Key Concepts in Hospitality Management states that it is intended as a concise and accessible review of key hospitality concepts. Each chapter is structured in a similar manner containing, title/topic, a brief essay on the topic, suggested further readings and references on the topic. There are 35 topics covered in alpha order, ranging from traditional functional areas of operation to strategic topics and skill sets like innovation, service quality and women and gender in hospitality. The text also offers a comprehensive consolidated bibliography.
1 Target audience
The book is written in a straight forward manner and in brief essay format for each topic. It appears to be like a desk guide to the hospitality industry in many ways, offering definitions and perspective on topics by diverse authors. It is not as in-depth as some other “intro” books, e.g. Angelo and Vladmir (2011), Walker (2012) and Barrows et al. (2011) for example, but is an effective and quick read on diverse topics for the hospitality industry. The book could be a companion for a course providing a survey of hospitality topics and could also be a resource for tourism students to better enhance their understanding of the applied business side of the industry. Therefore, the book could be used at both the graduate and or undergraduate level and used to educate university administrators as to the complexities of the hospitality industry.
2 Main objectives
The main objectives of the book appear to be to provide a balanced description and discussion of current and relevant hospitality topics. In particular in the editor's introduction, it is noted that a competent general manager requires knowledge and skill sets that go beyond the norm. The book and its authors provide content and a snap shot of current issues and trends in our industry. For example, in the discussion of hospitality management education, the author correctly points out the long standing controversy concerning higher education's role in and with the hospitality industry.
In each topic, there is basic descriptive content and then a tie to further topics and or a more in depth concepts associated with the topic. The book almost reads as though one were using Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, which leads learners to pursue higher levels of thinking and learning in further study. For example, in the accommodation chapter the authors relate the accommodations topic sharing both knowledge and comprehension of this field and then tie it to real estate, franchising and management contracts, all more in depth topics for accommodations, implying learning needs that may be more analytical and or evaluative. Through the book one can identify all the functional departments of a hotel and or restaurant, accounting, finance, front desk, marketing etc… and related topics.
A subtheme in the book is also that of customer or guest and their decision making processes and how our industry facilitates guest needs to make a purchase. Topics such as consumer behavior and customer relationship management are significant components of the discussion and this emphasis is also stressed in essays on service and service quality. Trending topics include sustainability, women in hospitality, innovation, design, meal experience and others are also included. The topic of the internet examines distribution and social media while information technology is a standalone essay.
In the next to last chapter, strategy is highlighted and this topic is often seen as a type of capstone course or topic, where students are expected to bring all the functional departments and various skills sets together to make decisions. I knew a strategy professor once that said to me “I can always tell which students are in hospitality”. Her point was that hospitality students can see how all the departments, the skills and abilities needed to perform the tasks come together rand fit to make a business work. Thus a strategy essay placed at the end of the book seems good positioning to act as a type of capstone for the topics.
Finally, the last chapter highlights the role of women in hospitality. This is also an important topic in that many hospitality programs often have a large percentage of female students. On average in the United States I would estimate that most four year programs would estimate female enrollment at approximately 70 per cent. Many industry leaders are men and our industry has and will need to continue to adapt to changing demographics and a more diverse workforce.
3 Summary
The book provides a good collection of essays and resources that can assist students and their instructors to develop questions and issues to be discussed. The content is both accurate and timely. The alpha order of the book can make it more difficult to locate some topics. Though each essay begins with a see also sections for relating topics. This fact and a solid bibliography and recommended on line resources that are provided make this a good resource guide for hospitality industry students and professionals.
