Addressing Strategic Hospitality Leadership Issues In Asia’s Fast-growing Tourism and Hospitality Industry

The exponential growth projected for the tourism industry in the Asia Pacific will pose a myriad of opportunities for hospitality businesses. While this provides great growth potential for the hospitality industry, businesses face complex challenges from the diverse and multifaceted regulatory environments; variations in the business climate; multiple cultural, religious and social values; varied political climates and the vast differences in business practices in Asia. These factors – which can make or break tourism and hospitality ventures – are explored in the timely new book, “Strategic Hospitality Leadership: The Asian Initiative” (ISBN: 978-0-470-82432-0).

Edited by Dr. Russell Arthur Smith (Interim Dean of Cornell-Nanyang Institute of Hospitality Management (CNI) in the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore) and Dr. Judy A. Siguaw (Dean of the College of Human Ecology at East Carolina University, United States), Strategic Hospitality Leadership is a compendium contributed by alumni of the Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, faculty from CNI and members of its Joint Advisory Board. The contributors come from or are based in various countries such as Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Vietnam and the United States. Together, the book distills invaluable knowledge and experiences of these contributors who are C-level and senior management executives of successful hotels and resorts, serviced apartments, restaurants, and food and beverage groups across Asia.

Drawing on their collective wisdom, it provides the first specialized approach to the business of hospitality in Asia, which fills a critical gap in written work on this topic. Among the issues discussed are:

• Pursuing the Right Strategic Direction (by Baron R. Ah Moo)
• Achieving Successful Development Planning (by Russell Arthur Smith)
• Creating a Welcoming Service Strategy (by Raymond Bickson)
• Winning Ways to Successful Portfolio Management (by William E. Heinecke)
• Strengthening Brand Management and Value (by Michael Issenberg)
• Venturing Into an Asian Market Competitively (by Devin Kimble)
• Achieving Great Business Growth (by Chiaki Tanuma)
• Managing Crises Effectively (by Chittimas Ketvoravit)
• Establishing Strategic Human Resource (by Choe Peng Sum)
• Being an Inspiring Leader (by Jennie Chua)
• Developing and Implementing Best Practices (by Judy Siguaw)
• Looking Ahead at Hospitality Trends in Asia (by Russell Arthur Smith)

The book Editors, Dr Smith and Dr Siguaw said: “Doing business in the tourism and hospitality scene in Asia can be very interesting and potentially rewarding. The dynamic environment is fueled by escalating affluence, greater sophistication, improving infrastructure, better education, and a more welcoming climate for both local and foreign companies. Strategic Hospitality Leadership will help current and future leaders address major issues that are being and will continue to be confronted in the hospitality industry in Asia. We hope this book will increase the success of new entrants in the region. We also hope that this first CNI-published book will become a must-read for all practitioners, academic staff and students who are interested in the fast-growing tourism and hospitality industry in Asia”.

Several hospitality leaders have welcomed the publication of this book. Among them is Captain CP Krishnan Nair, Chairman, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, India who said: “A first of its kind, the book Strategic Hospitality Leadership captures the captivating journeys of hospitality leaders into the fastest growing tourism markets in the world. Filled with lessons learned from firsthand experiences, this book provides invaluable insight into the challenging yet fulfilling markets of Asia and highlights successful strategies that are unique to the region. I recommend this book as a must-read for both seasoned and aspiring hoteliers who wish to foray into the fascinating world of Asian hospitality and seize the vast opportunities that Asia provides”.

Another hotelier, Hirohide Abe, Vice President, Hyatt Japan shared: “Strategic Hospitality is an invaluable collection of write-ups from highly respected entrepreneurs and business leaders in Asia’s hospitality and tourism industry. In this book, the contributors give us insight on Asia’s unique and diversified business and market. They also share their wisdom and expertise on strategic and practical approached to become successful in this booming sector”.

Additional information on the book is available at: .