Guerrier and Deery (1998) suggest two central questions that are recurrent in HRM research in the hotel sector.
Firstly, to what extent is the work of hospitality managers influenced by the industry context?
Secondly, to what extent do hospitality managers engage in reaction or reflection?
In this article, research-exploring patterns of HR practice and policy in the UK hotel sector will be used to address these questions. The article discusses the factors that appear to be influential in determining HRM strategy across the hotel sector and how different approaches to HRM translate into employee relations’ practices in respect of employee involvement and participation, skills utilization and employment flexibility. In particular, it discusses the contextual pressures on HRM in the sector, particularly those relating to labour and product markets, the extent to which HR managers in the sector are able to formulate a range of strategic approaches and how HRM strategy relates to wider competitive strategy.