Business Commons^™

Top Boomtowns In The Mountain West, Ally M. Beckwith, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Cities & Metros

This fact sheet highlights data on the top boomtowns in the Mountain West region in 2019 and 2021. The original SmartAsset report includes data on the rapid economic growth and prosperity in boomtown cities through new employment opportunities and residents.

The Rise Of Southern Nevada As A Cluster For Metropolitan Transit Technology Innovations, Arthur C. Nelson

Policy Briefs and Reports

Southern Nevada is emerging as the nation’s leader in private sector-driven innovations in transportation technologies. From the humble beginnings of a monorail system serving a portion of major hotel and gaming venues along the Las Vegas Strip, now supplemented by an array of people movers, Southern Nevada continues to attract transit innovations in tunneling, Hyperloop, and driverless vehicle delivery technologies. The region may soon anchor a high-speed rail system connecting Southern Nevada to Los Angeles. The purpose of this briefing paper is to frame the nature of this emerging transportation cluster and the opportunities this creates for Southern Nevada to …

Does Variable Wagering Affect The Ability Of Reel Slot Players To Detect Differences In Pars By Way Of Changes In Play Time?, Anthony F. Lucas, A.K. Singh

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

The aim of this study was to better understand the role of a slot machine’s house advantage (a.k.a. par) in the individual player’s gambling experience. On this issue, the results challenged the inveterate wisdom of the industry. A battery of simulations comparing outcomes produced on slot machines with different pars failed to produce significant differences in play time, i.e., spins per losing player. These simulations were the first to accommodate variable wagering behavior, as identified by player tracking data donated by a Nevada casino operator. The results inform operators and game makers alike as to the ability of gamblers to …

An Innovative Approach To Understanding Employers' Commitment To Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion, Becky Harris

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Diversity, equity, and Inclusion in the workforce have been topics of discussion in corporate America for years. In an effort to better understand employers’ commitment to hiring a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce, and to collect robust data for analysis, the Nevada Legislature authorized the University Nevada, Las Vegas to launch a survey of Nevada employers concerning their workforce composition, employee representation at the frontline, supervisory, managerial and executive levels, employee benefit packages, and attrition rates. Every Nevada employer, including for-profit, non-profit and educational institutions are invited to participate. A link to the survey is provided in the article …

P2p Accommodation Motivators And Repurchase Intention: A Comparison Of Indirect And Total Effects Before And During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Cass Shum, Billy Bai, Mehmet Erdem

Hospitality Faculty Research

Despite increased research attention on guests’ motivators to use peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation, such as Airbnb, it remains unclear which motivators have the strongest effect on repurchase intention; and how the COVID-19 pandemic changes the effects of motivators. By conducting two U.S.-based studies before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study tested and compared the indirect and total effects of 13 motivators on repurchase intention on the P2P accommodation platforms via satisfaction. Functional motivators increased repurchase intention via satisfaction before and during the pandemic. Neighborhood – a location-based functional motivator – consistently had the strongest total effects on repurchase intention. COVID-anxiety …

The Role Of Government Delegates In Macau Casino Gaming Concessionaires – Evolution And Prospective, Pedro Cortés

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Macau Government announced in the consultation document for the amendment of Law No. 16/2001 (Macau Gaming Law) – whose public discussion ended on October 29, 2021 – that it intends to introduce Government Delegates into the casino gaming concessionaires.

According to the consultation document, the appointment of government delegates will extend the Government direct supervisory powers over the casino gaming concessionaires and ensure that public interest is given precedence, as well as will be a form of proper guaranteeing compliance and fulfillment of the duties and obligations of the casino gaming concessionaires.

Such a system has existed in Macau since …

Premier: The Magazine Of The Unlv Harrah College Of Hospitality, Matt Jacob, Angela Ramsey, Caitlyn Lopez, Stowe Shoemaker, Maggie Hausbeck, Alexandra Liebman

Premier: The Magazine of the UNLV Harrah Hotel College

Of the countless hospitality programs around the world, why does the Harrah College of Hospitality consistently rank at the top? I believe the college's excellence stems from our ability to leverage our strengths with those of our partners to do great things. It's that simple.

This approach has certainly been in play as we've navigated the difficulties of the past two years. We've worked with our friends in industry and academia to bolster our internship and mentorship programs, research, and interdisciplinary projects, all with the intent of expanding the knowledge base of the hospitality discipline and building a pipeline of …

Exploratory Content Analysis Of Direct-To-Consumer Pet Genomics: What Is Being Marketed And What Are Consumers Saying?, Nikki E. Bennett, Silvio Ernesto Mirabal Torres, Peter B. Gray

Anthropology Faculty Research

Mars Petcare introduced the first direct-to-consumer domestic dog genetic test in 2009 and Basepaws introduced the first direct-to-consumer cat genetic test in 2016. Social science research has evaluated numerous aspects of the human direct-to-consumer market, yet no such exploration has evaluated the occurrence of pet owners pursuing pet genetic tests. Using a mixed methods approach, we conducted an exploratory content analysis of direct-to-consumer pet genetic company webpages and consumer reviews shared on Amazon. Initial data reviews indicated some companies may be key industry players, relative to others. Our results present content frequency for each group (key industry players, all other …

Transdisciplinarity In Experience Design: A Global Survey Of Higher Ed Programs In Exd/Xd, Yvonne Houy

Creative Collaborations

In our age of ubiquitous devices and digital media it is the perceived value of the end-to-end experience that brings people to a place. Designing inspiring and emotionally engaging end-to-end experiences requires experts in a wide range of disciplines committed to an interdisciplinary collaboration that can arrive at transdisciplinary design - the sum becomes greater than its parts.

Civil engineering, hospitality, business, psychology, digital User Experience (UX) design, and experience data analysis need to be seamless integrated with the fine and performing arts and design fields:

• Architecture, interior, landscape and sound design actively engage the senses.

• Graphic and fine arts …

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Hot Topics Trade Publications Connect Research With Career Ambitions, Lateka J. Grays, Mark N. Lenker Iii

Library Faculty Publications

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), is home to the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality. Due to the college’s size and its importance for the city’s economy, it is a separate school from the College of Business. Information literacy for hospitality has been a priority for the college’s first-year seminar program since its inception, and the hospitality librarian has been working with seminar coordinators to refine this aspect of the curriculum for over six years.

Five years ago, the hospitality librarian began collaborating with a new teaching and learning librarian in order to give him more teaching experience …

Developing A Structured Ojt Program: The Case Of A Small Manufacturing Company In A Rural Region, Raymond A. Dixon Ph.D.

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

This study explored the process followed by a small manufacturing company in a rural area to implement a planned training program to develop the technical skills of its engineering/production workers as the company expands its operation. A case study design was used. Data was collected over an eight-month period by the examination of documents, direct observation, and interview. Findings indicate the process followed were consistent with elements of the Talent Development Architecture. The growth of the company presents learning opportunities for both the owner and his management team. The job analysis provided inputs to implement a planned training program and …

Constructing The Perfect Girlfriend: Gender, Class, Race, & Performativity Of Paid Intimacy In Nevada Brothels, Christina Parreira

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

While most research on commodified intimacy, especially in the sex industry, has explored gender dynamics, sex work researchers are beginning to also explore intersectional dynamics in the industry. But little research has examined whether or how workers may navigate these dynamics differently through the ways in which they understand and perform service labor. Much research has explored commodified intimacy in different settings, but very little attention has been paid to the different ways that workers in the same setting perform intimacy. In this dissertation I ask how do different performances of intimate service in the brothels- the girlfriend experience (GFE) …

Utilizing Gamification To Enhance Customer Engagement And Loytalty In The Hospitality Industry, Xiaoting He

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Gamification involves the engagement of game elements and designs in non-game contexts. There is a need to increase the effectiveness of the conventional loyalty program, and implementing gamification has become a popular concept. Gamified hotel loyalty programs differentiate hotels from their rivals by increasing customer engagement and, ultimately, customer loyalty. Despite prior research on the effectiveness and functions of gamification, under what conditions gamification can enhance enagement lacks further investigation. This study draws on the Self-Determination Theory (SDT) to develop a framework linking gamification elements with users' psychological needs, where customer engagement is enhanced when the game elements successfully satisfy …

Mobile Sports Betting Marketing Plan, Scott Flinn

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

From day one, the hospitality industry in Las Vegas has been innovating and evolving to develop one-of-a-kind experiences for customers from all around the world. Over the decade's hospitality corporations have been shaped through mergers and acquisitions with the end goal of growing land-based assets, improving income statements and balance sheets for shareholders, and trying to own every dollar that a tourist spends while in the city (Bussman, 2021).

Data Analytics In Hotel And Integrated Resort Brands: An Evaluation Of Past Literature And Proposed Research For The Future, Luke Andrew Walocko

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Data analytics in hotel and integrated resort brands is a growing strategy implemented to support business decisions designed to generate revenue or save costs. This study utilizes a literature review of data analytics related publications to provide recommendations on future research topics to improve the quality of literature related to data analytics in hotel and integrated resort brands. The study is not limited to hospitality specific research and uses research from all industries to identify gaps in publications for hospitality scholars to explore. Three proposed research questions for future exploration were composed based on the comparison of literature written for …

Building Customer Loyalty With Millennials In The Gaming Entertainment Industry, Daysha Catchings

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This paper discusses how to build customer loyalty between Millennials and casinos. Although research has indicated that casinos are losing the interest of the Millennial consumer, it is recommended that casinos do not give up on this demographic. The Millennial generation is massive, accounting for a fourth of the U.S. population. Entering the workforce at rapid speed, this generation has a large amount of spending power and is willing to pay more for a product that is deemed valuable. This paper intends to lay the groundwork for an exploratory research study on customer loyalty and Millennials in the gambling and …

Does The Provision Of High-Technology Health Services Change After The Privatization Of Public Hospitals?, Zo Ramamonjiarivelo, Ferhat Zengul, Josué Epané, Larry Hearld, Luceta Mcroy, Robert Weech-Maldonado

Healthcare Administration & Policy Faculty Publications

Background: Public hospitals hold a key role in providing health care services especially to individuals without health insurance, those who are partially covered by health insurance, and low income population. However, some of these hospitals have converted to private status. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of the ownership conversion of public hospitals into private status on the provision of high-technology health services. Methods: This study used a non-experimental longitudinal design based on merged secondary data from the American Hospital Association annual survey, the Area Health Resources File, and the Local Area Unemployment Statistics [1997–2013]. The …

Factors Influencing Service Robot Adoption: A Comparative Analysis Of Hotel-Specific Service Robot Acceptance Models, Ying Dong

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The market for service robots is expected to expand significantly owing to the increasing relevance of service automation under the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the growing managerial interest in robotic applications in the hotel industry, current robotic research has been mostly conceptual with limited robot data on hand. In light of this issue, this paper will conduct a comparative analysis of hotel-specific service robot acceptance models between the Service Robot Acceptance Model (sRAM) and the Service Robot Integration Willingness (SRIW) framework. By identifying key elements of each service robot acceptance model, this paper puts an emphasis on investigating …

Shaping Success For Mobile Applications Of Integrated Resorts, Krista Larsen

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

As smartphones have become indispensable in society, it has become critical for integrated resorts to develop mobile applications ("apps") that serve as a marketing tool and an enhancement in the customer's travel journey. This research reviews the features of existing mobile travel apps, in addition to areas of opportunity for future innovations regarding this platform. Based on this research, this study recommends best practices for an integrated resort's mobile app. The findings of this study can be leveraged as a resource when developing and maintaining mobile apps within the hospitality industry to provide an optimal guest experience throughout the entire …

Tech Innovation Capacity In Mountain West Metros, Ally M. Beckwith, William E. Brown Jr.

Economic Development & Workforce

This fact sheet highlights data on the tech innovation capacity in Mountain West metropolitan areas, as originally reported in 2019 by Robert D. Atkinson, Mark Muro, and Jacob Whiton from the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program. Tech innovation is defined as advanced industries that are America’s 50 high-R&D, high-STEM manufacturing, energy, and services industries ranging from aerospace and automobile manufacturing to solar electricity generation to internet publishing to bio-tech. Tech innovation is essential to the future of America’s economy. However, “superstar” metropolitan areas creating a regional imbalance within the innovation sector. The Brookings report examines metropolitan areas that are potential …

Housing Affordability Index: Mountain West Cities, November 2021, Olivia K. Cheche, Joshua Padilla, William E. Brown Jr.

Housing & Real Estate

This fact sheet highlights data on the median household income, median home price, estimated monthly mortgage and taxes, and share of income used for homeownership in fifteen Mountain West housing markets, as originally outlined in the “RealtyHop Housing Affordability Index: November 2021” report. The RealtyHop report analyzes the affordability of housing markets for the 100 most populous cities in the United States.

A Content Analysis Of Hospitality Research's Research Methods In The 2010s, Cass Shum, Jaimi Garlington, Ankita Ghosh, Seyhmus Baloglu

Hospitality Faculty Research

Purpose. This study aims to describe the development of hospitality research in terms of research methods and data sources used in the 2010s.

Design/methodology/approach. Content analyses of the research methods and data sources used in original hospitality research published in the 2010s in the Cornell Hospitality Quarterly (CQ), International Journal of Hospitality Management (IJHM), International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management (IJCHM), Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research (JHTR) and International Hospitality Review (IHR) were conducted. It describes whether the time span, functional areas and geographic regions of data sources were related to the research methods and data sources.

Findings. Results …

Evolution Of Publications, Subjects, And Co-Authorships In Network-On-Chip Research From A Complex Network Perspective, Weilong Chen, Xiaohang Wang, Ye Sun, Qiao Hu, Letian Huang, Yingtao Jiang, Amit Kumar Singh, Terrence Mak, Mei Yang

College of Engineering Faculty Research

The academia and industry have been pursuing network-on-chip (NoC) related research since two decades ago when there was an urgency to respond to the scaling and technological challenges imposed on intra-chip communication in SoC designs. Like any other research topic, NoC inevitably goes through its life cycle: A. it started up (2000-2007) and quickly gained traction in its own right; B. it then entered the phase of growth and shakeout (2008-2013) with the research outcomes peaked in 2010 and remained high for another four/five years; C. NoC research was considered mature and stable (2014-2020), with signs showing a steady slowdown. …

Branding Kidfluencers: Regulating Content And Advertising On Youtube, Gavin Feller, Benjamin Burroughs

Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies Faculty Research

This paper analyzes emerging shifts in YouTube, advertising, and children’s digital media industries through a case study of Pocket Watch, a digital-first production and distribution studio built exclusively for YouTube child stars. Our analysis reveals the company’s strategic use of legacy media industry power, networks, and expertise to transform YouTube stars into global brands through the creation of toy, clothing, and lifestyle product lines across several industries. We further argue that Pocket Watch’s newly formed advertising division, Clock Work, exploits its child partners through problematic native advertising and host selling practices. The strategies implemented by Pocket Watch and other similar …

Implementation And Outcomes Of Complementary Therapies In Hospice Care: An Integrative Review, Catherine Dingley, Angela Ruckdeschel, Keshia Kotula, Nirmala Lekhak

Nursing Faculty Publications

Complementary therapies are increasingly integrated into hospice care, emphasizing the need to examine the evidence regarding implementation and effects on end-of-life outcomes. This review synthesizes the evidence regarding the implementation of complementary therapies and effects on end-of-life outcomes in hospice care. Whittemore and Knafl’s five-step integrative review process was applied. Using predefined search terms, research-based articles between 2006 and 2020 were reviewed. Twenty-three quantitative/mixed method studies conducted across eight countries met the final review criteria. Most commonly used complementary therapies were music, biofield therapies (reiki, therapeutic touch), and massage therapy. Most studies reported significant findings on physical symptoms (pain, dyspnea, …

Investment Patterns In Mountain West States, Counties, And Nevada Cities 2005-2019, Peter Grema, Zachary Walusek, Katie M. Gilbertson, William E. Brown Jr.

Economic Development & Workforce

The purpose of this fact sheet is to summarize findings on capital flows across Mountain West states and counties, and within Nevada cities. The “Gauging Investment Patterns across the US” report by the Urban Institute present findings of overall volume of capital deployed, racial equity of investments, and income equity for each respective geographic area. The full report further breaks down these three main categories into 18 other metrics.

Startup Businesses In The Mountain West, 2014-2018, Olivia K. Cheche, William E. Brown Jr.

Economic Development & Workforce

This fact sheet highlights data on startup businesses in Mountain West states and metropolitan areas, as originally reported by Roofstock’s “U.S. Cities With the Most Startup Businesses” report. Startup businesses are defined as new businesses launched by entrepreneurs that create jobs and spur efficiency and innovation. This report examines the startup formation rate, annual startup formations, annual new jobs created by startups, and jobs created by startups as a percentage of all new jobs within states and metros across the United States.

The House Edge And Play Time: Do Industry Heuristics Fairly Describe This Relationship?, Anthony F. Lucas, A.K. Singh

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Based on modified versions of licensed pay tables from reel slot machines, simulations of play failed to indicate a statistically significant difference in the spins per losing player (SPLP), despite a marked difference in the pars (i.e., 7.9% vs. 12.9%). To reflect a volume of play consistent with frequent gambling, the simulations included results from 1-4 visits per week, for the equivalent of one year. Additionally, this level of play was repeated for 100 “years,” within multiple scenarios of buy-in amounts and stoppage-of-play criteria. Still, most outcomes indicated a negligible decline in SPLP, in spite of the 63%-increase in the …

Small Business Equity In Nevada, 2021, Ally M. Beckwith, Olivia K. Cheche, William E. Brown Jr.

Economic Development & Workforce

This fact sheet highlights data on minority and women-owned small businesses in Nevada in 2021, as originally reported by the Small Business Equity Tool. This tool examines the representation of Black, Asian, Latino, minority, and women-owned small businesses in the largest metropolitan areas and cities across the United States.

Race Equity In Management Occupations In The Mountain West, Kristian Thymianos, Saha Salahi, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Economic Development & Workforce

In a recent report, “From commitments to action: How CEOs can advance racial equity in their regional economies,” Amy Liu and Reniya Dinkins of the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program highlight racial equity issues in private sector management occupations. The authors use these data to propose strategies to close equity gaps. This fact sheet examines data for the Mountain West metropolitan areas included in the original report.