Comprehension Practice

Exercise 1. Comment on the statements based on the text “Hotels”. Decide whether the statements are true, partly true, or false. Explain your decision.

1. A hotel is a place where one can get good entertainment.

2. You can get your meals free of charge at any hotel.

3. Modern hotels have become centres of social activity.

4. All hotels are very much alike.

5. Modern top-class hotels can accommodate up to 1000 guests.

6. One can get personal service only at a five-star hotel.

7. Hotels do not increase the range of services for their guests.

8. Nowadays hotels have greatly increased the use of room TV sets.

9. Hotel guests can make a phone call at the reception desk.

10. Businessmen very rarely put up at hotels.

11. Businessmen are very particular about their personal comforts.

12. Hotels try to meet the needs of travelling businessmen.

13. Business centers at hotels can be used only in the day time.

14. Businessmen have to bring along to the hotel a lot of high-tech equipment.

15. Most hotels offer their guests good sporting facilities.

16. Chauffeured transportation is provided only for the guests who check out of the hotel.

17. A hotel should be a perfect place for doing business.

Exercise 2. Answer the following questions about the text.

1. What are hotels for?

2. How do modern hotels differ from the hotels of the past?

3. How are hotels classified?

4. Why do top-class hotels usually have not more than 600 rooms?

5. What does the price for a room depend on?

6. What conveniences do hotel guests enjoy nowadays?

7. In what way do hotels try to make the life of their guests more comfortable?

8. What do travelling businessmen require from a hotel?

9. What facilities do hotels provide for businessmen?

10. Why are sporting facilities considered to be a must at a good hotel?

11. What is the ultimate objective of every hotel?

Exercise 3. Find the following words and phrases in the text, supply their contexts and paraphrase the sentences in which they are used.

to accommodate	luxury hotel
personal service	express check-in
social activities	overnight laundry
room service	valet service
portable telephone	personal comforts
to make alterations	fitness centre
a wide range of services	reference libraries
round-the-clock	word processor
telex services	facsimile services

Vocabulary Practice

Exercise 1. Fill in the gaps in these sentences with words form the list.

1. This hotel does not provide … for its residents.

2. Would you mind letting us know when you are planning … . We can then have your bill ready for you.

3. The new hotel will ... two thousand guests.

4. Let’s have dinner at the Ambassador Hotel. It’s famous for its … .

5. There is no need for you to drive to San Antonio. We provide our guests with … and it’s not very expensive.

6. Don’t forget your hotel card. The … may be used only by the hotel guests.

7. Besides standard … the new hotel has wonderful conference … .

8. You cannot expect to get … at such a big hotel.

9. Don’t be silly! This is a … hotel. We can’t possibly afford to put up at it.

10. Hotels must try to … of their guests if they want to exist in the world of tough competition.

11. Don’t worry. Your shirt will be ready by morning. Our hotel runs an … laundry.

12. Nowadays hotel guests … a lot of services which were unheard of several years ago.

accommodate	personal service
enjoy	overnight
fitness centre	to check out
room service	chauffeured transportation
cuisine	facilities
meet the needs	conveniences
five-star

Exercise 2. Supply words and expressions which fit the following definitions and make sentences with them.

1. A hotel of the highest standard or quality.

2. To provide with a place in which to live or stay.

3. Services that are useful or help one to do something.

4. An individual service.

5. A place or building intended for going in for sports.

6. A hall for a formal meeting.

7. A person who is lodging in a hotel.

8. A service which is provided all the time, both day and night.

9. A small computer used for ordinary office jobs, such as typing letters and reports, storing information, etc.

10. A private lodging house that supplies meals (not a hotel).

11. A room in which the temperature of the air is controlled by a special machine.

12. To leave a hotel after paying the bill.

13. A place or building intended for carrying out business activities.

14. A service which sends letters, pictures, etc. in electronic form along a telephone line.

15. A service responsible for cleaning and pressing the clothes of the hotel guests.

Exercise 3. Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Эта гостиница высшей категории очень популярна среди деловых людей, так как в ней предусмотрены все условия для работы и отдыха.

2. В этой пятизвездочной гостинице есть отличный спортивный зал с сауной.

3. Нам потребовалось всего десять минут, чтобы зарегистрироваться в гостинице.

4. Каждый номер нашей гостиницы оборудован телефоном, цветным телевизором и пишущей машинкой.

5. Ресторан этой гостиницы славится своей кухней.

6. Вы можете отправить телекс или факс из делового центра нашей гостиницы. Он находится на втором этаже рядом с конференц-залом.

7. Руководство гостиницы постоянно старается расширить набор услуг, чтобы удовлетворить все требования своих постояльцев.

8. Не волнуйтесь, к утру ваши брюки будут готовы. Прачечные услуги у нас оказываются круглосуточно.

9. Если вам нужны услуги секретаря или переводчика, обратитесь к администратору.

10. Новая гостиница сможет принять до 500 постояльцев.

11. Сотрудники гостиницы стараются оказать персональные услуги каждому гостю.

12. В настоящее время различные общественные мероприятия часто проводятся в гостиницах.

Exercise 4. Act as interpreter.

This is a conversation with a representative of the Moscow City Council.

Journalist: What kind of hotels do you have in Moscow?

Representative: В нашей стране система классификации гостиниц не такая, как в других странах. По международным стандартам гостиницы подразделяются на 5 категорий – и каждой соответствует определенное количество звездочек. Пять звездочек – самая высокая категория.

J: Oh, yes! The best American hotels like the Hilton or the Marriott are five-star hotels. Are there such hotels in Moscow?

R: Пока нет. Даже такие лучшие московские гостиницы высшей категории «А», как «Москва», «Украина», «Националь», «Космос», значительно уступают западным. У них ниже уровень сервиса, слабая техническая оснащенность, ограниченные возможности для проведения досуга.

J: When are you going to have top-class hotels in Moscow?

R: В ближайшие пять лет в Москве планируется построить или реконструировать 10 гостиниц категорий 3-5 звездочек.

J: And what are the requirements for a five-star hotel?

R: О-о, это очень высокие требования. Такие отели предназначены главным образом для бизнесменов. Они должны располагаться в деловом центре города. В них, как правило, 300-600 номеров. Обязательны спортивно-оздоровительные комплексы, конференц-залы. Обслуга – со знанием иностранных языков. В комнатах предусмотрено все до мелочей – от иголок, ниток, конвертов, ручек до телексов, персональных компьютеров и ксероксов.

J: How much do they usually charge for a room in such hotels?

R: В западных отелях такой номер может стоить в сутки от 150 до 200 долларов и выше… .

Exercise 5. Act as interpreter.

This is a conversation with the manager of the Metropol Hotel:

Correspondent: After the reconstruction the Metropol Hotel, in accordance with the international classification, has become a five-star hotel. What new facilities and services can you offer your guests now?

Manager: Появился подземный гараж для трех с лишним десятков автомашин. Появились у нас сауны, плавательный бассейн, зал спортивных тренажеров. Для проведения встреч и заседаний оборудован конференц-зал с аппаратурой синхронного перевода на четырех языках. К услугам наших гостей – несколько первоклассных ресторанов, небольшой внутренний магазин, казино.

C: Many of your guests are businessmen who come to Moscow to do business. It is well known that they don’t care very much for their personal comforts but are very particular about the proper facilities for their work. Was this taken into the consideration during the reconstruction of the Metropol?

M: Конечно! Появился так называемый «бизнес-центр», в котором можно воспользоваться любым видом связи – от обычно телефона до телекса и факса, взять на прокат пишущую машинку, снять копию на ксероксе, узнать последние биржевые новости со всего мира. Центр оснащен персональными компьютерами.

C: How many guests can the new Metropol accommodate?

M: В 402 номерах повышенной комфортабельности, из них 72 апартамента «люкс», сумеем разместить 764 человека.

C: Excuse me, but what do you mean by “extra comforts”?

M: Например, все номера имеют затемненные оконные стекла, что в сочетании с совершенной системой кондиционирования воздуха позволяет в любое время года поддерживать в номере требуемую температуру.

C: How much do you charge per day?

M: Стоимость суточного проживания в гостинице от 150 до 600 долларов США.

C: What can you say about the people working under you?

M: Обслуживающий персонал насчитывает около 800 человек. Это – профессионалы, в совершенстве знающие свое дело и делающие все для того, чтобы наши гости чувствовали себя удобно. Мы надеемся, что «Метрополь» станет образцом для всего гостиничного сервиса нашей страны.

Exercise 6. Study the following hotel advertisements. Pay attention to the

things they emphasize in order to attract more guests.

Now, imagine that you are the manager of a hotel. make up an advertisement for your hotel to be sent to the local newspaper.

The Boulevard Hotel

Just opened. A moderately priced, beautifully located first-class hotel.

Quiet, tasteful rooms with phones, personal safe, mini-bar, colour TV, balcony, same day laundry and 24-hour room service. Excellent facilities include 2 restaurants, pool fitness centre, business centre and conference rooms.

An ideal hotel in an ideal location.

The Boulevard Hotel gives travelers more of what they expect from a Five Star Hotel.

The Carlyte Hotel

Visitors to New York select The Carlyte, within walking distance of theatres, museums, shopping and nightlife, for its consistent excellence.

The Carlyte, the largest deluxe hotel in the world, offers 2.577 fully air-conditioned, elegantly furnished rooms and suites.

Each guest accommodation has a FAX, color cable TV, VCR, a stereo player.

Health centre with swimming pool, sauna, message, beauty care and hair dressing salon. Private parking .

The Carlyte Hotel offers its stylish atmosphere for vocations, business, health and beauty.

You are welcome!

The Crand Hotel Park

Elegance and hospitality.

With 204 luxurious accommodations.

Singles, Doubles, One and Two Bedroom suites.

First-class cuisine in three restaurants, two bars.

Superlative facilities for Conferences and congresses.

With a complete health club, business centre, relaxation centre, bridge rooms.

Multi-lingual staff. Minutes to Business Centre.

The Grand Hotel Park, Where all your needs are met.

Singles $125 - $135, Doubles $130-$140, Suites $160 & Up.

Exercise 7. Rooms at hotels can be booked by post. If you want accommodation in a hurry and you know a hotel or you’ve stayed there before, you’ll probably just send them a telegram, a telex or a fax.

But if you’re visiting an unfamiliar city, and if you require more information about the hotel, you may need to telephone them.

Study the following messages:

Gresham Hotel

Dublin London, 3^rd January

Dear Sir,

I should like to book a single room with bath for February, 3^rd.

I don’t mind having a front room provided it is as quiet as possible. I shall arrive on the 3^rd by dinner time and stay until the 6^th after breakfast.

I am awaiting your early confirmation,

Yours faithfully,

John Brown

Dear sir,

In reply to your letter of 3^rd January I regret to say that we have no more rooms available for February 3^rd. We are not yet fully booked for March, but we would advise you to write promptly if you intend to book for this period. Otherwise we suggest that you write to the Tourist Office which will supply you with a list of hotels and boarding houses.

We are sorry that we cannot give you a satisfactory answer as to the dates, and hope to see you among our visitors in March.

Yours faithfully,

The Manager

Gresham Hotel

To: Hotel Concorde, Toulouse

Please book three rooms with baths for the night of Monday 1 April. Arriving 20.00 Hours.

Harry Meier

ACME International

Geneva, Switzerland

Hotel Moskva

Moscow

Reserve double room Arriving Moscow Wednesday – Brown

Now draft your own letter, telegram or telex

- to the manager of the Savoy Hotel in London booking accommodation for a fortnight from April, 15.

- to the manager of the Marriott Hotel in New York booking three single rooms with baths for the members of the trade delegation from January 3 to January 10.

- to the manager of the Hilton Hotel in Paris booking a suite for the week-end in May.

Exercise 8. You have received a letter from your friend. He informs you that he is coming to your city on business. Though he knows that you’ll be only too glad to put him up at your place, he still prefers to stay at a hotel. He wants you to recommended him a good hotel. Write a letter to him, recommend a hotel and try to convince him that it is really the best hotel in the city.

Exercise 9. Imagine that you are designing a new business hotel: the first of a new chain, catering for mid-budget business travelers.

1. Decide on the basic concept of your “product”:

Atmosphere: modern or traditional or intimate - or new concept …?

Location: city centre, out of town or in quiet back street? What kind of people do you want to come to your hotel?

The staff: will there be a high ratio of staff to guests or will there be an emphasis on self-service?

2. What facilities will you offer? Make a list. Here are some ideas to start you off:

buffet-style breakfast	restaurant serving local specialties
Fitness centre/gym	free car parking
jacuzzi/sauna	photocopying
secretarial service	self-service cafeteria
video movies	24-hour coffee shop
cocktail lounge	good towels
swimming pool	fresh fruit and flowers in bedrooms
room service 24 hours

3. Arrange the facilities you have listed in order of importance.

4. When your group has designed “the perfect business hotel”, describe your product to another group or to the whole class.

Exercise 10. Describe the duties of each of these members of the hotel staff:

the manager, a receptionist, a door-man, a chambermaid, a porter, a bell-boy, a head waiter, a lift-boy.

What requirements do you think the members of the staff should meet in order to carry out their duties properly?

Exercise 11. Render the English.