Entrepreneurial Resilience of BSHM Alumni in Sustaining Hospitality Businesses

Abstract. This study examined the entrepreneurial resilience of Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management alumni in sustaining hospitality businesses in Brooke’s Point, Palawan. Although hospitality entrepreneurship among graduates continues to grow, limited empirical evidence explains how small-scale hospitality entrepreneurs maintain business continuity amid financial instability, operational constraints, and market uncertainties in local community settings. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, the study purposively selected three Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management alumni from Palawan State University who were actively managing hospitality enterprises. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, supplemented by audio recordings and field notes, and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis framework to identify patterns of resilience in entrepreneurial practice. Findings revealed that entrepreneurial resilience was demonstrated through adaptive business strategies such as menu modification, cost adjustment, and flexible operations in response to fluctuating sales and rising operational costs. Participants also sustained their businesses through financial discipline, customer relationship management, networking, and the use of digital platforms for marketing and visibility. In addition, resilience was reinforced by psychological and social factors, including perseverance, faith, and family support, which enabled entrepreneurs to persist despite recurring challenges. The study highlights that entrepreneurial resilience is a critical determinant of business sustainability among hospitality graduates, extending beyond technical competencies gained from formal education. It further emphasizes the need to strengthen experiential learning and resilience-building components in hospitality management programs to better prepare graduates for real-world entrepreneurial demands. This study contributes to hospitality entrepreneurship literature by providing contextual insights into resilience mechanisms that support the sustainability of small hospitality enterprises in local Philippine settings. Keywords: adaptability; BSHM alumni; entrepreneurial resilience; hospitality entrepreneurship; qualitative research