Reflections on the theme issue outcomes: How is the need for innovation being addressed by the Indian hospitality industry?

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to profile the theme issue of Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes titled “How is the need for innovation being addressed by the Indian hospitality industry?” with reference to the experiences of the theme editor, contributors from the industry and academia and the theme issue outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses structured questions to enable the theme editor to reflect on the rationale for their theme issue question, the starting-point, the selection of the writing team and material and the editorial process.

Findings

It highlights recent innovations that have taken place in the Indian hospitality industry especially in the areas of customer service, cost competitiveness, culinary management, revenue management and technology.

Practical implications

As hotel sector investment in India intensifies, this theme issue will be of interest to hoteliers, policy makers, analysts and others interested in the role that innovation can play in helping to facilitate differentiation between competing hotel products and services.

Originality/value

There is limited literature available on industry innovations in the Indian context. All the papers in this theme issue were written after several cycles of interaction between academics and practitioners and so they incorporate real–time, relevant and contemporary data.

Citation

Sanjeev, G.M. and Teare, R. (2016), "Reflections on the theme issue outcomes: How is the need for innovation being addressed by the Indian hospitality industry?", Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, Vol. 8 No. 4, pp. 504-510. https://doi.org/10.1108/WHATT-05-2016-0028