PurposeThe purpose of the research is to analyze the human resource practices as resilience for the tourism and hospitality business in India during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses an exploratory research design focusing on qualitative interview methods to collect information. Respondents were chosen by using purposive sampling to record human resource practices to develop resilience in the tourism and hospitality sector in India while dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.FindingsThe author concludes valuable HR resilience-building practices such as broad resource network, talent management and job redeployment and performance management to enhance the adaptive capacity of tourism and hospitality businesses after the pandemic.Practical implicationsThe study offers clear implications regarding understanding how managers react to a crisis or pandemic to enhance employees’ and organizational resilience during a crisis.Originality/valueThe research provides useful and novel insight to managers in the tourism and hospitality business to develop resilience strategies related to human resource practices during a crisis.