HOSPITALITY & event MANAGEMENT

Hospitality & Event Management challenges members to demonstrate their understanding of the hospitality industry and event planning through an objective test and a role play scenario. Members apply their knowledge in areas such as customer service, operations, logistics, and marketing to solve real-world business situations.

 

Event Overview

Division: High School
Event Type: Team of 1, 2 or 3 members
Event Category: Role Play Event
Event Elements: Objective Test and Interactive Role Play
Objective Test Time: 50 minutes
Role Play Time: 20-minute preparation time, 7-minute presentation time
Educational Alignments

Items Competitor Must Provide: Sharpened pencil, Fully Powered device for online testing, Photo Identification, Conference-provided nametag, Attire that meets the Florida FBLA Dress Code

Items Provided by FBLA: One piece of scratch paer per competitor, internet access, and test login information for objective testing; Two notecards for each competitor and secret problem/scenario for role play

 

Knowledge Areas

·         Customer Relations
·         Economics and Finances
·         Information Management
·         Operations
·         Professional Development
·         Product/Service Management
·         Promotion and Selling
·         Event Management

Test questions and role plays are based on the knowledge statements and objectives outlined for this event. Detailed objectives can be found in the study guide included in these guidelines.

District

Check with your District leadership for District-specific competition information.

State

Eligibility

·         FBLA membership dues are paid by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on December 1 (or earlier date specified by District Director) of the current program year.
·         Members may compete in an event at the State Leadership Conference (SLC) more than once if they have not previously placed in the top 10 of that event at the National Leadership Conference (NLC). If a member places in the top 10 of an event at the NLC, they are no longer eligible to compete in that event.
·         Members must be registered for the SLC and pay the state conference registration fee in order to participate in competitive events.
·         Members must stay within the official FBLA housing block in the official FBLA hotel to be eligible to compete.
·         Each district may be represented by participant(s) based on the Florida FBLA scaled quota system found on the Florida FBLA website.
·         Each member can only compete in one individual/team event and one chapter event (Community Service Project, Local Chapter Annual Business Report).
·         Each competitor must compete in all parts of an event for award eligibility.
·         Identification: Competitors must present valid photo identification (physical) that matches the name on their conference name badge. Acceptable forms include a driver’s license, passport, state-issued ID, or school ID.
·         All members of a team must consist of individuals from the same chapter.
·         Competitors cannot be replaced or substituted in between the objective test and role play time.
·         If competitors are late for an objective test, they may be either disqualified or permitted to begin late with no extension of the time as scheduled.  If competitors are late for a presentation time, they may be disqualified or placed later in the schedule.  The decision is solely up to the judges.
·         Participants must adhere to the Florida FBLA dress code established by the Florida Board of Directors or they will not be permitted to participate in the competitive event.

Recognition

·         The number of competitors will determine the number of winners. The maximum number of winners for each competitive event is 5.

Event Administration

·         This event is two rounds: objective test and role play

·         Objective Test

o   Objective Test Time: 50 minutes
o   Objective Test Questions: 100 questions

o   This event is an objective test administered at the SLC.
o   No reference or study materials may be brought to the testing site.
o   Competitors on a team must test individually, starting within minutes of each other. Individual test scores will be averaged for a team score.

·         Interactive Role Play Presentation

o   Preparation Time: 20 minutes
o   Presentation Time: 7 minutes (one-minute warning)
o   Question & Answer: None

o   The top 5 scoring teams will advance to the role play final round.
o   The finalists will be sequestered before the first performance to receive instructions and time assignments.  A team entering sequestering after the first performance has begun will be disqualified.
o   Competitors will be provided with a single copy of a hospitality and event management–related scenario or problem at the beginning of their assigned preparation time. This copy must be shared among team members and may only be accessed within the designated preparation area.
o   Two notecards will be provided to each competitor and may be used during event preparation and role play presentation. Information may be written on both sides of the notecards. Notecards will be collected following the role play.
o   No additional reference materials or props or visuals are allowed.
o   If participating as a team, all team members are expected to actively participate in the role play.
o   Role plays are interactive presentations; the judges may ask questions throughout the presentation.
o   Role play presentations are closed to all conference attendees.
o   Competition ethics demand that competitors and audience members do not discuss or reveal the role play until the event has ended.

Scoring

·         The team-averaged objective test score determines the top 5 teams advancing to role play round.
·         The role play round scores only will be used to determine winners.
·         Judges will break all ties. All judging decisions are final. Results announced at the State Leadership Conference are considered official and will not be changed after the conclusion of the State Leadership Conference.

Recording of Presentations

·         No unauthorized audio or video recording devices will be allowed in any competitive event.
·         Participants in the events should be aware FBLA reserves the right to record any presentation for use in study or training materials.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

·         FBLA complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by providing reasonable accommodations for competitors. Accommodation requests must be submitted through the conference registration system by the official registration deadline. All requests will be reviewed, and additional documentation may be required to determine eligibility and appropriate support.

Penalty Points

·         Competitors may be disqualified if they violate the Competitive Event Guidelines or the Honor Code.

Electronic Devices

·         Unless approved as part of a documented accommodation, all cell phones, smartwatches, electronic devices, and headphones must be turned off and stored away before the competition begins. Visible devices during the event will be considered a violation of the FBLA Honor Code.

National

If you are competing on the National level, be sure to see the National guidelines at https://www.fbla.org/divisions/fbla/fbla-competitive-events/

Study Guide: Knowledge Areas and Objectives

This study guide outlines the skills and knowledge assessed for this event. Objectives followed by a two-letter, three-digit code in parentheses are aligned to the National Business Administration Standards from MBA Research and Curriculum Center. Some objectives reference MBA Research’s Learning Activity Packages (LAPs), which are instructional resources with readings, activities, and assessments available exclusively to teacher advisers. For more information, visit MBAResearch.org/FBLA. 

Important Notice Regarding Test Preparation 

MBA Research materials are not required to study for or prepare for FBLA competitive event tests. MBA Research provides curriculum and instructional resources directly to teachers and does not administer or manage individual student testing or competition participation. 

Note for members and parents: All questions related to tests, study materials, scores, or competition guidelines should be directed to the local FBLA adviser. Only teacher advisers should contact MBA Research directly. 

Customer Relations (20 test items)  

  • Explain the importance of meeting and exceeding customer/guest expectations (CR:067) (CS)  

  • Anticipate unspoken customer needs (CR:053) (CS)  

  • Accommodate special needs/specific requests of customers (CR:054) (CS)  

  • Process customer/guest orders (CR:021) (CS)  

  • Maintain service standards during peaks in demand (CR:039) (CS)  

  • Resolve hospitality and tourism related conflicts for customers (CR:044) (CS)  

  • Explain the nature of guest recovery (CR:045) (CS)  

  • Explain the nature of customer service in the hospitality and tourism industry (CR:049) (CS)  

  

 Economics and Finances (10 test items)  

  • Explain the relationship between the economy and hospitality and tourism (EC:136) (SP)  

  • Discuss considerations in accepting credit-card payments (FI:789) (SP)  

  • Explain cash control procedures (e.g., signature cards, deposit slips, internal/external controls, cash clearing, etc.) (FI:113) (CS)  

  

Information Management (10 test items)  

  • Describe the impact of mobile technology on the hospitality and tourism industry (NF:313) (SP)  

  • Explain the need for hospitality and tourism business information (NF:279) (CS)  

  • Describe current issues and trends in the hospitality and tourism industry (NF:048) (SP)  

  • Obtain hospitality and tourism information from online sources (e.g., search engines, online databases, blogs, forums, listservs, web analytics, social media, geolocation services) (NF:286) (SP)  

  

  

Operations (5 test items)  

  • Explain security considerations in the hospitality and tourism industry (OP:115) (CS)  

  • Explain the concept of place (distribution) in the hospitality and tourism industry (OP:529) (CS)  

  • Identify environmental sustainability issues in hospitality and tourism (OP:658) (SP)  

  

Professional Development (10 test items)  

  • Describe the nature of the hospitality and tourism industry (PD:111) (CS)  

  • Explain the roles and responsibilities of hospitality and tourism organizations (PD:398) (CS)  

  • Describe the interdependence of segments of the hospitality and tourism industry (PD:399) (SP)  

  • Discuss the role of ethics in hospitality and tourism (PD:400) (SP)  

  • Explain career opportunities in hospitality and tourism (PD:272, LAP-PD-272) (CS)  

  

Product/Service Management (10 test items)  

  • Explain the concept of product in the hospitality and tourism industry (PM:081) (CS)  

  • Explain guarantees in hospitality and tourism (PM:314) (CS)  

  • Describe services offered by the hospitality and tourism industry (PM:095) (CS)  

  

Promotion and Selling (10 test items)  

  • Describe the concept of promotion in the hospitality and tourism industry (PR:121) (CS)  

  • Explain promotional methods used by the hospitality and tourism industry (PR:082) (SP)  

  • Establish relationship with hospitality and tourism customer/guest (SE:499) (CS)  

  • Determine hospitality and tourism customer/guest needs (SE:500) (CS)  

  • Explain factors that motivate people to choose a hospitality and tourism site (SE:220) (SP)  

  

Event Management (25 test items)  

  • Identify factors affecting attendee satisfaction with events (CR:056) (SP)  

  • Describe the nature of event budgeting (FI:794) (SP)  

  • Develop event budget (FI:795) (SP)  

  • Determine staffing needs for events (HR:558) (SP)  

  • Identify alternative staffing options (HR:557) (SP)  

  • Explain the nature of event marketing (MK:024) (CS)  

  • Explain types of events (PD:346) (SP)  

  • Describe the nature of the event industry (PD:347) (SP)  

  • Explain the nature of event planning (PJ:011) (SP)  

  • Describe the nature of event management (PJ:012) (SP)