Hospitality & Tourism Educators vs. The Industry: A Competency Assessment

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the discrepancies, if any, in the competencies being taught in the classroom for hospitality tourism students versus what lodging and food and beverage professionals believe are the most important competencies to be taught. Personal interviews were conducted with both educators of, and industry professionals working in, lodging management, and the food and beverage industry. The results, incorporated into a competency domain model, indicate that there are small gaps between professionals and educators in both industries. This discovery suggests that lines of communication are not fully open between educators and professionals.

Keywords:

• hospitality education
• competency
• lodging
• food and beverage