What makes people stay in the hospitality industry?

Bond University PhD student Laurina Yam’s research into attracting and retaining employees in the hospitality sector has seen her awarded one of only two national scholarships by peak industry group the Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF).

Ms Yam said her research aims to identify those factors that influence employees to stay in the tourism and hospitality industry, as opposed to those that cause them to leave.

“I will be examining the extent to which employees feel ‘stuck’ or embedded in their jobs,” said Ms Yam. 
 

“By identifying the on-the-job and off-the-job factors that influence employees’ intention to stay in their jobs, I hope to enable employers and representative industry bodies like TTF to promote the positive aspects of employment in the tourism sector and advocate hospitality and tourism organisations as employers of choice,” she said.

Managing Director of TTF Mr Chris Brown said; “TTF was very pleased to award Laurina this scholarship in recognition of the importance of her research project, which explores a critical issue affecting the tourism industry – attracting and retaining employees.”

“Through the scholarship program, Laurina will be attending next year’s Council for Australian University Tourism and Hospitality Education (CAUTHE) 2011 annual conference in Adelaide.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for Laurina to get valuable feedback on her research from leading tourism academics and researchers,” said Mr Brown.

A PhD student within Bond University’s School of Hotel Resort and Tourism Management, Ms Yam will receive up to $2,000 from TTF towards travel and accommodation to attend the conference in February next year.

“I feel very privileged to be awarded this scholarship and plan to use the opportunity of attending the CAUTHE conference to find out the latest research ideas and industry trends,” said Ms Yam.

“It will also allow me the chance to meet expert practitioners and academics within the tourism and hospitality industries,” she said.

The Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) is the peak industry group for the Australian tourism, transport, aviation and investment sectors. A national, member-funded CEO forum, TTF advocates the public policy interests of the 200 most prestigious corporations and institutions in these sectors.