Customer perceptions of service quality in luxury hotels in New Delhi, India: an exploratory study

Document Information: Title: Author(s): Customer perceptions of service quality in luxury hotels in New Delhi, India: an exploratory study Asad Mohsin, (Tourism and Hospitality Management, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand), Tim Lockyer, (Tourism and Hospitality Management, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand) Asad Mohsin, Tim Lockyer, (2010) "Customer perceptions of service quality in luxury hotels in New Delhi, India: an exploratory study", International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 22 Iss: 2, pp.160 - 173 Customer satisfaction, Customer services quality, Hotels, India

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Article type: Research paper DOI: Publisher: Abstract: 10.1108/09596111011018160 (Permanent URL) Emerald Group Publishing Limited Purpose The aim of the study is to assess the service quality perception of customers of luxury hotels, New Delhi in India and to help the hotel management identify areas that need attention to meet and exceed customer expectations. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a survey and interview technique to accumulate information for analysis using SPSS version 12 and was conducted at different four- and five-star hotels in New Delhi involving hotel guests agreeing to participate. A usable sample of 271 participants resulted with a large majority being male. Findings The importance-performance analysis shows that, for responses relating to front office, room service and in-house caf/restaurant, the importance score is statistically significant to and higher than the performance rating. Overall, the results indicate significant difference between expectations of the guests and actual experiences, thus highlighting managerial implications. Research limitations/implications The current study cannot claim to be wholly conclusive as it is limited to a small sample size from only one metropolitan city of India and there could be subjectivity in responses. From a practitioner's perspective the study provides an opportunity to recognise, in ranking order, features that are considered important by the guests staying in luxury hotels of New Delhi in India

and to identify the areas of disparity in service and product quality. Originality/value It is observed that this is a significant study of service quality in luxury hotels in India; in that sense the study contributes to the literature and provides an opportunity for a comparative study of service quality with other such studies undertaken in different parts of the globe.