Paul Barron

Education and talent management: implications for the hospitality industry

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to explore one of the biggest issues and challenges now faced by hospitality education and the hospitality industry: that of how to attract and retain a critical group of talented people.Design/methodology/approach – A review of the literature highlights the key studies that have investigated the nature of hospitality employment amongst new recruits in the hospitality industry and reports on thoughts of soon to graduate hospitality students. The paper reviews the current state of employment issues in the hospitality industry. It discusses contemporary attitudes toward the generation undertaking hospitality education and making career decisions. This paper also considers the current generations specific attitudes toward education and careers and the potential consequences this will have for the hospitality industry in the future.Findings – The paper argues that educators require to be more fully aware of the consequences of reducing the practical and vocational nature of...

Generation Y: opportunity or challenge - strategies to engage Generation Y in the UK attractions' sector.

This study examines the extent to which Generation Y (Gen Y) serves as an opportunity or challenge for visitor attractions in the UK and the corresponding strategies adopted to seek engagement with this generational segment. A multiple-case study design was adopted with face-to-face interviews undertaken with senior personnel at leading visitor attractions across the UK. The paper advances a number of marketing and experiential strategies before advocating that further research is required to explore the growing pains of Gen Y from ‘adolescence’ to ‘adulthood’ if the industry is going to be able to understand, meet and hopefully exceed their needs, wants and expectations in the challenging years to come.

Direct entrants in transition: becoming independent learners

This article investigates the dynamic transitions that college leavers make to university. It draws on qualitative research with a group of students who took direct entry to the second or third year of a degree programme at university, to show that successful transitions depend on the students becoming independent learners. It argues that the students who adapt best to the new learning environment are those who understand what independent learning entails, and who are good time managers. While the transitions experienced by direct entrants are comparable to those of students entering the first year of a degree more generally, the article recognises that there are differences. The difficulties experienced by many new students – including learning how the university works – may be exacerbated amongst direct entrants because they have less time in which to adapt to the new regime and their needs are often less visible at the institutional level.

International students in the higher education classroom: initial findings from staff at two post‐92 universities in the UK

A significant body of work has emerged over the last 10 years investigating the experiences of international university students. These studies have covered various challenges faced by some groups of international students relating to culture, language and integration and have been prompted by the increase in international students studying in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. A smaller strand of research has also begun to focus on the experiences, perspectives and reactions of academic staff who have seen the composition of their cohorts change substantially over recent years in terms of numbers of international participants. This article reviews relevant literature in this field, reporting on a questionnaire study based at two UK post‐92 universities. Respondents associated a range of traits with international students and suggested that the increasing number of international students enhanced the environment, but also required a higher level of support. This study also found that staff resorted to informal methods when developing means of adapting their practices to the increasing number of international students, preferring discussion with colleagues and students themselves to formal development programmes or advice from specialist departments such as student support. The article concludes that in order to encourage diversity in a meaningful way, universities need to recognise the challenge of increased numbers of international students and support staff accordingly.

Stormy Outlook? Domestic students' impressions of international students at an Australian University

ABSTRACT The education of international students in Australian universities has grown significantly over recent years, with Australia now having the highest ratio of international students to domestic students among the major English-speaking destinations popular with international students. While there is a variety of research that examines the learning experiences of international students, little research has been conducted that examines the impact that international students have on their domestic counterparts. This paper reports on research that solicits the perceived advantages and disadvantages held by 301 domestic students, who are sharing their educational experience with international students studying hospitality and tourism management. The study reveals that there is a sizable proportion of domestic students (28%) who consider that there are too many international students on campus; that domestic and international students do not readily mix and it also highlights the fact that racist incidents occur. It is suggested that institutions wishing to increase their number of international students must take into consideration the feelings and concerns of their domestic students.

Engaging the multi-generational workforce in tourism and hospitality

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to present strategies that hospitality and tourism organisations might adopt as a means of encouraging employee engagement, thus enabling the more effective management of an increasingly multi-generational workforce. This paper evaluates current strategies being adopted that might encourage employee engagement by a selection of hospitality and tourism organisations and develop recommendations for organisations wishing to more effectively engage the multi-generational workforce. Design/methodology/approach – This study adopts a mixed methods approach and presents findings based on a series of semi-structured interviews with management and self-completion questionnaires aimed at employees. Findings – The relationship between the supervisor and the employee remains a key enhancer regarding engagement and employees are increasingly demanding more contemporary methods of communication. Employers should take note of generational characteristics and adopt flexible policies attractive to all employees. Practical implications – This paper contributes no t only to the debate regarding generational differences in the workplace but it also identifies that the various generations evident in tourism organisations are desirous of similar working conditions and benefits. Organisations should consider the development of a range of packages that focus on linking employees with their purpose, their colleagues and their resources as a means of encouraging employee engagement. Originality/value – This study contributes to the debate regarding employee engagement and compares and contrasts initiatives that various tourism and hospitality organisations are adopting as a means of encouraging employee engagement. The study also elicits the views of the organisations employees to understand the extent of the effectiveness of such initiatives and makes recommendations regarding the most effective initiatives from both a management and employee perspective.

Visitor engagement at museums: Generation Y and ‘Lates’ events at the National Museum of Scotland

ABSTRACT Museums are institutions that collect, safeguard and present artefacts and memories for the non-profit purposes of learning and enjoyment. However, significant changes in the environment in which museums operate have led to the creation of new types of activities to attract different audiences who will contribute to their future economic and social sustainability. One group that has recently been identified as a target is Generation Y (Gen Y) who have been attracted through the specifically created night-time thematic events, or ‘Lates’. This study critically evaluates visitor engagement with both permanent collections and activities specifically developed for the Gen Y visitor at a ‘Lates’ event at a national museum. The paper explores the potential contribution of this type of event in enhancing the future sustainability of museums via balanced use of resources, visitor engagement across a diverse audience and contribution to the achievement of long term goals.

Learning, Living and Working: Expectations and realities for international postgraduate students at a Scottish university

Abstract International students have, for many years, sought higher education in the United Kingdom and other major English speaking destinations. Recently a combination of government initiatives, development of the higher education sector and the changes in funding of higher education in the UK have encouraged universities to give greater focus to attracting overseas students. This paper presents findings of a year long research project designed to analyse the learning, living and working expectations and experiences of international postgraduate students studying at a Scottish university. It was found that learning expectations and realities were generally consistent whereas many students experienced living issues that they had not anticipated and that learning issues impacted on the propensity of students to find part-time employment.

Management Challenges at Film-Induced Tourism Heritage Attractions

ABSTRACT In response to an increasingly competitive environment, a number of heritage visitor attractions (HVAs) have encouraged filming, as well as subsequent film-induced tourism, in order to raise their profile, generate revenue and differentiate themselves from other attractions. However, while film-induced tourism may bring benefits, it can also be problematic, especially at HVAs which have conservation at their core. This article identifies a variety of challenges that film-induced tourism has created at Rosslyn Chapel and Alnwick Castle, both UK-based HVAs popular among film-induced tourists. The findings show that film-induced tourism resulted in a number of challenges at both sites not solely related to an increase in visitor numbers but also changes in visitor profile and behavior. Film-induced tourism at both sites has not only influenced visitors’ expectations but also preferences for heritage interpretation resulting in management tensions. This article concludes with a discussion of possible heritage management responses to these challenges.