TTLV: Competitiveness of 4-star hotels belonging to Saigon Tourism Corporation in Ho Chi Minh City.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASTER'S THESIS

1. Student's full name:Doan Thi Mai2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: April 25, 1984

4. Place of birth:Le Loi - Kien Xuong - Thai Binh

5. Decision number for student admission:2123/2011/QD – XHNV – SDHDate: November 1, 2011, by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in the training process: None

7. Thesis title:The competitiveness of 4-star hotels belonging to Saigon Tourism Corporation in Ho Chi Minh City.

8. Major: Tourism Code: (Pilot Training Program)

9. Scientific supervisor:Dr. Nguyen Quang Vinh,Lecturer at the Faculty of Tourism Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi National University, Hanoi.

10. Summary of the thesis results

This thesis systematizes the basic theoretical issues of competition and competitiveness drawn from studies by domestic and foreign authors. Chapter 1 analyzes the factors affecting the competitiveness of businesses and, from there, analyzes the factors affecting the competitiveness of accommodation service businesses. This chapter also analyzes tools for evaluating the competitiveness of hotel businesses, such as the Internal Factors Evaluation Matrix (IFE) and the External Factors Evaluation Matrix (EFE).

Enhancing the competitiveness of hotels is essential to maintaining their position in the market. Therefore, determining a hotel's competitiveness by comparing it with comparable hotels is a crucial step for each hotel to develop business policies, build its image, and develop its brand. Through surveys, the author has collected quantitative results on the competitiveness of the hotels studied. This shows that differences in business strategies among hotels within the same system will yield different results in improving their competitiveness. The Continental Hotel scored the highest, while the Palace Hotel scored the lowest among the three hotels. These results will provide a basis for proposing solutions to improve the competitiveness of the hotels in the following chapter.

The proposed solutions, both general and specific, for the three hotels Kim Do, Continental, and Palace contribute to improving the business efficiency of all three hotels based on practical surveys, experiences, and assessments of revenue, customer base, and profitability. The author of this thesis has systematically presented typical solutions, suitable to the needs and realities of the three hotels, comprising two groups of solutions: general and specific solutions for each hotel. The general solutions include 10 solutions related to the market, environmental activities, infrastructure, product diversification, pricing policies, efficient use of distribution channels, enhanced advertising, improved workforce quality, upgraded service quality, and cost reduction. The specific solutions for each hotel (Kim Do, Continental, and Palace) are also included. This series of solutions is truly effective in developing the business operations of the three hotels when implemented synchronously and in close coordination. Implementing these solutions still faces many obstacles, especially in the current period when common products are easily imitated and highly competitive. However, the author still hopes that through these solutions, hotels will have greater competitiveness in the region and attract more tourists to stay.

11. Practical applications

This thesis provides an overview of the potential and current state of competitiveness of 4-star hotels under the Saigon Tourism Corporation. From this, the strengths and weaknesses of these hotels are identified. Solutions to enhance the competitiveness of these hotels are also based on the results of this practical research.

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name:Doan Thi Mai2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: April 25, 1984. 4. Place of birth: Le Loi, Kien Xuong, Thai Binh

5. Admission decision number:2123/QD-XHNV-KH&SDHdated November 01, 2011 by the Principal of University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University – Hanoi.

6. Changes in academic process: None

7. Official thesis title:Conpetitiveness of 4 star hotels belongs to Corporation Saigon Tourist in Ho Chi Minh City.

8. Major: Tourism; Code: (experiment training program)

9. Supervisors:Dr. Nguyen Quang Vinh, Lecturer of Faculty of Tourism Studies of University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University – Hanoi

10.Summary of the findings of the thesis:

Thesis has codified the basic theoretical issues as regards thecompetition, competitiveness is derived from the studies of domestic and foreign authors. In chapter 1, the thesis has analyzed the factors affecting the competitiveness of business enterprises, and from which factors affecting the competitiveness of business enterprises carrying on business about the accommodation services are also derived. In particular, chapter 1 also analyzes the tools to evaluate the competitiveness of the hotel which is considered as the tools: Matrix evaluating internal factors (IFE), matrix evaluating exterior elements (EFE).

Enhancing the competitiveness of the hotel is an indispensable requirement of the development, in order to maintain the hotel's position in the market. Therefore, determining the competitiveness of the hotel on the basis of comparison with the equivalent one is an important step in order that each hotel can offer business policies, establish its image, and develop its trade mark. Through the survey, the authors collected the initial quantitative results on the competitiveness of researched hotels. Thereby, we can realize that the differences from business strategies of the hotels in the same system will bring different effects to enhance the competitiveness of the hotel. Continental hotel has the highest score, and Palace hotel has the lowest score among 3 hotels. This result will provide the basis of giving the solutions to improve the competitiveness of the hotels in the next chapter.

The proposal of the individual and general solutions for 3 hotels: Kim Do, Continental, Palace made increase the operational efficiency of the 3 hotels based on the basis of actual surveys, the experiences ,and the assessment of revenue, profit and customer resources. Authors of this essays systematized and provided typical solutions in accordance with the needs and the situation of 3 relevant hotels including 2 general and individual solution groups for each hotel: General solution includes 10 solutions regarding the market, the activities related to the environment, infrastructure, variety of products, price policies, effective use of distribution channels, promoting advertisement, improving the workforce quality and service quality, reducing costs. And the particular solution for Kim Do Hotel, Continental Hotel, Palace hotel. These solutions are really effective in the development of business activities of these 3 hotels when conducted synchronously and coordinated closely. The process of implementing these solutions are also many problems, especially in the current period, the general product is easily imitated and easy and highly competed. However, the writer always hopes that the hotels will have great competitiveness in the region and will attract more tourists through solutions mentioned above.

11. Practical applicability, if any: The thesis investigates potential and situation competitiveness of 4star hotels belongs to Corporation Saigon Tourist in Ho Chi Minh city. Ever after, the thesis gives strengths and weaknesses of this hotels. These solutions are also based on this research results. I hope that solutions will contribute to enhance competitiveness of three hotels.