The Importance of Resource and Interpersonal Skills in the Hospitality Industry

This study examines the importance of resource and interpersonal skills the hospitality industry is looking for in college graduates. Hotel and lodging, foodservice, and travel and tourism professionals were asked to rank the importance of 10 resource and interpersonal skills identified by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) in “The Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills” (SCANS; U.S. DOL, 1991). This study found that there was considerable consensus between the three hospitality segments and, as expected, there was an emphasis placed on interpersonal skills.