ted managers is the poor perception of the industry among potential management candidates “The poor image of the hospitality industry is prevalent among most young people – the college-bound as well as those entering the work force. Landing a job in the hotel industry out of college may be seen by a parent, more often than not, as a failure” (Higley, 1997, 79).
This analysis will discuss the trend in the Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution (HRI) industry where recruitment of more skilled, educated managers and employees is concerned. Obstacles and challenges to this goal will be presented, as well as some programs and practices which are being implemented in the industry to help resolve them. A conclusion will address how this trend is due in part to the changing nature of the HRI industry which conventionally relied upon low-wage, low-skilled labor for profitability.
The economic trends in the hospitality industry are very encouraging for growth and profitability. New technologies, global markets, and industry growth are fueling the need for more highly educated and skilled HRI managers. The lodging industry reported record gains in the first third of 2000 “The Lodging Industry Barometer (LIB) increased to a 31-year high in July…compared to July of last year, the industry’s widely watched index leaped 9.4% (Can, 2000, 12).
There is a greater need for highly educated and skilled HRI managers because of various trends that are currently having an impact on the hospitality industry. This need is creating the formation of alliances between HRI organizations and academic institutions in an effort to interest more graduates in HRI management as well as to tailor curriculum in such a manner as to train future managers to be able to handle the changing trends in the HRI industry. Before looking at these management training issues, we first need to look at the major industry trends which are responsible for them. A...