Human Resource Management: A Troubling Issue for the Global Hotel Industry

Abstract

Although economic issues cast a long shadow, a survey of 243 hotel managers and executives has identified human resources as the most persistent problem they face. Different aspects of the HR issue are more salient in various parts of the globe. For instance, managers in North American and Middle Eastern hotels were most concerned with attracting talented workers, but those in Europe cited retention as their top issue. In South America, training and morale surfaced as top issues. Hoteliers in Africa were more likely to cite labor shortages as a key concern. The findings of this study reinforce those of an earlier survey, which also found human resources to be a top concern of hotel managers.