My Blogging Experience

Blogs are an amazing platform. "Blog" is an abbreviated version of "weblog," which is a term used to describe web sites that maintain and displays an ongoing page of personal opinions and information. Many blogs focus on a particular topic, such as cars, home topics, sports, or mobile technology and other opinion based stuff. My blog is based on an number of particular topic area and personal topics of choice. My blob name is “Jonathan’s thoughts 2012.

Topics include:

·         How Time Fly’s - My Highlights @ DKIT

·         M-Commerce / Wireless Technologies

·         Technology Fast 2012

·         Life as an Intern at Radisson Blu Farnham Estate Cavan

·         IMC & E-Marketing Applications Project - Summery

·         Media in my Life – Mon to Sun

·         Plans 4 the Future – Is my Seafood Restaurant Feasible?

·         My Blogging Experience

Overall I really enjoyed my blogging experience this semester. I learned how to use a free platform to completely express your thoughts and views freely and how comment on other blogs of my interest.  My favourite blog was the first blog - How Time Fly’s - My Highlights @ DKIT that tells my experience at DKIT. I now hope to continue to blog as much as I can on topics of interest.

Hope you all enjoy reading these blog!!! HAPPY BLOGGING!!!

Plans 4 the Future – Is my Seafood Restaurant Feasible?

My wish is to set-up and develop a High Class Seafood Restaurant that will be located the popular fishing village of Clogherhead in Co Louth.

The village developed around the fishing industry with the waters of Clogherhead being reputed as being the best fishing waters in the country. The harbor known as Port Oriel was built in 1885.

The chosen to name the restaurant will be The Little Strand Seafood

My Intentions

To deliver one of Ireland’s finest seafood restaurants that will give our customers a combination of excellent and interesting food in an environment that appeals to a wide and varied range of people.

Mission of the Restaurant

The Little Strand Seafood Restaurant will be great place to eat, combining an intriguing atmosphere with excellent, interesting food. The mission is not only to have great tasting food, but have efficient and friendly service because customer satisfaction is essential.

As a chef, this is my ultimate dream. So fingers crossed X

Media in my Life – Mon to Sun

If I were to calculate the quantity of media exposure on a weekly basis (Mon to Fri) mine would fairly average.  I have always been the sort to believe that I was not majorly dependent in media in general. If I were to give a breakdown of my weekly media exposure in would be as follows:

Television:  to be entirely honest, there are many days of the week that I don’t even see a television set turned off, however, there are days I would watch a lot of documentaries on the discovery channel. Really do not have any time for shallow soap operas and that kind of thing.....

Internet: I have to admit that the internet takes up much more of my time than television. I am quite fond of internet shopping and watching reality documentaries on youtube. I would use the internet at least once a day.....

Mobile Phones: although my mobile phone is always with me, I am not always thinking of it. I have a smart phone but rarely use the media application on it and this is due to the size and speed of the phone.

Offline: in terms of offline media, it may as well not exist. I have absolutely no interest in newspapers, magazines or other offline media, so I rarely have any exposure. I believe that this is because around 90% of what in this media form is negative.      

IMC & E-Marketing Applications Project - Summery

As part of IMC & E-Marketing Applications modules we where assigned to undertake the task of rebranding a current business of our choice. We decided on the Fairways Hotel in Dundalk Co Louth.

Our main objective was to rebrand and revitalise the establishment focusing closely on the development and creation of a new logo, slogan and website. The intended redevelopment is primarily to increase and maintain employment at the hotel, to produce competitive and value added products and services that potential and current clients will become to see and remember time and time again and increase profits.

First part of the task consisted of a situational analysis that examined the current core product, marketing and distribution techniques and competitive advantage in the market place. The analysis mainly examined the hotel through the use of a SWOT analysis.

We developed a strategic marketing system (communications mix) that included both an offline and online. We used six marking communications tools:

·         Advertising

·         Sales Promotion

·         Direct Marketing

·         Public Relations

·         Personal Selling

·         Cross/Up Selling

For offline, we decided to use traditional mediums such as news papers and business posts.  For the implementation of online (E-Marketing applications) we used the SOSTAC model to assist us in indentifying and determining the perfect online mix.

The current and future target markets were assessed and indentified, we gave an outline of our main intentions and desired client base. We also defined the key facilities both present and post rebranding and focused on ways to improve.

We developed a system for the monitoring of the new communications mix. These included the use of KPI’s and Google analytics to measure the performance and effectiveness of the new mix.

Overall I really enjoyed doing this assignment and I learned about new and valuable techniques to rebrand  a business and increase competitive advantage in the market place.  

Life as an Intern at Radisson Blu Farnham Estate Cavan

I started working for the Hotel as an intern in 2010 and part on the Bachelor of Business studies in Hospitality Mgmt. Initially, I did not intent to go into the Hotel business as my main focus was to work from contract and event catering companies. However, due to the condition of the economy and recession hitting hard, finding an appropriate establishment proved almost impossible. Pre-recession, there were many more different career paths that students could choose from the hospitality sector i.e. Hotels, Restaurants, Hospital Catering Management and Contract Catering Companies to name a few. A small number of students took the option of travelling abroad for their internship this year to countries such as America, Europe and China.

When choosing what direction I was taking towards my internship I had a number of options lined out. As I qualified as a chef prior to this course I was immediately attracted to areas associated with catering/ the production of food. I was extremely interested in hospital catering, contract catering and event catering companies. Firstly, my lecturer Marie and I researched some hospital catering companies around Ireland, and then my lecturer was in contact with a company in Northern Ireland which specialises in hospital catering around four or five large hospitals in Northern Ireland and she asked if there were any available positions for interns with the company, and the lady representing the company seemed to be interested and asked for my details to be sent and there may be a position in Craigavon Area Hospital for an Intern. After a month she replied to say that due to complications around fairness and equality issues, they were not able to take me on at present.  I applied to lots of other hospitals around Ireland and all replies stated that there was an embargo on recruitment in the public service. I then started contacting contract catering companies around the whole of Ireland such as Aramark/Campbell Catering, Sodexo, Compass, Kylemore and Fitzers throughout January and March to be told there was no positions available at present but we will contact you if anything arises. Having no luck, I got in contact with a large number of hotels around Ireland looking for a position in any department or even an interview, but unfortunately more hotels were feeling the effects of the recession and where unsure about their situation for the months ahead and that they would be in contact with me if there had been any changes.

In mid to late March I started to have a number of replies from various hotels across Ireland, firstly, I was called for interview on the 19^th of March 2010 to the Radisson Blu Farnham Estate outside Cavan Town, and in the same week I was called for interview at Ashford Castle in Co Mayo and in Harvey’s Point in Donegal Town. Four days later I had a reply from the Radisson Blu in Cavan asking me to start on the 25^th March to start in food and beverage and conference and banqueting and maybe a day in the kitchen. I was extremely happy to have got a start at the hotel. I am currently working part time at the hotel to date and I am enjoying it to no end, I would wish to say on with group as there track record for internal recruitment in outstanding.

Radisson Blu Farnham Estate is one of the many Radisson Hotels and Resorts in Ireland and worldwide. Radisson Blu is one of the “S” brands associated with the Rezidor Hotel Group in Brussels, Belgium. The Rezidor Hotel Group is one of the fastest growing hotel companies in the world. The group is made up of five popular brands:

· Radisson Blu - (First Class)

· Park Inn by Radisson - (Mid-Market)

· Regent - (Luxury)

· Country Inn - (Budget)

· Hotel Missoni - (Luxury)

The Radisson Blu was formally known as Radisson SAS which was in partnership with SAS Airlines. In February 2009 President and CEO Kurt Ritter of the Rezidor Hotel Group changed the name of the core brand Radisson SAS to Radisson Blu reflecting the natural end of its link with SAS Airlines following rezidors IPO back in November 2006.

Farnhan Estate is a 400 year old 16^th century Georgian building which was home to the well known Farnham family in Cavan Town. Farnham House is nestled neatly at end of a 1km winding driveway with breath taking scenery and views of the 1,300 acre estate. The hotel is situated in beautiful countryside 3km West of Cavan Town.

In 2004 Farnham Estate was bought over by Roy Mc Cabe, a successful Chemist across Co. Dublin. The Mc Cabe families plans for Farnham Estate were to renovate and extend Farnham Estate into a world class hotel and resort bring centuries of the very best traditions and natural beauty and blend them with contemporary comfort and service creating a resort unlike any other in Ireland. The Mc Cabe family agreed to lease Farnham Estate to the Radisson Blu Group and in early 2005 and work at the estate began. In early 2006 the project was near completesion and the Radisson Franchise was in place. In mid 2006 the Radisson Blu Farnham Estate was opened to the public.

Technology Fast 2012

As part of E-Marketing class, lecturer Colin Cooney issued a demanding challenge to us, to participate in a 72 hour technology fast. The fast was to restrain from using the internet, mobile or email services for the stated period. “OMG how am I going to do this one” I thought.

With society submerged in the depths of the technology revolution, people have became increasingly reliant on technology to live and run their social and working lives, for example; facebook has approximately 500 million registered users about 100 million less than QQ in China. Many believe that society has almost become slaves or addicts to the “stuff”. Technology fasts are becoming extremely popular and are sometimes conducted to assess the reactions of the participants.

 

Regarding my 72 hour fast, I believe I was successful in doing so!. However, I also believe that the success was solely down to the time it fell on. At the same period as the fast, I was participating and representing DKIT in the 2012 IHI Business Management Games that permitted all contestants from using a mobile phone and any communication devices such as email or social media. I had no choice but to use the internet as it was required for research proposes for the game. Anyway, we did not have to fast from all three forms of technology, so I managed two of them which weren’t so bad.

I would consider myself to be fairly depended on technology in general and would have found it extremely hard to restrain myself from the suggested forms of technology for the requested length of time.  I must say that I am proud of myself for fasting from email and mobile phones for the lenght for time that I did. Happy Days!!!

M-Commerce / Wireless Technologies

Research widely defines commerce as the trading of something of economic value such as in information, money or goods and services between two or more individuals or entities. Adding to the role of commerce, e-commerce is defined as the buying and selling of products and services over many electronic systems such as computer networks and the internet (B2B) (B2C) etc.

Similar to the concepts of commerce and e-commerce, Mobile Commerce (M-Commerce) is the practice of buying and selling certain products and services using an electronic mobile device such as:

·         Mobile / Smart Phones

·         PDA’s

·         Emerging Mobile Equipment (i.e. Dash-top Mobile Devices)

“M-Commerce has the potential to be used Anywhere at Anytime”

  To conduct M- Commerce effectively there are a number of requirements needed such as:

·         Mobility Graphical user Integration

·         Network Connectivity

 M-Commerce applications and platforms include:

·         Mobile Phones – SMS – MMS – Micro-browsers etc

·         Smart Phones / Android Platforms etc

Wireless Communication Technologies

These include Long Range and Short Range Network/Mediums/Platforms

Long Range: “Personal Communications” include: 1G, 2G, 2.5G, 3G & 4G. These are often referred to as LAN/MAN – 802.11 Wi-Fi – 802.16 WiMax protocols.

Short Range includes: Bluetooth – UWB – RFID

Mobile Applications

·         Mobile Payments – Paypal

·         Mobile Ticketing – E-Flow (Toll Service) M50

·         Mobile Advertising – Gorilla Marketing via Bluetooth Technology

·         Mobile Banking – 365 Online Banking

·         Mobile Entertainment – YouTube & Online Gambling/Poker etc

Aside from all the technical jargon, M-Commerce has become one of the main tools used in business applications worldwide. Many organisations have adapted and use these technologies to increase public awareness, sales and profits leading in many cases Competitive Advantage in the market.

Companies such as:

·         Google

·         Ikea

·         Bank of America – “View your accounts as easy as buying milk”    

 are some of the market leaders in the adoption and practice of M-Commerce.

Conclusion

Overall I feel that M-Commerce will continue to grow and expand. It will give industries the option to be more innovative and creative in their business that will be passed on to consumer. Personally I agree that the concept of M-Commerce is a productive and incentivising way of conducting business, it will create and open new doors for employers and will keep sustainability and CSR top of mind i.e. eradicates traditional and costly business practices – Reduction in paper usage. To finish, I hope to become more familiar with these practices in the future and even use them in my professional career also. Blog Tweet Blog! J    

How Time Fly’s - My Highlights @ DKIT

I almost see DKIT and Dundalk as my second home. Overall I have devoted 8 years of my life at DKIT. After successfully completing my leaving cert in the year 2000 from St Aiden’s Comprehensive school in Cootehill Co Cavan and after careful consideration, I chose the study Electronic Engineering for three years at DKIT. After completing the electronics engineering, my pursuit for employment started. In 1999 and 2000 the electronics industry was booming and this played a major part in my decision to choose a career in Engineering, However, when I finished college in 2003, the electronic industry collapsed. I experienced serious difficulty in finding employment. When I did manage to get employment as a Technician with CNC Company in Cavan I remained there for 5 to 6 years.

In 2007 I applied to do the 2 year culinary arts course at DKIT where I was gladly accepted. I was extremely excited about this new venture as my love for cooking and food was massive.  I started in September 2007 with a little apprehension and continued to love the course more and more as time went on. I must admit that it almost became an obsession with me where my attention to detail was crazy.  I believed that this was a good thing. My favourite part of the course was pastry class and the module where we designed and made a cake of our choice.  Mine was a Halloween cake.

The main highlights of the course were the class trip to Paris. OMG! the food, chocolate and patisseries YUM and winning Failte Irelands Culinary Arts student of the Student. I really love it and would do it all again.

Then, I progressed on to the Hospitality Mgmt. Degree at DKIT which I enjoyed thoroughly. The main highlight of this course was the second year event night where I ran Harvest Time evening that went successfully to plan. Although a little more intense than culinary I enjoyed the experience.

Currently, I am studying a BBS (Hons) in Event, hospitality & Tourism Mgmt.  I must admit that this course was a major step up in regards to work content, but thankfully I am getting through it slowly but surely. The highlight of this course has still to come, and I am guessing that it will be walking out of the last exam on the 23^rd May 2012.

To conclude, I believe that I am going to miss this place very much, especially the friends I made (Lyndsey, Rosa, Eammon, John and all the rest of the gang) “Love u Loads”  and thank u for putting up with me all this time J. I want to thank all my lectures for their support and guidance over my time at DKIT – Thank You!