You have been appointed as a Sustainability Officer by a multifaceted international hospitality company based in the UK (use a specific organisation of your choice or your own workplace if appropriate)

The importance of sustainability in the hospitality industry cannot be overstated. As our world grapples with climate change and resource depletion, the industry’s ecological footprint has come under scrutiny. The rapid expansion of hotels and resorts, coupled with the resource-intensive nature of the industry, has led to

environmental degradation, such as water wastage, energy consumption and waste generation. Sustainable hospitality practices offer a way to mitigate these impacts, providing a responsible and ethical approach to tourism.

The overall aim of this unit is to introduce students to the essential principles of sustainability in hospitality, which organisations are increasingly making a priority as part of their environmental strategy. Students will consider the impact of sustainable business on communities, and the steps necessary to develop sustainability strategies within organisations. They will also have the opportunity to investigate in more detail the role of sustainability practitioners, who are responsible for leading projects, and to work closely with a variety of stakeholders and partners.

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to understand economic theories on sustainable development in organisations and make use of different tools available to identify sustainable themes/partners for developing relevant strategies.

Students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills required to progress into roles in the sector and/or higher levels of study.

 

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit a student will be able to:

LO1 Explain the impact of sustainability principles for hospitality organisations

LO2 Discuss the characteristics of sustainability and corporate social responsibility

LO3 Identify operational risks and benefits of sustainability in the hospitality industry

LO4 Present a business case for adopting sustainable hospitality practices to meet business objectives

Assignment Title:  The influence of sustainability on the Hospitality industry.

Task A Submission Format – Individual Report – LO1

This submission will be in the form of an individual report submitted using a Word-processed document. PDF and other types of files are not accepted. The recommended length of this submission is 2500-3500 words, although you will not be penalised for exceeding 3500 words. Where appropriate, learning theory and additional research must be used and referenced according to the Harvard Referencing system. The work must include a bibliography for all referenced work using the Harvard referencing system.

Unit Learning Outcomes

LO1: Explain the impact of sustainability principles for hospitality organisations. LO2: Discuss the characteristics of sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

Scenario & Activity

You have been appointed as a Sustainability Officer by a multifaceted international hospitality company based in the UK (use a specific organisation of your choice or your own workplace if appropriate) seeking to align and further progress its practices with sustainability principles and corporate social responsibility (CSR). The organisation recognises the growing importance of environmental and social responsibilities within the hospitality sector and aims to incorporate these elements into its core operations and brand identity. The role of a Sustainability Officer involves developing and implementing strategies to minimize the organisation’s environmental impact, reduce waste and promote sustainable practices. Sustainability officers work closely with various departments within the organisation, identifying opportunities to improve energy efficiency, conserve resources and decrease the overall carbon footprint. You have been asked to produce a report that can be shared with department managers to educate the workforce and support future sustainable projects. You must therefore prepare a report that explores and evaluates the fundamental principles of sustainability and their impact within the hospitality industry. Begin by defining the concept of sustainability and examining its core components. Identify major frameworks that support sustainable development, exploring how they shape practices within the industry. Explain how global goals like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals can serve as a guide for businesses pursuing responsible practices. You will need to consider how international agreements and goals influence hospitality approaches to sustainability, focusing on the broader effects on business practices and decision-making. You should also examine how sustainability principles may affect operational and strategic choices, discussing areas such as resource use, waste management and community impact. Use relevant examples to illustrate the benefits of sustainable practices for hospitality businesses and analyse how these efforts can contribute to overall business goals. Finally, you should compare the ways in which different hospitality organisations approach sustainability and CSR, noting how responsibilities might vary across departments and functions.

 

 

Task B: Submission Format Group Academic Poster

This submission will be in the form of a Group Academic Poster to be used for a Business case pitch. You will have to create several posters to conduct the different parts of the presentation as well as detailed speaker notes explaining their content within a recommended length of 500 words, although you will not be penalised for exceeding the word count. The posters with speaker notes will have to be submitted electronically on Moodle together with the report. After the presentation you are required to complete a 500 words personal reflection based on your contribution and performance during the presentation (100 words) and especially a summary of the content of the slides presented (400 words). This reflection must be included at the end of the report before submitting it on Turnitin. Failure to do so will trigger an automatic referral. You are required to participate in a 15-minute Group presentation of the posters developed, which should be professional in style and academic format, and should emphasise key points concisely, using images/graphics, bullet points and/or headings, and text boxes to add emphasis. Where appropriate, learning theory and additional research must be used, and referenced according to the Harvard Referencing system. The speaker notes must include a bibliography for all referenced work using the Harvard referencing system.

 

Unit Learning Outcomes

LO3: Identify operational risks and benefits of sustainability in the hospitality industry. LO4 Present a business case for adopting sustainable hospitality practices to meet business objectives.

 

Scenario and Activity:

In your role as Sustainability Officer, you are tasked with evaluating the operational risks and benefits of adopting sustainable practices within the organisation. You will use this analysis to develop a persuasive business case for senior management that aligns these practices with the company’s long-term objectives and investment priorities. First set of posters – a proposal to Senior Management Create a proposal to senior management summarising key findings on the operational risks and benefits of implementing sustainability practices in the hospitality industry. The proposal will highlight potential challenges to ensuring operational readiness, such as financial investment, engagement or necessary expertise, and evaluate how these may affect decisions to move forward with sustainable practices. Reference the role of analytical tools such as SWOT or PESTLE in assessing internal and external factors that could shape the organisation’s capacity to support corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. You should then introduce your business case, which will outline a strategic plan for sustainable practices that aligns with the company’s objectives. Second set of posters – Business case pitch Pitch a formal business case recommending the adoption of sustainable practices that support the organisation’s business goals. Begin with a summary that outlines the purpose and anticipated benefits of implementing sustainable practices. Identify specific areas for sustainable development within the business and discuss how each area could enhance operational efficiency, reputation or financial outcomes. Include research and data to provide an evidence-based rationale for these initiatives. Outline options for integrating sustainable hospitality practices, setting clear objectives that align with the company’s goals. Use relevant market data to strengthen your argument for investment in these practices and discuss the potential returns, both financially and in terms of social and environmental impact. Your conclusion should offer practical recommendations that balance operational risks and benefits, ensuring alignment with the organisation’s business objectives.

 

 

 

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria
Pass	Merit	Distinction
LO1 Explain the impact of sustainability principles for hospitality organisations		LO1 and LO2 D1 Evaluate the impact of sustainability principles and characteristics of sustainability and corporate social responsibility on organisations, using examples.
P1 Explain features of sustainability principles and their impact on organisations.	M1 Compare how hospitality businesses engage with sustainability principles, using a variety of examples.
LO2 Discuss the characteristics of sustainability and corporate social responsibility
P2 Discuss the characteristics of sustainability and corporate social responsibility in practice. P3 Explain the role of the United Nations on sustainability and sustainable development in business.	M2 Analyse how hospitality businesses can engage with sustainability and corporate social responsibility, including cross-functional requirements in organisations.
LO3 Identify operational risks and benefits of sustainability in the hospitality industry		LO3 and LO4 D2 Make suitable recommendations that consider operational risks and benefits for adopting sustainable hospitality practices to meet the business objectives in an organisation.
P4 Discuss operational risks and benefits of an organisation’s readiness to adopt sustainability and corporate social responsibility.	M3 Evaluate the impact of operational risks and benefits to sustainability and corporate responsibility, including strategies to overcome related challenges.
LO4 Present a business case for adopting sustainable hospitality practices to meet business objectives
P5 Present a business case outline with options for sustainable hospitality practices relevant to an organisation. P6 Present a business case summary that considers the value of sustainable hospitality practices in an organisation.	M4 Prepare a business case to achieve sustainable hospitality practices to meet the business objectives in an organisation.

 

 

	GRADING DETAILS

 

 

 

 

Achievement of a Pass grade

A student must have satisfied all the Pass criteria for the learning outcomes, showing coverage of the unit content and therefore attainment at Level 4 or 5 of the national framework.

 

Achievement of a Merit grade

A student must have satisfied all the Merit criteria (as well as the Pass criteria) through high performance in each learning outcome.

 

Achievement of a Distinction grade

A student must have satisfied all the Distinction criteria (as well as the Pass and Merit criteria), and these define outstanding performance across the unit as a whole.

ALL GRADES ARE PROVISIONAL UNTIL INTERNALLY VERIFIED AND UNTIL EXTERNALLY CERTIFIED BY EDEXCEL.

THIS MEANS THAT A GRADE CAN BE CHANGED AT ANY POINT UNTIL EDEXCEL CERTIFIES IT

 

As per Pearson policy, you are only allowed two submissions per module. One for final submission and another one for referral. Failure to achieve a grade pass after a second submission will result in you having to repeat the module in the next term.

 

Any re-submission or late submission (unless authorised due to mitigating circumstances) will be capped at a PASS grade only.

 

 

 

 

 

	Specification of Assessment

 

●        Present your work in one business report style which should include a cover page, table of contents, introduction, conclusion, reference list, foot or end notes and appendices if any

●        Include the reference code of this assignment on your assignment submission front page.

●        Sign the Learner’s Statement of authenticity in the cover page. Failure to do so will result in the submission being declined.

●        Ensure the following information is in the footer on every page:

o    Your name

o    The production date of your submission

o    The code number of your assignment brief

o    The page number (Each page must be numbered at the bottom right-hand side)

●        Spell-check the document and make sure there are no grammatical errors as it may result in the submission being declined.

●        Complete all the tasks in a Holistic manner as set in the brief and without separating the assessment criteria to avoid a potential referral.

●        Create your own titles and sub-headings to structure the work without copying the assessment criteria verbatim.

●        Produce clear, specific reasoning and arguments in support of your answers.

●        Submit your work in a single Word-processed document of not more than 5000 words for all learning Outcomes. This word limit is only for guidelines and is not applied to grading. PDF and other types of files are not accepted.

●        You must include a bibliography at the end to show where your information was sourced. Failure to do so may result in the submission being declined

●        Your sources must be identified using the Harvard referencing system. The words used in your bibliography will not be included in your word count.

●        You must use Arial, size 12, 1.5-line spacing and black to format the text.

To access any feedback (formative/summative) you will have to access Moodle and open your assignment. You will have to click on the blue comment box in the right hand side and the feedback will appear within the text. You might have to click on the blue bubbles to see the feedback.

 

	Extension and Late Submission

 If an extension is necessary for a valid reason, requests must be made in writing using a course work extension request form to the head of department. Please note that the lecturers do not have the authority to extend the coursework deadlines and therefore do not ask them to award a coursework extension.

The completed form must be accompanied by evidence such as a medical certificate in the event of you being sick.

	Plagiarism and Collusion

 Any act of plagiarism and collusion will be seriously dealt with according to the regulations and MRC Malpractice policy

‘Plagiarism occurs when a student misrepresents any work submitted as his/her own work, the work of any other person or of any institution. Examples of forms of plagiarism include:

●       the verbatim (word for word) copying of another’s work without appropriate and correctly presented acknowledgement.

●       the close paraphrasing of another’s work by simply changing a few words or altering the order of presentation, without appropriate and correctly presented acknowledgement.

●       unacknowledged quotation of phrases from another’s work;

●       The deliberate and detailed presentation of another’s concept as one’s own.’

 

All types of work submitted by students are covered by this definition, including, written work, diagrams, designs, engineering drawings and pictures.

 

‘Collusion occurs when, unless with official approval (e.g., in the case of group projects), two or more students consciously collaborate in the preparation and production of work which is ultimately submitted by each in an identical, or substantially similar, form and/or is represented by each to be the product of his or her individual efforts.

 

All submissions for assessment must be submitted on Moodle to generate a Turnitin Report on similarity to detect potential plagiarism and collusion.

The maximum Turnitin score admissible is 15% but a submission can be classified as plagiarism and/or collusion with a lower score depending on the size of the submission and size of the text highlighted.

 

Assignments with plagiarism/ad or collusion will be automatically referred for reworking and resubmission. Please check the MRC Assessment policy as well as MRC Malpractice policy for details of the potential penalties as a procedure.

 

Including pictures of text (apart from the cover page or table of content) or pictures of any other type of information (diagram for example) without a citation and a Harvard Reference could be deemed to be an attempt of malpractice and could trigger an automatic referral as well as a malpractice procedure.

Any student might be called to seat through a viva with the lecturer to confirm any parts of the submission through an interview which will then form part of the summative assessment.

 

	Using Artificial Intelligence

 

 

AI tools have proliferated and become more common and as a result, their usage for research has increased which prompted change of government policies in this matter.

Overall, it remains too easy for students to misunderstand how they can use Generative Artificial Intelligence tools and unintentionally breach academic integrity guidelines.

 

Research of information and the writing of academic work must always be performed by the student, and while it is acceptable to use an AI tool to start a research process, it is not allowed to use it to write a submission in your place.

The important part is to understand that the best way to produce a work is to research it through traditional methods (books articles, websites, journals).

Yet, AI tools could be used to help with the research but only as a starting point. Having found information, thanks to an AI tool, about a topic you are writing about, you should then research it using these traditional methods and include the references and citations based on these resources in your work.

Once you have the correct information, you need to write the assignment yourself, using an AI tool to do this for you is never allowed. The usage of paraphrasing tools might be appropriate to find alternative to some words and short sentences, but not or a whole paragraph/page/ work.

 

The same way Mont Rose College is using a similarity detection system, an AI detection tool is embedded in our systems and every submission you make will go through both of them.

Submissions for assessment that consist of large substantially unmodified output from Artificial Intelligence software may be considered as a very poor academic practice as it does not represent the student’s own work.

To this effect, the limit on AI detection has been set at 40%. If a submission is over that allowance, the grade will be suspended and the student called to sit through a viva with the lecturer and academic team to discuss the AI score as well as any parts of the submission through an interview which will then form part of the summative assessment.

 

In cases where an individual persistently exhibits poor academic practice through inappropriate use of Artificial Intelligence tools, such as a lack of evidencing their use of the tools, they may be referred to the academic misconduct procedures and the range of the potential penalties.

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