Strategic growth challenges for the Indian hotel industry

Purpose - The purpose of the study is to explore the strategic growth challenges for the hospitality industry in the context of India. As the tourism industry is growing, Indian and global firms face new challenges which need to be addressed. Design/methodology/approach - The study involved obtaining practitioner insights by conducting an industry round table discussion with senior managers who are in leadership positions with international and national hotel brands. The data so collected were then corroborated by a literature review. Findings - The major challenges are in the domains of human resources (in terms of skill and knowledge base), land acquisitions, technology deployment as a strategic tool and understanding the dynamics of new generation consumers. Practical implications - The paper has policy implications for both industry practitioners and government bodies setting up governing mechanisms for this industry segment. Originality/value - There is very little formally documented research in the domain of hospitality management in an Indian context. This holds significance for other growing economies as well.