Strategic Human Resource Management in U.S. Luxury Resorts—A Case Study

TLDR

The hospitality industry faces a persistent labor shortage that threatens luxury resorts, prompting managers to rely on HR directors and consider the co‑alignment model for competitive advantage. In a case study of five North Carolina luxury resorts, HR directors mapped environmental forces, strategy choices, and firm structure to performance, yet found minimal use of the co‑alignment model in planning.

Abstract

A labor shortage has been experienced in the hospitality industry and is predicted to continue into the future with a greater impact on luxury resorts. Resort managers typically look to human resource (HR) directors to develop strategies to solve this problem. The co-alignment model can give managers a competitive advantage in the marketplace. This study presents the results of a case study of five luxury resorts in North Carolina. HR directors identified forces driving change in the environment, strategy choices, firm structure, and outcomes reflected in firm performance. There was little evidence that co-alignment was being used as a basis for planning.