What are key ethical issues this industry faces?
As in any industry, the hospitality industry is confronted with numerous issues regarding ethics. We know that in business ethics is that examination of a company’s moral and social responsibility in regards to their practices and overall decision-making. It would be impossible to list all of the ethical decisions this industry faces because new problems arise everyday. However, one decision every business in the hospitality industry has had to face was where their business would be located. This problem of location is not as simple as it seems. From the point of view of the business owner he just wants to build his restaurant or hotel in an area where there is demand of this service. From the perspective of a local resident the business may be disturbing the natural wildlife in the area or it may result in too much traffic in the area.
In this is particular article the plans to build a restaurant in Union Square Park have been put on hold. The answer in unclear as to why however, this issue does raise the ethical dilemma of whether or not this is the proper location from this restaurant.
Running a restaurant in New York City is not cheap and running one in the middle of a park would be even more expensive. Scott Stringer, Manhattan borough president, makes a valid point when he says: “The city’s precious public park space should be used for recreational purposes that benefit all New Yorkers, not for private enterprise that benefits only a few”. Given the country’s current economic standing it is very difficult for most people to eat. Is it a good idea to build any restaurant, anywhere in this economy?
The article also mentions that the submission to build this restaurant is still in review along with other proposals for the space. Some argue that having a nice restaurant there would bring a “positive life to the park, especially after dark…” Personally, I can only imagine people with more disposable income can afford to eat out and anything that is put in this space would attract a more affluent crowd. Building this restaurant would certainly exclude people with less income.
What would be the result if this restaurant could be build? Who is this restaurant targeting and what happens to those people that do not fit the target audience?
~Nia McCarthy
In this particular case, I agree with what Scott Stringer is saying. A public park is a place that should be inviting to everyone living in that area. There are plenty of low-income areas near Union Square Park in NYC, and residents may feel less welcome if a new expensive restaurant is suddenly built there. Also, the idea that it will bring "a positive life to the park, especially after dark…” only supports Stringer's view, because this will be done by excluding the poorer people who will no longer come to the park.
ReplyDelete--Bryan Brodek
I actually agree with Scott Stringer too, I would consider the location of any firm an ethical dilemma. Locating a firm can never be ethical in a park and the government must set certain laws prohibiting establishing a restaurant in a recreational area. Other than location, they are several other issues such as responding to consumers' proposals, involving employees and workforce in most decisions and ensuring that the firm gives back to the community. The issue that should be pointed out here is that, what seems ethical to one firm or a country might seem unethical to another. Therefore this whole ethical issue is debatable and goes back to the purpose and mission of the business, in recent years though businesses try to be ethical due to intense competition.
ReplyDelete-Lila Al-Refai
It is interesting when you consider the aspects of the affects of recreational laws on the operating of business. Especially in hard economic times such as these, it is difficult to determine what ethical issues should take precedent when jobs are at stake and thus peoples lively hood is affected.
ReplyDelete-Domenick Cocchiara