Hotel Leadership Competencies: Senior Executive Leader Perspectives

The emergence of new technologies, globalization, evolving customer demands, and a changing workforce profile in the hotel industry prompted this exploratory investigation on leadership competencies for hotels. Using qualitative research methods, senior executive leaders from major hotel companies in the lodging industry were interviewed and through analysis, eighteen hotel leadership competencies emerged. Many competencies found in this study were consistent with previous research, while several new competencies were identified including, the proficient use of technology and social media, being adept at working in accelerated timeframes, ability to deliver learning based on workforce expectations, being accessible and available, and acting with authenticity