This paper is based on “A review of the literature on the culture in hotel management research: What is the future?” by Chen, Cheung and Law in 2012. The fundamental paper provides insights into the previous research into culture in the hotel industry, and provides directions for future research. In previous studies, there is lack of clarity among researchers on the different terms used to describe culture, and it is difficult to define the boundaries between different levels of culture. Thus, the paper has summarized and made clearer grouping of the different types of culture into six categories: Corporate Culture, Industry Culture, National Culture, Organizational Culture, Cross-culture, and Multi-culture. The paper also investigates the years that those studies were published, and the geographic area which they were focusing in.
Among the six categories of culture, National Culture and Cross-culture is very important for nowadays hotel industry. Due to the trend of globalization, tourists are more eager to travel aboard. Hotel industry is an international industry, which serves guests from various countries and different cultural background. There is high chance for people from different cultural background to come together, resulting in cross-culture interaction.
Culture, National Culture and Cross-culture
Pettigrew, 1990 defined culture as general assumptions, values, and patterns of behavior. Cultural difference affects human behavior. Growing up in different cultural background, the values, habits, preferences hold may differ from person to person.
McCleary et al. (2006) discovered that many origin related significant differences relating to satisfaction with the destination, perceived value, service quality and intent to return. The difference in origin affecting people’s behavior has developed the term “national culture”. Hofstede (1990a) defined national culture as a system of values and beliefs learned during childhood. Via national
References: 2012 Economic Background and 2013 Prospects (2013). Retrieved December 3, 2013 from Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Financial Secretary 's Office Web site: http://www.hkeconomy.gov.hk/en/pdf/er_12q4.pdf Chen, X. Y., Cheung, C. & Law, R. (2012). A review of the literature on culture in hotel management research: What is the future?. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 31 (1), 52-65. Hsieh, A. T. & Tsai, C. W. (2009). Does national culture really matter? Hotel service perceptions by Taiwan and American tourists. International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, 3 (1), 54-69. Hong Kong Fact Sheets - Tourism (2013). Retrieved December 3, 2013 from Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Web site: http://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/tourism.pdf Ozdipciner, N. S., Li, X. P. & Uysal, M. (2012). Cross-cultural differences in purchase decision-making criteria. International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, 6 (1), 34-43. Tepeci, M. (2001). The effect of personal values, organizational culture, and person-organization fit on individual outcomes in the restaurant industry. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Pennsylvania State University. Tsang, K. F. (2007). Measuring service and service culture in the tourism industry. : Hong Kong Polytechnic University.