CROSS-CULTURAL TRAINING AS CRITICAL FACTOR OF CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

Abstract

This study analyses cultural awareness in the workplace. It is important for employees to be cultural aware because they may have to interact with people from other countries. Cultural Intelligence (CQ) examines individuals’ abilities to interact with people with different cultural backgrounds. Cross-cultural training is examined as a factor that may affect individuals’ CQ. Hospitality industry was chosen because of the diversity of employees, customers or owners. Because of the lack of research on this area, the paper contributes to the emerging need for cultural awareness in the workplace by examining cross-cultural training as a critical factor of CQ.