Product details

The case is set today in Northern Ireland. The O''Forte Hotel Group is a privately-owned catering firm consisting of an ''ad hoc'' selection of hotels and commercial restaurants located in and around the Belfast area. There appears to have been no clear business philosophy in its 25 year expansion from a two restaurant business to its present state. Five years ago the O''Forte group consisted of four popular catering restaurants and three medium size, lower middle market hotel units located in the Greater Belfast area and beyond. The case study focus is on the operational and financial performance of the company over the past two financial years (April - March) and gives details of the present organisational health (or lack of it) of the company. The company is clearly in a very sorry state and will not survive in its current format BUT does have considerable potential for a turnaround. The O''Forte case is designed to provide a considerable variety of challenges to stretch students across a range of abilities from 2nd year undergraduate to taught postgraduate. It is the analysis of the current state through a SWOT analysis, and the production of survival plans, supported by structured seminar input, that the case has its application. The case study is designed for developing operational management, accountancy, analytical, presentational, group working and other transferable skills in hospitality and tourism management. The case was written from personal experience of the hospitality industry, Northern Ireland in particular. It was set in this context to help local students to more easily understand aspects of hospitality within a familiar context. This case can be the focus of a structured sequence of teaching and learning activities within operational management based modules.