What does the Industry need to know about Chinese Hospitality Leadership?

ABSTRACT

This study examines the hospitality leadership characteristics that are essential, as perceived by emerging hospitality leaders. Four focus group interviews were conducted in mainland China involving 29 middle level hotel managers. The respondents identified the backgrounds and leadership characteristics of a total of eight highly regarded hospitality leaders in contemporary China. The unique leadership characteristics that received comment are innovative and entrepreneurial. The analysis provides confirmation of earlier research—that Chinese hospitality leaders are transformational. Chinese cultural factors such as guanxi and collectivism have a certain impact on leadership. Finally, the findings reveal that the perceived future challenges for hospitality leaders relate to hotel brand building, recruitment of talent, enabling new technology and succession planning. The study concludes with recommendations for leadership development to capitalize on the growth of the industry.

摘要

本研究审视了酒店业新晋领导者认为哪些是至关重要的酒店服务领导力特点。研究員在中国内地进行了四次焦点小组访谈，邀请了29名中层酒店经理参与。受访者畅谈当代中国内地八位深受好评的酒店领导者之背景与领导特点。受到高度评价的领导力特色是勇于创新与创业精神。分析确认了早期的研究 － 中国酒店领导者在转型中。关系和集体主义等中国文化因素对领导力有一定影响。最后，研究结果揭示酒店领导者未来面临的挑战与酒店品牌打造、人才招聘、使用新技术和接班规划相关。本研究提出建议培养领导人才以引领行业的蓬勃发展。

KEYWORDS:

• Leadership
• hotel development
• Chinese culture
• succession planning

关键词:

• 领导力、酒店开发、中国文化、接班规划

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University [1-ZE3L].

Notes on contributors

Catherine Cheung

Catherine Cheung is Associate Dean and Associate Professor in the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China (E-mail: [email protected]).

Brian King

Brian King is Associate Dean and Professor in the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China (E-mail:[email protected]).

Alan Wong

Alan Wong is Lecturer in the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China (E-mail: [email protected]).