Factors affecting and shaping the general managers’ work in small- and medium-sized luxury hotels: The case of Greece

Abstract

The work of General Managers (GMs) in hotels has been the focus of several empirical studies since the early 1980s. The majority of these studies were conducted in corporate or multinational (MNC) hotel chains’ environment and often neglected the smaller independent operators and family businesses. This study explores the mediating factors that affect the GMs’ work in small and medium luxury hotels (SMLHs); the context of this study is Greece, a popular tourist destination dominated by SMLHs. Based on a qualitative research approach, sixteen in-depth interviews with GMs were conducted in four popular tourist destinations. Five key factors in relation to the GMs’ work were found to be important: career development and mobility; contact intensity; owner-GM relations; dealing with corruption; and networking and reputation. The findings suggest a number of theoretical and managerial implications related to managerial work in SMLHs.