Chandana (Chandi) Jayawardena

Sustainable tourism development in Niagara: Discussions, theories, projects and insights

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide insights to the relevant past discussions, theories and projects; and sustainable tourism development in the Niagara region.Design/methodology/approach – Each of the key four sections of this paper zooms in to specific areas. Outcomes from elite discussions involving 47 experts are followed by a concise literature review on sustainable tourism. The paper then analyses the concept of economic sustainability and reviews the outcomes from a blueprint for sustainable tourism development.Findings – This paper discusses the economic pillar of sustainable tourism by outlining the negative and positive economic effects of the worldwide travel and tourism industry. In addition to reviewing the relative competitiveness of the worlds travel destinations; with a focus on Canadas performance, it outlines strategies for Niagara region to enhance its competitiveness to support sustainable tourism.Originality/value – In the recent years not much research has been carrie...

Sustainable tourism development in Canada: practical challenges

The School of Hospitality and Tourism Management of Ryerson University, Toronto hosted the 2002 World‐wide Hospitality and Tourism Trends (WHATT) Roundtable discussion of Canada. The discussion focused mainly on the practical challenges and the role of educational institutions in sustainable tourism development in Canada. In addition to two joint chairs and the leading discussant, seven industry practitioners and seven academics from the hospitality and tourism sector discussed the definitions of “sustainable tourism development” and debated the key development issues in Canadian tourism and related research needs. The meeting agreed that there was a lack of applied research on Canadian tourism. The meeting therefore identified a few achievable action points and this article ends by reporting on nine related outcomes within a year after the first WHATT roundtable in Canada.

Trends and sustainability in the Canadian tourism and hospitality industry.

Purpose – This paper aims to address the key sustainability issues in Canadas tourism and hospitality industry.Design/methodology/approach – The foundation for this paper was laid during a well attended Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes (WHATT) roundtable discussion between industry leaders and hospitality educators in May 2012.Findings – The paper provides valuable information on the concept of sustainable development and outlines key sustainability issues and trends in the Canadian tourism and hospitality industry. The umbrella organization for the hotel industry in Canada, the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC), collaborates with key stakeholders to find innovative and sustainable solutions to challenges the industry is facing. Top future trends are captured in the conclusion.Practical implications – As the team of authors includes the president of the Hotel Association of Canada and a partner/Canadas national leader of the sustainability practice in the worlds largest consulting firm, this pa...

People and quality: the case of Delta Hotels

Analyses the concept of quality in the hotel industry. Emphasises that quality has to be a part of the culture of an organisation. Presents Delta Hotels in Canada as an exemplary case study in relation to people and quality initiatives. Delta has, over the years, built a good reputation and currently ranks as the best hotel company to work for in Canada. Presents the companys’ vision, mission and philosophies for people and quality. Lists nine key quality principles and four people resource systems and outcomes. Concludes by making ten recommendations to hotel companies considering implementing effective people and quality concepts.

Attracting and retaining quality human resources for Niagara's hospitality industry

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify the best approaches management should embrace to successfully attract and retain high quality human resource talent within the Niagara regions hospitality industry.Design/methodology/approach – A selected cross‐section of relevant and recent publications are reviewed. The key findings from a mini survey involving 14 senior hospitality managers in the Niagara region are shared.Findings – This paper suggests that the hospitality managers should: understand the basics related to good human resource management practices; know the “fair market value” for each position; foster relationships with colleges and universities to tap into student labor; encourage mature workers to apply for part‐time work; and cultivate a good relationship with seasonal employees and educate them on the rewards of a career within the hospitality industry. Through the industry survey, it was discovered that hospitality managers within the Niagara region are already executing some of ...

Current human resource challenges in the Caribbean hospitality industry

Provides an overview on the current human resource challenges facing the Caribbean hospitality industry, drawing on a presentation made at the second annual Caribbean roundtable discussion, held in Barbados during April 2004, attended by 33 participants and observers from industry and academia. The outcomes are reported here and in the second of two articles, “Future human resource challenges in the Caribbean hospitality industry”.

Trends in the international hotel industry.

Purpose – This paper aims to analyse the evolution, current challenges, best practices, and trends in the international hotel industry.Design/methodology/approach – The foundation for this paper was laid during a well‐attended Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes (WHATT) roundtable discussion between industry leaders and hospitality educators in May 2012. International hoteliering is discussed in the context of the theme for the 2012 Canadian WHATT roundtable and the strategic question: “What innovations are needed in the Canadian hotel industry and how might they be implemented to secure the industrys future?”Findings – Through analysis of past and present trends, the paper predicts that current challenges such as labour shortages will continue to affect the industry in the near future.Practical implications – In the conclusion the paper advocates innovative approaches for hospitality education, and states that Canada should learn from international trends and become more innovative and competitive ...

Challenges and innovations in hotel operations in Canada.

Purpose – This paper aims to analyse key challenges Canadian hotels are facing, and to suggest innovative steps to make hotel operations in Canada more successful.Design/methodology/approach – The foundation for this paper was laid during a well attended Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes (WHATT) roundtable discussion between industry leaders and hospitality educators in May 2012. The subject of hotel operations is discussed in the context of the theme for the 2012 Canadian WHATT roundtable and the strategic question: “What innovations are needed in the Canadian hotel industry and how might they be implemented to secure the industrys future?”Findings – The paper provides valuable information on hotel management and operations, and outlines innovative solutions to key challenges Canadian hotels are facing.Practical implications – The paper highlights effective approaches to managing hotel operations. The authors propose segment‐specific, tailor‐made training sessions for the diverse workforce of tod...

Tourism in Niagara: conclusions and solutions

Purpose – This paper aims to present answers to the strategic question: “How should Niagara region respond to the key challenges it faces and find solutions to preserve and develop its tourism industry?” It aims to capture the essence of conclusions of nine papers contributed by 22 Canadian tourism experts to the Worldwide Hospitality And Tourism Themes (WHATT) issue on tourism in the Niagara region, Canada.Design/methodology/approach – The approach of this paper is to integrate all solutions suggested in these nine papers and to seek a succinct response to the strategic question.Findings – While providing a helicopter view of the key challenges of the tourism and hospitality sector in Niagara region, Canada, this paper proposes implementable solutions to those challenges. Using the 2007 WHATT roundtable discussion as the foundation, this paper addresses the some of the most significant issues affecting the Niagara region related to sustainable tourism development, destination marketing, hospitality indus...

Binational tourism in Niagara: insights, challenges and the future.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide insights to relevant theories, challenges and the future opportunities for binational tourism in the Niagara region.Design/methodology/approach – A selected cross‐section of relevant publications including news media items are reviewed. Data gathered by a group of graduate students from Niagara College during their externships with the Binational Tourism Alliance, are utilized. Binational tourism initiatives from different parts of the world are analyzed.Findings – This paper implies that in order to strategize binational tourism in Niagara, relevant theories, international best practices, historic developments of binational initiatives in Niagara as well as news media reports should be analysed. It concludes that Niagaras tourism industry, on both sides of the border, must continue to work in close partnership on their binational tourism strategy and binational positioning in order to remain competitive as a major tourist destination in the world.Origina...