Characteristics of hospitality workers in Tropical North Queensland hotels

Abstract

This paper presents data describing the characteristics of hospitality workers in Tropical North Queensland. It aims to assess how these characteristics relate to the profile of hotel workers as described in the literature and so, discusses the representativeness of the group. According to some researchers, demographic items can provide valuable insight into a number of relevant issues such as the attitudes of workers and the organizational culture of a workplace (e.g. Davidson, 2000; Deery, 1999; Price & Mueller, 1986). Demographic variables considered in this study include: gender, age, marital status, current department, employment status, tenure, overall tenure in hospitality, worked in other industries, and education. The main analysis of the data is descriptive. However, inferential statistical analyses are also used to obtain information that may prove useful for both academics and hospitality managers in understanding the characteristics of employees in the hospitality workplace and associated behaviours such as performance, absenteeism and turn over.