Ethical leadership in a morally driven hospitality organisational culture .

Abstract

Ethics is clearly an important component of sustainable business operations. In hospitality businesses practices, the operators of for example, hotels, are expected to uphold business practices that are both honest and also just as they strive to maximize profits. Hotel managers are expected to provide ethical leadership, and promote an organisational culture in which ‘doing the right thing’ becomes the natural course of action irrespective of other factors which may promote the justification of ethical malpractices. Today’s hospitality industry is highly competitive, and it is often the case that intense competition between diverse brands can lead to compromises in hotel ethics. Where there is no ethical role-modelling and generally a lack of ethics and integrity in hotel operations, this invariably leads to decreased trust in management and sets the tone for a rapid downward spiral in business performance. Managers and employees, due to the often exhaustive face-to-face exchanges with guests, face a range of ethical dilemmas in their daily operations. The article surveys ethical hotel leadership in relation to organizational culture and how this can promote integrity, honesty, trustworthiness, reputation, customer loyalty, fair practices, environmental sustainability, and respect for others. Suggestions are offered on the many benefits of ethical leadership for hotels and other hospitality businesses, irrespective of size. The purpose of this review was not to extend the preceding literature review, but rather to look at the factors and constructs which may impact on ethical behavior in hotels and to offer recommendations.