Purpose – This paper aims to review the past, current and future trends in human resource management (HRM) in the hospitality industry, with a specific focus on large international hotels. The setting of this review is within the context of general HRM theory development. Design/methodology/approach – This paper provides a detailed review of the literature, background, issues and trends in HRM. It moves from the generic HR review to examine the hospitality industry and specific identifiable trends and issues. Additionally, personal communication with senior industry executives is used to highlight specific areas. Findings – Issues of training and skills development and of service quality are as important in the future as in the past. Technology is now set to revolutionise the way HRM is conducted. Generational change and how Generations X and Y view work require new approaches for HRM. Casualisation and outsourcing will become more dominant methods of employment. Strategic human resource management (SHRM) and its practices have the flexibility to add value to future hospitality firm performance. The future of HRM in the hospitality industry will need to take into account the various trends but will also be influenced by local circumstances. Research limitations/implications – This is a conceptual paper based on a review of literature that addresses a large area of both generic and hospitality HRM, and focuses on a specific section of the hospitality industry: large international hotels. Practical implications – The paper provides a basis for understanding how the various HRM trends are developing, and addresses the steps required to meet future challenges in the industry. Originality/value – The value of the paper is in its identification and analysis of the major trends in HRM and the implications these hold for the future of the hospitality industry.

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The development of a battery using different cement-based electrolytes to provide a low but potentially sustainable source of electricity is described. The current, voltage, and lifespan of batteries produced using different electrolyte additives, copper plate cathodes, and (usually) aluminium plate anodes were compared to identify the optimum design, components, and proportions to increase power output and longevity. Parameters examined include water/cement ratio, anode to cathode surface area ratio, electrode material, electrode spacing, and the effect of sand, aggregate, salts, carbon black, silica fume, and sodium silicate on the electrolyte. The results indicate that the greatest and longest lasting power can be achieved using high proportions of water, carbon black, plasticiser, salts, and silica fume in the electrolyte and using a magnesium anode and copper cathode. This cell produced an open-circuit voltage of 1.55 V, a resistor-loaded peak current over 4 mA, maintaining over 1 mA for 4 days, and a quasi steady current of 0.59 mA with a lifespan of over 21 days.

Volunteers have long been regarded as an essential part of the staging major sport events both to encourage community participation and to contain labour costs. Major sport events often attract a large pool of applicants which exceeds the number of volunteer positions available. Selecting the best qualified applicants for available positions requires volunteer selection processes that are fair, effective, and efficient from both the volunteer and event organising committee perspectives. Using a Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) approach, the authors investigated factors that predicted the selection of applicants interviewed for volunteer positions from the perspective of a major sport event organiser. Using deidentified data from all volunteer applications (n = 53,234) for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, the authors identified a number of factors that predicted the likelihood of an applicant being selected for an interview for a volunteer position. SHRM principles were applied to volunteer selection decisions but in a limited way. The authors found some evidence of links between volunteer selection decisions and the overarching strategies of the Games. However, these decisions prioritised the short-term goal of filling volunteer positions to stage a successful Games rather than longer-term strategic goals. The research contributes to better understanding links between major event HRM strategies and volunteer selection, identifying factors which predict volunteer selection, and possible limitations in the application of volunteer database management systems from a SHRM perspective.

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