Diversity, equity, and inclusion management in the Indian hospitality industry

In a high-interaction service environment like that of hospitality, the diversity of individuals plays a crucial role in service outcomes. Despite the correlation between diversity and experiences, diversity management has been scarcely attended by researchers across the globe. In addition, diversity poses significant challenges in workplace management due to contextual factors playing a critical role. In this chapter, we discuss diversity in India and how there are unique elements from the country that pose equally unique challenges to hospitality organizations. We reviewed existing literature and combined it with practical experiences from consulting in the industry to discuss and delineate future research directions for diversity management in Indian hospitality organizations. This chapter’s findings highlight the need for more research and specific strategies to manage challenges posed within India, which also apply to other high-context and collectivist countries.