Call for papers for the Special Issue: Enhancing Regional Resilience: The Role of Hospitality Services in Sustaining Communities

2024-03-10

Call for Papers: Special Issue on "Enhancing Regional Resilience: The Role of Hospitality Services in Sustaining Communities"

The Journal of Resilient Economies (JRE) invites submissions for a special issue focusing on the transformative role of hospitality services in fostering regional resilience and sustaining communities. This issue will be enriched with the expertise of our guest editor, Associate Professor Josephine Pryce.

Enhancing Regional Resilience: The Role of Hospitality Services in Sustaining Communities

The hospitality industry is a multi-faced and integral sector of economies worldwide. It has a sustained history heralding back to the ancient Greeks and Romans and includes a diversity of services, businesses and experts that work independently and integrative to provide a complexity of experiences. The business activities of the hospitality industry include food and beverage services, accommodation options, recreational facilities (such as theme parks and entertainment venues), and travel entities (e.g., transport).

Statistics from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC, 2024) show that for 2022, the travel and tourism sector (for which hospitality services are a driver) contributed 7.6% of the global GDP, with 22 million new jobs. Data from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO, 2023) show that for the first quarter of 2023, there was an estimated 235 million travellers internationally. 

With such a vast array of facets, the hospitality industry encounters several challenges, including economic volatility and market fluctuations, labour shortages and staffing issues, competition and saturation, changing consumer trends, technological transformations, environmental sustainability, regulatory compliance, accessibility, cultural sensitivities, supply chain issues, health and hygiene standards and security and safety concerns (Bronotte, 2023). As ways to address these challenges and for the sector to remain viable, there is a need to look beyond traditional approaches and to consider ways in which resilience can be enhanced to ensure the sustainability of communities. The importance of resilience in the hospitality industry has already garnered some discussion (Hall et al., 2023). This special issue goes a step further and seeks studies that recognise the role of hospitality services in enhancing regional resilience through its importance in sustaining communities.

One option for consideration is reshaping the idea of travel through development and promotion of ‘staycations’ (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2023) as a way to appreciate and support local business and communities. Other initiatives could include focusing on reforming hospitality jobs to elevate hospitality careers rich in experiences that appreciate human connections and advance personal development. Similarly, the future of the hospitality industry should embrace and extend initiatives and strategies relating to sustainability and corporate social responsibility, as consumers look for experiences that value such mindsets. Equally, resilience and sustainability in the hospitality industry can be optimised through local supply chains as awareness of the vulnerabilities in global supply chains, have heightened the importance of regional supply chains.

The future of the hospitality industry is dependent on the value of its services to society and communities. The vital role that hospitality services play during crises emphasises the increasing importance of local collaborations and partnerships between hotel services and nearby nonprofit organisations and social initiatives to bring positive impacts on communities. Indeed, the resilience of communities encompasses the ability of hospitality services and other organisations to withstand shocks, adapt to change, and recover from disruptions.

This special issue provides opportunities to address the above issues and welcomes contributions that explore how hospitality services can enhance regional resilience and sustain communities. Contributions can address:

  • The role of ‘staycations’ in enhancing regional resilience and sustainability.
  • Technological advances and applications to promote the creation, interaction and delivery of hospitality services as a mechanism for enhancing resilience of communities.
  • Sustainable business practices in hospitality services that promote and sustain regional resilience.
  • Creating sustainable supply and value chains in hospitality services that are committed to promoting resilience in communities.
  • Hospitality services as a mechanism for socio-ecological resilience of communities: implementing partnerships with social initiatives that emphasise fostering resilience.
  • Ensuring resilience in communities through growing of talent for the hospitality services.

 

References

Bronotte, M. (2023, May 17). The 7 biggest current issues in the Hospitality industry in 2023. The 7 biggest current issues in the Hospitality industry in 2023 | Torrens University

Hall, C. M., Safonov, A., & Naderi Koupaei, S. (2023). Resilience in hospitality and tourism: issues, synthesis and agenda. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management35(1), 347-368.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (2024, March 01). Staycation. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/staycation#word-history

UNWTO. (2023, May 09). Tourism on track for full recovery as new data shows strong start to 2023. Tourism on Track for Full Recovery as New Data Shows Strong Start to 2023 (unwto.org)

WTTC. (2024, March 01). Economic Impact Research. Travel & Tourism Economic Impact | World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)

 

Submission Details:
  • Deadline for Submission: 15 May 2024
  • Publication date: 31 July 2024
  • Review process: Submissions are subject to a double-blind review process, ensuring both rigor and fairness.
  • Submission type: We invite original research articles, comprehensive review articles, case studies and research notes. More information can be found on our website.
  • Manuscript Guidelines: Submissions should adhere to the JRE's submission guidelines, which can be found on our website.
  • Submission Process: Manuscripts should be submitted through the JRE submission portal, email submissions are not accepted.   
Open Access Statement:

The Journal of Resilient Economies (JRE) is proud to be a Platinum Open Access journal. There are no charges for readers to access articles, nor are there any Article Processing Charges (APC) for authors. This model supports our commitment to making research freely available to individuals and institutions worldwide, ensuring that all accepted articles in the special issue are immediately and permanently accessible without any cost.

Contacts:

For any inquiries related to the special issue, please contact:

Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor Taha Chaiechi: taha.chaiechi@jcu.edu.au

We look forward to your contributions and to advancing the discourse on the pivotal role of hospitality services in regional resilience.

Kind regards,

The Editorial Team,

Journal of Resilient Economies (JRE)