Business Commons^™

Promoting Innovation In Hospitality Companies Through Human Resource Management Practices, Song Chang, Yaping Gong, Cass Shum

Hospitality Faculty Research

In this study, we investigate how hospitality companies can promote incremental and radical innovation through human resource management practices (i.e., selection and training). Data from 196 independent hotels and restaurants operating in the People’s Republic of China show that hiring multi-skilled core customer-contact employees and training core customer-contact employees for multiple skills both have a significant and positive effect on incremental and radical innovation among hotel and restaurant companies. The two human resource management practices are also found to have a negative joint impact on incremental but not radical innovation. The implications for promoting innovation in hospitality companies are discussed.

Examining Revenue Management Practices In Las Vegas Casino Resorts, Arun Tanpanuwat

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The overall goal of this study was to examine Revenue Management (RM) practices in Las Vegas casino resorts. A great deal of research has been done on RM in the hospitality industry. The academic research has examined RM in hospitality in general, but not specifically in casino resorts, which gain their revenue from both rooms and resort amenities. Moreover, the academic literature often show high-level mathematic-based solutions or statistical applications, but not necessarily pragmatic techniques for practitioners. This qualitative study investigates the extent to which the essential fundamentals of any RM system are implemented successfully by casino RM professionals and …

The Long-Term Impact Of A Loyalty Program: An Evaluation From A Las Vegas Casino Hotel, Myongjee Yoo

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Loyalty programs are popular marketing strategies intended to attract, maintain, and enhance customer relationships. Despite the widespread usage of loyalty programs across various businesses, its effectiveness has not been well validated. Few empirical studies attempted to evaluate the value of loyalty programs but the findings have been conflicting with each other. Given the competitive climate of such a highly saturated competitive market of the hospitality industry, it is meaningful for hospitality marketers to evaluate the effectiveness of loyalty programs to increase customer retention and profitability. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a hospitality …

A Comparative Study Of Indicator Bacteria Present In Ice And Soda From Las Vegas Food Establishments, Kimberly Jo Hertin

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Microbial analysis has long been used as an indicator of water quality. Since the passing of the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1974, microbial standards have been strictly set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure that the public health is protected from bacterial pathogens. The bacteriological quality of water generally deteriorates as it travels from water treatment facilities through the main distribution system and into private plumbing and distribution systems. For example, Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) values typically increase once the water has entered plumbing devices such as beverage vending machines. Upon reaching a private facility, the opportunity …

What Is Mission Critical In The Hotel Guest Room: Examining In-Room Guest Empowerment Technologies, Pelin Nasoz

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study examined 18 in-room technologies and identified the ones perceived to be mission critical for the hotel guests. It also determined the differences in guest empowerment technology preferences and expectations across generations, purpose of travel, and travel frequency. Moreover, it investigated whether the quality of in-room technologies impacts guests' decision in choosing a hotel.

The data were collected through an online survey. A total of 508 people responded to the survey. An importance and performance analysis was utilized to identify the mission critical in-room technologies for the hotels. The analysis indicated that in-room movie on demand services, in-room wireless …

Nevada Gaming Licensing Qualifications, Standards, And Procedures, Robert D. Faiss, Gregory R. Gemignani

Occasional Papers

The process of acquiring a Nevada gaming license is long and consists of several procedures. Although the process is time-consuming, it is far from Byzantine or obscure; each step, as defined by statute and precedent, flows logically from the one before. This paper provides an overview of licensing process in Nevada, with additional information on the reasoning behind several of the procedures involved.

Betting On The U.S. Market A Discussion Of The Legality Of Sports Gaming Businesses, Glenn Light, Karl Rutledge, Quinton Singleton

Occasional Papers

Over time, the US sports gaming industry has progressed dramatically beyond what the US anti-gaming law drafters envisioned. The result is a system of mostly antiquated laws controlling modern industry causing confusion across the board. This discussion, therefore, intends to shed light on the US sports gaming legal framework, including analysis of the preeminent US laws that regulate the sports gaming industry and a brief review of various sports gaming businesses that fall within the US legal rubric.

Premier, Judy Nagai, Robyn Hadden, Marian Alper, Carolyn Linck, Robyn Campbell-Ouchida, Afsha Bawany, Jae Hyo Park, David Mikowski, Erica Bobak, Jennifer Weinman

Premier: The Magazine of the UNLV Harrah Hotel College

No abstract provided.

How To Conduct A Successful Tea Tasting Event, Kaye L. Polivka

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Hosting a tea tasting event can be challenging for small tea shop owners or owners new to the industry. Knowledge of tea is not a guarantee a tea tasting will be a success. This handbook will be a reference for tea rooms, coffee shops, spas, restaurants, hotels, and gourmet retail outlets or shops to use when planning a tea tasting events. The objective is to provide tea rooms, coffee shops, spas, restaurants, hotels, gourmet retail outlets or shops and others in the tea industry with the tools to hold a successful tea tasting event. Each tea tasting event will have …

Developing An Employee Training Addendum For A Sustainable Hospitality Operation, Devonne A. Williams

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

As sustainability has become an important part of everyday life for American consumers, it is important that the hospitality industry do whatever it takes to meet their needs. Consumers expect businesses that they patronize to have policies in place for waste reduction, air and water conservation, and improved air quality and environment. Without the support of the front line employees, however, a hospitality operation has no chance to obtain sustainable success in these arenas. By creating addendums to previously existing employee handbooks, businesses are able to provide their employees with new policies and expectations of sustainable behaviors. This professional paper …

A Comparative Analysis Between Three Types Of Meeting & Event Planners, Megan Casey

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose:

The purpose of this professional paper is to provide a comparative analysis of the skill sets needed for association meeting planners, corporate event planners, and independent meeting and event planners so that recommendations can be made on ways in which these planners can transition from one type of meeting planning position to another. More specifically, this paper was created for those who are looking for information about meeting and event planning careers to help determine a future career path for themselves for which they would be well suited.

Labor Shortage And The Development Of Gaming Industry In Macau, Liz Chiu Nga Ming

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose:

The purpose of this paper is to explore how the labor shortage in Macau directly affects the growth and development of the gaming industry. As Macau is currently facing similar situations like PRC China, the blooming economy became the main cause for companies to use lucrative salaries to attract quality employees from different sources, including school dropouts as well as current employees from other organizations. In the long run, this could cause a negative impact to the industry as the companies might be forced to promote immature and inexperienced employees to senior positions in order to fill the …

Identifying New Pari-Mutuel Igaming Offerings In The United States, David W. Downes

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose:

The purpose of this paper is to develop a competitive landscape of current offerings in the online fantasy sports and online pari-mutuel wagering market in the US and to determine potential differentiated pari-mutuel sports iGaming offerings based on that landscape.

Chinese Culture And Casino Customer Service, Qing Han

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

With the tightened competitive conditions in the gaming industry, it is essential for casino management to focus on customer service. Chinese customers are very important for the Las Vegas gaming market. Even though the games offered by the casinos are the core value that Chinese customers seek when visiting a casino, a warm, comfortable and intimate service will enhance their gaming experience as well. Understanding important Chinese culture factors such as superstitions, gaming characteristics and communication styles can help casino employees enhance the quality of the service they are able to offer to Chinese customers, thereby increasing satisfaction and retention.

Literature Review On Turnover - To Better Understand The Situation In Macau, Ut Lon Im

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Macau is enjoying the prosperity brought by the increase of gaming operations. However, this rapid development imposed a great challenge in Human Resources Management. The hospitality industry is experiencing a high turnover rate, which affects the service quality and long-term sustainability. Major causes of turnover were reviewed from Western based and Asian based literature. Local studies were also included to provide a better picture of the turnover causes in Macau. Some recommendations were made to help retaining talented employees.

Lean And Six Sigma In Hospitality Organizations: Benefits, Challenges, And Implementation, Justin M. Lancaster

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose:

The purpose of this paper to provide a plan and framework to successfully implement Lean and Six Sigma into a hospitality organization.

A Transition Of Leadership: Can The Young Generation Of Macau Catch Up, Kin Man Yolanda Lao

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose:

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the attitude and motivation levels of young professionals in the gaming industry in Macau. To give a more holistic view with justification on the problem, this paper is orientated with a literature review in the areas of leadership and management styles in Western and Asian cultures, and with a case application of Wynn Macau as a life example. The discussion of this paper is supported by interviews with senior executives, and a summary of human resources strategies in terms of recruitment, training, and motivation both on a department level and on …

To Start A Hospitality Student Investment Club At Schenectady County Community College, Regina A. Mintzer

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Statement of objective

The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the needs for investment knowledge at an early age, understand the power of financial independence for a successful future, explore the employment opportunities associated with participation in a campus investment club, and implement an investment club on a college campus targeted to hospitality industry students.

The Future Development For Slots In Macau To The Mainland China Market, Sok In Leong

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose:

There are lots of optimistic comments to slots industry in Macau. The purpose of this paper is to provide an insight overview and examine the future development of Macau slot market to Mainland China player.

Attracting And Retaining Quality Managers: The Critical Factors, Ketan Shah

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose

The purpose of this professional paper is to develop options and a plan of action for what it takes to obtain and retain quality hotel management in the Midwest. Typically when we find quality general managers, they don’t want to move to the Midwest and don’t like smaller towns. More specifically, I hope to come up with a plan of action that I can present to my father and his partner to help the company obtain and retain quality general managers.

Total Rewards Compensation: A Viable Solution, Patrick Wesley Smith

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Total rewards customer loyalty programs represent a viable solution for domestic gaming operators in today’s current economic environment. Total rewards customer loyalty programs provide domestic gaming operators with an unparalleled tool in understanding, identifying, and realizing their customer’s desires. The design of total rewards customer loyalty programs provides domestic gaming operators with the ability to remain fluid and allows quick adaptation to ever changing market conditions. Research suggests that total rewards customer loyalty programs provide domestic gaming operators with a viable financial solution that provides equitable value to customers alike. This paper will analyze the structure of customer loyalty programs …

A Review Of San Francisco’S Lodging Industry: Past Performance And Future Implications, Adam N. Szilagyi

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the past performance of the San Francisco lodging industry in order to identify future growth potential.

Rct Hospitality Consultants, Llc: The Making Of The Business Plan, Rachel C. Tyler

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction

Owning a small business is the dream for many Americans. Now more than ever this is true as many people have been laid off and are looking to utilize their skills while being their own boss. The focus of this paper is to determine if the author should start a consulting company full-time.

A hospitality consulting business with a focus on sales and marketing has been a goal of this author’s and as we emerge out of a recession. As possibility of a double-dip recession exists it is important to have a business framework that leads a small business …

Using Self-Service Technologies To Solve The Problem Of Labor Shortage In Macau’S Lodging Industry, U Ka Kit

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Macau, the world's leading gaming destination, is suffering from labor shortage. Hotels operators found it difficult to compete with the casinos for the limited human resources. In this article, the author suggests self-service technologies (SSTs) as a possible mean to solve the labor shortage problem in Macau's lodging industry. The literature review shows the seriousness of the problem, and analyze the pros and cons of SSTs, the main reason its implemented and how it is perceived by the customer. Then, base on the review, the author provides five step implementation guide of SSTs in hotel. The author also presents recommendations …

Targeting A Niche Market In Las Vegas Gaming Industry, Sookyung Yeo

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the most profitable Chinese group in the Las Vegas gaming market in order to develop a customized marketing strategy for the group.

Leveraging Slot Gaming Technology To Gain A Competitive Advantage, Philip Zarlengo

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The slot gaming industry is being revolutionized by a recent explosion of new technologies that offer a wealth of management opportunities for casinos and offer a more interactive gameplay experience for players. These new technologies increase the excitement of gameplay while extending time on device (TOD) and revenue for the casinos. This preliminary business proposal informs casino managers on the latest in slot technologies and provides a guideline for their successful implementation.

Understanding The Decline Of Sales Of Destination Club Products, Heidi Goetz

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose:

The purpose of this paper is to identify and confirm factors leading to the decline of sales of Ritz-Carlton Destination Club products.

Adjusting Payroll With Changes In Business Volumes: An Examination Of Nevada Gaming Properties, Toni A. Repetti

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This dissertation analyzes expense preference behavior by managers of Nevada casinos. Annual aggregate data is obtained from the Nevada Gaming Control Board from 1990 to 2010. Using ordinary least squares regression, three models are run to account for various payroll related expenses. The dependent variable in the first model is number of employees. The second model uses salaries and wages as the dependent variable and the third model uses total payroll. All models include predictor variables of total revenue as an indication of size, a dummy variable for market concentration and a dummy variable for recessionary periods.

The finding show …

Credit Fluctuations And Lodging Firms: An Investigation Of The Differing Capital Structures In The Us Lodging Industry, Dipendra Singh

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study empirically investigates the effect of credit availability and firm size on the leverage of lodging industry in United States using a 3 X 2 factorial Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA). Three time points of differing credit availability (Low, High, and Average) were identified using Case-Shiller home price index. Leverage, Net Leverage, and Short-to-Long-Term debt ratios of large and small US lodging firms were analyzed at these differing credit availability time points to assess any significant differences. Specifically, this study attempts to find whether there is an interaction effect of credit availability and firm size on the leverage of …

Hospitality Loyalty Program Effectiveness Evaluation Rubric, Nazia Charania

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This paper examines the various loyalty program strategies and design elements utilized within the hospitality industry and evaluates the implications of the various strategies on establishing and fostering loyalty among consumers within a hyper competitive industry. In order to maintain competitive parity, many programs have constantly lowered reward thresholds and increased program offerings, making such programs very costly and with little direct evaluation in their ability to stimulate true loyalty. In a society bombarded by loyalty programs in almost all industries, consumers are becoming very savvy in comparing their personal rewards to the effort and inconveniences incurred by enrolling. The …