The hospitality business in Nigeria: issues, challenges and opportunities

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ogechi Adeola ◽  
Kennedy Ezenwafor
Keyword(s):  
Hospitality Industry ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Strategic Partnerships ◽  
Research Strategies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Hospitality Business ◽  
High Standards ◽  
Trickle Down

Purpose This paper aims to advance cooperation and collaboration as solutions to problems in the Nigerian hospitality industry. The issues and challenges plaguing the hospitality industry in Nigeria are discussed in the context of the case company, a small independent restaurant in Lagos. Design/methodology/approach Phenomenological research strategies guided the approach to this study. The authors identified a specific problem and gathered information, primarily through one-on-one interviews and a focus group, to learn how individuals within a defined industry experienced the ramifications of the phenomenon. Findings The operating environment of the hospitality sector in Nigeria has an effect on the supply of skills and the financial performance of the case restaurant and similar hospitality businesses. To improve overall performance of the industry, private-public partnerships between government agencies, hospitality colleges and hospitality businesses, strategic partnerships between expert hospitality institutions and business schools, cooperation among hospitality business owners and improvement in managerial practices could be strategic moves for an industry operating under heavy institutional hindrances peculiar to Nigeria. Research limitations/implications The authors analysed the environmental trickle-down effect that could impact the profits of the restaurant. Organisational qualities such as leadership styles, the psychology of employment and the operations or policies of the company are not viewed in this context. The issues of the restaurant and a few hospitality businesses in Lagos were flagged as a representation for the industry in Nigeria. Practical implications Predisposing factors contributing to the attributed negative trickle-down effect on the enabling business environment for the industry, strategic partnerships, attaining high standards for curriculum development at educational institutions and enhanced training, with the goal of assuring creditable skills within the hospitality industry. Originality/value This paper is among the first to examine the critical issues, challenges and opportunities facing the hospitality industry in Nigeria.

Customer service innovations in the Indian hospitality industry

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 416-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia Bharwani ◽  
David Mathews
Keyword(s):  
Customer Service ◽  
Hospitality Industry ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Indian Context ◽  
Physical Asset ◽  
Emotional Level ◽  
Shed Light

Purpose The hospitality industry the world over is transforming from a product-focused, physical-asset-intensive business to a customer-focused, experience-centric one. This research aims at evolving a typology of customer-centric hospitality innovations. It attempts to explicitly capture the intrinsic DNA of hospitality innovations in the Indian context by exemplifying the typology posited with customer service innovations adopted by contemporary hoteliers that provide new ways of managing and enhancing customer experience. Design/methodology/approach This study is based on primary research through qualitative interviews conducted with select hospitality professionals, supplemented by secondary research in the form of a review of academic literature, as well as other secondary data sources such as company websites and travel websites which shed light on customer service innovations in the Indian context. Findings To develop and sustain competitive advantage, hospitality businesses are increasingly channelizing their efforts to provide innovative and holistic experiential service offerings. Service innovations are being tailored to cater to the unique personal tastes and requirements of hotel guests to connect with individual guests on a personal and emotional level to create memorable hospitality experiences. Research limitations/implications Practitioners, researchers and educationists in the hospitality industry would find the implications of this study useful in the context of the present customer-centric business environment where hotels are constantly striving to meet the exponentially rising bar of guest expectations. Originality/value The research highlights that it is critical to keep the customers’ perspectives central while designing innovative hospitality products. Further, it is important to create a cadre of innovation champions and service enthusiasts who can engender a culture of service innovation within the organisation.

Scope for alternative avenues to promote financial access to MSMEs in developing nation evidence from India

2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 1210-1222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moinak Maiti
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Operating Cost ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Low Literacy ◽  
Literacy Rate ◽  
Financial Access ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Domestic Banks ◽  
Game Changer

Purpose The purpose of this study is to highlight the key challenges and opportunities that lie with some of the alternative avenues/tools to promote financial access to MSME in India. Design/methodology/approach Initially, the study discusses the scope of various alternative avenues/tools for MSME financing along with traditional bank SME credits, highlighting some of the factors that will boost the high performance and growth of MSME in future. Findings There is a dominance of domestic banks in the MSME financing over cross-border banks in India. The study finds several opportunities lie in the MSME financing for the banks and other alternative avenues/tools: friendly government policies and improving the legal system make the business environment suitable for MSME financing business. There are several obstacles like discrete presence of clients, high operating cost and low profitability, lack of proper risk management and low literacy rate that make MSME financing difficult for the SME finance business. Active government initiatives and other supporting factors will act as the game changer and promoter for the banks and other alternative avenues/tools for MSME financing. Originality/value The paper is original and brings out some valuable findings that will help the SME business clients to choose alternative access to finance.

Keeping the business afloat

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 216-220
Author(s):  
Max Menkiti ◽  
Trevor Ward
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Economies ◽  
Hospitality Industry ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Extensive Experience ◽  
Business Decisions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Informal Interview ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Boutique Hotels ◽  
Start Ups

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide first-hand experiences of running a hotel business in Nigeria from the perspective of an entrepreneur. Design/methodology/approach An informal interview was carried out via email. Max Menkiti is an entrepreneur in the hospitality industry with extensive experience in bootstrap start-ups and operations in the UK and Nigeria. He is currently the Director of Millennium Apartments and Studios in Lagos. Before that, he developed and operated the @venue series of boutique hotels. Max has over 11 years experience in the hospitality industry in Nigeria. Findings The interview offers valuable insights for researchers in hospitality industry entrepreneurship so as to understand the rationale for business decisions. Originality/value The backdrop for this paper is the business environment in Nigeria. The transcript makes available an insider’s view of the number and form of issues that entrepreneurs face in emerging economies.

scholarly journals New and novel business paradigms in and from China and India

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 758-800
Author(s):  
Justin Paul ◽  
Jane Menzies ◽  
Ambika Zutshi ◽  
Huifen Cai
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Behaviour ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Board Independence ◽  
Diplomatic Relations ◽  
Luxury Brands ◽  
Content Type ◽  
China And India ◽  
Emerging Country ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
New Business

Purpose This paper aims to identify and discuss new and novel business paradigms in China and India. In addition, this study examines the new business environment in those countries (2020 onwards) in the context of COVID 19 and explores the challenges and opportunities in the post COVID period. Design/methodology/approach Based on content analysis, this study discusses contemporary topics such as innovation, exports, foreign direct investment, technology, social capital, board independence as part of corporate governance and explores novel themes such as consumer behaviour in regard to luxury brands and women entrepreneurship in an emerging country context in this paper. Findings It was found that there are several novel paradigms in the context of China and India. A paradigm shift in diplomatic relations has taken place as an aftermath of COVID-19 in the world. Originality/value This paper explores most of the unique dimensions of new and novel paradigms in the context of China and India.

scholarly journals Regulating the sharing economy to prevent the growth of the informal sector in the hospitality industry

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (9) ◽  
pp. 2261-2278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin C. Williams ◽  
Ioana Alexandra Horodnic
Keyword(s):  
Informal Sector ◽  
Hospitality Industry ◽  
Sharing Economy ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Content Type ◽  
East European ◽  
Industry Regulation ◽  
Central Asian

Purpose To tackle one of the main negative consequences of the sharing economy, namely, the growth of the informal sector, the purpose of this paper is to evaluate for the first time the impacts of the informal sector on the hospitality industry and then to discuss what needs to be done to prevent the further growth of the informal sector in this industry. Design/methodology/approach To evaluate the impacts of the informal sector on the hospitality industry, data are reported from 30 East European and Central Asian countries collected in 2013 in the Business Environment and Enterprise Performance Survey. Findings The finding is that 23 per cent of hotels and restaurants in Eastern Europe and Central Asia report competing against unregistered or informal operators, and 13 per cent view these informal competitors as a major or severe obstacle. The larger the business, the greater is the likelihood that the informal sector is considered their biggest obstacle. Practical implications To prevent the further growth of the informal sector in the hospitality industry, regulation of the sharing economy will be required. To achieve this, it is shown that state authorities need to adopt both direct control measures that alter the costs of operating in the informal sector and the benefits and ease of operating formally, as well as indirect control measures that reduce the acceptability of operating in the informal sector. Originality/value This is the first paper to evaluate the impacts of the informal sector on the hospitality industry and to outline the policy measures required to prevent its further growth with the advent of the sharing economy.

A wearable technology solution and research agenda for housekeeper safety and health

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia Mejia ◽  
Katherine Ciarlante ◽  
Kinjal Chheda
Keyword(s):  
Research Agenda ◽  
Hospitality Industry ◽  
Wearable Technology ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Worker Safety ◽  
Holistic View ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Consumer Safety ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Hospitality And Tourism

Purpose Adopting an interdisciplinary perspective, the purpose of this paper was to posit an industry-wide technological intervention for hotel housekeeper safety and health through the advancement of wearable technology. Design/methodology/approach Using the task-technology fit (TTF) model and examples of successful safety and health applications of wearable technologies in the health-care and construction management industries, interventions and future research directions are presented to address workplace hazards experienced by hotel housekeepers. Findings The fit between a variety of hotel housekeeper user requirements, task demands and wearable functions are explored with justification for the use of wearable devices to improve safety and health-related outcomes. Research limitations/implications A research agenda is proposed for the adoption and use of wearables in the hospitality industry with the intention to generate meaningful interventions beyond corporate wellness, and the mitigation of employee privacy concerns to enhance wearable adoption. Practical implications Given the importance of consumer safety and health assurance in a post-pandemic business environment, hospitality and tourism organizations should place greater emphasis on protecting front line employees who will be essential in regaining economic viability. Social implications Theoretical and practical foci should move beyond a simplistic view of hospitality and tourism worker safety and health that generally centers on wellness initiatives and other baseline strategies, toward a more holistic view benefitting the hospitality industry. Originality/value Extant concerns about hotel housekeeper safety and health, in addition to new concerns and threats in a post-pandemic work environment, are largely understudied and worthy of investigation.

Techno-business strategies for enhancing guest experience in luxury hotels: a managerial perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia Bharwani ◽  
David Mathews
Keyword(s):  
Hospitality Industry ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Luxury Hotels

Purpose This research aims at understanding techno-based strategies deployed by the hospitality industry by exploring the emerging technological product and process innovations that are actively being used in the hospitality space to deliver enhanced guest experiences. It also aims at gaining perspective about the challenges of technology adoption faced by the Indian luxury hotels that have traditionally been driven by high-touch, unscripted and personalised service. Design/methodology/approach This paper adopted a two-pronged methodology for data collection – in-depth semi-structured interviews with General Managers of Luxury Hotels in India and literature-based innovation output (LBIO). NVivo12 software was used to carry out a qualitative thematic analysis of the data. The primary data collected was then triangulated with secondary data gathered through literature review of academic papers, industry reports and studies on the use of technology for enhancing and co-creating customer experience in luxury hotels. Findings The research brings in to focus the importance of technology and high-tech, state-of-the-art tools in facilitating the co-creation and delivery of experiences in the context of luxury hospitality. However, it also emphasises that the high-touch dimension is the core of hospitality in luxury and premium hotels and should remain the primary driver of this segment. Luxury hotels will have to fine-tune and tailor their services and provide the right mix of high-tech and high-touch, depending on the micro-niche segments to which they cater. Practical implications Practitioners, researchers and educationists in the hospitality industry would find the implications of this study useful in context of the evolving technology imperative and the present customer-centric business environment where hotels are constantly striving to meet the exponentially rising bar of guest expectations. Originality/value This study is the one of the few empirical explorations of the techno-based strategies adopted by luxury hotels for co-creating enhanced and high-value experiences leading to critical implications for both hospitality and tourism theory and practice.

Entrepreneurship and engineering: the triumph of All India Warehousing Private Ltd

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Ankush Guha ◽  
Saroj Koul
Keyword(s):  
Operations Management ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
Company Performance ◽  
Organizational Capability ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Management Students ◽  
Almost All

Title – Entrepreneurship and engineering: the triumph of All India Warehousing Private Ltd. Subject area – Operations management. Study level/applicability – Logistics, Warehousing, India. Case overview – Joy Banerjee and Gaurav Tripathi have recently joined as Managers in the Planning Department at All India Warehousing Private Limited (AIWPL). Their on-job training is completed. They have met with almost all the officials at the warehouse, have interacted with labour to understand the company and its functions, and are planning to meet Kamlesh Patel, their Managing Director, to discuss the challenges and opportunities and to suggest strategies. Will they be able to make a satisfactory presentation to Kamlesh Patel on the company performance and the parameters that are going to be crucial to AIWPL ' s continued success? This case study may prove useful to practicing managers and management students on understanding the working of a family run private warehouse, business environment in the warehousing sector, use of technology and organizational capability to manage multi-product, multi-location warehouses. Expected learning outcomes – To illustrate typical organizational responsibility structure at a private warehousing site. To illustrate the planning and administrative control mechanism in implementing strategy at a warehousing site. Offer students opportunity to understand and take view of a typical operational (project) structure. Opportunity for students to speculate adaptations in the wake of ever-changing business and company environment. Opportunity to introduce Logistic Scenario in India, warehousing technology and relate with the case in context. Supplementary materials – Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email [email protected] to request teaching notes.

Life is better in flip flops. Digital nomads and their transformational travels to Thailand

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marko Orel
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Hospitality Industry ◽  
Hybrid Approach ◽  
Preliminary Review ◽  
Exact Nature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Design Elements ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The metamorphosis within the Thai segment of the hospitality industry has influenced the global outlook for hospitality services, shifting the focus from leisure to a hybrid approach of providing all-inclusive work-leisure offerings. The purpose of this paper is, therefore, to outline the hybridisation of the hospitality industry in Thailand that is frequented by digital nomads, and to discuss the adaptation of local infrastructure to accommodate this trend. Design/methodology/approach Taking the form of a research note, this paper assesses the impact that digital nomads are having upon the hospitality industry in Thailand, and describes how different localities have begun to respond to the challenges and opportunities this trend presents. Additionally, the paper proposes an empirical study that would evaluate the success of various types of work–leisure hubs in adapting to the needs of digital nomads, and the alignment of their offerings with the expectations of these travellers. Findings A preliminary review of available resources reveals that there are a variety of work–leisure spaces catering to the needs of digital nomads. These spaces tend to combine lodging accommodations with a shared office environment, incorporating design elements and social activities that are likely to foster interpersonal relationships between guests. Be that as it may, the exact nature of the work–leisure space models behind these environments is unclear. Originality/value The paper envisions a study that will enhance scholarly understanding of the transformation which the Thai hospitality industry is currently undergoing in response to the influx of digital nomads. These insights will enable industry experts to assess both the feasibility and profitability of diverse work-leisure models, and assist policymakers in different jurisdictions.

Data science for business: benefits, challenges and opportunities

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauricius Munhoz de Medeiros ◽  
Norberto Hoppen ◽  
Antonio Carlos Gastaud Maçada
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Performance Management ◽  
Data Science ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Business Organizations ◽  
Data Governance ◽  
Economic Sectors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities

Purpose This paper aims to identify the benefits of data science (DS) for organizations, highlighting the challenges and opportunities related to developing this capability. Design/methodology/approach Initially, a literature review was performed. Later, empirical data were collected through a structured electronic interview answered by 211 informants, who are most experienced managers of medium and large organizations from different economic sectors, and data were submitted to content analysis. Findings The most frequently observed benefits are as follows: support for data analysis and insight generation with agility; creation of a data-driven culture; improvement of data quality; facilitating the understanding of the business environment, opportunity sensing; and organizational performance management. The most observed challenges are as follows: data-driven culture; DS training; allocation of investments in analytical technologies; and data governance and strategy. Research limitations/implications In addition, to mapping the state of the art on the subject, it contributes to the expansion of scientific knowledge through the identification and disclosure of 11 benefit indicators and 16 challenge indicators associated with analytical capabilities. Practical implications To transform data into information and add value to the business, organizations need to make efforts to enable executive mindset change, the formulation of strategies and governance mechanisms gave the renewal of workforce competencies and the allocation of investments in information technology. Originality/value A vast body of empirical evidence is gathered that consolidates different views on the benefits and challenges associated with DS for business.

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