Project Proposal and Template
Marketing Research Project
Project Proposal Due: Jan 30 2019 (Week 3) 11:00 AM
Project Weight: 5%
To be handed In: Via D2L 1 Per Group
Be sure to have read Marketing Research Project: Overview
At the proposal stage: You are concerned with does their appear to be an opportunity before you
proceed further. This assignment represents the foundation of your entire project.
Likely youl l want to choose a company you are somewhat familiar with, and consider recommendations
for entering a new market .
Now because you are presently in Canada, you will likely chose a company
that might consider coming to Canada, as it will be much easier for you to do market research here in
Canada where you are presently located.
This assignment will require justified by high quality secondary research properly cited. At least 10 sources
is required and at least 20 citations. (likely youll use far more)
I also expect a list of the secondary sources you have used to help you.
Remember the importance of
citing work tha t you used. (note just a list of references at the end is insufficient, you need to show
what information is sourced from where end notes for example are much better than a long list of
sources without specific reference to where you got it.).
1. Consult Notes on General Research best practices which is posted
2. Font size greater than 12 is generally not acceptable.
Marketing Research Project
Project Proposal and Template
1. What Company have you chosen to investigate?
We have chosen, Taj Hotel Resorts and Palaces which is recognized as Asias magnifi cent hotel company.
Taj Hotel has more than 60 hotels in almost 45 locations across India. This hotel chain was established
In 1903 which was considered as one of the oldest luxury hotel in the region. It is famous for its lavish
tradition of hospitality a nd architectural structures.
2. SWOT Part 1:
What are the companys Strengths and Weaknesses as they operate curr ently?
You must provide a source and citations for every factual point you make here
Strengths (Current Operations) Weaknesses (Current Operations)
Globally recognized brand High Capital Investment
Celebrity status Environmental Hazard from waste
Innovative strategies Affordable by only rich people
Retains good amount of customer s Adaption of technological changes is time
consuming.
Indian heritage Lack marketing skills
3. PEST
What Political Economic, Social or Technological Trends in Canada may affect
the firms entry or success in Canada? (provide citations for each)
Political Economic
Low level of corruption Global growth
Taxation policies GDP rate
Democratic country Labour employment
Founding member of UN Per capita disposable incom e
International political influences
Social Technological
Indian heritage Advance technological systems
Urban and Rural culture
Diversity
Marketing Research Project
Project Proposal and Template
4. SWOT Part 2:
What Opportunities or Threats do you think there are in C anada for them?
(You must provide a source and citations for every factual point you make here)
Opportunities (in Canada) Threats (in Canada)
Growing demand of h ealthy and organic food Different government rules and regulations
Diversified culture Increase in global competition
Increase in tourism Political disturbances
Increase in opportunities for outsourcing services Seasonal Influences
Growing nu mber of International Immigrants
Advanced technology
5. Potential Customers:
What are some pote ntial target markets for the company in Canada? (a target
market is a market segment (group of people) who share some characteristics
that make sal es to this group more likely to occur)
Possible Market Segments: Why are they a potential target market?
1. ASI AN CANADIANS Since the theme of the food that the brand is
famous for is Asian
2. TRAVEL ERS AND TOURIST S
Taj hotel is a preferred destination for a
com fortable and luxuri ous s tay which most tourist
look for .
3. UPPER CL ASS PEOPLE Upper Cla ss people ha ve a big spending capacity
which makes them a potenti al c ustomer
4. CELEBRITIES Since the Hotel Bra nd is a symbol of prestige the
celebrities w ould prefer our hotel
5. BU SINESSMAN AND EXECUTIVE Hotel provides a perfect ambi ence for the
Business confer ences and meetings.
Marketing Research Project
Project Proposal and Template
Describe each Market Segment
Market
Segment
Demographic
Characteristics
Geographic
Characteristics
Psychographic
Characteristics
How is
product/services
used
Benefits derived
Asian
Canadian
17.7% of th e
total Canadian
population
British
Columbia ,
Ontaria,
Alb reta
54% of t he
popula tion in
Canada eat
outside once a
week
On occasions,
Celebrations
Luxury,
Satisfaction
Travelers And
Tourists
15.1 Million
(USA), 72.5
Million (R est of
the world)
Ontari o, British
Columbia and
Quebec are
mostly v isited.
Exp loring
mindset
Sta y, Leisure
and relaxation
Customer
satisfaction
Upper Class
People
Top 10% of
Canadians
have income
over $800,400.
45 to 55age
group.
Ontari o,
Alberta
67.1 % of
upper cl ass
peo ple are
highly
educated
which effect
their spending
pattern.
Enjoying
luxury serv ices ,
parties ,
relaxation.
Customer
delight ,
Premium
quality
experience
Celebrities Around 700
worldwide
Ontario ,
Mont real ,
Vancouver .
Work and
relaxation.
Leisure
act ivity, big
event s.
Luxury, status
symbol.
Businessman
and executive
12 ,59 ,81 2
active
businessman
Ontario ,
Quebec , British
Columbia .
Business
oriented
Business deals,
contracts and
work
prospective .
Privacy ,
customer
satisfaction .
Pro vide refer ences for the factual information you acquire for each group.
Project Proposal and Template
6. Competitors:
Who are the firms greatest competitors in Canada (direct or indirect)
Direct Competitor Strengths Weaknesses
Marriort
Customer services
Partnership with fore ign
countries
Negative equity
Bad press
Shanghri -la
Innovative concept
The highest skyscraper of Europe
Very new hotel
Hotel has no spa
The ritz cartlon
High quality No specific promo plans
Indirect competitors may not be in the same business, but provide a similar
enough benefit that they may draw customers away.
Indirect Competitor Strengths Weaknesses
Local restaurants
Good location
Fresh food
Limited seating
High operating costs
Cafeterias
Good quality
Profitabl e organization
High prices
Only known for coffee
Motels
Less investments Lack of safety
Lack of rooms
Marketing Research Project
Marketing Research Project
Project Proposal and Template
7. Competitive Differences?
How is the firms product or services different from its potential Canadian
Competi tors? (use data to support your answer)
Due to the attractive location and traditional architectur e it gain more stunning responsible from the
foreign au dience. Because of these key elements it gains an iconic status of the most iconic hotel. Taj is
the only hotel which has its own aerated wat er p lant, laundry, electroplanting and brushing machine for
its silver ware which derived Taj hotel different from any other competitors in Canada .
Given the market segments youve selected, are the differences sufficien t to
draw them away from Can adian Competitors if they exist? (Do the
differences matter to the target market?) (use data to support your answer)
It is derived th at hygiene and privacy ar e the most common problems faced by the Canadian customers
when the y visit hotel .
8. Gap Analysis
Do you see things that potential customers want, that competitors are not
offering that the firm you already provides?
Yes, there are some customers who are fond of variet y of spices and flavo rs. Taj hotel gives a taste of
prestige in a modern culture . It is one of the ancient hotels with best and most experience in hospitality
services and provides customer delight.
Do you have sufficient information to make a speculativ e customer preference
analysis and competitive posi tioning chart to show your gap analysis?
Yes , we do have a c ustomer preference analys is.
What are the most critical factors to determining if the firm will have success
in Canada?
The most critical factors to determine whether Taj Hotels, Palaces and Re sorts will achieve success in
future or not is that we can notice that the number of international immigrants are increasing, we also
experience diversified culture here. Apart from this, it is also a recognized brand and it is a part of Indian
heritage as well.
Project Proposal and Template
9. Decision Statement
Put in one concise sentence, what your research objective is for this
assignment?
To understan d if Taj Hotel Resorts and Palaces will be successful in the Canadian Market or not .
10. Additional Information
W hat additional informat ion would be useful that you were not able to find
yet to help you make your recommendation?
Technological factors aff ecting our business were not easily available for which would be really helpful
when making the recommen dation for the success of ou r com pany .
Marketing Research Project
Project Proposal and Template
Group Leadership
Group Leader Prachi Shah
Meeting Times 11 :00 to 11:15
Citations/Bibliography
Taj Hotels. (2019, January 24). Ret rieved from
Bhasin, H. (2018, June 28). SWOT analysis of Taj Hotels – Taj Hotels SWOT analysis. Retrieved from
-analysis -of-taj -hotels/
(n.d.). Retrieved from /www.google.com/search?q=weakness of taj
hotel&rlz=1C1CHBF_enIN819IN819&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjgpMfSqfrfAhWjj4MK
HRspA8cQ_AUI DigB&biw=1536&bih=754#imgdii=oGJDdzNjkl5DKM:&imgrc=xZidfusLdjjE1M :
STRENGTHS 3. PEST SOCIAL INDIAN HERIT
Bhasin, H. ( 2018, June 28). SWOT analysis of Taj Hotels – Taj Hotels SWOT analysis. Retrieved from
-analysis -of-taj -hotels/
Canada. (n.d.). Retrieved from -Co/Canada.html
Economic outlook, analysis and for ecasts. (n.d.). Retrieved from
-economic -forecast -summary.htm
2018 Economic outlook for the Canadian economy. (n.d.). Retrieved from
-economic -outlook -global -growth -brings -good -news –
canadian -entrepreneurs.aspx
-reports/pdf/other -reports/ecotrend.pdf
Project Proposal and Template
Tencer, D., & Tencer, D. (2017, September 28). Number Of Millionaires In Canada Shoots Up 11.3% In A
Year. Retrieved from ca/2017/09/28/number -of-millionaires -in-canada –
shoots -up -11 -3-in-a-ye ar_a_23226515/
Asian Canadians. (2018, December 14). Retrieved from
Statistics Canada. (2017, August 14). Canadian business counts, June 2017 . R etrieved from
-quotidien/170814/dq170814b -eng.htm
Travel and tourism. (2016, October 07). Retrieved from -402 –
x/2012000/chap/tt -ut/tt -ut-eng.htm
Who are Canada’s 1 per cent and h ighest paid workers? See how you compare. (2017, November 12).
Retrieved from -1-per -cent -highest -paid -workers –
compare/article36383159/
Education and occupation of hi gh -income Canadians. (2018, July 25). Retrieved from
-enm/2011/as -sa/99 -014 -x/99 -014 -x2011003_2 -eng.cfm
Economy of Cuba. (201 9, January 26). Retrieved from
Communications, F. C. (2018, July 16). Forbes Releases 2018 Celebrity 100 List Of The World’s Highest –
Paid Entertai ners. Retrieved from -releases –
2018 -cele brity -100 -list -of-the -worlds -highest -paid -entertainers/#41a2762123b5
W Hotel Environment Analysis. (2016, August 02). Retrieved from
–
Mar riott SWOT & PESTLE Analysis. (2018, November 01). Retrieved from
Lucintel. (n.d.). Www.lucintel .com. Retrieved from -analysis -canada –
2016.aspx
(n.d.). Retrieved from -627 -m/11 -627 -m2019003 -eng.htm
Marketing Research Project
Project Proposal and Template
Most Common Problems for Hotel Guests and How to Deal With Them. (n.d.). Retrieved from
-problems -for -hotel -guest s-4089500
Canada. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Economy of Canada. (2019, January 29). Retrieved from
Technology in Canada. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Answ ers Ltd. (2019, January 24). Competitive pressure of the Taj hotel group. Retrieved from
ting/current -co mpetitive -pressure -of-the -taj -hotel -group –
marketing -essay.php
(n.d.). Retrieved from toronto
stren gth&FORM=HDRSC2
(n.d.). Retrieved from .bing.com/images/search?q=strength and weakness
&cbir=sbi&ima geBin=&qs=n&form=QBIR&sp= -1&pq=strength and weakness &sc=8 –
22&sk=&cvid=CC13DB5E7527436782D5D6C48D945B56
Grading:
What Company have you chosen to investigate? /5 Marks
SWOT Part 1: /10 Marks
PEST /10 Marks
SWOT Part 2: /10 Marks
Potential Customers: /15 Marks
Project Proposal and Template
Competitors: /15 Marks
Competitive Differences? /10 Marks
Gap Analysis /10 Marks
Decision Statement /5 Marks
Additional Information /10 Marks
/100 Marks To tal
Grading Notes:
Plagiarism may result in a mark of zero, and may be reported to the registrars office. Marks
may be de ducted for poor editing, or other issues that affect the quality of the report Note:
75% means expectations were met.