity targets at the Club Intercontinental billing section. The volume of orders is huge and it is quite challenging to generate all the bills in time and most importantly, without errors. I was working there during the Christmas week and this resulted in huge numbers of orders. Quite a few times, I had to ask senior staff members to help me out and even share some of my workload, which they efficiently did, while carrying out their own tasks. My speed has improved a bit, but I will have to be faster if I am to reach the topm of this Hotel Management hierarchy. House-keeping The fact that I could not change bed sheets properly without help, will always embarass me throughout the rest of my career. Several times, I have slowed down the rest of the house-keeping team, courtesy my poor sheet-changing and bed-making skills. I am also not adept when it comes to tea-making. Although I fixed great martinis and screwdrivers back at the Club Intercontinental, my tea was at times quite bitter and one training session, one of the supervisors sprayed it out after the first sip. Since that training, it was advised that I stick to harder drinks at the Club, although I am still working on my tea-making. Leadership Lessons During my training, I always made it a point to observe my supervisors and seniors. I tried to learn as much as I could from how the Managers and Senior Executives dealt with tricky situations, and put them into practice. Leadership is one of the necessary qualities to have a successful career in hotel management, and there is ample scope to learn it during industrial placement at ISDB. While managing staff in a hotel, a manager needs to have a calm temperament and assess each situation independently in an unbiased manner. It is necesary to keep the subordinates motivated and play active parts in realising the companys aspirations. Each employee has different skill-sets and mentalities. A leader needs to extract the maximum out of such differences and make sure that each person is working in such a line of work that maximum productivity can be attained, while maintaining the employees job-satisfaction and motivation. Target to Achieve Within a Year As already stated in the report, my goal is to become a successful hotel management executive in the future. In a year, I want to get a permanent placement as a club attendant at a leading hotel in Australia. In Australia which is an already developed yet rapidly growing economy, the requirement of skilled staff in hotels is forever on the rise. However, the competition is also high, as more and more students are gaining awareness of the field of Hotel Management and the immense possibilities it holds. I wish to carry on my academic development in the field and at the same time, gain more first-hand experience by enrolling into another prominent hotel in Australia. 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