Size does matter: training and service quality in small to medium Australian regional hospitality firms

There is little doubt that small and medium sized enterprises dominate the Australian hospitality sector, providing significant economic benefits to regional economies. Yet, despite this importance, relatively little is known about the nature and determinants of training in SME hospitality firms in regional Australia. An examination of four SME restaurant enterprises in Northern New South Wales revealed that organisational size is likely to influence the drive of firm managers and/or owners as it relates to the adoption of formal training strategies. Interestingly, it was found that these small stand alone establishments rather than large resort based establishments engaged in more formalised training approaches, appearing to contradict earlier findings about small to medium organisations in the industry in Australia and overseas.