Identify the various segments of the hospitality industry, along with institutional learning objectives related to information literacy.
For this assignment, you will be preparing an annotated bibliography that lists four different academic sources from the Trefry online library. The purpose of an annotated bibliography is to help you start researching for your final project early on, to help you get comfortable in the Trefry Library, and to help you learn how to evaluate sources for your academic projects.
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Examples: Fine dining restaurants, quick-service restaurants, bars, catering services, institutional food service (schools, hospitals), and hotel dining.
Travel and Tourism: This segment facilitates the movement of people and includes businesses focused on reaching a destination. It is the connective tissue for the rest of the industry.
Examples: Airlines, cruise lines, railways, car rental agencies, travel agencies, and tour operators.
Recreation and Entertainment: This segment provides activities and attractions for leisure and enjoyment.
Examples: Theme parks, casinos, theaters, sports venues, museums, festivals, spas, and wellness centers.
Institutional Learning Objectives for Information Literacy (IL)
Information Literacy is the ability to recognize when information is needed and to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information. For a student in a hospitality management program, these institutional learning objectives are highly practical and focus on data-driven decision-making in a fast-paced industry:
Determine Information Needs: Students must be able to analyze a business problem (e.g., "Why are weekend bookings down?") and translate it into a specific, searchable information requirement, understanding the difference between needing primary data (e.g., guest survey results) and secondary data (e.g., industry market reports).
Access and Locate Information Strategically: Students must demonstrate the ability to effectively use library databases (like those at the Trefry Library), specialized hospitality journals, and industry-specific tools to retrieve relevant, credible information, employing effective search strategies (e.g., using boolean operators like AND/OR, or searching for industry profiles).
Evaluate Sources Critically: Students must be able to assess the credibility, accuracy, and currency of information sources, particularly given the volume of consumer reviews, trade publications, and proprietary data in hospitality. This includes identifying potential bias in industry-sponsored reports versus peer-reviewed academic studies.
Use Information Effectively and Ethically: Students must apply researched information to solve hospitality problems, cite sources correctly (e.g., using APA format) to uphold academic integrity, and understand the ethical and legal implications of using proprietary market data or guest information.
Sample Answer
Hospitality Industry Segments and Information Literacy Objectives
The hospitality industry is a diverse, broad field within the service sector. It is traditionally divided into four core segments, though modern analyses often include specialized sub-sectors.
Hospitality Industry Segments 🏨
The four main segments of the hospitality industry are:
Lodging/Accommodation: This segment provides safe, comfortable, and temporary sleeping facilities for travelers and residents. It ranges from large, full-service operations to smaller, more personalized experiences.
Examples: Hotels, resorts, motels, bed & breakfasts (B&Bs), hostels, and vacation rentals (e.g., Airbnb).
Food and Beverage (F&B) / Foodservice: This segment provides meals, snacks, and beverages. It is often the largest segment globally.