Georges El Hajal | NHL Stenden University (original) (raw)

Papers by Georges El Hajal

Journal of Tourism Futures, 2024

The Rethinking Hospitality webinar, held on June 18, 2024, at Hotel Management School Leeuwarden,... more The Rethinking Hospitality webinar, held on June 18, 2024, at Hotel Management School Leeuwarden, examined hospitality's evolving role in society and education. Speakers highlighted key themes: social equity and sustainability through the HOST framework (Prof. Anil Bilgihan), regenerative hospitality (Assoc. Prof. Alessandro Inversini), food as a cultural connector (Dr. Eerang Park), and design-based education for future skills (Assoc. Prof. Hanneke Assen). The event concluded with a call to expand hospitality beyond commercial aspects, fostering authenticity, cultural sensitivity, and social and environmental responsibility.

Current Issues in Tourism , 2024

This exploratory study investigates artificial intelligence (AI) integration’s potential impact o... more This exploratory study investigates artificial intelligence (AI) integration’s potential impact on the future of talent management in tourism and hospitality. Using the scenario planning method and Dator’s Alternative Futures Framework, four 2035 alternative scenarios were constructed. These scenarios served as a foundation for 3 group and 30 individual scenario-planning sessions with international industry experts and academics, epistemologically aligning the process with exploring the uncertain future of AI. The thematic analysis of the data underscored the importance of balanced integration that enhances rather than replaces human roles. Ethical considerations, the human-centric essence of tourism and hospitality, and the need for ongoing education and skill development in response to AI advancements were considered central. This study’s novel contribution is a conceptual framework to guide AI integration in tourism and hospitality talent management, contributing to the theoretical and practical understanding of AI’s role in talent management.

Research in Hospitality Management , 2024

The Hotel Management School Leeuwarden and the European Tourism Futures Institute organised a web... more The Hotel Management School Leeuwarden and the European Tourism Futures Institute organised a webinar to discuss and explore how artificial intelligence (AI) will impact the hospitality and tourism industry in the future. The webinar brought together a panel of academics, including Professor Iis Tussyadiah from the University of Surrey, Professor Stanislav Ivanov from the Varna University of Management, and Frederik Jan van der Meulen from Hotel Management School Leeuwarden, to discuss the multifaceted applications of AI in the industry. The speakers shared their insights through a series of presentations, underscoring AI integration’s strategic, economic and sustainability aspects. AI is presented as a critical element in enhancing customer experiences, optimising operational processes, and shaping the industry’s future landscape. The speakers discussed the role of generative AI in improving the industry’s resilience, the economic implications of AI’s integration and the challenges and strategies for sustainable AI adoption. This webinar goes beyond traditional AI debates by analysing AI’s strategic function in future-proofing hospitality and tourism businesses, its economic impact and its role in sustainability. The speakers’ crucial insights can help the hospitality and tourism industry embrace AI, highlighting the delicate balance between innovation, ethics and sustainability. This webinar’s extensive discussion of AI as a tool for efficiency and industry transformation makes it valuable for academics and industry professionals.

Journal of Human resources in Hospitality & tourism, 2024

Talent management is crucial to the success of the hospitality industry, with its impact on the i... more Talent management is crucial to the success of the hospitality industry, with its impact on the industry's ability to attract, develop and retain talent. This paper examines talent management challenges and opportunities in preparing Generation Z students for future work using semi-structured focus groups with a sample of 55 participants from the Dutch hospitality industry (industry professionals, teaching staff, and students). Findings highlight flexibility, open communication, growth opportunities, technology integration, and teamwork as critical for engaging Generation Z. The importance of modernizing educational curricula, prioritizing experiential learning, and encouraging collaboration between education providers, the industry, and policymakers is also highlighted.

Research in Hospitality Management, 2023

In The Netherlands, gender roles have evolved remarkably, marked by feminist activism and legisla... more In The Netherlands, gender roles have evolved remarkably, marked by feminist activism and legislative strides. Nevertheless, persistent gender biases and disparities continue to impact many industries, including the Dutch hotel sector. This quantitative research explores the factors affecting female employee retention and career advancement in the Dutch hotel sector. The data was collected through 102 surveys from hotel employees in The Netherlands. Analysing the responses shows stereotypes, discrimination and bias-hindered career advancement. Work-life balance and supportive managers were critical factors for advancement. Recruitment experiences influenced career growth. Inclusive language and diversity representation are crucial for improving recruitment. Surprisingly, women had higher career advancement scores than men, and no significant gender correlation was found. However, men showed stronger retention intentions. These findings call for reevaluating gender-related career dynamics in the Dutch hotel industry. Industry-specific practical implications for promoting diversity and inclusion, addressing discrimination and bias, work-life balance, understanding the complexities of leadership stereotypes, recruitment and selection, and promotion and development are presented in detail, and recommendations for future research are given.

Research in Hospitality Management, 2022

Employee psychological well-being is a central concern for hospitality establishments as it impac... more Employee psychological well-being is a central concern for hospitality establishments as it impacts talent retention. This empirical research explores the relationship between transformational leadership and employee psychological well-being. This relationship is tested through a mediation model where transformational leadership is proposed to explain the effect on the psychological well-being of hospitality employees (hedonic and eudaemonic well-being) through the affective mediators thriving at work and employees’ amplification of pleasant emotions and employee engagement. The cross-sectional data came from 133 5-star hotel employees in the Netherlands. Analysing the responses showed that eudaemonic well-being had to be split into four new variables: growing and giving, liveliness, self-esteem and managing oneself. Furthermore, thriving at work and employee engagement fully mediated between transformational leadership and hedonic well-being, thriving at work fully mediated between transformational leadership and growing and giving, while thriving at work and employees’ amplification of pleasant emotions fully mediated between transformational leadership and self-esteem. A direct relationship was found between transformational leadership and managing oneself. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed in detail.

Research in Hospitality Management, 2022

Teleworking’s popularity as a flexible working arrangement has been on the rise. Today, it is a h... more Teleworking’s popularity as a flexible working arrangement has been on the rise. Today, it is a hot topic of discussion among employees and employers alike. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the popularity of this trend and has convinced many that teleworking is here to stay. This review article aims to describe the characteristics of teleworking pre- and post-pandemic and shed light on future challenges and opportunities. Empirical evidence promotes a favourable association between teleworking and benefits to employers’ profitability and employees’ health and well-being. Nevertheless, some employees have experienced a negative impact on their health due to teleworking, primarily due to ergonomics, and higher levels of stress, anxiety and loneliness. The overall conclusion shows that with proper job design, leadership and organisational support and adequate information communication technology (ICT), teleworking will be central to the future of jobs.

Research in Hospitality Management, 2021

In his latest edited book, entitled Slavery and Liberation in Hotels, Restaurants and Bars, Conra... more In his latest edited book, entitled Slavery and Liberation in Hotels, Restaurants and Bars, Conrad Lashley tackles a very complex subject matter very much relevant in today’s world.

This is a thought-provoking book that students, academics and practitioners will appreciate and value worldwide. Working in hotels, restaurants, and bars is not always as rosy as the industry portrays. Sometimes behind the employees’ hospitableness and bright smiles lies a lot of sadness, misery and oppression.

Research in Hospitality Management, 2021

This review article aims to analyse the different perspectives on the gig economy and gig workers... more This review article aims to analyse the different perspectives on the gig economy and gig workers, specifically in the hospitality industry, and establish a research base that contributes to future research. The article examines the perceptions of both employers and employees of the gig economy based on available literature. Current literature reveals that the impact of gig-style work is under-researched in many areas, including the hospitality sector. The COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions have revitalised the gig economy and forced the hospitality industry to explore a sustainable long-term relationship with it. Many of today’s permanent hospitality jobs will be lost to gig workers. Governments and employers have to prepare and adapt to a future where the desire for flexibility is central. The article reviews the many advantages and disadvantages of the gig economy and offers an insight into the future of hospitality jobs. This review article is beneficial for both industrial and educational applications.

Research in Hospitality Management, 2020

his article reviews the literature on artificial intelligence (AI)-driven technology and looks at... more his article reviews the literature on artificial intelligence (AI)-driven technology and looks at its effects on the future of hospitality jobs, and the skills needed for the future. The purpose of this article is to understand and describe how developments in AI-driven robotics and automation will shape the future of hospitality jobs, the skills in demand, and their impact on the design of education and training. Various input parameters are significant in understanding the future of hospitality jobs. For an optimised understanding, literature has been critically reviewed and investigated from different angles, namely academics, technological advancements, developments in the industry, and governments and policymakers. The literature reveals that AI-driven technology is developing at a very high speed and shows its extensive application in tourism and hospitality management and other related industries. Many of today’s jobs will be lost to AI, automation and robotics, and new jobs with new skill-set requirements will emerge. Education establishments will have to adopt a new futureproof educational system or risk becoming obsolete. This review article will be beneficial for industry and education. The article reveals the detailed literature review on jobs that are at high risk of disappearing and offers an insight into what future jobs might be and what skills and competences will be required.

Books by Georges El Hajal

Critical Questions in Sustainability and Hospitality, 2023

The chapter’s objective is to investigate whether employees should be rewarded for committing to ... more The chapter’s objective is to investigate whether employees should be rewarded for committing to sustainability endeavours. The chapter examines the crucial role of Human Resources Professionals and the impact of the perception of employees of an organization’s sustainable development endeavours. The COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions have shown that organizations can still do considerable amount regarding sustainability initiatives. Even though the research on the rewarding of commitment to sustainability endeavours has been scarce, available literature has shown that many factors influence employee engagement in sustainability endeavours. While most scholars agree that employees should be rewarded for their commitment to sustainability, many argue the impact of intrinsic and extrinsic motivators. Before setting a reward strategy, HR professionals should understand their employees’ values and consider the many motivators. Even if the link between intrinsic motivation and engaging in Corporate Social Responsibility is evident, organizations should still ensure that employees are offered good working conditions, a fair salary and competitive monetary rewards. This chapter is therefore beneficial for both HR professionals and educational applications.

Journal of Tourism Futures, 2024

The Rethinking Hospitality webinar, held on June 18, 2024, at Hotel Management School Leeuwarden,... more The Rethinking Hospitality webinar, held on June 18, 2024, at Hotel Management School Leeuwarden, examined hospitality's evolving role in society and education. Speakers highlighted key themes: social equity and sustainability through the HOST framework (Prof. Anil Bilgihan), regenerative hospitality (Assoc. Prof. Alessandro Inversini), food as a cultural connector (Dr. Eerang Park), and design-based education for future skills (Assoc. Prof. Hanneke Assen). The event concluded with a call to expand hospitality beyond commercial aspects, fostering authenticity, cultural sensitivity, and social and environmental responsibility.

Current Issues in Tourism , 2024

This exploratory study investigates artificial intelligence (AI) integration’s potential impact o... more This exploratory study investigates artificial intelligence (AI) integration’s potential impact on the future of talent management in tourism and hospitality. Using the scenario planning method and Dator’s Alternative Futures Framework, four 2035 alternative scenarios were constructed. These scenarios served as a foundation for 3 group and 30 individual scenario-planning sessions with international industry experts and academics, epistemologically aligning the process with exploring the uncertain future of AI. The thematic analysis of the data underscored the importance of balanced integration that enhances rather than replaces human roles. Ethical considerations, the human-centric essence of tourism and hospitality, and the need for ongoing education and skill development in response to AI advancements were considered central. This study’s novel contribution is a conceptual framework to guide AI integration in tourism and hospitality talent management, contributing to the theoretical and practical understanding of AI’s role in talent management.

Research in Hospitality Management , 2024

The Hotel Management School Leeuwarden and the European Tourism Futures Institute organised a web... more The Hotel Management School Leeuwarden and the European Tourism Futures Institute organised a webinar to discuss and explore how artificial intelligence (AI) will impact the hospitality and tourism industry in the future. The webinar brought together a panel of academics, including Professor Iis Tussyadiah from the University of Surrey, Professor Stanislav Ivanov from the Varna University of Management, and Frederik Jan van der Meulen from Hotel Management School Leeuwarden, to discuss the multifaceted applications of AI in the industry. The speakers shared their insights through a series of presentations, underscoring AI integration’s strategic, economic and sustainability aspects. AI is presented as a critical element in enhancing customer experiences, optimising operational processes, and shaping the industry’s future landscape. The speakers discussed the role of generative AI in improving the industry’s resilience, the economic implications of AI’s integration and the challenges and strategies for sustainable AI adoption. This webinar goes beyond traditional AI debates by analysing AI’s strategic function in future-proofing hospitality and tourism businesses, its economic impact and its role in sustainability. The speakers’ crucial insights can help the hospitality and tourism industry embrace AI, highlighting the delicate balance between innovation, ethics and sustainability. This webinar’s extensive discussion of AI as a tool for efficiency and industry transformation makes it valuable for academics and industry professionals.

Journal of Human resources in Hospitality & tourism, 2024

Talent management is crucial to the success of the hospitality industry, with its impact on the i... more Talent management is crucial to the success of the hospitality industry, with its impact on the industry's ability to attract, develop and retain talent. This paper examines talent management challenges and opportunities in preparing Generation Z students for future work using semi-structured focus groups with a sample of 55 participants from the Dutch hospitality industry (industry professionals, teaching staff, and students). Findings highlight flexibility, open communication, growth opportunities, technology integration, and teamwork as critical for engaging Generation Z. The importance of modernizing educational curricula, prioritizing experiential learning, and encouraging collaboration between education providers, the industry, and policymakers is also highlighted.

Research in Hospitality Management, 2023

In The Netherlands, gender roles have evolved remarkably, marked by feminist activism and legisla... more In The Netherlands, gender roles have evolved remarkably, marked by feminist activism and legislative strides. Nevertheless, persistent gender biases and disparities continue to impact many industries, including the Dutch hotel sector. This quantitative research explores the factors affecting female employee retention and career advancement in the Dutch hotel sector. The data was collected through 102 surveys from hotel employees in The Netherlands. Analysing the responses shows stereotypes, discrimination and bias-hindered career advancement. Work-life balance and supportive managers were critical factors for advancement. Recruitment experiences influenced career growth. Inclusive language and diversity representation are crucial for improving recruitment. Surprisingly, women had higher career advancement scores than men, and no significant gender correlation was found. However, men showed stronger retention intentions. These findings call for reevaluating gender-related career dynamics in the Dutch hotel industry. Industry-specific practical implications for promoting diversity and inclusion, addressing discrimination and bias, work-life balance, understanding the complexities of leadership stereotypes, recruitment and selection, and promotion and development are presented in detail, and recommendations for future research are given.

Research in Hospitality Management, 2022

Employee psychological well-being is a central concern for hospitality establishments as it impac... more Employee psychological well-being is a central concern for hospitality establishments as it impacts talent retention. This empirical research explores the relationship between transformational leadership and employee psychological well-being. This relationship is tested through a mediation model where transformational leadership is proposed to explain the effect on the psychological well-being of hospitality employees (hedonic and eudaemonic well-being) through the affective mediators thriving at work and employees’ amplification of pleasant emotions and employee engagement. The cross-sectional data came from 133 5-star hotel employees in the Netherlands. Analysing the responses showed that eudaemonic well-being had to be split into four new variables: growing and giving, liveliness, self-esteem and managing oneself. Furthermore, thriving at work and employee engagement fully mediated between transformational leadership and hedonic well-being, thriving at work fully mediated between transformational leadership and growing and giving, while thriving at work and employees’ amplification of pleasant emotions fully mediated between transformational leadership and self-esteem. A direct relationship was found between transformational leadership and managing oneself. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed in detail.

Research in Hospitality Management, 2022

Teleworking’s popularity as a flexible working arrangement has been on the rise. Today, it is a h... more Teleworking’s popularity as a flexible working arrangement has been on the rise. Today, it is a hot topic of discussion among employees and employers alike. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the popularity of this trend and has convinced many that teleworking is here to stay. This review article aims to describe the characteristics of teleworking pre- and post-pandemic and shed light on future challenges and opportunities. Empirical evidence promotes a favourable association between teleworking and benefits to employers’ profitability and employees’ health and well-being. Nevertheless, some employees have experienced a negative impact on their health due to teleworking, primarily due to ergonomics, and higher levels of stress, anxiety and loneliness. The overall conclusion shows that with proper job design, leadership and organisational support and adequate information communication technology (ICT), teleworking will be central to the future of jobs.

Research in Hospitality Management, 2021

In his latest edited book, entitled Slavery and Liberation in Hotels, Restaurants and Bars, Conra... more In his latest edited book, entitled Slavery and Liberation in Hotels, Restaurants and Bars, Conrad Lashley tackles a very complex subject matter very much relevant in today’s world.

This is a thought-provoking book that students, academics and practitioners will appreciate and value worldwide. Working in hotels, restaurants, and bars is not always as rosy as the industry portrays. Sometimes behind the employees’ hospitableness and bright smiles lies a lot of sadness, misery and oppression.

Research in Hospitality Management, 2021

This review article aims to analyse the different perspectives on the gig economy and gig workers... more This review article aims to analyse the different perspectives on the gig economy and gig workers, specifically in the hospitality industry, and establish a research base that contributes to future research. The article examines the perceptions of both employers and employees of the gig economy based on available literature. Current literature reveals that the impact of gig-style work is under-researched in many areas, including the hospitality sector. The COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions have revitalised the gig economy and forced the hospitality industry to explore a sustainable long-term relationship with it. Many of today’s permanent hospitality jobs will be lost to gig workers. Governments and employers have to prepare and adapt to a future where the desire for flexibility is central. The article reviews the many advantages and disadvantages of the gig economy and offers an insight into the future of hospitality jobs. This review article is beneficial for both industrial and educational applications.

Research in Hospitality Management, 2020

his article reviews the literature on artificial intelligence (AI)-driven technology and looks at... more his article reviews the literature on artificial intelligence (AI)-driven technology and looks at its effects on the future of hospitality jobs, and the skills needed for the future. The purpose of this article is to understand and describe how developments in AI-driven robotics and automation will shape the future of hospitality jobs, the skills in demand, and their impact on the design of education and training. Various input parameters are significant in understanding the future of hospitality jobs. For an optimised understanding, literature has been critically reviewed and investigated from different angles, namely academics, technological advancements, developments in the industry, and governments and policymakers. The literature reveals that AI-driven technology is developing at a very high speed and shows its extensive application in tourism and hospitality management and other related industries. Many of today’s jobs will be lost to AI, automation and robotics, and new jobs with new skill-set requirements will emerge. Education establishments will have to adopt a new futureproof educational system or risk becoming obsolete. This review article will be beneficial for industry and education. The article reveals the detailed literature review on jobs that are at high risk of disappearing and offers an insight into what future jobs might be and what skills and competences will be required.

Critical Questions in Sustainability and Hospitality, 2023

The chapter’s objective is to investigate whether employees should be rewarded for committing to ... more The chapter’s objective is to investigate whether employees should be rewarded for committing to sustainability endeavours. The chapter examines the crucial role of Human Resources Professionals and the impact of the perception of employees of an organization’s sustainable development endeavours. The COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions have shown that organizations can still do considerable amount regarding sustainability initiatives. Even though the research on the rewarding of commitment to sustainability endeavours has been scarce, available literature has shown that many factors influence employee engagement in sustainability endeavours. While most scholars agree that employees should be rewarded for their commitment to sustainability, many argue the impact of intrinsic and extrinsic motivators. Before setting a reward strategy, HR professionals should understand their employees’ values and consider the many motivators. Even if the link between intrinsic motivation and engaging in Corporate Social Responsibility is evident, organizations should still ensure that employees are offered good working conditions, a fair salary and competitive monetary rewards. This chapter is therefore beneficial for both HR professionals and educational applications.