Article 2025

Charting the Course in the Digital Transformation: Navigating the Intersection of the Hospitality Industry and Education

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Education
Journal · Vol. 37 · Issue 2 · pp. 214-227
Abstract

The hospitality industry faces ever-evolving challenges and revolutions in the digital era. This study explores how the extensive incorporation of new technology necessitates specific transformations in practices within the hospitality industry. It further examines the desired competencies that educators should focus on in their hospitality curriculum design. By conducting semi-structured interviews with 17 hotel executive managers residing in Macao, guided by TTF theory, the study proposed a holistic framework for hospitality curriculum design in the digital era by considering the alignment of technology integration and desired competencies in the hospitality industry. The results suggest that courses that can enhance students’ soft competencies should be retained, while courses that can cultivate advanced communication skills should be strengthened; it further highlights subjects related to data analytics, strategic decision-making, and AI applications should be added to the curriculum. Theoretical and practical contributions were discussed. © 2024 ICHRIE.

Keywords

Author Keywords

digital transformation ICT Hospitality education human and intelligent system collaboration service automation

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
Shanghai Business School, Shanghai, Shanghai, China
Faculty of Creative Tourism and Intelligent Technologies, Macao University of Tourism, Macau, China
Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Funding & Acknowledgements
No funding information
References 10 References
1 Adeyinka-Ojo, Samuel Folorunso, Hospitality and tourism education in an emerging digital economy, Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, 12, 2, pp. 113-125, (2020)
2 Alexakis, George, Industry Competencies and the Optimal Hospitality Management Curriculum: An Empirical Study, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Education, 31, 4, pp. 210-220, (2019)
3 El Archi, Youssef, The Applications of Technology Acceptance Models in Tourism and Hospitality Research: A Systematic Literature Review, Journal of Environmental Management and Tourism, 14, 2, pp. 379-391, (2023)
4 Bowen, John T., Beware hospitality industry: the robots are coming, Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, 10, 6, pp. 726-733, (2018)
5 Buhalis, Dimitrios, Smart hospitality—Interconnectivity and interoperability towards an ecosystem, International Journal of Hospitality Management, 71, pp. 41-50, (2018)
6 Busulwa, Richard, Digital transformation and hospitality management competencies: Toward an integrative framework, International Journal of Hospitality Management, 102, (2022)
7 Citak, Joanna, A note on the applications of artificial intelligence in the hospitality industry: Preliminary results of a survey, Procedia Computer Science, 192, pp. 4552-4559, (2021)
8 Clarke, Victoria, Thematic analysis, Journal of Positive Psychology, 12, 3, pp. 297-298, (2017)
9 Journal of Sustainable Tourism and Entrepreneurship, (2020)
10 Dewey, John, Experience and education, Educational Forum, 50, 3, pp. 242-252, (1986)
Quick Actions
Full Text via DOI
Citation Metrics
2
Times Cited (Scopus)

References 10
Document Identifiers