Facilities Management in Hospitality: A Systematic Review of Concepts, Practices, and Strategic Implications

Purpose: Facilities management (FM) plays a critical role in ensuring the effective functioning of hospitality establishments such as hotels, resorts, and restaurants. As hospitality organisations increasingly rely on sophisticated infrastructure, technology systems, and service environments to enhance guest satisfaction, the management of facilities has evolved from a purely operational support activity to a strategic organisational function. The purpose of this review paper is to examine the conceptual foundations, operational roles, and strategic significance of facilities management in hospitality. The study aims to synthesise existing literature on facilities management practices within hospitality environments and to explore their implications for operational efficiency, service quality, and organisational sustainability.
Design/methodology/approach: The study adopts a systematic literature review approach based on the analysis of academic publications, industry reports, and empirical studies related to facilities management within the hospitality sector. Scholarly articles were identified through databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, Emerald Insight, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The review focuses on theoretical frameworks, empirical findings, and emerging trends related to hospitality facilities management.
Findings: The review reveals that facilities management significantly influences hospitality operations through effective maintenance management, infrastructure optimisation, environmental sustainability, safety compliance, and technological integration. The findings highlight that well-managed facilities contribute to improved operational efficiency, enhanced guest experience, and increased organisational competitiveness. Emerging trends in hospitality facilities management include smart building technologies, sustainable infrastructure management, digital maintenance systems, and integrated facility planning.
Research limitations/implications: The review is limited to published literature and primarily focuses on hospitality facilities within accommodation establishments such as hotels and resorts. Further empirical studies are required to examine facilities management practices across different hospitality segments including restaurants, cruise ships, and event venues.
Practical implications: Hospitality managers should recognise facilities management as a strategic management function that contributes to service quality, operational reliability, and organisational sustainability. Investment in preventive maintenance systems, digital facility management technologies, and environmentally sustainable infrastructure can significantly enhance hospitality performance.
Originality/value: This paper provides a comprehensive synthesis of facilities management literature within the hospitality sector and highlights emerging research directions for both scholars and practitioners.

Facilities management, Hospitality operations, Hotel maintenance

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