Making people strategic assets for competitive advantage: A case study of Oak Plaza Hotel in Accra

ABSTRACT This study bases its arguments on the Resource-based theory and the human capital theory of making people strategic assets of the company for competitive advantage in the hotel industry, using Oak Plaza Hotel in Accra as a case study. The hospitality industry in Ghana is experiencing tremendous growth as a result of the growth occurring in the tourism industry in the country. Recent research reveals that the industry in Ghana is facing severe challenges concerning scarcity of skills across a broad spectrum of roles within the industry. Having a skilled workforce that meets the needs of clients beyond their expectations is an illustration of making employees strategic assets of the company. Using the qualitative approach to research, data was collected from 15 employees at the Oak Plaza Hotel in Accra. The data collection tools used are structured interviews. The data are analyzed by developing themes, for discussion. The results of the analysis revealed that Oak Plaza Hotel uses recruitment agencies to employ people; after which they train and develop them to make them strategic assets for the hotel. The study concludes that for a firm to have a competitive advantage over and above its competitors, employee retention strategies is a significant factor. Following these findings, the study recommends that hotels should focus on building relationships with their employees to identify what motivates explicitly in order to ensure their stay in their current jobs.