Gunjan M. Sanjeev and Rumki Bandyopadhyay
This paper aims to provide an overview of the facts and trends relating to the innovations that are taking place in the Indian hospitality industry.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide an overview of the facts and trends relating to the innovations that are taking place in the Indian hospitality industry.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper draws facts and emerging trends from the existing literature and other reports. The paper also serves as an introduction to areas covered by theme issue contributors that are discussed in detail in their respective papers. All the papers bring out key findings after several rounds of discussion with practitioners.
Findings
Some of the key emerging areas are customer service, cost competitiveness, culinary management, revenue management and technology. The paper also suggests that it is important to understand how innovations are being managed across different functional departments and whether managers face barriers to the implementation of innovative ideas and processes.
Practical implications
The Indian hospitality industry continues to expand despite tough competition. But, it is imperative that hotels are able to find ways to differentiate their products and services and by innovating, it is possible to sustain and create new forms of differentiation. Given this reality, the paper is of interest to hoteliers and policy makers who want to know more about the emerging innovation trends in the Indian hospitality industry.
Originality/value
There is limited literature available on innovations in the Indian context. Further, all the papers in this theme issue were written after several rounds of interaction with practitioners so as to incorporate real-time, relevant and contemporary data.
Details
Keywords
The purpose of this paper is to explore the key challenges related to innovation in the hospitality industry specific to the ITC Welcome Group’s Fortune Park Centre Point…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the key challenges related to innovation in the hospitality industry specific to the ITC Welcome Group’s Fortune Park Centre Point, Jamshedpur. This paper also presents possible solutions to these challenges.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on a semi-structured interview with the General Manager, ITC Welcome Group’s Fortune Park Centre Point, Jamshedpur. The purpose was to explore an open-ended strategic question: what are the key challenges in the implementation of innovative ideas and practices in the hospitality industry? And what are the ways to improve the innovation processes in the hospitality industry?
Findings
The paper provides valuable information on hotel management and operations and outlines innovative solutions to key challenges in Fortune Park Centre Point, Jamshedpur.
Practical implications
The paper highlights the operative approaches to key challenges, especially the tailor-made training and philosophy for overcoming workforce barriers.
Originality/value
The paper draws on practitioner perspectives and observations to explain how Fortune Park Centre Point, Jamshedpur, secures operational success. This paper will be of interest to practitioners, educators, researchers, industry leaders and students.
Details
Keywords
Gunjan M. Sanjeev, Kanika Gupta and Rumki Bandyopadhyay
The purpose of this paper is to provide a practitioners' perspective on financial challenges prevalent in the Indian hospitality industry. The paper also makes an attempt to give…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a practitioners' perspective on financial challenges prevalent in the Indian hospitality industry. The paper also makes an attempt to give useful insights into possible solutions to the issues raised.
Design/methodology/approach
The study assimilates data from senior finance professionals from a spectrum of hotels in India. The study involves the collection of primary data through structured interviews.
Findings
The study highlights that some of the financial challenges faced by the Indian hospitality industry include high financing costs, multiplicity of taxes charged, licensing and legal issues, working capital issues and eroding margins. The study also gives some useful insights to the possible solutions to the challenges identified.
Research limitations/implications
This paper provides some very useful qualitative analysis of the contemporary challenges and their possible solutions prevalent in the Indian hospitality sector. The findings will be useful for hoteliers, policy makers and researchers to deliberate on the issues raised. However, it does not involve any quantitative analysis.
Originality/value
This study makes a sincere attempt to bring forth some real life issues, challenges and solutions which would be a good value addition to the existing literature.
Details
Keywords
Shachi Yadav, Rumki Bandyopadhyay, Gulam Rasul and Anudeep Rawal
The paper aims to explore the impact of socio‐cultural factors on pilgrimage tourism at Lotus Temple. This study also seeks to investigate the relationship of socio‐cultural…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to explore the impact of socio‐cultural factors on pilgrimage tourism at Lotus Temple. This study also seeks to investigate the relationship of socio‐cultural factors with the satisfaction level of tourists.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is based on questionnaire analysis from 196 respondents. The research approach is a mixed method comprising exploratory and descriptive research. The paper discusses the strengths of the Lotus Temple and challenges faced by the tourists.
Findings
It was found that travel motivations differ between foreign and domestic tourists. The study also demonstrates that socio‐cultural factors have a bearing on the overall satisfaction of tourists.
Practical implications
The results have implications for the development of a structured approach, to create a superior experience of the tourist at the Lotus Temple. The level of satisfaction and perception of socio‐cultural factors are critical issues, in making the pilgrimage an attractive tourist destination. This study illustrates that, the tourist's perception of socio‐cultural factors play a significant role on tourist satisfaction.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to an understanding of the factors affecting tourism at the Lotus Temple. This paper also offers a contribution to the varied perspectives on tourism in relation to socio‐cultural factors and levels of satisfaction.
Details
Keywords
Gunjan M. Sanjeev and Richard Teare
The paper aims to profile the theme issue of Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes titled “How is the need for innovation being addressed by the Indian hospitality industry?”…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to profile the theme issue of Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes titled “How is the need for innovation being addressed by the Indian hospitality industry?” with reference to the experiences of the theme editor, contributors from the industry and academia and the theme issue outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses structured questions to enable the theme editor to reflect on the rationale for their theme issue question, the starting-point, the selection of the writing team and material and the editorial process.
Findings
It highlights recent innovations that have taken place in the Indian hospitality industry especially in the areas of customer service, cost competitiveness, culinary management, revenue management and technology.
Practical implications
As hotel sector investment in India intensifies, this theme issue will be of interest to hoteliers, policy makers, analysts and others interested in the role that innovation can play in helping to facilitate differentiation between competing hotel products and services.
Originality/value
There is limited literature available on industry innovations in the Indian context. All the papers in this theme issue were written after several cycles of interaction between academics and practitioners and so they incorporate real–time, relevant and contemporary data.