WHATT roundtable: what innovations would enable tourism and hospitality industry to re-build?

Abstract

Purpose

The aims of this paper is to present views of 13 experts who attended a roundtable discussion.

Design/methodology/approach

This article provides a narration of a conference roundtable. The questions by the moderator and a summary of the responses by panellists are provided.

Findings

Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes (WHATT) is playing a significant applied research role in the world of hospitality and tourism. Further, since 2013, the International Conference on Hospitality and Tourism Management (ICOHT), had been well attended and successful. In 2021, The International Institute of Knowledge Management included a WHATT roundtable in the programme of the 8th ICOHT. Twelve experts from the industry and academia were invited as panellists. They represented eight countries (Canada, Guyana, Iran, Jamaica, the Philippines, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and the USA). The lead author of this article moderated the roundtable discussion. In conclusion, 20 of the key implementable concepts and suggestions for the post-pandemic era within hospitality and tourism industry, evolved from the WHATT roundtable at the 8th ICOHT in 2021, are presented.

Originality/value

This paper suggests 20 of the key implementable concepts, for post-pandemic era tourism and hospitality industry.

Citation

Jayawardena, C. and Gamachchi Vithanage, H.D. (2022), "WHATT roundtable: what innovations would enable tourism and hospitality industry to re-build?", Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, Vol. 14 No. 6, pp. 515-521. https://doi.org/10.1108/WHATT-06-2022-0068