Gen Z talent management: Hospitality industry insights

Talent management is crucial to the success of the hospitality industry, with its impact on the industry’s ability to attract, develop and retain talent. This paper examines talent management challenges and opportunities in preparing Generation Z students for future work using semi-structured focus groups with a sample of 55 participants from the Dutch hospitality industry (industry professionals, teaching staff, and students). Findings highlight flexibility, open communication, growth opportunities, technology integration, and teamwork as critical for engaging Generation Z. The importance of modernizing educational curricula, prioritizing experiential learning, and encouraging collaboration between education providers, the industry, and policymakers is also highlighted.