Stakeholder theory in the hospitality field: Insights drawn from a systematic literature review

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to review and analyse the state of stakeholder theory in hospitality scholarship in terms of its themes, contexts, theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches. The authors gathered and summarized relevant theory and empirical research findings that allowed for further theoretical insights to be drawn. A total of 91 articles published between 1984 and 2018 were analysed using a systematic literature review. The review indicates that stakeholder theory offers an important approach for understanding hospitality because of the following benefits: it leads to reflections on the interests and influences of all those involved in the value creation process; it is a holistic approach, integrating economic, social and ethical considerations; it adopts a relational approach rather than just a transactional approach and it provides a strategic framework that managers can use. The study’s findings show that stakeholder-related research remains underexplored in the hospitality field. There is, however, great potential for developing the theory by exploring the connections that exist between the principles of stakeholder theory and knowledge of hospitality. The article also provides suggestions for future applications of stakeholder theory in academic research and highlights its relevance to managerial practice.