Leadership competencies required for future hotel general managers' success in Thailand

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: The objective of this study is to determine the leadership competencies essential for success as a hotel general manager in Thailand. This study involved a cross-sectional design to collect data. After a review of the literature, a survey instrument was developed from previous research to conduct this study. Data was collected through a mail questionnaire. Descriptive statistical methods, such as distribution analysis, were used to analyze the characteristics of the respondents and their organization. Principal component analysis with varimax rotation was employed in exploratory factor analysis. Then, an independent-sample t-test and F test were used to investigate mean score differences in the leadership competencies necessary for success as a general manager in hotels in Thailand among different demographic characteristics of the respondents.

Findings and Conclusions: The study derived eleven factors necessary competencies for the future success of general managers. Amongst all the eleven factors, competency in team building and ethics was rated highest by the respondents, followed by managing stakeholders, leadership, communication, planning and implementation, motivation, concern for community, strategic orientation, flexibility, risk-taking and challenging others. The different demographic characteristics of the respondents (e.g. gender, age, education level, and expatriate status) and their organizations (e.g. the size, star-rating, number of employees, type of the hotel) had an effect on the leadership competencies necessary for success as a general manager in hotels in Thailand.

The results of this study confirmed previous research. Hotel general managers in Thailand have a strong tendency to be transformational leaders primarily based on the characteristics of Thai culture and interpersonal interactions. They have an awareness of participative leadership styles, which previous studies identified as the most effective leadership style for the hospitality industry; but in some demographics especially the smaller operations with less education managers are inclined to use an autocratic approach to leadership.