The tourism industry, of which the hospitality industry is the core element, is one of the largest and the fastest growing industries world-wide. According to World Tourism Organisation forecasts, the industry will continue to grow and employ more people in the twenty-first century. In parallel with the growth of the tourism and hospitality industry world-wide, consumer expectations and demands for quality are rising while consumer tastes are varying on the one hand, and competition among the firms, both nationally and internationally, is intensifying on the other. In this business environment of heightened consumer expectations, distinct market segments that demand unique products and services, and stiff competition, tourism and hospitality organisations are looking for ways to excel in service quality, customer satisfaction, competition and performance. This book takes the view that employees are one of the most, if not the most, important resources or assets for tourism and hospitality organisations in their endeavour to provide excellent service, meet and exceed consumer expectations, achieve competitive advantage and exceptional organisational performance. The purpose of this book is to emphasise the critical role of employees for tourism and hospitality organisations and to examine the ways and means of managing their attitudes and behaviours for the mutual benefit of both parties: tourism and hospitality organisations and their employees.

The hospitality and tourism sector is an increasingly significant contributor to GDP worldwide, as well as a key source of employment in developing regions. Drawing on contemporary research, this Handbook provides a provocative review of the major human resource challenges facing the hospitality and tourism sector today.

Improving positive and reducing negative organizational behaviors in businesses are important in terms of organizational success as this will lead to an increase in employee organizational commitment and job satisfaction. Considering that the tourism industry has such a dynamic structure, it is obvious that behavioral issues in the industry need to be scrutinized. Organizational Behavior Challenges in the Tourism Industry is a collection of innovative research that aims to explore relevant theoretical frameworks in terms of organizational behavior issues and provides the opportunity for tourism organizations to understand their employees’ behavior. While highlighting topics including emotional labor, deviant behavior, and organizational cynicism, this book is ideally designed for hotel managers, tour directors, restaurateurs, travel agents, business managers, professionals, researchers, academicians, and students.

At last, a comprehensive, systematically organized Handbook which gives a reliable and critical guide to all aspects of one of the world′s leading industries: the hospitality industry. The book focuses on key aspects of the hospitality management curriculum, research and practice bringing together leading scholars throughout the world. Each essay examines a theme or functional aspect of hospitality management and offers a critical overview of the principle ideas and issues that have contributed, and continue to contribute, within it. Topics include: • The nature of hospitality and hospitality management • The relationship of hospitality management to tourism, leisure and education provision • The current state of development of the international hospitality business • The core activities of food, beverage and accommodation management • Research strategies in hospitality management • Innovation and entrepreneurship trends • The role of information technology The SAGE Handbook of Hospitality Management constitutes a single, comprehensive source of reference which will satisfy the information needs of both specialists in the field and non-specialists who require a contemporary introduction to the hospitality industry and its analysis. Bob Brotherton formerly taught students of Hospitality and Tourism at Manchester Metropolitan University. He has also taught Research Methods to Hospitality and Tourism students at a number of international institutions as a visiting lecturer; Roy C. Wood is based in the Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development, India