Emerging critical generic managerial competencies : A challenge to hospitality educators in Kenya

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify emerging critical generic managerial competencies in the Kenyan hotel industry. Design/methodology/approach – A cross‐sectional survey research design was used to gather primary data using self‐administered questionnaires. The population was composed of hospitality managers from ten five‐star hotels in Nairobi and Mombasa, Kenya. A sample of 160 hospitality managers was selected proportionately by simple random sample method. Findings – Several critical generic management competencies are emerging in the Kenyan hospitality industry. However, there is a gap between utilization and importance of managerial competencies in Kenya. Managers do not value human relations competencies. Practical implications – Hotels and training institutions need to enhance acquisition of generic managerial competencies in their management development programs and curricula, respectively. Originality/value – The paper focuses on both the level of utilization of managerial competencies and the level of importance attached to managerial competencies. It contributes to a new body of knowledge in management literature in Kenya. The paper has value to researchers, hospitality graduates and students, hospitality educators and human resource managers in Kenya.