Adele Ladkin

Tourism employment : analysis and planning

Introduction: The Concept to the BookPart One: Understanding the Industry 1. Diversity and Planning 2. Attraction and Accessibility 3. Labour Productivity 4. Pay Administration 5. The Nature of Service LabourPart Two: Analysis Some Empirical Studies 6. The Principles of Biographical Analysis 7. Mobility into Tourism 8. Career Analysis and Labour Markets 9. Motivation and Occupational Choice 10. Occupational Classification and Analysis 11. Skill Accumulation Patterns 12.Personal Career StrategiesPart Three: Human Resource Development 13. Human Resource Management 14.Vocational Education and Markets: Tourism Education 15.Planning and Development

Sustainable tourism: a regional perspective.

Abstract The aim of this research is to gain an insight into the perception of sustainable tourism, and to examine the ways in which it is implemented at the regional level. Using a case study of East Sussex in the UK, the research explores how the general principles of sustainable tourism at the macro level can be translated into workable practice. The research is focused on small businesses, as these form the majority of tourism enterprises. The data were captured using the technique of focus groups. Tracing the development of sustainable tourism as a starting point, three main themes are then explored. First, how well the concept of sustainability is understood by small businesses engaged in tourism. Second, how these sustainable concepts can be translated into workable practices and finally, the major barriers to implementing sustainable tourism by small businesses. The research reveals that despite a willingness on the part of small businesses to engage in sustainable activities those engaged in the tourism business have little understanding of the concept of sustainability. The vague principles do not easily translate into workable practice. The research identifies a number of barriers to successful implementation of sustainable tourism practices, the most prominent being a mistrust of government policy, poor administration and unclear lines of communication. The study concludes that despite the increased importance of sustainable tourism and the formulation of general principles and guidelines, cynical attitudes towards government policy and its implementation are significant barriers to the implementation of sustainable tourism practices in small businesses at the regional level.

Collaborative tourism planning: a case study of Cusco, Peru.

This research examines issues concerning the collaborative approach towards tourism planning, with a focus on Cusco, Peru. The research begins with a review of key themes related to collaborative tourism planning, and then explores four issues in relation to collaborative tourism planning in Cusco. These are the vision of tourism development among tourism stakeholders; collaboration and coordination between the multiple parties involved in tourism; input from the tourism industry and other interest groups in tourism planning; and constraints to and facilitators of collaboration and coordination. The research indicates that despite an awareness of the benefits of collaboration in tourism planning generally, collaboration is not yet a major part of the tourism development process in Cusco. The main reasons for the lack of collaboration are outlined using the views of the main stakeholders, as well as suggestions for ways in which future collaboration can be developed.

Career analysis: a case study of hotel general managers in Australia.

Abstract This research provides a detailed exploration of the career paths of hotel general managers in Australia. Using career analysis, findings are presented relating to the length of hotel managers careers, the role of vocational education in career development, career mobility, and career ambition. The paper discusses the use of career research as a labour market analysis technique, and outlines the practical application of the findings in relation to the hotel industry.

Smart technologies for personalized experiences: a case study in the hospitality domain

Recent advances in the field of technology have led to the emergence of innovative technological smart solutions providing unprecedented opportunities for application in the tourism and hospitality industry. With intensified competition in the tourism market place, it has become paramount for businesses to explore the potential of technologies, not only to optimize existing processes but facilitate the creation of more meaningful and personalized services and experiences. This study aims to bridge the current knowledge gap between smart technologies and experience personalization to understand how smart mobile technologies can facilitate personalized experiences in the context of the hospitality industry. By adopting a qualitative case study approach, this paper makes a two-fold contribution; it a) identifies the requirements of smart technologies for experience creation, including information aggregation, ubiquitous mobile connectedness and real time synchronization and b) highlights how smart technology integration can lead to two distinct levels of personalized tourism experiences. The paper concludes with the development of a model depicting the dynamic process of experience personalization and a discussion of the strategic implications for tourism and hospitality management and research.

Mobility and structure in the career paths of UK hotel managers: a labour market hybrid of the bureaucratic model?

Abstract This article examines the career paths of hotel managers in relation to the bureaucratic model which dominates career theory. A measurement of how long it takes to become a hotel manager forms a platform which is augmented by data on mobility, skills and knowledge and personal planning strategies. The argument put forward here is that the opportunity structure of the industry encourages a form of career management which involves, as well as jobs and organizations, the labour market as an entity in its own right. This extends the theory of career logics. The special case of food and beverage management emerges clearly from the data.

The Convention Industry in Australia and the United Kingdom: Key Issues and Competitive Forces

The purpose of this article is to examine key issues and competitive forces that will affect the conventions and meetings industry in two key markets, Australia and the United Kingdom, in the next 5 years. Using the Delphi technique, the study seeks to explore key issues that the industry in the two countries has to address to ensure its continued growth and competitiveness, as well as major competitive forces that may challenge their respective positions. The results of the Delphi surveys indicate that Australia and the United Kingdom face a number of similar issues relating to marketing, investment/infrastructure, human resources, and service quality. The competitive forces identified relate to specific countries: in the case of Australia, this was the Asian countries, specifically Singapore and Hong Kong; and for the United Kingdom, European destinations and specifically Ireland. Similarities and differences between the two markets are discussed, and a number of conclusions drawn.

Vocational education and food and beverage experience: issues for career development

The research presented here examines the use of vocational education and food and beverage experience in the development of a hotel manager’s career. To achieve this aim, the paper begins by introducing the concept of career development. This is followed by an outline of the current debate surrounding the shifting emphasis from craft to managerial skills training. Next, a range of findings from a study of the career paths of hotel managers in the UK is presented. These include the role of vocational education in career development, and experience in the food and beverage function as a recognised career track to general management. The study indicates the prevalence of vocational education as a starting point for managers’ careers, and illustrates that, despite calls from industry for increased management training, traditional food and beverage experience is still important for a career in the hospitality industry. The implications of these findings for career development are discussed.

The career paths of hotel general managers in Mauritius

Examines the career paths of hotel managers in Mauritius. Three themes relating to career paths are explored: career mobility, career planning, and the value of certain skills towards career development. Previous research and the current debates surrounding these issue are presented, followed by an examination of the Mauritian context. The results illustrate that hotel managers have a high degree of international mobility, the food and beverage function is the dominant route to hotel general management, hotel managers actively engage in long term career planning, and managerial skills are considered the most important for a career in hotel management. In light of these findings, the implications for the hotel industry in Mauritius are discussed.

Hotel managers' career strategies for success

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore career strategies used by Greek hotel managers in order to advance their careers successfully.Design/methodology/approach – Using a case study sample of 65 hotel general managers working in deluxe hotels in Greece, data on career strategies were collected using a postal questionnaire.Findings – It is revealed that the managers use a range of different strategies in order to advance their careers. The most commonly used are in relation to career opportunities, skills, mobility, interpersonal relations and handling diverse situations. The least commonly used ones relate to family contacts, job search techniques and pay.Practical implications – The strategies are discussed in terms of recruitment, training and retention of managers in the hotel industry.Originality/value – This paper builds on the knowledge of careers strategies used for career success.