Challenges for the global hospitality industry: an HR perspective

Purpose – This research aims at evaluating and discussing developments and key challenges for the hospitality industry in an emerging global context and the impact of these changes on human resource development and management. Design/methodology/approach – This paper uses qualitative primary research through semi‐structured interviews conducted with select hospitality practitioners in India, supplemented by secondary research and triangulated with inputs from an HR round table of experts from the field of hospitality. Findings – It has become imperative for hospitality organisations to consider the implications of the global context in which they operate and respond appropriately to meet the change‐induced challenges. This can be done by ramping up the quality and the quantity of manpower employed through training and development interventions and by adopting suitable employee engagement and motivation initiatives. Practical implications – Researchers, practitioners and educationists in the hospitality industry will find the implications of this study useful. Originality/value – This paper amalgamates industry viewpoints with the perspective of academia, providing a holistic picture of the impact of the global changes on talent management and development in the hospitality industry. It further endeavours to prescribe a panacea to provide a long‐term solution to the HR issues faced by this sector.