Gender Diversity in Tourism and Hospitality Business - Essay Example

Gender Diversity in Tourism and Hospitality Business Name Institution Gender Diversity in Tourism and Hospitality Business Globalization concepts have led to increased interaction between and among people of different backgrounds and cultures on a daily basis. The concept of globalization has further been reinforced by the innovation and inventions of technology that support many aspects making the concept of globalization a reality. The increased interaction of people has thus resulted to increased cultural differences noted in the course of such interactions. The subject of culture and diversity has thus been taken with much seriousness and incorporated the business values and principles for many business that operate either at the local level or international level especially related to tourism and hospitality industry among other service industry. Humanity has experienced differences in terms of race, religion, gender, cultures, ethnicity, disability and socioeconomic status among others that have made people different and diverse. Such attributes have played a critical role as far as diversity is considered where businesses have incorporated them in decision-making relating to operational and management processes of business in the world not only related to tourism and hospitality industry but also other sectors. However, this paper analyzes gender as a form of diversity stating it impacts to tourism and hospitality business. Description of the gender form of diversity Gender diversity occurs when people from the male and female genders are included as part of the workforce of an organization. It entails having people from the different genders in all levels of administration and management of the business in both the senior and junior levels not only in tourism and hospitality industries but also other organizations in different sectors. Many societies in the past had been described as patriarchal societies that the male gender had dominated many fields that touch on the social, political and economic aspects in the societies. However, with time many changes and reforms occurred in a society that touched on all aspects including economics where business among other sector had to comply with the global trends that advocated for change and reforms of the status quo to include the gender equity principles (Zgheib, 2015). The feminist’s movements were in the front line advocating for such changes to include gender representation in development aspects of the society. Institutions both at the local and international level also embraced the ideas of gender equity and representation, as noted in the policies and laws, developed that govern the operations of such institutions. The diversity related to gender hence became an important aspect and consideration in many issues in the society in all aspects of developments in the society that touch on economic, political as well as social matters of development in the society. Benefits and gains from gender form of diversity in tourism and hospitality businesses The tourism and hospitality business would gain and benefit in many ways by incorporating gender diversity among its operations and workforce. The hospitality and tourism industry experience many guests and clients that come from all parts of the world. The tourism and hospitality business that would embrace gender diversity in its workforce and business would create a positive image to those clients as the issue has become an international concern (Hayes & Ninemeier, 2009). It would make the client feel and rank the hotel highly, which will create a more positive image for the tourism and hospitality business that have gender diversity. They would know that the business that incorporate the gender diversity conform to the international standards and requirements that guide many contemporary societies. It would also provide options for the clients to choose the gender and services offered as some would be comfortable working or being served with certain genders bearing in mind that the cultural differences in the world communities value issues of gender greatly and have a unique culture that relate to gender. Incorporating the diversity gender in such tourism and hospitality business hence would place it at a better position to become successful business and provide satisfaction to the clients. The diverse gender thus would help such business overcome possible cultural barriers related to gender (Petrović, Jovanović, Marković, Armenski & Marković, 2014). Furthermore, the administrators of such business have to understand the backgrounds knowledge of their clients and how they interpret the issues of gender to determine the services offered to such clients. Many societies in the present times have rules, regulations, and policies that enhance gender equity principles in their operations including the workforce. The business thus would avoid negative publication from such authorities and agencies that look into issues of gender representation and create a good image for business developments. It would also help such business avoid being blacklisted as noncompliant and avoid possible fines and consequences that might result from such noncompliance. It would eliminate time wasted on engaging in cases and tribunals and focus on business operations and administration leading to faster growth and expansion of the business. The incorporation of diverse gender on such business in the tourism and hospitality industry would add a broader pool for decision-making as the workers from diverse genders would presents varied views and positions in relation to the business operations and hence create the possibility of making informed decisions in issue relating to gender for the clients and different cultural backgrounds (Williams & Dellinger, 2010). Businesses in the noted industry thus would benefits and gain in many ways as discussed when they include gender diversity among their operations and activities. Costs and consequences to businesses not accounting for gender form of diversity Businesses in the tourism and hospitality industry that fail to incorporate issues of gender among their activities and operations would make it hard for them to realize their business goals and objectives. The first challenge is when they only employ people of one gender in their operations. They would create a negative image to their clients as the business that does not reciprocate to the global trends. It would create a picture of discrimination, stereotyping and prejudice and hence make it difficult for clients in such business to rate and rank them in the highest category. It would make it difficult to attract clients as such ranking help many clients make decisions whether to visit such places or not (Strachan, French & Burgess, 2010). It would also increase the chance of such business conflicting with authority and agencies that regulate issues of gender among others diversity inclusion in workplaces. There are policies and regulations formulated by the authorities that require a business to incorporate issues of diversity of different nature in their business. The licenses of such business might be canceled when they do not comply with such directives and hence create more challenges for the business to realize their full potential. The possibility of making biased and an informed decisions on issue touching on gender are also high when issues of gender diversity are left out by such business and this can lead to losing of clients as services might not satisfy the clients who are sensitive to issue of gender and diverse views from different gender perception (Eshegbe & Dastane, 2015). When a negative image is created in any business, it would prove difficult to restore the image of the enterprise and it presents a possibility of such business using more money to improve its tarnished image through public relations exercises as well as advertisements to attract clients. It makes running such business expensive and the costs of operations would increase and be much higher than when compared to others that do include genders issues. It would thus reduce the profits of such tourism and hospitality business that do not factor issues of gender in their operations. It would also limit them implement sensitive cultural services that require and consider gender issues (Petrović et al., 2014). There are many clients that value and consider gender sensitive cultural aspects, and when such businesses lack the diversity related to genders, it becomes difficult to implement such services and, as a result, lose business running into losses in the long run. Actions businesses could take to improve their position in gender form of diversity There are numerous actions that business can take in order to improve their position in the form of gender diversity. The first action is developing policies and principles that consider issues of gender in their recruitment processes. It should happen in all levels of work and hierarchy in the organizations. The organizations should also study and research on the diverse clients that they have on the way they treat and take the issue of gender and then designs programs and methods of services offered that incorporate such expectations from the client (Camillo, 2015). Businesses in the noted field should also join members and groups of tourism and hospitality industry so that they can share and discusses the contemporary trends happening in the industry. From such discussions, it would provide an in-depth information and enlightenment from the competitors on the benefits that result from inclusion of gender diversity in their operations. Such associations in most instances create the standards that members have to meet to maintain the business values and improve services to their clients. In conclusion, issues of diversity have proved vital in the present times that the concept of globalization has resulted to increased interaction of human beings from diverse cultural backgrounds. Business has also gone international compelling a change of strategies to change and incorporate the issue of diversity in order to remain competitive, and tourism and hospitality business are no exception. Gender diversity in the business has proved to offer many benefits when incorporated and hence business should embrace the idea to help them realize their goals and objectives with ease. References Camillo, A. (2015). Handbook of Research on Global Hospitality and Tourism Management. Hershey, PA : Business Science Reference, an imprint of IGI Global. Eshegbe, J. W.& Dastane, O. (2015). Diversity Elements in the Workplace: A Study on Diversity Factors at Workplace in Hotels at Klang Valley Malaysia. International Journal of Accounting, Business and Management, 1(1): 1-26. Hayes, D. K., & Ninemeier, J. D. (2009). Human Resources Management in the Hospitality Industry. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley & Sons. Petrović, M.D., Jovanović, T., Marković, J. J., Armenski, T. & Marković, V. (2014). Why Should Gender Differences in Hospitality Really Matter? A Study of Personnel’s Service Orientation and Job Satisfaction in Hotels. Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, 27(1): 799–817. Strachan, G., French, E., and Burgess, A. (2010). Managing Diversity in Australia: Theory and Practice. Sydney: McGraw-Hill. Williams, C. L., & Dellinger, K. (2010). Gender and Sexuality in the Workplace. Bingley: Emerald. Zgheib, P. (2015). Business Ethics and Diversity in the Modern Workplace. Hershey, PA : Business Science Reference, an imprint of IGI Global. Read More