Travelodge And Budget Hotels In The Uk Tourism Essay Essay Example

Travelodge And Budget Hotels In The Uk Tourism Essay Essay Travelodge is the first budget hotel launched in 1985 in UK. It operates 380 hotels with 26,500 room in the UK. Travelodge is be aftering to turn 1000 more hotels by 2020. It employs above 5500 people and 87 % of the engagement are made online. The UK hotel market is estimated around 700,000 suites ( beginning: Melvyn Gold, Qualification of serviced adjustment supply in UK , December 2007 ) UK hotel market is segmented chiefly into four classs, Brander full service which has 14 % of the market portion, branded budget 12 % branded mid market 62 % and unbranded mugwumps 62 % .the current economic environment has seen addition in bead out of unbranded mugwumps and people prefer to book with branded budget due to web coverage, trade name strength strong balance sheet and distribution. We will write a custom essay sample on Travelodge And Budget Hotels In The Uk Tourism Essay specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Travelodge And Budget Hotels In The Uk Tourism Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Travelodge And Budget Hotels In The Uk Tourism Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Grant Hearn, Travelodge CEO, commented: 2008 was another record twelvemonth of growing for the Travelodge trade name with over 19 % gross growing . Room sold increased by 9 per centum to 6 million The growing of Travelodge has been unbelievable but company faced a few challenges and one of the major challenge company is confronting is overbooking. Overbooking is one of the of import gross direction tool in hotels operation direction to run efficaciously and heighten profitableness. Gross Management is seen as an of import technique in the hotels operation and hence to maximise their grosss, hotels are progressively implementing Revenue Management patterns ( Hwang and Wen, 2009 ) . As a effect of implementing such systems, many companies in the service sector such as hotels consistently overbook capacity in order to maximise the gross at one peculiar point in clip ( Wangenheim and Bayon, 2007 ) . If overbooking is non implemented right it can ensue in loss of room gross, loss of hotel repute, decreased client trueness and lessening hotels profitableness. This study discusses the chief features of overbooking and its impact on the company in theoretical and practical prospective. Theoretical penetrations of overbooking One of the cardinal constructs in Revenue Management is overbooking. The pattern of overbooking can be defined as corroborating more reserves than the hotels available physical capacity to supply the service. ( Ivanov, 2006 ; Ivanov, 2007 ; Chiang et Al 2007 ; McGill, new wave Ryzin,1999 ; Kamath, Bhosale, Manjrekar,2008 ) . Hence, the aim of overbooking is to better the expected net income and alternatively of selling each room one time, net income can be increased by selling it several times ( Birkenheuer, 2009 ) . In fact, overbooking as an built-in portion of Revenue Management has received important attending from literature. From a historical position, overbooking is present in the surveies of Falkson ( 1969 ) , Simon ( 1968 ) , Vickrey ( 1972 ) and many others. The major aim of these surveies was to sketch a control pattern for cancellations. Nowadays, overbooking has become an emerging affair in industries with perishable merchandises. It yields considerable impacts on companies public presentation. In footings of the cordial reception industry, the profitableness of hotels is mostly dependent on their use of capacity. Conversely, demand for suites and extensions of stay are really unstable and are difficult to foretell ( new wave Ryzin, 2005 ) . Hoteliers are challenged by how to find the business of suites for clients who are financially unequal and meanwhile maintain a stable rate of demand given the difficult to foretell fortunes ( Okumus, 2004 ) . This is all possible utilizing overbooking, which enables proper allotment of resources and optimisation of gross revenues. However, maximising the figure of sold suites per dark can non be easy accomplished. One of the most ambitious undertakings of the hotel operation direction is to cover with the unpredictable nature of the clients, because non all booked reserves will turn into existent service ingestion ( Lai et al, 2005 ) . To this terminal overbooking may imply a company from the cordial reception industry non being able to function all its clients decently because of lower figure of ab initio expected people that do non look as agreed. In this regard, overbooking may hold both positive and negative impact. On the one manus, it may ensue in refusal to supply a service, but on the other, it can besides take the signifier of compensation for those booking agents, who can non have the value bundle they have agreed on and paid for ( Kimes and Wagner, 2001 ) . From their practical experience directors know that all non engagements confirmed for a peculiar day of the month will be truly used ( Ivanov, 2006 ) . There are several possible scenarios that can do this. Despite of their reserves, because of different fortunes some invitees cancel their stay and end their reserves, some does non call off their engagement but fail to demo up, or other invitees cut down their stay and as a consequence the room remains unsold and therefore capacity non use is lost everlastingly ( Ivanov, 2006, Talluri et Al, 2004 ; Chiang et Al, 2007 ; Hung, 2004 ; Bitran ; Leon, 1989 ) . Therefore hotels adopt overbooking in order to protect against losingss with no-shows and to countervail the consequence of cancellations and shortened corsets ( Hwang and Wen, 2009 ; Kamath et Al, 2008 ; Selmi, 2008 ; Chiang et Al 2007 ; Hung, 2004 ; Sulistio, Kim, and Buyya, 2008 ) . Impacts of overbooking on hotels operation direction Apart from the chance of the hotel to minimise the consequence of reserve uncertainnesss there are possibilities the figure of cancellations and no shows to be less so the figure of overbookings, so some of the clients will non be accommodated and should be walked to other hotels ( Ivanov, 2006 ) . Therefore, if a hotel decides to use overbooking in its operations it should pull off carefully non merely the chance cost of the unsold room but besides the overbooking costs for alternate hotel adjustment and transit that the hotel has to pay in order to counterbalance a client in instance of overbooking ( Ivanov, 2006 ; Hung, 2004 ) . Besides the apparent fiscal costs happening in instance of walking a invitee holding already booked, costs the lost hotel s good will and repute and the hazards of dissatisfaction, loss of trust, loss of future client trueness are much more expensive for the hotel ( Selmi, 2007 ) . Overbooking policy and control Harmonizing to Selmi ( 2007 ) , the hazard of client refusal appears if the overbooking is no accomplished exactly . In this respect, Kimes ( 1989 ) emphasized on the importance of a clearly stated overbooking policy within the hotel operation direction. The aim of overbooking policy and control is to happen an optimum overbooking degree to maximise the expected gross and to minimise the possible hazard of denied service ( Chiang et al 2007 ) . Netessine and Shumsky ( 2002 ) as cited by Ivanov ( 2006 ; 2007 ) proposed a basic mathematical theoretical account for ciphering the optimum figure of overbookings and harmonizing to his findings the optimum overbooking degree is reciprocally related to the sum of cancellation charges applied the closer the cancellation charge to the room rate, the lower the lost benefit from the unoccupied room and the less stimuli to overbook . In instance of presence of guaranteed and non-guaranteed engagements, Ivanov ( 2007 ) suggests that the optimum figure of overbookings has to be set individually for each type. Alternatively, harmonizing to Hung ( 2004 ) factors that could be considered while puting overbooking bounds include: chances of cancellation and no-show ; room demand distribution over clip and conditions of length of stay ; stay extension chances influenced by the intended length of stay. Furthermore Hung ( 2004 ) assumes that the proportion of cancellations depends on the client class, intended length of stay, twenty-four hours of hebdomad of first stay over, and clip until first stay over. Impact of overbooking on client behaviour Harmonizing to Talluri et Al ( 2004 ) overbooking is often cited in client ailments and remains the primary beginning of dissatisfaction. Furthermore, consequences of an experiment made by Wangenheim and Bayon ( 2007 ) confirm that the pattern of overbooking is likely to be perceived as unjust by service clients. Wangenheim and Bayon ( 2007 ) analyze behavioural effects of the equity towards overbooking by suggesting and corroborating several hypotheses. Harmonizing to their research the negative effects of service failure originating from overbooking are stronger for the high position client than for the low position clients and hence, hotelkeepers have to carefully overbook its high-values categories . Additionally, Wangenheim and Bayon ( 2007 ) stress on the importance that if a hotel ignores the log-run behaviour effects of overbooking, this may take to negative effects on its operations. One such negative effect is proposed to be a client who faces a denied service due to overbooking and still remains hotels client because of either high fixed exchanging barriers or current trueness rank plans. However, in response to the service failure the client may set its investing into the exchange relationship non merely by diminishing the figure of gross revenues, but besides by seeking to take advantage of price reduction offers or buying lower degree services from the hotel ( Wangenheim and Bayon, 2007 ) . On the other manus, Hwang and Wen ( 2009 ) analyze the consequence of the sensed equity toward hotels overbooking and compensation patterns by analyzing clients reactions toward hotel overbooking. Some of their most critical findings from this survey are that adult females are more likely than work forces to experience that overbooking is unjust , clients perceptual experiences to the equity of overbooking is non affected by other client variables including length of stay, rank position, remunerator beginning, reserve channel, and reserve clip ; participants perceived equity toward the hotel s overbooking and compensation policies were strongly correlated with positive viva-voce promotion. One of the most of import consequences of the research shows that the sensed equity of the participants toward the hotel s compensation policy is related to their trueness. Therefore, Hwang and Wen ( 2009 ) propose that hotels should see planing compensations that help positively influence cli ents perceived fairness toward overbooking and that encourage clients on-going backing and trueness. In a decision, issues like finding the optimum figure of extra reserves, minimising compensation cost, and covering with the negative effects from clients confronting a denied service are considered as the most ambitious countries of the pattern of overbooking and every hotel endeavoring to maximise its profitableness should non undervalue them ( Sulistio, Kim, and Buyya, 2008 ) . Practical Deductions of overbooking As the cordial reception industry is germinating, hotel proprietors and hotel directors are invariably seeking to update their attacks in order to accomplish optimum allotment of resources. Novelli, Schmitz and Spencer ( 2006 ) have discovered that hotelkeepers make every attempt to use modern-day engineerings in their concern. By this deduction, hotel directors and proprietors do non merely prolong competitory advantage, but besides create new merchandises and services. In position of this, it can be concluded that execution of new engineerings that create new merchandises is a technological invention ( Evangelista, 1999 ) . On the other manus, the execution of advanced engineerings to a service company can hold a important influence in footings of operational efficiency ( Freeman and Soete, 1997 ) . Additionally, Porter ( 1990 ) supports the latter thesis by foregrounding that the public presentation of a company is extremely dependent on new engineerings. In position of technological inventions today many hotels recognize the importance of overbooking pattern and therefore its execution has become by and large recognized measure toward hotels successful operations. The practical application of Revenue Management and Overbooking incorporates the undermentioned built-in elements ( Vinod, 2004 ) : Figure 1 Revenue Management application Degree centigrades: UsersamadDesktopCapture.JPG Beginning: Vinod, B. ( 2004 ) , Journal of Revenue A ; Pricing Management Market cleavage: Segmenting clients harmonizing to their penchants and disbursement forms is a must to do certain the most appropriate clients with absolutely fitted properties are sold the proper suites that can maximise grosss ( Oliveira, 2003 ) . Specifying rate categories ( stock list pooling ) : Involves making groups of the bing rates that close in footings of value ( Vinod, 2004 ) . Demand prediction: demand prediction is indispensable to find room tenancy. In the context of Revenue Management it is of import as it can command tenancy utilizing the information of length of stay. This can be achieved by possessing informations on rate category demand and continuance of stay ( Vinod, 2004 ) . Supply prediction: earlier and late check-out procedures can besides find room tenancy, which is an component besides involved in Revenue Management. Overbooking control: encompasses gross revenues of suites transcending the maximal available figure of suites to countervail for no shows and cancellations. However, there are some hazards associated with overbooking as it may ensue in grudges from unsated clients who have received an inappropriate room. In such instances hotelkeepers offer compensations and periphery benefits ( Smith, 1982 ) . Harmonizing to Vinod ( 1992 ) Revenue Management can convey 20 % of the entire grosss. Revenue mix control and exclusion processing: involves be aftering of import hereafter day of the months with discretion and fiting them with overbooking degrees ( Vinod, 2004 ) . Performance measuring and direction coverage: closely size uping the Revenue Management processes is indispensable to track down the information quality and future be aftering footing. However, in order to take a hotel into a victorious way, overbooking has to be managed and controlled really carefully. Ivanov ( 2006 ) defines the direction of overbooking as a set of managerial techniques and activities connected with uninterrupted planning, reserve and control and he outlined two chief groups of activities that should be performed in the day-to-day hotel operation. The hotel directors should on one manus, to specify an optimum figure of overbookings for each day of the month and continuously to modify it harmonizing to the market alterations of the hotel and the specific demand and booking spiels and on the other manus, to pull off carefully determinations and operational activities related with walking invitees with overbookings. In this respect, Ivanov ( 2006 ) proposes that factors such as length of stay, suites rates and client position have to be considered by hotel directors while covering with walking a invitee with confirmed reserve. Additionally, Kimes ( 1989 ) analyzes several managerial concerns indispensable for an effectual overbooking pattern and states that top direction can non presume tha t Revenue Management will merely go on, it requires careful planning and preparation . Therefore employees have to be intensively trained in order to clearly understand the purpose and features of overbooking. Furthermore, employees who are straight covering with overbooking determinations have to be sporadically trained how to act in possible client struggles and to take their ain determinations in an unfamiliar state of affairs ( Ivanov, 2006 ) . In order to be minimized the possible client dissatisfaction in instance of overbooking, it is critical for the hotel to set up service recovery programmes with standardised processs and to do employees to be cognizant and follow them ( Ivanov, 2006 ) For a profitable applied overbooking in the cordial reception industry, hotels must understand non merely consumers behaviour but besides to see the impact of competition and the presently economic state of affairs that imposes important supply and demand fluctuations. As hotels compete with each other in order to pull more clients, Revenue Management determinations of one hotel necessarily act upon the demand for other hotels in the same part or country. However, recent tendencies propose that hotels should join forces with is rivals that consequence in increased figure of formed confederations with each other to maximise their gross ( Chiang et al, 2007 ) Revenue Management s challenges in the cordial reception industry As explained before, Revenue Management finds application to two important industries: cordial reception and air hose. The first one, nevertheless, is much more complex in footings of industry impregnation and suites direction. This creates hurdlings for the optimu m operation of Revenue Management techniques. In the hotel industry Revenue Management can be applied either locally or via centralised system. The 2nd one involves garnering informations and taking determinations from a focal site for other belongingss. In pattern merely a limited figure of hotels and hotel ironss are able to pull off centralized informations processing and hence the bulk of participants on the cordial reception industry opt for belongings based Revenue Management. Recommendations for future research Despite of the acknowledged importance of overbooking as one the most effectual successful Revenue Management techniques used in hotel operation and widely discussed subject in research literature, there are no current surveies discoursing the overbooking direction of Bulgarian hotels and its impact on their operation. Therefore, future research may concentrate on the possible application of Revenue Management techniques to the Bulgarian cordial reception industry. Future surveies may besides concentrate on the demand side of Bulgarian touristry as the state has witnessed fluctuating visitant rates during the past two decennaries despite the turning net incomes generated by the peculiar industry. Decisions In order to last in the ferocious competition and to bring forth more gross while utilizing the same sum of resorts it is necessary and critical to the hotels operation direction to utilize efficaciously its reserve stock list and to increase its tenancy rate ( Hung, 2004 ) . Revenue Management techniques and the theoretical accounts of overbooking if applied suitably would maximise the grosss of hotels ( Kamath et al, 2008 ) . However, the possibilities of client dissatisfaction, and hazard of loss of repute because of denied service, force many hotels to avoid the pattern of overbooking. Therefore, before hotel directors to deicide whether or non to implement overbooking they should first see what Birkenheuer ( 2009 ) explained the best appraisal of hazard and chance will supply the best net income . In this survey we have outlined the dynamic nature of service industries and have demonstrated the importance of Revenue Management and most notably one of its most important facets overbooking. We have narrowed the range of this research down to the cordial reception industry and have found major differences in the demand patterns towards such companies in the former industry. Some clients prefer flexible cancellation footings, while others are non much attentive to that. Hoteliers offer differential pricing to their ain advantage to fudge against fluctuating demand. We have besides found that permutation is one of the most effectual method of pull offing overbooking patterns, but yet a cost/benefit analysis must be performed in order to track down the existent effects. Basically, within the current dynamic determination doing state of affairs in the cordial reception industry, overbooking degrees have been found to hold important gross maximising belongingss. In position of this, through this survey we have discovered some of the main direction aims that could be achieved through overbooking in the model of Revenue Management: net income maximization ; capa city allotment ; maximization of mean gross per client ; maximization of net present value ; and minimisation of client grudges. Finally, as cordial reception industry on a planetary graduated table is a aggregate volume-driven concern, overbooking has become an emerging subject as vacant suites do non convey any net incomes. However, possibly even more important remains the job how to pull off client letdown, in instances they can non be relocated to similar hotels as a consequence of overbooking.

Essay Formatting Sample - How to Use it to Write Your Essay

Essay Formatting Sample - How to Use it to Write Your EssayIf you are in the process of writing your scholastic essay, you might be wondering about scholarship essay formatting sample that is best for you. There are several different styles of essay that you can use depending on what you want to accomplish with your essay. You may also want to consider this when you are deciding which format will work best for you.The first thing that you need to realize is that there are several ways that you can write an essay on the Internet. When you are looking for a format that will work for you, the first thing that you need to do is figure out what style will work best for you. This is why you need to consider your needs before you even begin.When you think about it, most people like to write essays that are short and sweet. That is why most people choose to write in an essay format that is very easy to read. This is because it is much easier to be able to understand something if it is short and easy to read. This is why many people choose to use simplified formats to get through their essays.However, if you want to do a more detailed essay, then you need to make sure that it is formatted properly. This is where you will want to look at some essay formatting sample so that you can get a better idea of what is best for you. You will find that there are different types of formats that you can use. It all depends on what you want to accomplish with your essay.The next thing that you need to think about is how long you plan on having your essay on the Internet. If you only plan on using the Internet for a little while, then you can write an essay in a simple way that will allow you to have everything that you need when you want to. However, if you plan on using the Internet for years, then you will want to consider going with a more elaborate form.The most important point to take away is that this can be determined by you. You should not be concerned about a standard essay when you are working with an Internet essay. You will want to have a way to have everything that you need so that you will not have to get lost.You will find that there are many formats that you can use so that you can make sure that your essay will be of a higher standard. In fact, there are many different formats available. You will want to take a look at this and figure out what works best for you.Essays are written everyday so you do not have to worry about getting one wrong. However, you will want to make sure that you are happy with the end result. It will take a bit of work but it is worth it in the end. Take a look at the essay formatting sample and find something that will work for you.

Antigone - Analysis Of Greek Ideals Essays - Antigone, Free Essays

Antigone - Analysis Of Greek Ideals Essays - Antigone, Free Essays Antigone - Analysis of Greek Ideals In Ancient Greece, new ideals surfaced as answers to life's complicated questions. These new beliefs were centered around the expanding field of science. Man was focused on more than the Gods or heavenly concerns. A government that was ruled by the people was suggested as opposed to a monarchy that had existed for many years. Freedom of religion was encouraged to be exercised in city-states. These new ideals, though good in intentions, often conflicted with each other creating complex moral dilemmas. Such was the case in Antigone a play written by Sophocles during this era of change. In the play, Antigone and Creon battle a philosophical war dealing with the controversy of the Greek ideals. They both based their actions on their beliefs of what is right and wrong. The conflict arose when the ideals that backed up their actions clashed with each other, making it contradiction between morals. Antigone's side of the conflict held a much more heavenly approach, as opposed to the mundane road that Creon chose to follow. Antigone feels that Creon is disregarding the laws of heaven through his edict. After she is captured and brought to Creon, she tells him "I do not think your edicts strong enough to overrule the unwritten unalterable laws of God and heaven, you being only a man." Antigone's staunch opinion is one that supports the Gods and the laws of heaven. Her reasoning is set by her belief that if someone is not given a proper burial, that person would not be accepted into heaven. Antigone was a very religious person, and acceptance of her brother by the Gods was very important to her. She felt that "It is against you and me he has made this order. Yes, against me." Creon's order was personal to Antigone. His edict invaded her family life as well as the Gods'. An important ideal in Ancient Greece was the belief that the government was to have no control in matters concerning religious beliefs. In Antigone's eyes, Creon betrayed that ideal by not allowing her to properly bury her brother, Polynices. She believed that the burial was a religious ceremony, and Creon did not have the power to deny Polynices that right. Antigone's strong beliefs eventually led her to her death by the hand of Creon. Never, though, did she stop defending what she thought was right. As Creon ordered her to her death, Antigone exclaimed, "I go, his prisoner, because I honoured those things in which honour truly belongs." She is directly humiliating Creon by calling his opinions and decisions weak and unjust. She also emphasizes "his prisoner," which tells us that Creon's decision to capture Antigone was his own, and was not backed up by the majority of the people. She feels that Creon is abusing his power as king and dealing with her task to a personal level. Creon's actions are guided by the ideal that states "Man is the measure of all things." The chorus emphasizes this point during the play by stating that "There is nothing beyond (man's) power." Creon believes that the good of man comes before the gods. Setting the example using Polynices' body left unburied is a symbol of Creon's belief. "No man who is his country's enemy shall call himself my friend." This quote shows that leaving the body unburied is done to show respect for Thebes. After all, how could the ruler of a city-state honor a man who attempted to invade and conquer his city. From that perspective, Creon's actions are completely just and supported by the ideals. Though most of Creon's reasonings coincide with the Greek ideals, one ideal strongly contradicts his actions. The ideal states that the population would be granted freedom from political oppression and that freedom of religion would be carried out. Creon defied both of these. First, Antigone was "his prisoner", not necessarily the publics. In fact, the general population supported Antigone, though they were too scared to say anything. Haemon, the son of Creon, knew of this, and told Creon, "Has she not rather earned a crown of gold?- Such is the secret talk of the town." This proves that Creon was exercising complete domination

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT AND TESTING Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT AND TESTING - Essay Example The above set is meant for a second generation student. Second generation students are those that are bilingual with English being their second language. As stated earlier, the test serves a core role of introducing the second speakers of English to the core basic principles and comprehension of English as a language used in learning in other various fields. Second language students require tests that serve to introduce them to learning English. The test, like the above one, should not apply jargons or tough vocabularies that may make them fail to understand the meaning of what the examiner requires. It should be simple straightforward and of course with some easily identifiable exam tricks. Existence of sound systems: the above questions can be effectively answered by a student reading the sentences loudly identifying the areas that require fixing of words. For instance, question 18 tests on preposition which is a part of speech (Byram & Morgan 45). Many students get involved in unnecessary practices and behaviors once they step on the university. Reading this sentence aloud allows the student to understand the basic language concept being tested. The student will definitely identify where the mistake is correct by choosing appropriately from the options given. Existence of grammatical systems is another language principle that has been employed in coming up with the above questions (Fotos & Ellis 76). Grammatical systems involve sentence structure with the noun, adjective, verb and adverb arrangement. It ensures logicality and easy comprehension of the sentences compiled. The other principle applied is meaningfulness of language. Language must be meaningful and practi cal in order to understand. Language must portray something that is naturally meaningful and practical in the setting. For instance, it will be grammatically correct for one to state that, the cat killed the lioness. However, the sentence

A short SF story Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

A short SF story - Essay Example They did not succeed, however, in achieving improvements on scientific matters, since their resources were scarce. They sensed that something was missing that could improve their lives. They needed to become strong and fearless of what they would encounter on the surface, an unknown site to them. Eager to wonder into the unknown they set off into their voyage. They had old technologies that they managed to acquire from their ancestors from the 21st Century. They thought that the key elements to their science inquiries would be found in the old human beings ´ technologies. They thought that if they worked on some of the technological paradigms that they had on file, they could reconstruct a better life for their species. They would be able to enjoy a surface they had no idea of what to expect. Everything would be new to them and perhaps they would find other survivors, other species, and other galaxies. They had difficulties working with the technology they found since it was outdated and they lacked the necessary tools to update it to function according to their needs. Due to the fact that they had lived underground for so long and were constantly experimenting, they were ingenious and found ways to adapt the technological devices according to their needs. The survivor idea was both a good feeling as well as a bad feeling. They would possibly find good natured species that would want the wellbeing of all but they could also find minds with destructive thoughts, such as the ones that brought them to what they had become. It was not an easy decision to make. They wanted to expand their knowledge, travel into the galaxy, and help endure life as they knew it. Fortunately, they had the reproductive means to continue for generations but they wanted to improve their species. They wanted to become that which they were in the 21st Century with major improvements. They thought that the only way to achieve their goal would be to find

In Defense of Food Essay Example for Free

In Defense of Food Essay After learning so much from Pollan’s exposition in the first two parts, one can only imagine how damaging it is to human health and well – being if people were to continue adapting the Western lifestyle. First of all, to the food industry that clogs Western society with thousands of food products, we are but a link to their chain of processed foods that (and not ‘who’) consume in volumes than quality. Naturally, we lose our persona of that of a contributor to the food chain. Rather we are just end – users, frolicking from one set of information to another – and of course, from a bunch of food products to another – as we try to figure out the way to good health. Yet no one seems to notice and address this concern for real. I had also been wondering what to eat and how and this book achieved what it purported to answer. But coming from Western society that consumes their publication pages with updates from research or studies conducted here and there, these same questions are interesting. However, there are no readily available and truthful answers to be found in health claims and food labels. A great deal of time and explanation are needed before arriving at one sweeping answer. Pollan’s book highlighted a mine of curious discoveries in answer to this. Including that some studies that could flag the food industry are stashed in corners of libraries not getting widespread media attention. These are hidden the same way farmers’ produce are stashed aside – waiting for an extensively questioning person to find and spread its results around. This is probably because there are no economic incentives involved in heralding the valid issues and concerns presented in such studies. Consider the findings that polyunsaturated fats and other substances in processed foods do not actually make a difference in the prevention of chronic diseases. This information is clogged and buried at the bottom of the heap of the food industry’s multi – billion dollar advertised claims. However, Pollan successfully searched and provided thorough answers to these questions and even recommends what and how to eat in the third part. I particularly liked the part about healthy eating enhanced by social relations. It gives me more reason to value the tradition, cuisine and culture I grew up in and not adapt the Western lifestyle: eating food products or buying from supermarkets instead of the farmer’s market. Where I am from (Turkey), every meal is prepared from scratch and these are mostly whole foods or organic produce. Before it is laid on the table, there go the activities essential to relations: preparing food together, learning dishes from our mother, aunts, uncles or grandparents – even from elder siblings. And that is just one part of the cycle. Thus, in a social sense, I certainly agree that there is ‘synergy’ in the finishing end of the cycle of food preparation: from soil to table. And such is concocted from growing or planting it in the soil up until it is finally eaten. May it well be that the contribution of every individual involved in the natural food chain adds up to the final food that is ‘more than the sum of its parts’? For instance, there are associations that come to mind when we think of food or eating. One of them would be celebration. Be it a celebration of life, innocence, joy, or transitions, failures, pain or the whole spectrum of feelings that come with it. Even faith and the belief that there is some power stronger and bigger than we are that made all such foods available for us to savor and enjoy. And memories seem to make the food taste even better and signal to our bodily systems, increasing satiety. For me, food not only speaks for what it is made of or the nutrients it is composed of. It speaks so much about who we are as persons, what we value and how we pay respects to other parts in the eco – system in which we thrive. Therefore with every meal we enjoy come cherished memories of various points in our lives, shared with extended family or the community. And at every turn, we give due respect and thanks to one vital part of each celebration: generous nature that breathes life into every produce that make up each meal. Many people across different cultures and in fact even within the same culture or society have differing allusions or associations to food. In some populations, commonly in the West, it may extremely be a negative symbol that precedes revulsion or a compulsively positive one as ‘comfort foods’. Thus eating becomes an act of a functional necessity, an interruption of a ‘seeming’ life lived in the fast lane. Being a consumer society that thrives on convenience, they might not have the time or energy to invest in food preparation from scratch like finding pure unadulterated natural produce and savor the scent, color and distinct tang that come with every dish prepared from it. But however different cultures may view food and eating, it remains apparent that the Western lifestyle brings in a lot of diseases into its population or other societies that choose this way to live. It obviously is not a healthy way to conduct our lives, as was stressed out in various points of the book. It becomes a wise and healthy choice therefore, to eat healthy by patronizing fresh produce from farms as opposed to food products, and savor meals within the context of relations to get the most out of every dish.

Emotional devleopment in children Essay -- essays research papers

Emotional development is a major factor in the overall development of a child. It is believed that emotional and social development are very closely entwined. Child experts and psychologists agree that emotions are vital in a child’s life and to be able to promote a healthy social development a child must learn how to correctly find solutions to interpersonal problems. Moreover, research shows when parents display higher levels of warmth and positive interaction children are more likely to exhibit social competence, higher self-esteem, and emotional understanding.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Play is an important part of emotional-social development. Play can act as a way for children to reveal their innermost feelings and express thought. As defined by the text, play is â€Å"voluntary activities done for enjoyment or recreation that are not performed for any sake beyond themselves.† Children move through different levels of play as they mature. One form of play which scientists have become increasingly interested in is imaginative play. With imagination children learn how to be creative. Many children between ages 3-5 create imaginary friends for themselves.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Though play is often accepted and encouraged by western industrialized cultures it often times is not accepted by families of other cultures. Parents of such westernized cultures tend to support freedom of expression, independence, individuality, etc., known as individualism. On the other ha...