Happy Easter, Limerick & CETT Students!!!

The Virtual Language Exchange Limerick-CETT has ended, but new friendships have emerged.

Happy Easter, everybody!!!

English Level 2 Project - Stage 4

Once you have described the product/service's features, examined customers' views, and analysed the main strengths and weaknesses (as well as the opportunities and threats, optionally), you must make specific improvement proposals based on your findings, to conclude. It is not necessary to tackle absolutely all the problems that derive from the analysis, but the most relevant ones should certainly be addressed.

Present your improvement plan in a structured way, reporting on the methodology you have followed, cross-referring to data from previous stages, and referencing your information sources. Your suggestions may draw on multiple perspectives, e.g. sustainable development goals and environmentally friendly policies, quality standards, experience design, human resources and corporate social responsibility, revenue management, etc. 

These are some resources that may inspire you.

-5 ways to lead in an era of constant change:

https://www.ted.com/talks/jim_hemerling_5_ways_to_lead_in_an_era_of_constant_change?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

-Two reasons companies fail - and how to avoid them:

https://www.ted.com/talks/knut_haanaes_two_reasons_companies_fail_and_how_to_avoid_them?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

-Interactive risk assessment tool:

https://www.innotour.com/innovation-tools/interactive-risk-assessment-tool/

-Innovation checklists:

https://www.innotour.com/innovation-tools/innovation-checklists/

-Innovation ability test:

https://www.innotour.com/innovation-tools/innovation-ability-test/

Gender equality in the tourism sector

Watch these videos. They illustrate different roles of women within the tourism industry:

-Las Kellys: https://youtu.be/MBBDSPT879Q

-Celebrity Cruises: https://youtu.be/vux_5Hyb_wQ

Reflect on the following questions:

1. How can tourism contribute to gender equality?

2. What are the most pressing issues that affect women in the tourism industry?

3. Are education and training equally provided for tourism managers and employees?

4. Are women represented in tourism policies and in this sector's decision-making spaces?

For more information, you can also read UNWTO's Global Report on Women in Tourism: 

https://www.e-unwto.org/doi/pdf/10.18111/9789284420384

Activity SWOT analysis

Step 1. The Manager of Sunshine Hotels has conducted a SWOT analysis of this hotel chain, but the different aspects have been jumbled accidentally. Classify each aspect into four categories: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.

Aspects:

1. Prime locations
2. High operating costs
3. Expansion into emerging markets
4. Excellent customer service
5. Economic downturns
6. Limited online presence
7. Sustainability initiatives
8. Diverse amenities
9. Seasonal dependency
10. Intense competition
11. Partnerships with travel agencies
12. Changing travel regulations

Step 2. Match each one of the aspects above with its corresponding explanation below. Discuss and justify your choices.

Explanations:

1. The cost of maintaining high standards and diverse amenities is significant, impacting profit margins.
2. Revenue is highly dependent on peak tourist seasons, which can lead to fluctuations in income.
3. New travel restrictions or regulations can affect international tourist arrivals.
4. The hotel chain is known for its exceptional customer service, which leads to high customer satisfaction and repeat business.
5. Economic instability can reduce travel spending, impacting occupancy rates.
6. Sunshine Hotels are located in popular tourist destinations, attracting a high number of visitors.
7. The hotel chain has a weak online marketing strategy, leading to lower visibility compared to competitors.
8. Offers a wide range of amenities, including spas, gyms, and conference facilities, catering to both leisure and business travelers.
9. Forming alliances with travel agencies can increase bookings and brand visibility.
10. There is potential for growth by expanding into emerging tourist destinations.
11. The hotel chain has implemented eco-friendly practices, which can attract environmentally conscious travelers and reduce operating costs.
12. The hotel industry is highly competitive, with new entrants and existing competitors constantly vying for market share.

Step 3. Reflect on what you learned from the activity and discuss how conducting a SWOT analysis can be beneficial in your future career in tourism and hospitality.

Source: Microsoft. (2025). Copilot [Large language model]. 

English Level 2 Project - Stage 3

SWOT is an acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats, and it is an essential component of your project. The following links will help you to find out more about how to do it:

https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_05.htm

http://esl-educate-school-learn.blogspot.com/2012/02/swot-analysis.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_6AVRGLXGA

The data you collected in the second stage will help to design this part of the project. The analysis can derive from customer reviews, opinions, or information from press articles, which will allow you to identify both internal aspects (strengths and weaknesses) and external aspects (opportunities and threats). Remember to mention your information sources.

It is mandatory to present an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses, while the opportunities and threats can be analysed optionally as well if you wish to aim at a higher qualification.

As in the previous stages, you can post the text on this blog.

You can provide your classmates with peer feedback by filling in this form: 

https://forms.gle/6ZtCRLZmyUGUjFDf6

Staff selection activity

A luxury hotel in Barcelona is selecting a new General Manager. The choice is between two candidates:

Candidate A

o  Hotel Management Experience: 

-Worked as a hotel manager at a four-star boutique hotel with 10 rooms for the past seven years.

-Successfully managed a team of 12 staff members, ensuring high guest satisfaction and operational efficiency.

-Implemented effective customer service strategies and handled high-profile events.

 o  Education: 

-Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management.

o  Additional Skills:

-Strong leadership and conflict resolution abilities.

-Solid knowledge of hospitality operations and guest relations.

 Candidate B

o  Digital Marketing Skills:

-Worked as a digital marketing manager at Marriott International for two years.

-Created successful online campaigns, increasing the company’s bookings and online presence.

-Holds certifications in social media marketing and digital advertising.

 o  Education:

-Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

-Master’s degree in Digital Marketing.

 o  Leadership Experience:

-Led a team of digital marketers, coordinating campaigns and analyzing performance metrics.

o  Additional Skills: 

-Creativity and adaptability in digital environments.

-Proficiency in data analysis tools and digital trends.

1. The class is divided into two groups. One group will support Candidate A, and the other will support Candidate B. Within each group, decide which student will perform the following roles:

o  Lead Debater: Presents the main arguments.

o  Researcher: Uses AI tools to find supporting data and examples.

o  Rebuttal Specialist: Prepares counter-arguments against the opposing team.

2. Review the profiles of Candidate A and Candidate B thoroughly. Each group should identify the key points that support their candidate. Consider aspects such as:

o  Experience vs. potential: The value of experience in hotel management versus the potential of digital marketing skills.

o  Long-term success: Which skills are more likely to contribute to the hotel’s long-term success.

o  Adaptability: The ability of each candidate to adapt to changing trends in the tourism and hospitality industries.

3. Use generative AI to:

o  Generate potential scenarios and outcomes for each candidate.

o  Find case studies or examples of similar situations in real hotels or resorts.

o  Create visual aids or presentations to support arguments.

4. Debate execution: Each team presents their opening statements, outlining the main reasons their candidate should be selected. Take turns presenting your arguments and counter-arguments.

5. Reflection: Discuss what you have learned and how you can improve your own performance and the effectiveness of your arguments. Consider aspects such as:

o  Clarity and coherence: How clearly and logically the arguments have been presented.

o  Use of evidence: The effectiveness of using AI-generated data and real-world examples to support arguments.

o  Team collaboration: How well the team members have worked together and supported each other.

o  Persuasiveness: The ability to convincingly argue why your candidate is the better choice.

Source: OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT [Large language model]. https://chatgpt.com

Adapted from: Donaire, J. A., Puntí Brun, M., Zerva, K., Camprubí Subirana, R., & Galí Espelt, N. (2025). De la tiza al chip: el uso de la inteligencia artificial en las aulas. Universitat de Girona.

English Level 2 Project - Stage 2

Once you've chosen your product/service, you must find 80-100 customer reviews from one or several sources -preferably the more recent, the better. It is very important to discard irrelevant comments.

Next, you ought to represent the customer reviews through at least two graphs, one of which must necessarily be a line graph or a bar chart. The reasons underlying those opinions must be analysed statistically. You'll refer to these data in subsequent stages of your project and need to mention your information sources.

You should share your statistical analysis on this blog. Don't forget to use the specific vocabulary for describing graphs and charts you learned at the beginning of the academic period! You can also check this website: 

https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/writing/advanced-c1-writing/describing-graph-trends-over-time