Motivational Job Satisfaction in the Caribbean Hospitality Industry: How Demographic Variables Influence Job Satisfaction

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Chapter, 1. Introduction:
1.1. Overview:
This study is based on Crawford s findings about Jamaican hospitality worker s motivational preferences . The aim of the study is to find whether or not these motivators are satisfied and if these findings stand in any relation with demographic variables of the participants of the study, such as age and gender. A survey was conducted in the area of Kingston, distributing questionnaires to 90 employees of small hotels. In addition to this interviews with managers of these hotels were conducted.
1.2 Problem Statement:
Small and medium sized companies dominate the tourism and hospitality industry worldwide. In fact, ninety percent of hospitality businesses worldwide are small enterprises. It is suggested that small hotels lack the capability and resources to enable human resource development for their establishments. This has several implications: for one, competing with larger hotels for guests as well as talented staff can be hindered. Secondly, training for existing staff may not be as extensive or as required to enhance employees job role. Thirdly, a lack of financial resources, business skills and professional approach to same can hamper the success of the business overall. Besides the business perspective, there is also the perspective of the employees. They have a clear idea of what motivates them and what does not. Based on Kovach s ten variables used in Crawford s study, it is known what Jamaican hospitality workers look for in terms of their jobs. However, it is unknown whether or not these motivators are satisfied. If these motivators are not satisfied and the hospitality workers of small hotels are generally dissatisfied, then this would have serious implications for the overall hospitality industry based on the fact that SME s dominate the tourism sector.
Therefore, it is necessary to ask whether or not Jamaican hotel workers are satisfied with their jobs. Or more specifically, if the

Cindy Hertel was born in 1985 in Saxony, Germany. She completed her Bachelor of Art studies in International Tourism Management at the University of Applied Sciences, Heide, in 2008. During her Bachelor studies she spent several semesters abroad, studying and working in Scotland and Turks and Caicos (Caribbean). Fascinated by the Caribbean culture, she decided to enroll at the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica, where she completed her Master of Science degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management in 2010. In the same year she received a Distinction award as well as the award for best performance of the academic year 2009/10. After working for an international hotel chain in Jamaica she returned to Germany in 2011 to pursue a career in the Human Resources field.