GROUP Assignment - CASE STUDY Secret Escape Hotels, Ltd Pre Pre-Departure Training Programme

INSTRUCTIONS: Read the information provided and answer all questions in this section. Answers to the questions in this section will require the display knowledge of theory, application of the theory and use of examples from the case to justify recommendation approaches. Be reminded to use citations and references.

Secret Escape Hotels, Ltd, owns more than 16 hotels throughout the English-speaking Caribbean. They recently acquired a small hotel chain headquartered in Cuba. Secret Escapes chief executive decided that half of the new hotels in Cuba would be retained and rebranded as part of the Secret Escape Hotels Group; the other half will be sold. This will support Secret Escapes strategic objective of growing the organization slowly to make sure that new ventures are well supported and opened on time and on budget.

The organization has decided to use a geocentric approach and intends to send some of their existing Caribbean-based managers to Cuba to lead the changeover of the new hotels and then manage them after they re-open.

Each manager listed below will be expected to reside in Cuba for between 24 to 36 Months. All managers and their families will be provided spacious and private accommodation on each of the properties where they work.

TABLE: Overview of Work History and Characteristics

Employee Name	Age	Previous Work History	Current Job Location	Number of years with Secret Escape	Current Position/years in position	Concerns/ Additional Information
Mary	41	6 years in a tourism information centre	Jamaica	14	Manager 1 year	Is concerned about her communication skills and lack of IT skills
Cora	55	None	St. Lucia	22	Manager 5 years	Joined the organization as a hotel cleaner and worked through the ranks to management. Regularly visits South America for extended vacations but has never travelled to Cuba. Is concerned that she is used to having a close support network in St Lucia and that this might not be possible due to the various locations of the Cuban hotels. Intermediate skills in Spanish.
Joseph	28	None	Jamaica	10	Manager 5 years	Is concerned about not knowing very much about Cuban culture and the way hotels are managed in Cuba.
Judeen	21	Holiday jobs	Dominican Republic	2	Management Trainee 18 months	Completed a one-year placement in a Cuban hotel as part of university degree. Fluent in Spanish and is keen to be selected for the job of trainer in Cuba. Is concerned about how her staff will react to having a young Jamaican manager as trainer.
Victor	38	Six years previous experience working in a restaurant. 10 years of experience with a large Hotel in Guadeloupe	Jamaica	.5	Manager	Is concerned that he has not had much management experience in this organization Is very interested in learning about new cultures. Is fluent in French. Is concerned that his family may find it difficult to settle in Cuba.
Kamal	49	Previously worked for a small, family-run hotel.	Dominican Republic	9	Manager	Has visited Cuba four times on family holidays. Is concerned that he has little HR knowledge and is worried about the implications when getting the new hotel ready.

Question 1

Review the information on the six managers slated to go Cuba. Using this information discuss the role of expatriate training that would apply here. In your discussion, outline what kind of training will be required, who will need it and why.