Element 1: Seek information
on the hospitality industry 48
© ASEAN 2012 Trainee Manual Maintain hospitality industry knowledge
Industry types Some regions have developed a reputation fora certain retail product or group of products and this can be the very reason many visitors come to the region. Examples include Gold and jewellery Precious stones Electronic goods Clothing Toys. You need to identify the industry types your region/area is famous for. Shopping precincts Many cities and towns feature shops selling the same type of product grouped together and side-by-side
in shopping centres, malls, shopping strips or precincts. You need to know where these are for each product type. These precincts are sought after by visitors as they enable them to view a large range of options in, more or less, the same place and negotiate/bargain for the best prices. Your knowledge about the places/precincts must also include any local knowledge about precincts/places/individual shops to avoid due to poor quality products/merchandise and illegal and/or unethical practices. Special guided tours maybe
available to these precincts – the tour leader/guide usually receives some form of commission/benefit for taking visitors to certain shops in these precincts.
Individual businesses Some cities/destinations feature individual businesses of importance to the buying public. These businesses maybe special
because of their immense size, their excellent quality,
their low prices, their expertise with a certain product some maybe important because they area warehouse or a wholesale supplier (selling retail to the public. There can often be a commercial arrangement between venues and individual retail businesses
– for example Guests staying at an accommodation venue may receive a card entitling them to a special discount or a free gift The venue receives a commission on sales made to people who referred by the venue. As with shopping precincts (above, individual businesses sometimes arrange for tours to their premises to facilitate purchases by visitors.
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