Supplier selection and management in hotel outsourcing: an exploratory study in Ghana.

The aim of this study is to explore supplier selection and relationship management in hotels in the Accra Metropolis of Ghana. An explorative qualitative multiple case study was employed for the study. The results reveal that supplier identification was through the direct approach, agents/experts search, professional networks, request for proposal and supplier-self reconnaissance. Efficiency and effectiveness, cost of service, supplier credibility and inside knowledge were important in the selection process. The findings also reveal that relationship management was cardinal to safeguarding the buyer-supplier relationship. Contracts, job evaluation, downtime/lead time, supplier trustworthiness and guest comment cards were essential tools used in relationship management. The paper ends with some conclusions and managerial implications for hotel managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]