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- Volume 11, Issue 2, 2021
Hospitality & Society - Volume 11, Issue 2, 2021
Volume 11, Issue 2, 2021
- Articles
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Mundane ideologies of (in)hospitality: A guided coach tour
By Paul LynchThis article explores impressions of welcome and non-welcome in relation to a guided day tour in mainland China. The study is contextualized with regard to hospitality as ethics and tourism as a stage where the struggle for hegemonic ideology occurs. It focuses upon the author’s cognitive and emotional reception of the guides’ narratives and explores the mundane ideologies of (in)hospitality present drawing upon analysis of autoethnographic notes captured through sociological impressionism. Elements of the narrative sustaining the (in)hospitality discourse are identified. The tour serves as an embodiment of national hospitality and the guide as an ideology refractor. Ideological hospitality is one of the conditioning elements embedded in the hospitality interaction. Consideration is given to how tours might be ‘rehumanized’ through a social justice and equity guiding philosophy and education. In so doing, the study contributes to discussion regarding the possibilities of a hospitable society.
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Corporate social responsibility in luxury hotels in Cusco (Peru) to benefit indigenous communities
Authors: Sandra Sotomayor, Natalia Ventes and Werner GronauResponsible tourism encompasses the protection and conservation of the natural and cultural heritage considered tourism resources, including traditional local communities. However, concerns among the hospitality industry favour the environmental dimension, while the sociocultural dimension still needs more attention. The present case study focuses on the ways in which luxury hotels, in the context of Cusco (Peru, South America), benefit the indigenous Quechua communities, located among the region, through corporate social responsibility (CSR) actions. Interviews with hotel representatives revealed a rather heterogeneous understanding among them regarding CSR-related concepts. However, in general, a growing interest and commitment in promoting actions to help the surrounding communities were noted. While various approaches towards the creation of community benefits were described, there was consensus regarding the perceived main challenge of working with communities being the time that it takes to build a strong relationship with community members due to initial sociocultural barriers. Main actions developed by these hotels included providing education, training, health and sanitation projects; prioritizing local fair-trade suppliers when available and of quality; and supporting local entrepreneurs. In addition, all hotels engaged in philanthropic activities. The study’s insight regarding hotels’ CSR activities demonstrates the diverse ways that the hospitality sector can contribute to the betterment of society.
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Implications of spirituality and Islamic Shari’a law for workers’ well-being in luxury hotels: A eudaimonic view
Authors: Tamer Koburtay and Abedelkareem AlzoubiThis article explores the extent to which luxury hotels operating in Jordan (Dead Sea) follow Islamic Shari’a law and offer spiritual facilities, and it aims to understand how this obligation (or otherwise) may enhance or adversely affect employees’ psychological well-being (PWB). This article draws on Ryff’s theory of PWB and Stephenson’s model of Islamic-spiritual hotels. Eighteen managers who were working in five-star hotels participated in this study, which follows a qualitative-inductive method. The results show that five-star hotels operating in Jordan (Dead Sea) do not adhere to the Islamic guidelines with the exception of serving halal food and not allowing gambling machines. However, they offer spiritual facilities for workers, and these facilities enhance Ryff’s six dimensions of well-being for workers. The findings show that compliance with Islamic Shari’a law and the availability of spiritual facilities enhance workers’ PWB. The importance of this article lies in presenting a fresh understanding of the linkages between spirituality in the workplace and employees’ PWB.
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Stakeholder theory in the hospitality field: Insights drawn from a systematic literature review
Authors: Simone R. Barakat and Elizabeth K. WadaThe purpose of this article is to review and analyse the state of stakeholder theory in hospitality scholarship in terms of its themes, contexts, theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches. The authors gathered and summarized relevant theory and empirical research findings that allowed for further theoretical insights to be drawn. A total of 91 articles published between 1984 and 2018 were analysed using a systematic literature review. The review indicates that stakeholder theory offers an important approach for understanding hospitality because of the following benefits: it leads to reflections on the interests and influences of all those involved in the value creation process; it is a holistic approach, integrating economic, social and ethical considerations; it adopts a relational approach rather than just a transactional approach and it provides a strategic framework that managers can use. The study’s findings show that stakeholder-related research remains underexplored in the hospitality field. There is, however, great potential for developing the theory by exploring the connections that exist between the principles of stakeholder theory and knowledge of hospitality. The article also provides suggestions for future applications of stakeholder theory in academic research and highlights its relevance to managerial practice.
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Exploring critical conceptual space in hospitality higher education
By Kelvin ZhangThis article employs criticality, a concept that embodies various intellectual values, to evaluate the forms and degree of criticality currently manifested in hospitality higher education. Criticality is discussed in relation to the academic well-being of hospitality as an academic subject. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 55 academics working in nine universities in the United Kingdom, capturing how they interpret criticality in relation to teaching hospitality courses and conducting hospitality research. The study revealed that conceptualizations of criticality in relation to the academic subject of hospitality largely occupy an uncritical conceptual space. Hospitality is restrictively understood with its commercial manifestations, namely ‘the hotel industry’, with alternative understandings of hospitality and hospitality offerings largely missing. The primary purpose of teaching criticality is perceived as an essential competency crucial for graduate employability. Critical research is perceived as studies that are relevant and applicable to ‘the hotel industry’. The conceptualizations of criticality revealed an unwelcoming academic community, whereby a dismissive attitude was expressed towards alternative approaches to the study of hospitality. With the prevalent neo-liberal influences on higher education, an uncritical conceptual space of hospitality raises serious concerns regarding the future development of hospitality as an academic subject in higher education.
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