The Role of Disease Outbreak on The Operations of the Hospitality Industry in Ilorin Metropolis, Nigeria
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Date
2024
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Anchor University Journal of Humanities, Management and Social Sciences
Abstract
Disease outbreak refer to occurrence where there is a sudden increase in the number of cases of a particular
disease within a specific area, population or community over a period of time. Disease outbreaks have the
capacity and tendency to paralyze business activities due to restriction in movement and safety consciousness
on the part of the affected population. It is expedient to understand the effect of disease outbreak on the service
sector like hospitality industry. This study adopted a descriptive research design and used quantitative data
collection methods through which 64 respondents who are staff and management of Noktel Resort Hotel, were
purposively sampled. Finding revealed that the hotel experienced great patronage across all service points
before the Covid-19 pandemic. However, when Covid-19 struck, the hotel employed the strategy of offering
free delivery of food and beverages to customers, and free pick up of guests that booked online within Ilorin
Metropolis to improve their sales as patronage was affected. The hotel also engaged social distancing for staff
and guest, offered customized free nose mask andlocated wash hand basin in strategic places to reduce the
spread of the disease. The Hotel used the opportunity of the downtime in sales to restructure and repair some if
its facilities, train employees and install safety equipment within the establishment. The study concluded that
the effects of the pandemic on the hospitality industry can be worked on for a better thriving of the hospitality
industry, especially through collaboration among hospitality business owners. Part of the recommendations of
this study is that the hospitality industry should develop detailed crisis management plans that outline specific
strategies and protocols for responding to disease outbreaks and other disruptive events, and also explore other
aspects of the industry like organizing value added service capable of ensuring diversification.
Description
Disease outbreak refer to occurrence where there is a sudden increase in the number of cases of a particular
disease within a specific area, population or community over a period of time. Disease outbreaks have the
capacity and tendency to paralyze business activities due to restriction in movement and safety consciousness
on the part of the affected population. It is expedient to understand the effect of disease outbreak on the service
sector like hospitality industry. This study adopted a descriptive research design and used quantitative data
collection methods through which 64 respondents who are staff and management of Noktel Resort Hotel, were
purposively sampled. Finding revealed that the hotel experienced great patronage across all service points
before the Covid-19 pandemic. However, when Covid-19 struck, the hotel employed the strategy of offering
free delivery of food and beverages to customers, and free pick up of guests that booked online within Ilorin
Metropolis to improve their sales as patronage was affected. The hotel also engaged social distancing for staff
and guest, offered customized free nose mask andlocated wash hand basin in strategic places to reduce the
spread of the disease. The Hotel used the opportunity of the downtime in sales to restructure and repair some if
its facilities, train employees and install safety equipment within the establishment. The study concluded that
the effects of the pandemic on the hospitality industry can be worked on for a better thriving of the hospitality
industry, especially through collaboration among hospitality business owners. Part of the recommendations of
this study is that the hospitality industry should develop detailed crisis management plans that outline specific
strategies and protocols for responding to disease outbreaks and other disruptive events, and also explore other
aspects of the industry like organizing value added service capable of ensuring diversification.
Keywords
Citation
Folorunso, O. S., Alabi, A. A. and Tiamiyu, O. A.