...The focus of this critique is on the film Black Swan, directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, and Vincent Cassel. A movie about a young woman’s consuming desire for perfection as a ballerina in the role of a lifetime. Throughout this film the mise-en-scene was raw and grainy with diverse camera angles that gave an out of control feel that added to the instability within the scenes. As the film progresses the viewer becomes increasingly unsure of the reality that the Nina character is experiencing. The tight quarters of the sets, apart from the practice room, emphasized and helped to showcase the pressure at the studio and the controlling atmosphere at home. The editing in this film was linear and showed the gradual and increasing mental instability of Nina. At times it was difficult to know where in her mental decline she was at and what she was experiencing versus what was only in her mind. Had the film been edited in a nonlinear fashion it would have added a tremendous amount of confusion for the viewer and destroyed the continuity of her experiences and gradual mental deterioration. Sound is effectively used in scenes depicting the reality of particular events. The harsh sounds of the cutting and clipping of Nina’s fingernails sounded like the snapping of small bones. The sound of grinding the bottoms of the ballet slippers in the resin box, the scraping, scratching sound of the knife slicing the bottoms of the shoes were...
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...Natalie Portman Natalie Portman is a unique individual as am I. No matter what movie she was in she put her education first. She also plays very active roles in FINCA International, which promotes micro-lending to help small businesses in developing countries. She advocates for animal rights and is a very strong supporter for the Democratic party and campaigned for President Barack Obama. She has launched her own line of footwear and has been a vegetarian since she was young. She shows me that no matter what you have going on in your life you can make time for your education and support what you believe in. She faced many obstacles, mainly from her demanding acting career. When she moved into the dorms at Harvard many people expected her to do be in the upcoming prequels to Star Wars but in an interview in 1999 she stated she would not act for the next four years to concentrate on her schoolwork. So she could study for her final exams in high school she skipped the premiere of Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace. Amidst her acting career she graduated top honors in high school and pursued a degree in Psychology at Harvard College. Even though acting make her money she made sure to schedule any movies she did around her education. Natalie told the New York Post, “I don’t care if college ruins my career, I would rather be smart than a movie star.” Natalie Portman obviously values her education more her movie career. I haven’t found a lot of articles that exactly explain...
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...Michael Bennett Page 1 Dr. Alla Boldina ENG 110-60 REVOLUTION AND ROMANCE Creedy: “Why won’t you die!?” V: “Beneath this mask is more than flesh…there are ideas. And ideas are bulletproof.” With these words, the film, “V for Vendetta” dramatically demonstrates the power of ideas to challenge and overcome the evil of oppression. In film critic Robert Ebert’s review of “V for Vendetta,” he notes the power of ideas, especially the belief that people should not be afraid of their governments, but rather that governments should be afraid of their people. Although Ebert questions the necessity of fear, and believes that governments and people should be able to happily co-exist, I think he trivializes the significance of the film’s message. Although it is an in-depth, well written look at the story, it is one-sided. He gives credit to a novel written by Allen Moore in 1983, on which the film is based, and compares “V for Vendetta” to other movies and stories. The main character, V, is described in detail, and Ebert explains his purpose in the story. The other characters, however, are not mentioned very much, leaving the reader a bit blank. I appreciate that he mentions the main idea of the film, and is generous with quotations. I do fin d his criticism a bit excessive, as he puts down the mask that V wears because the lips don’t move and his vision would be obstructed. Ebert seems biased on behalf of London’s architecture, as he expresses his disappointment...
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...THE PORTMAN HOTEL COMPANY CASE Section 1: Statement of the problem facing the manager The major problem faced by the vice president and managing director , Patrick Mene was to bail out the company from current state of employee dissatisfaction through strategic human resource management to provide best customer service and increase the profits for the company . Analyzing the situation using SWOT and PESTC analysis, we arrive at certain factors that could explain the current situation in the company. SWOT: Strengths: * Key business strategy of providing the unparalleled personal service to each guest. * Each of the employees was considered as an asset and elaborate employee rights were listed in contracts with them. * The philosophy of the hotel emphasized on high quality but cost effective service. * Hotel recruited very selectively and demanded long term commitment from the employees. * Recruitment was done on certain life themes like assertiveness, positivity, responsibility, pride and gestalt. * Concept of “no rules” for the guests. * Except for the 9 engineers, none of the rest of the employees had joined any of the union. Weakness: * The very philosophy of the hotel to cut down on the middle management and put more employees at the guest front proved to be flawed as there was acute paucity of proper supervision for the lower level employees. * Due to random allocation of the employees at various jobs led to utter chaos while...
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...French Accent - How to Turn Customer Satisfaction into Profits and Growth by Vincent Grimaldi de Puget January 13, 2003 There are reasons to believe that the cause of the backlash against capitalism-as-we-know-it is deeper than the robber baron scandals that have occupied the front pages in recent months. There is growing evidence that we are witnessing a shift away from blind consumerism, and marketers can do something to smooth the transition. The bottom-line pressure of always delivering more earnings – more than the previous quarter and year – can lead to misallocation of resources in the long term. Seeking to grow is fundamentally a good objective if the underlying economics can support it -- meaning productivity improvements and technological breakthroughs -- and if the expectations of customers, as human beings, keep being satisfied. Unfortunately, it is not always the case. In some markets, such as the US and the UK, the pharmacy, restaurant, and video store businesses, for instance, have largely consolidated from mom-and-pop shops to large standardized chains. Economically, consolidation seems to make sense since it initially brought customers a broader choice at lower prices thanks to economies of scale; and sometimes a predictably good customer experience, e.g., McDonald's and Burger King, Barnes & Noble and Borders, and Starbucks. Too often, however, consolidation meant that unmotivated, low-wage workers replaced devoted shop-owners; ignorance replaced knowledge...
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...S w 9B05M035 MAJESTICA HOTEL IN SHANGHAI? Jane Lu prepared this case under the supervision of Professor Paul W. Beamish solely to provide material for class discussion. The authors do not intend to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of a managerial situation. The authors may have disguised certain names and other identifying information to protect confidentiality. Ivey Management Services prohibits any form of reproduction, storage or transmittal without its written permission. This material is not covered under authorization from CanCopy or any reproduction rights organization. To order copies or request permission to reproduce materials, contact Ivey Publishing, Ivey Management Services, c/o Richard Ivey School of Business, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 3K7; phone (519) 661-3208; fax (519) 661-3882; e-mail cases@ivey.uwo.ca. Copyright © 2005, Ivey Management Services Version: (A) 2005-12-02 On March 20, 2005, Richard Roy, executive vice-president of Majestica Hotels Inc., was in China, for negotiations with Commercial Properties of Shanghai Limited (CPS). They were discussing a possible management contract under which Majestica would be the operator of a new luxury hotel there owned by Shanghai Industrial Holdings. Majestica Hotels Inc. was one of the world’s leading operators of luxury hotels. The expansion into mainland China had been on management’s agenda since 1999. The opportunity emerged in late 2003 when a close...
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...Case 1: The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai. What is the main source behind the Portman Ritz-Carlton’s performance? Ritz Carlton brought in Mark, who has been in the Hotel business for years and a successful general manage with Ritz Carlton, to turn the hotel around. Mark, with his leadership skills and his people are what turned the Ritz Shanghai to an award winning establishment. The main source behind the turnaround and continued success of the hotel starts with business and talent requirements of the hotel. This is all centered on the hotels mission. “To provide the finest personal service and facilities to our guests who will always enjoy a warm, relaxed yet refined ambience.” How valuable, rare, and Hard-to-imitate are its human resources? They are people who care and respect others, who smile naturally, who seek a long term relationship and those who have talent for the job. The hotels focuses on these employee attributes are what lay the foundation for the success of the hotel How organizationally embedded are its capabilities? The three goals of the organization are financial results, customer satisfaction and employee satisfaction. The success of the hotel depended upon these three things working in perfect harmony together. Mark placed major focus on the people aspect in order to yield the results he wanted at every angle. Placing emphasis on people led the hotel to focus on hiring individuals that shared the same values. If you were the general manager...
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...MAJESTICA HOTEL IN SHANGHAI? On March 20, 2005, Richard Roy, executive vicepresident of Majestica Hotels Inc., was in China, for negotiations with Commercial Properties of Shanghai Limited (CPS). They were discussing a possible management contract under which Majestica would be the operator of a new luxury hotel there owned by Shanghai Industrial Holdings. Majestica Hotels Inc. was one of the world’s leading operators of luxury hotels. The expansion into mainland China had been on management’s agenda since 1999. The opportunity emerged in late 2003 when a close friend of Majestica’s chief executive officer (CEO) revealed that CPS was looking for an operator for its new luxury hotel under construction in Shanghai. Majestica immediately sent representatives to Shanghai to explore the possibility of becoming the operator. Majestica’s proposal was welcomed by CPS, and a letter of intent was signed on August 20, 2004. However, in discussions regarding the management contract, the two parties had reached a deadlock. The key issues to be resolved were the contract term, and the responsibilities and rights of Majestica as the operator, and CPS as the owner, of the hotel. This Shanghai deal was important for Majestica’s global expansion. It would not only provide Majestica with the opportunity to enter the China market but could also set a precedent for Majestica’s future expansion in other emerging markets. MAJESTICA HOTELS INC. Majestica was founded in 1970 in Western...
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...Professor Manager Lecturer Student Nurse Others___ 5. What is your monthly income? Below S$1,000 S$1,000 – S$1,999 S$2,000 – S$2,999 S$3,000 – S$3,999 S$4,000 – S$4,999 S$5,000 above 6. What is your marital status? Single In a relationship Married Divorced Widow 7. How often do you book a hotel in 1 year? Less than twice 3 – 5 times 6 – 8 times More than 8 times 8. How many times do you travel within 1 year? Once Twice 3 times More than 3 times Never 9. How many times do you visit hotels annually? Once a year Thrice a year Occasionally Not so often Factors affect customers’ decision making: 10. What factor will affect you when you are choosing a hotel? (can pick more than 1) Price Hygiene Brand name Location Surrounding Food Room layout 11. Which factor will you consider first? Price Service 12. You realize the hotel through Network Advertisement Magazines Newspaper Friends Other_____ 13. How do you book a hotel usually? Internet Telephone Travel agency Hotel front-office 14. What is the reason behind your visit or short stay in a hotel? Vacation Business trips Travel...
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...Business environment is the sum total of all factors external/internal to the business firm and that greatly influences their functioning. This interaction helps in strengthening the business firm and using its resources more effectively. 1. Internal Business Environment: Ritz Carlton was in the Hospitality industry and ran 30 Luxury hotels across the world. Their philosophy was to combine commitment and innovation to provide best-in-class service to their customers. 2. External Business Environment: It was obviously a very competitive market and players were always trying to improve their standing in the market. The head of the Carlton group was aware of this environment and although his group was one of the leaders in the market, he knew that a status quo will definitely do irreparable damage to the group. They wanted to build the image among the customers. He has now thrown open a challenge to all the hotels in the group and asked each of them to come up with ideas to make the business more competitive. 2. How did the company manage the team implementation? 1. New teams implemented: An announcement was made to shift the operations of the hotel from the existing structure to team based structure. The implication was that there will be no managers, only teams. The team as a whole would now manage itself, and not be managed/supervised. Many teams were created in charge of different service such as Pre-arrival, Culinary, Banquet, Restaurant, Concierge, etc. 2. Dealing with...
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... Subject: Economics of entrepreneurship Date: 02.05.2011 The Park Turon Introduction The 4 star Park Turon hotel opened in 2009 . The newest modern 11 floor building deluxe Hotel of Tashkent, designed to delight guests with its luxurious accommodations, is seeped in the warm tradition of Indian and Uzbek hospitality combined with International standards. Vision statement Every Room - A Home Mission statement Together we provide a caring, consistent and enjoyable experience, always enticing guests to return. To accomplish this, we attract, develop and appreciate talented people who are part of an inspired and dynamic team. Our success is measured by continuously enhancing our reputation, market position and financial performance to set the Tashkent luxury hotel standard. Accommodation Total Number of Rooms: 120 - Superior Guest Room: 56 - Premium Guest Room: 49 - Privilege Guest Room: 8 - Privilege Grand Guest Room: 7 Hotel Facilities * The Lounge Bar * The Park Café * Business center * Two meeting room * Non-smoking rooms * Indoor swimming pool * Sauna (female/male) * Massage rooms * Fitness Center * Outside Parking Organizational structure Board of directors Responsibilities of some positions: Organizational structure of the Park Turon Hotel is hierarchy. General Manager. A General Manager is responsible for the overall strategic planning and direction of the company...
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...1. Executive Summary We have developed a team of 6 members from our course MGT 489 and came up with this Strategic Plan or Business Plan for a Hotel. We have successfully completed this plan with all our known knowledge. Fro the purpose of developing our Strategic / Business Plan, first of all we have given our hotel a name, i.e. “Grand Royal”. In our Strategic / Business Plan we have discussed several factors that are required in developing a good and implementable plan. This plan required a broad-based understanding of changes taking place in the marketplace in which the company competes, or plans to compete, and the ever-changing financial markets. In-depth technical skills in a variety of disciplines such as financial analysis, sales and marketing, latest technology, and managing growth are critical components in assessing a company's opportunities and risks. Now, let us understand the purpose of a Strategic / Business Plan. Business / Strategic Plan Purpose: Introduction: In today's highly competitive environment, formal business planning is an essential element in achieving business success. A well-written business plan is primarily a communication tool used to obtain financing. In certain instances, particularly with our early stage company, this business plan also serves as a strategic plan. Considering that lenders are inundated by numerous investment opportunities from which they choose only a few, this business plan describes our story and how we intend...
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...oWHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY OVER TIME? 10 GLOBAL HOSPITALITY TRENDS IN HOTELS & RESORTS Time to time hospitality industry experiences important changes that impact globally the hotelier industry practices. Currently global economics factors and increase international travel and tourism volumes, driven by the growing BRIC economies. As well mega events in Europe and South America from 2012 through 2016 have impact the global hospitality sector. As result owners and managers are implementing news worldwide practices to enhance value and competitiveness such as sustainability and brand refreshment (Ernst & Young, 2012). This report will present and reveal top ten trends and issues considered to be primary areas of focus in the global hospitality industry at present time. Firstly this essay will start presenting the new emerging trends in hotels and resorts services and practices. Secondly will reveal a key issue for owners’ and hotel chains .Lastly one main trend that has brought opportunities to increase hotel demand in the global market. In order to be more efficient and more competitive hotels services and practices have suffered changes. Firstly there is less service provided by the staff and more service provided by the guest. It starts from making one's own reservation, self checking in to help self-service breakfasts. The second trend is forever changing employees which cause a shortage of 10-15 million skilled workers in this industry. Consequently...
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...Introducción La Casa de Calidad es un proceso sistemático que permite definir la relación entre las necesidades y expectativas del cliente acerca de un producto o servicio con los requerimientos del diseño de éste. El Despliegue de la Función de Calidad (QFD) permite entender la prioridad de las necesidades de los clientes y encontrar respuestas innovadoras a esos deseos. La matriz resultante pretende transmitir los atributos de calidad que demanda el cliente a través de procesos organizacionales. Es una herramienta complementaria a los estudios de mercado y otros análisis de datos que permite fijar nuevas metas en materia de calidad. El estudio de estos atributos y los de otras empresas del sector permitirán a la empresa realizar un benchmarking para equiparar los niveles de calidad a sus competidores y/o superarlos. Los elementos que componen la Casa de Calidad son: • Requerimientos del cliente (Qué) conformada por una lista de las necesidades y expectativas obtenidos de las declaraciones del cliente. • Características del diseño (Cómo); aquellos atributos relevantes y observables de un producto/servicio. • Matriz de planeamiento; a partir de estudios de mercado u otros tipos de análisis análogos ilustra las opiniones del cliente acerca del producto/servicio. Contempla la importancia relativa de los requerimientos tanto del cliente como de la empresa, así como las calificaciones de los principales competidores. • Matriz de correlación; plasma las opiniones de los analistas...
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... (4) (Problem Descriptions), (2) to address the problems and needs by defining the solution steps/processes, and search relevant information technologies for the solution process automation on the specific problems and needs (Solution Process, Technology Applications and Automation). The purpose of this paper will include an assessment of the role Information and Communications Technology (ICT) plays in addressing problems/needs in the operation of today’s hotels. In a highly dynamic market whose survival depends on responding rapidly to the changes in related factors; ICT systems must be custom designed to match the objectives of the organization. A hotel is an establishment providing paid lodging which could be on a long or short term basis. There are many types of hotels usually depending on locations, size, and offerings. According to the 2012 NAICS Codes hotels are classed under the 721110 group comprising an industry of establishments primarily engaged in providing short term lodging facilities. Hotels greatly...
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