Managers practice in a constantly changing environment, creating the need for effective strategic planning. However, to date the importance of strategic planning to hospitality and tourism has not been the subject of detailed empirical academic research. This book fills that gap. It contains the latest research which integrates theory with practice, including two new diagnostic tools developed by the authors, the Strategic Planning Index (SPI) and Marketing Planning Index (MPI). The tourism and hospitality industry is examined from a strategic perspective, including case illustrations and detailed studies of two major hotel groups, along with the relevance of the strategic planning process. The book goes on to describe strategic planning systems, at both the corporate and business unit level. International examples are used to demonstrate how these concepts and techniques can be incorporated into the design and implementation of effective strategic planning systems, in order to improve performance in hospitality and tourism organisations. This book is essential reading for senior undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers, practitioners and consultants in management and business studies, hospitality and tourism.